["CHAPTER\t43 I\tthought\tyou\tsaid\tyou\u2019d\ttake\tcare\tof\tDrake.\u201d\tMy\tfingers\ttightened\taround\tmy cell\tphone,\tand\tmy\tfree\thand\twound\titself\tinto\ta\tfist\tat\tmy\tside.\t\u201cFor\tfun.\u201d I\u2019d\tcalled\tAlisa\tthe\tmoment\tI\u2019d\tmade\tit\tto\tthe\tcar.\tGrayson\thad\tfollowed\tand buckled\t himself\t into\t the\t back\t seat\t beside\t me.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t have\t the\t time\t or\t mental space\tto\tdwell\ton\this\tpresence\tbeside\tme.\tOren\twas\tdriving.\tI\twas\tpissed. \u201cI\t did\t take\t care\t of\t him,\u201d\t Alisa\t assured\t me.\t \u201cYou\t and\t your\t sister\t are\t both\t in possession\t of\t temporary\t restraining\t orders.\t If\t Drake\t attempts\t to\t contact\t or comes\twithin\ta\tthousand\tfeet\tof\teither\tof\tyou\tfor\tany\treason,\the\u2019s\tfacing\tarrest.\u201d I\tforced\tmy\tfingers\tout\tof\tthe\tfist\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t\tmanage\tto\tloosen\tmy\tgrip\ton the\tphone.\t\u201cThen\twhy\tis\the\tat\tthe\tgates\tof\tHawthorne\tHouse\tright\tnow?\u201d Drake\t was\t here.\t In\t Texas.\t When\t Nash\t had\t called,\t Libby\t was\t safely\t inside, but\t Drake\t was\t spamming\t her\t phone\t with\t texts\t and\t calls,\t demanding\t a\t face-to- face. \u201cI\u2019ll\t handle\t this,\t Avery.\u201d\t Alisa\t recovered\t almost\t instantly.\t \u201cThe\t firm\t has some\tcontacts\ton\tthe\tlocal\tpolice\tforce\twho\tknow\thow\tto\tbe\tdiscreet.\u201d Right\tnow,\tbeing\tdiscreet\twasn\u2019t\tmy\tpriority.\tMy\tpriority\twas\tLibby.\t\u201cDoes my\tsister\tknow\tabout\tthis\trestraining\torder?\u201d \u201cShe\t signed\t the\t paperwork.\u201d\t That\t was\t a\t hedge\t if\t I\u2019d\t ever\t heard\t one.\t \u201cI\u2019ll handle\tit,\tAvery.\tYou\tjust\tlie\tlow.\u201d\tShe\thung\tup,\tand\tI\tlet\tthe\thand\tholding\tmy phone\tdrop\tinto\tmy\tlap. \u201cCan\tyou\tdrive\tany\tfaster?\u201d\tI\tasked\tOren. Libby\thad\ther\town\tsecurity\tdetail.\tDrake\twouldn\u2019t\tget\ta\tchance\tto\thurt\ther\u2014 physically. \u201cNash\t is\t with\t your\t sister.\u201d\t Grayson\t spoke\t for\t the\t first\t time\t since\t we\u2019d entered\tthe\tcar.\t\u201cIf\tthe\tgentleman\tso\tmuch\tas\ttries\tto\tlay\ta\tfinger\ton\ther,\tI\tassure you,\tmy\tbrother\twould\ttake\tpleasure\tin\tremoving\tthat\tfinger.\u201d I\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tif\tGrayson\twas\treferring\tto\tseparating\tsaid\tfinger\tfrom\tLibby\u2019s body\u2014or\tfrom\tDrake\u2019s. \u201cDrake\t isn\u2019t\t a\t gentleman,\u201d\t I\t told\t Grayson.\t \u201cAnd\t I\u2019m\t not\t just\t worried\t about","him\tgetting\tviolent.\u201d\tI\twas\tworried\tabout\thim\tbeing\tsweet,\tworried\tthat,\tinstead of\t losing\t his\t temper,\t he\u2019d\t be\t so\t kind\t and\t tender\t that\t she\u2019d\t start\t to\t question\t the fading\tbruise\tringing\ther\teye. \u201cIf\t it\t would\t make\t you\t feel\t better,\t I\t can\t have\t him\t removed\t from\t the property,\u201d\tOren\toffered.\t\u201cBut\tthat\tmight\tcause\ta\tbit\tof\ta\tscene\tfor\tthe\tpress.\u201d The\t press?\t My\t brain\t clicked\t into\t gear.\t \u201cThere\t weren\u2019t\t any\t paparazzi\t at\t the foundation.\u201d\tI\u2019d\tnoted\tthat\twhen\twe\u2019d\tarrived.\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tback\tat\tthe\thouse?\u201d The\t wall\t around\t the\t estate\t could\t keep\t the\t press\t off\t the\t property,\t but\t there was\tnothing\tstopping\tthem\tfrom\tcongregating,\tlegally,\ton\ta\tpublic\tstreet. \u201cIf\t I\t were\t a\t betting\t man,\u201d\t Oren\t commented,\t \u201cI\t would\t guess\t that\t Drake placed\ta\tfew\tcalls\tto\treporters\tto\tensure\tan\taudience.\u201d There\twas\tnothing\tdiscreet\tabout\tthe\tscene\tthat\tgreeted\tus\twhen\tOren\tpulled\tup to\tthe\tdrive,\tpast\ta\tverifiable\thorde\tof\tpress.\tUp\tahead,\tI\tcould\tsee\tDrake\u2019s\tform outside\t the\t wrought-iron\t gates.\t There\t were\t two\t other\t men\t standing\t near\t him. Even\tfrom\ta\tdistance,\tI\tcould\tmake\tout\ttheir\tpolice\tuniforms. And\tso\tcould\tthe\tpaparazzi. So\t much\t for\t Alisa\u2019s\t friends\t on\t the\t police\t force\t being\t discreet.\t I\t gritted\t my teeth\tand\tthought\tabout\tthe\tway\tDrake\twould\tguilt\tLibby\tif\tthere\twas\tfootage\tof him\tbeing\tdragged\tdown\tthe\tdrive. \u201cStop\tthe\tcar,\u201d\tI\tsnapped. Oren\tstopped,\tthen\tturned\taround\tin\this\tseat\tto\tface\tme.\t\u201cI\twould\tadvise\tyou to\tstay\tin\tthis\tvehicle.\u201d\tThat\twasn\u2019t\tadvice.\tThat\twas\tan\torder. I\treached\tfor\tthe\tdoor\thandle. \u201cAvery.\u201d\t Oren\u2019s\t tone\t stopped\t me\t dead\t in\t my\t tracks.\t \u201cIf\t you\u2019re\t getting\t out, I\u2019m\tgetting\tout\tfirst.\u201d Remembering\tour\tlittle\tone-on-one\tthat\tmorning,\tI\tdecided\tnot\tto\ttest\thim. Beside\t me,\t Grayson\t unbuckled\t his\t seat\t belt.\t He\t reached\t for\t my\t wrist,\t his touch\tgentle.\t\u201cOren\u2019s\tright.\tYou\tshouldn\u2019t\tgo\tout\tthere.\u201d I\t looked\t down\t at\t his\t hand\t on\t mine,\t and\t after\t a\t heartbeat,\t I\t looked\t back\t up. \u201cAnd\t what\t would\t you\t do,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cwhat\t lengths\t would\t you\t go\t to\t in\t order\t to protect\tyour\tfamily?\u201d I\t had\t him\t there,\t and\t he\t damn\t well\t knew\t it.\t He\t drew\t his\t hand\t back\t from mine,\t slowly\t enough\t that\t I\t felt\t the\t pads\t of\t his\t fingers\t skim\t my\t knuckles.\t My breath\tcoming\tquickly\tnow,\tI\topened\tthe\tcar\tdoor\tand\tbraced\tmyself.\tDrake\twas","the\t biggest\t story\t the\t press\t had\t on\t the\t Hawthorne\t Heiress\t front\t because\t we hadn\u2019t\tgiven\tthem\tanything\tbigger.\tYet. Chin\t held\t high,\t I\t stepped\t out\t of\t the\t car.\t Look\t at\t me.\t I\u2019m\t the\t story\t here.\t I walked\t down\t the\t drive,\t back\t toward\t the\t street.\t I\t was\t wearing\t boots\t with\t heels and\tmy\tCountry\tDay\tpleated\tskirt.\tMy\tuniform\tblazer\tpulled\tagainst\tmy\tbody\tas I\twalked.\tThe\tnew\thair.\tThe\tmakeup.\tThe\tattitude. I\u2019m\t the\t story\t here.\t The\t chatter\t tonight\t wasn\u2019t\t going\t to\t be\t about\t Drake.\t The eyes\tof\tthe\tworld\tweren\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tbe\ton\thim.\tI\u2019d\tkeep\tthem\ton\tme. \u201cImpromptu\t press\t conference?\u201d\t Oren\t asked\t under\t his\t breath.\t \u201cAs\t your bodyguard,\tI\tfeel\tcompelled\tto\twarn\tyou\tthat\tAlisa\tis\tgoing\tto\tkill\tyou.\u201d That\twas\tFuture\tAvery\u2019s\tproblem.\tI\ttossed\tmy\twave-perfect\thair\tand\tsquared my\t shoulders.\t The\t roar\t of\t reporters\t yelling\t my\t name\t was\t louder\t the\t closer\t we got. \u201cAvery!\u201d \u201cAvery,\tlook\tover\there!\u201d \u201cAvery,\twhat\tdo\tyou\thave\tto\tsay\tabout\trumors\tthat\u2014\u201d \u201cSmile,\tAvery!\u201d I\t was\t standing\t right\t in\t front\t of\t them\t now.\t I\t had\t their\t attention.\t Beside\t me, Oren\traised\ta\thand,\tand\tjust\tlike\tthat,\tthe\tcrowd\twent\tsilent. Say\tsomething.\tI\u2019m\tsupposed\tto\tsay\tsomething. \u201cI\u2026\tummm\u2026\u201d\tI\tcleared\tmy\tthroat.\t\u201cThis\thas\tbeen\ta\tbig\tchange.\u201d There\t were\t a\t few\t small\t laughs.\t I\t can\t do\t this.\t The\t instant\t I\t thought\t those words,\t the\t universe\t made\t me\t pay\t for\t them.\t A\t fight\t broke\t out\t behind\t me, between\tDrake\tand\tthe\tcops.\tI\tsaw\tcameras\tstarting\tto\tangle\taway\tfrom\tme,\tsaw the\tlong-distance\tlenses\tzooming\tin\ton\tthe\tgates. Don\u2019t\tjust\ttalk.\tTell\tthe\tstory.\tMake\tthem\tlisten. \u201cI\t know\t why\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t changed\t his\t will,\u201d\t I\t said\t loudly.\t The response\t to\t that\t announcement\t was\t electric.\t There\t was\t a\t reason\t this\t was\t the story\t of\t the\t decade,\t one\t thing\t that\t everyone\t wanted\t to\t know.\t \u201cI\t know\t why\t he chose\tme.\u201d\tI\tmade\tthem\tlook\tat\tme\tand\tonly\tme.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tdoes.\tI know\tthe\ttruth.\u201d\tI\tsold\tthat\tlie\tfor\tall\tI\twas\tworth.\t\u201cAnd\tif\tyou\trun\ta\tword\tabout that\t pathetic\t excuse\t for\t a\t human\t being\t behind\t me\u2014any\t of\t you\u2014I\t will\t make\t it my\tmission\tin\tlife\tto\tensure\tthat\tyou\tnever,\tever\tfind\tout.\u201d","CHAPTER\t44 I\t didn\u2019t\t process\t the\t magnitude\t of\t what\t I\u2019d\t done\t until\t I\t was\t safely\t inside Hawthorne\tHouse.\tI\ttold\tthe\tpress\tthat\tI\thave\tthe\tanswers\tthey\twant.\tIt\twas\tthe first\ttime\tI\u2019d\tspoken\tto\tthem,\tthe\tfirst\treal\tfootage\tanyone\thad\tof\tme,\tand\tI\u2019d\tlied through\tmy\tteeth. Oren\twas\tright.\tAlisa\twas\tgoing\tto\tkill\tme. I\t found\t Libby\t in\t the\t kitchen,\t surrounded\t by\t cupcakes.\t Literally\t hundreds\t of them.\t If\t she\u2019d\t been\t an\t apology\t baker\t back\t home,\t the\t addition\t of\t an\t industrial- grade\tkitchen\twith\ttriple\tovens\thad\tbasically\ttaken\ther\tnuclear. \u201cLibby?\u201d\tI\tapproached\ther\tcautiously. \u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tI\tshould\tgo\tfor\tred\tvelvet\tor\tsalted\tcaramel\tnext?\u201d\tLibby\twas holding\t an\t icing\t bag\t with\t both\t hands.\t Blue\t hair\t had\t escaped\t her\t ponytail\t and was\tmatted\tto\ther\tface.\tShe\twouldn\u2019t\tmeet\tmy\teyes. \u201cShe\u2019s\t been\t at\t it\t for\t hours,\u201d\t Nash\t told\t me.\t He\t stood\t leaning\t back\t against\t a stainless-steel\trefrigerator,\this\tthumbs\thooked\tthrough\tthe\tbelt\tloops\tof\this\twell- worn\tjeans.\t\u201cHer\tphone\u2019s\tbeen\tgoing\toff\tfor\tjust\tas\tlong.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\ttalk\tabout\tme\tlike\tI\u2019m\tnot\there.\u201d\tLibby\tlooked\tup\tfrom\tthe\tcupcakes she\twas\ticing\tto\tnarrow\ther\teyes\tat\tNash. \u201cYes,\tma\u2019am.\u201d\tNash\tsmiled,\twide\tand\tslow.\tI\twondered\thow\tlong\the\u2019d\tbeen with\ther\u2014why\the\u2019d\tbeen\twith\ther. \u201cDrake\tis\tgone,\u201d\tI\ttold\tLibby,\thoping\tNash\twould\ttake\tthat\tas\this\tcue\tthat\the wasn\u2019t\tneeded\there.\t\u201cI\ttook\tcare\tof\tit.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t supposed\t to\t take\t care\t of\t you.\u201d\t Libby\t shoved\t her\t hair\t out\t of\t her\t face. \u201cStop\tlooking\tat\tme\tlike\tthat,\tAvery.\tI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\tto\tbreak.\u201d \u201c\u2019Course\tnot,\tdarlin\u2019,\u201d\tNash\tsaid,\tfrom\this\tspot\tleaning\tagainst\tthe\tfridge. \u201cYou\u2026\u201d\t Libby\t looked\t at\t him,\t a\t spark\t of\t annoyance\t lighting\t up\t her\t eyes. \u201cYou\tshut\tup.\u201d I\u2019d\t never\t heard\t Libby\t tell\t someone\t to\t shut\t up\t in\t her\t life,\t but\t at\t least\t she didn\u2019t\t sound\t fragile\t or\t hurt\t or\t in\t any\t danger\t of\t texting\t Drake\t back.\t I\t thought about\tAlisa\tsaying\tthat\tNash\tHawthorne\thad\ta\tsavior\tcomplex.","\u201cShutting\tup\tnow.\u201d\tNash\tpicked\tup\ta\tcupcake\tand\ttook\ta\tbite\tout\tof\tit\tlike\tit was\tan\tapple.\t\u201cFor\twhat\tit\u2019s\tworth,\tI\tvote\tfor\tred\tvelvet\tnext.\u201d Libby\tturned\tback\tto\tme.\t\u201cSalted\tcaramel\tit\tis.\u201d","CHAPTER\t45 That\t night,\t when\t Alisa\t called\t to\t read\t me\t the\t I-can\u2019t-do-my-job-if-you-won\u2019t- let-me\triot\tact,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tallow\tme\tto\tget\ta\tword\tin\tedgewise.\tAfter\tshe\u2019d\tsaid\ta terse\tgood-bye,\twhich\tseemed\tto\tpromise\tmore\tretribution\tto\tcome,\tI\tsat\tdown\tat my\tcomputer. \u201cHow\tbad\tis\tit?\u201d\tI\tsaid\tout\tloud.\tThe\tanswer,\tit\tturned\tout,\twas\tleading-story- on-every-news-site\tbad. Hawthorne\tHeiress\tKeeping\tSecrets. What\tDoes\tAvery\tGrambs\tKnow? I\tbarely\trecognized\tmyself\tin\tthe\tpictures\tthe\tpaparazzi\thad\ttaken.\tThe\tgirl\tin the\t photos\t was\t pretty\t and\t full\t of\t righteous\t fury.\t She\t looked\t as\t arrogant\t and dangerous\tas\ta\tHawthorne. I\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\tthat\tgirl. I\tfully\texpected\tto\tget\ta\ttext\tfrom\tMax,\tdemanding\tto\tknow\twhat\twas\tgoing on,\tbut\teven\twhen\tI\tmessaged\ther,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tmessage\tback.\tI\twent\tto\tclose\tmy laptop\tbut\tthen\tstopped,\tbecause\tI\tremembered\ttelling\tMax\tthat\tthe\treason\tI\thad no\tidea\twhat\thad\thappened\tto\tEmily\twas\tthat\tEmily\twas\tsuch\ta\tcommon\tname.\tI hadn\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tsearch\tfor\ther\tbefore. But\tI\tknew\ther\tlast\tname\tnow.\t\u201cEmily\tLaughlin,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tout\tloud.\tI\ttyped\ther name\t into\t the\t search\t field,\t then\t added\t Heights\t Country\t Day\t School\t to\t narrow the\tresults.\tMy\tfinger\thovered\tover\tthe\treturn\tkey.\tAfter\ta\tlong\tmoment,\tI\tpulled the\ttrigger. I\thit\tEnter. An\t obituary\t came\t up,\t but\t that\t was\t it.\t No\t news\t coverage.\t No\t articles suggesting\tthat\ta\tlocal\tgolden\tgirl\thad\tdied\tby\tsuspicious\tcause.\tNo\tmention\tof Grayson\tor\tJameson\tHawthorne. There\twas\ta\tpicture\twith\tthe\tobituary.\tEmily\twas\tsmiling\tthis\ttime\tinstead\tof laughing,\tand\tmy\tbrain\tsoaked\tup\tall\tthe\tdetails\tI\u2019d\tmissed\tbefore.\tHer\thair\twas layered,\tand\tshe\twore\tit\tlong.\tThe\tends\tcurved\tthis\tway\tand\tthat,\tbut\tthe\trest\twas silky\t straight.\t Her\t eyes\t were\t too\t big\t for\t her\t face.\t The\t shape\t of\t her\t upper\t lip","made\tme\tthink\tof\ta\theart.\tShe\thad\ta\tscattering\tof\tfreckles. Thump.\tThump.\tThump. My\thead\tshot\tup\tat\tthe\tnoise,\tand\tI\tslammed\tmy\tlaptop\tclosed.\tThe\tlast\tthing I\twanted\twas\tanyone\tknowing\twhat\tI\u2019d\tjust\tlooked\tup. Thump.\t This\t time,\t I\t did\t more\t than\t just\t register\t the\t sound.\t I\t flipped\t my bedside\tlamp\ton,\tswung\tmy\tfeet\tto\tthe\tfloor,\tand\twalked\ttoward\tit.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tI ended\tup\tat\tthe\tfireplace,\tI\twas\tfairly\tcertain\twho\twas\ton\tthe\tother\tside. \u201cDo\tyou\tever\tuse\tdoors?\u201d\tI\tasked\tJameson,\tonce\tI\u2019d\tutilized\tthe\tcandlestick to\topen\tthe\tpassage. Jameson\t cocked\t an\t eyebrow\t and\t cocked\t his\t head.\t \u201cDo\t you\t want\t me\t to\t use the\tdoor?\u201d I\t felt\t like\t what\t he\t was\t really\t asking\t was\t if\t I\t wanted\t him\t to\t be\t normal.\t I remembered\t sitting\t beside\t him\t at\t high\t speed\t and\t thought\t about\t the\t climbing wall\u2014and\this\thand\treaching\tout\tto\tcatch\tmine. \u201cI\t saw\t your\t press\t conference.\u201d\t Jameson\t had\t that\t expression\t on\t his\t face again,\tthe\tone\tthat\tmade\tme\tfeel\tlike\twe\twere\tplaying\tchess\tand\the\u2019d\tjust\tmade a\tmove\tdesigned\tto\tbe\tseen\tas\ta\tchallenge. \u201cIt\twasn\u2019t\tso\tmuch\ta\tpress\tconference\tas\ta\tvery\tbad\tidea,\u201d\tI\tadmitted\twryly. \u201cHave\tI\tever\ttold\tyou,\u201d\tJameson\tmurmured,\tstaring\tat\tme\tin\ta\tway\tthat\thad to\tbe\tintentional,\t\u201cthat\tI\u2019m\ta\tsucker\tfor\tbad\tideas?\u201d When\t he\u2019d\t shown\t up\t here,\t I\u2019d\t felt\t like\t I\u2019d\t summoned\t him\t by\t searching\t for Emily\u2019s\t name,\t but\t now\t I\t saw\t this\t midnight\t visit\t for\t exactly\t what\t it\t was. Jameson\t Hawthorne\t was\t here,\t in\t my\t bedroom,\t at\t night.\t I\t was\t wearing\t my pajamas,\tand\this\tbody\twas\tlisting\ttoward\tmine. None\tof\tthis\twas\tan\taccident. You\u2019re\tnot\ta\tplayer,\tkid.\tYou\u2019re\tthe\tglass\tballerina\u2014or\tthe\tknife. \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t want,\t Jameson?\u201d\t My\t body\t wanted\t to\t lean\t toward\t him.\t The rational\tpart\tof\tme\twanted\tto\tstep\tback. \u201cYou\t lied\t to\t the\t press.\u201d\t Jameson\t didn\u2019t\t look\t away.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t blink,\t and neither\tdid\tI.\t\u201cWhat\tyou\ttold\tthem\u2026\tit\twas\ta\tlie,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u201d \u201cOf\tcourse\tit\twas.\u201d\tIf\tI\u2019d\tknown\twhy\tTobias\tHawthorne\tleft\tme\this\tfortune,\tI wouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tworking\tside\tby\tside\twith\tJameson\tto\tfigure\tit\tout. I\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tlost\tmy\tbreath\twhen\tI\u2019d\tseen\tthat\tmap\tat\tthe\tfoundation. \u201cIt\u2019s\t hard\t to\t tell\t with\t you\t sometimes,\u201d\t Jameson\t commented.\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t not exactly\tan\topen\tbook.\u201d\tHe\tfixed\this\tgaze\tsomewhere\tin\tthe\tvicinity\tof\tmy\tlips. His\tface\tinched\ttoward\tmine. Never\tlose\tyour\theart\tto\ta\tHawthorne.","\u201cDon\u2019t\ttouch\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tbut\teven\tas\tI\tstepped\tback,\tI\tcould\tfeel\tsomething \u2014the\t same\t something\t I\u2019d\t felt\t when\t I\t brushed\t up\t against\t Grayson\t back\t at\t the foundation. A\tthing\tI\thad\tno\tbusiness\tfeeling\u2014for\teither\tof\tthem. \u201cOur\tthrill\tride\tlast\tnight\tpaid\toff,\u201d\tJameson\ttold\tme.\t\u201cGetting\tout\tof\tmy\town head\tlet\tme\tlook\tat\tthe\tpuzzle\twith\tnew\teyes.\tAsk\tme\twhat\tI\tfigured\tout\tabout our\tmiddle\tnames.\u201d \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t have\t to,\u201d\t I\t told\t him.\t \u201cI\t solved\t it,\t too.\t Blackwood.\t Westbrook. Davenport.\tWinchester.\tThey\u2019re\tnot\tjust\tnames.\tThey\u2019re\tplaces\u2014or\tat\tleast,\tthe first\t two\t are.\t The\t Black\t Wood.\t The\t West\t Brook.\u201d\t I\t let\t myself\t focus\t on\t the puzzle\t and\t not\t the\t fact\t that\t this\t room\t was\t lit\t only\t by\t lamplight\t and\t we\t were standing\ttoo\tclose.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tsure\tabout\tthe\tother\ttwo\tyet,\tbut\u2026\u201d \u201cBut\u2026\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t lips\t curved\t upward,\t his\t teeth\t flashing.\t \u201cYou\u2019ll\t figure\t it out.\u201d\tHe\tbrought\this\tlips\tnear\tmy\tear.\t\u201cWe\twill,\tHeiress.\u201d There\tis\tno\twe.\tNot\treally.\tI\u2019m\ta\tmeans\tto\tan\tend\tfor\tyou.\tI\tbelieved\tthat.\tI did,\tbut\tsomehow\twhat\tI\tfound\tmyself\tsaying\twas\t\u201cFeel\tlike\ta\twalk?\u201d","CHAPTER\t46 This\twasn\u2019t\tjust\ta\twalk,\tand\twe\tboth\tknew\tit. \u201cThe\tBlack\tWood\tis\tenormous.\tFinding\tanything\tthere\twill\tbe\timpossible\tif we\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\t we\u2019re\t looking\t for.\u201d\t Jameson\t matched\t his\t stride,\t slow\t and steady,\tto\tmine.\t\u201cThe\tbrook\tis\teasier.\tIt\truns\tmost\tof\tthe\tlength\tof\tthe\tproperty, but\t if\t I\t know\t my\t grandfather,\t we\u2019re\t not\t looking\t for\t something\t in\t the\t water. We\u2019re\tlooking\tfor\tsomething\ton\u2014or\tunder\u2014the\tbridge.\u201d \u201cWhat\tbridge?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tI\tcaught\tsight\tof\tmovement\tout\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy eye.\tOren.\tHe\tstayed\tin\tthe\tshadows,\tbut\the\twas\tthere. \u201cThe\t bridge,\u201d\t Jameson\t replied,\t \u201cwhere\t my\t grandfather\t proposed\t to\t my grandmother.\t It\u2019s\t near\t Wayback\t Cottage.\t Back\t in\t the\t day,\t that\t was\t all\t my grandfather\towned.\tAs\this\tempire\tgrew,\the\tbought\tup\tthe\tsurrounding\tland.\tHe built\tthe\tHouse\tbut\talways\tkept\tup\tthe\tcottage.\u201d \u201cThe\t Laughlins\t live\t there\t now,\u201d\t I\t said,\t picturing\t the\t cottage\t on\t the\t map. \u201cEmily\u2019s\t grandparents.\u201d\t I\t felt\t guilty\t even\t saying\t her\t name,\t but\t that\t didn\u2019t\t stop me\t from\t watching\t his\t response.\t Did\t you\t love\t her?\t How\t did\t she\t die?\t Why\t does Thea\tblame\tyour\tfamily? Jameson\u2019s\t mouth\t twisted.\t \u201cXander\t said\t you\u2019d\t had\t a\t little\t chat\t with Rebecca,\u201d\the\tsaid\tfinally. \u201cNo\tone\tat\tschool\ttalks\tto\ther,\u201d\tI\tmurmured. \u201cCorrection,\u201d\t Jameson\t replied.\t \u201cRebecca\t doesn\u2019t\t talk\t to\t anyone\t at\t school. She\t hasn\u2019t\t for\t months.\u201d\t He\t was\t quiet\t for\t a\t moment,\t the\t sound\t of\t our\t footsteps drowning\t out\t all\t else.\t \u201cRebecca\t was\t always\t the\t shy\t one.\t The\t responsible\t one. The\tone\ttheir\tparents\texpected\tto\tmake\tgood\tdecisions.\u201d \u201cNot\tEmily.\u201d\tI\tfilled\tin\tthe\tblank. \u201cEmily\u2026\u201d\t Jameson\t sounded\t different\t when\t he\t said\t her\t name.\t \u201cEmily\t just wanted\t to\t have\t fun.\t She\t had\t a\t heart\t condition,\t congenital.\t Her\t parents\t were ridiculously\t overprotective.\t They\t never\t let\t her\t do\t anything\t as\t a\t kid.\t She\t got\t a transplant\twhen\tshe\twas\tthirteen,\tand\tafter\tthat,\tshe\tjust\twanted\tto\tlive.\u201d Not\t survive.\t Not\t just\t make\t it\t through.\t Live.\t I\t thought\t of\t the\t way\t she\u2019d","laughed\t into\t the\t camera,\t wild\t and\t free\t and\t a\t little\t too\t canny,\t like\t she\u2019d\t known when\tthat\tpicture\twas\ttaken\tthat\twe\u2019d\tall\tbe\tlooking\tat\tit\tlater.\tAt\ther. I\tthought\tabout\tthe\tway\tthat\tSkye\thad\tdescribed\tJameson.\tHungry. \u201cDid\tyou\ttake\ther\tdriving?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tIf\tI\tcould\thave\ttaken\tthe\tquestion\tback,\tI would\thave,\tbut\tit\thung\tin\tthe\tair\tbetween\tus. \u201cThere\tis\tnothing\tthat\tEmily\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdo.\u201d\tJameson\tspoke\tlike\tthe\twords had\t been\t ripped\t out\t of\t him.\t \u201cWe\t were\t the\t same,\u201d\t he\t told\t me,\t and\t then\t he corrected\thimself.\t\u201cI\tthought\tthat\twe\twere\tthe\tsame.\u201d I\t thought\t about\t Grayson,\t telling\t me\t that\t Jameson\t was\t a\t sensation\t seeker. Fear.\tPain.\tJoy.\tWhich\tof\tthose\thad\tEmily\tbeen\u2014for\thim? \u201cWhat\t happened\t to\t her?\u201d\t I\t asked.\t My\t internet\t search\t hadn\u2019t\t yielded\t any answers.\tThea\thad\tmade\tit\tsound\tlike\tthe\tHawthornes\twere\tsomehow\tto\tblame, like\t Emily\t had\t died\t because\t she\t spent\t time\t at\t Hawthorne\t House.\t \u201cDid\t she\t live at\tthe\tcottage?\u201d Jameson\t ignored\t my\t second\t question\t and\t answered\t the\t first.\t \u201cGrayson happened\tto\ther.\u201d I\u2019d\tknown,\tfrom\t the\tmoment\tI\u2019d\t said\tEmily\u2019s\tname\t in\tGrayson\u2019s\t presence, that\t she\t had\t mattered\t to\t him.\t But\t Jameson\t seemed\t pretty\t clear\t on\t the\t fact\t that he\u2019d\tbeen\tthe\tone\tinvolved\twith\ther.\tThere\tis\tnothing\tthat\tEmily\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdo. \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean,\tGrayson\thappened\tto\ther?\u201d\tI\tasked\tJameson.\tI\tglanced back,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tOren\tanymore. \u201cLet\u2019s\tplay\ta\tgame,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid\tdarkly,\this\tpace\tticking\tup\ta\tnotch\tas\twe hit\ta\thill.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tgive\tyou\tone\ttruth\tabout\tmy\tlife\tand\ttwo\tlies,\tand\tit\u2019s\tup\tto\tyou\tto decide\twhich\tis\twhich.\u201d \u201cIsn\u2019t\tit\tsupposed\tto\tbe\ttwo\ttruths\tand\tone\tlie?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tI\tmay\tnot\thave\tgone to\tmany\tparties\tback\thome,\tbut\tI\thadn\u2019t\tgrown\tup\tunder\ta\trock. \u201cWhat\t fun\t is\t it,\u201d\t Jameson\t returned,\t \u201cplaying\t by\t other\t people\u2019s\t rules?\u201d\t He was\tlooking\tat\tme\tlike\the\texpected\tme\tto\tunderstand\tthat. Understand\thim. \u201cFact\t the\t first,\u201d\t he\t rattled\t off.\t \u201cI\t knew\t what\t was\t in\t my\t grandfather\u2019s\t will long\tbefore\tyou\tshowed\tup\there.\tFact\tthe\tsecond:\tI\u2019m\tthe\tone\twho\tsent\tGrayson to\tfetch\tyou.\u201d We\t reached\t the\t top\t of\t the\t hill,\t and\t I\t could\t see\t a\t building\t in\t the\t distance.\t A cottage\u2014and\tbetween\tus\tand\tit,\ta\tbridge. \u201cFact\t the\t third,\u201d\t Jameson\t said,\t standing\t statue-still\t for\t the\t span\t of\t a heartbeat.\t\u201cI\twatched\tEmily\tLaughlin\tdie.\u201d","CHAPTER\t47 I\tdidn\u2019t\tplay\tJameson\u2019s\tgame.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tguess\twhich\tof\tthe\tthings\the\u2019d\tjust\tsaid was\ttrue,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tmistaking\tthe\tway\this\tthroat\thad\ttightened\twhen\the\u2019d said\tthose\tlast\twords. I\twatched\tEmily\tLaughlin\tdie. That\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\twhat\thad\thappened\tto\ther.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\texplain\twhy\the\u2019d\ttold me\tthat\tGrayson\thad\thappened\tto\ther. \u201cShall\twe\tturn\tour\tattention\tto\tthe\tbridge,\tHeiress?\u201d\tJameson\tdidn\u2019t\tmake\tme guess.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\the\treally\twanted\tme\tto. I\tforced\tmy\tfocus\tto\tthe\tscene\tin\tfront\tof\tus.\tIt\twas\tpicturesque.\tThere\twere fewer\t trees\t here\t to\t block\t the\t moonlight.\t I\t could\t make\t out\t the\t way\t the\t bridge arched\tthe\tcreek,\tbut\tnot\tthe\twater\tbelow.\tThe\tbridge\twas\twooden,\twith\trailings and\t balusters\t that\t looked\t like\t they\u2019d\t been\t painstakingly\t handmade.\t \u201cDid\t your grandfather\tbuild\tthis\thimself?\u201d I\u2019d\t never\t met\t Tobias\t Hawthorne,\t but\t I\t was\t starting\t to\t feel\t like\t I\t knew\t him. He\twas\teverywhere\u2014in\tthis\tpuzzle,\tin\tthe\tHouse,\tin\tthe\tboys. \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t know\t if\t he\t built\t it.\u201d\t Jameson\t flashed\t a\t Cheshire\t Cat\t grin,\t his\t teeth glinting\tin\tthe\tmoonlight.\t\u201cBut\tif\twe\u2019re\tright\tabout\tthis,\the\talmost\tcertainly\tbuilt something\tinto\tit.\u201d Jameson\t excelled\t at\t pretense\u2014pretending\t that\t I\u2019d\t never\t asked\t him\t about Emily,\tpretending\the\thadn\u2019t\tjust\ttold\tme\tthat\the\u2019d\twatched\ther\tdie. Pretending\tthat\twhat\thappened\tafter\tmidnight\tstayed\tin\tthe\tdark. He\t walked\t the\t length\t of\t the\t bridge.\t Behind\t him,\t I\t did\t the\t same.\t It\t was\t old and\t a\t little\t creaky\t but\t solid\t as\t a\t rock.\t When\t Jameson\t reached\t the\t end,\t he backtracked,\t his\t hands\t stretched\t out\t to\t the\t sides,\t fingertips\t lightly\t trailing\t the railings. \u201cAny\tidea\twhat\twe\u2019re\tlooking\tfor?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim. \u201cI\u2019ll\tknow\tit\twhen\tI\tsee\tit.\u201d\tHe\tmight\tas\twell\thave\tsaid\twhen\tI\tsee\tit,\tI\u2019ll\tlet you\t know.\t He\u2019d\t said\t that\t he\t and\t Emily\t were\t alike,\t and\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t shake\t the feeling\t that\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t expected\t her\t to\t be\t a\t passive\t participant.\t He","wouldn\u2019t\t have\t treated\t her\t as\t just\t another\t part\t of\t the\t game,\t laid\t out\t in\t the beginning\tto\tbe\tuseful\tby\tthe\tend. I\u2019m\ta\tperson.\tI\u2019m\tcapable.\tI\u2019m\there.\tI\u2019m\tplaying.\tI\ttook\tmy\tphone\tfrom\tthe pocket\t of\t my\t coat\t and\t turned\t on\t its\t flashlight.\t I\t made\t my\t way\t back\t over\t the bridge,\t shining\t the\t beam\t on\t the\t railing,\t looking\t for\t indentations\t or\t a\t carving\u2014 something.\t My\t eyes\t tracked\t the\t nails\t in\t the\t wood,\t counting\t them\t out,\t mentally measuring\tthe\tdistance\tbetween\tevery\tone. When\t I\t finished\t with\t the\t railing,\t I\t squatted,\t inspecting\t each\t baluster. Opposite\t me,\t Jameson\t did\t the\t same.\t It\t felt\t almost\t like\t we\t were\t dancing\u2014a strange\tmidnight\tdance\tfor\ttwo. I\u2019m\there. \u201cI\u2019ll\t know\t it\t when\t I\t see\t it,\u201d\t Jameson\t said\t again,\t somewhere\t between\t a mantra\tand\ta\tpromise. \u201cOr\tmaybe\tI\twill.\u201d\tI\tstraightened. Jameson\t looked\t up\t at\t me.\t \u201cSometimes,\t Heiress,\u201d\t he\t said,\t \u201cyou\t just\t need\t a different\tpoint\tof\tview.\u201d He\t jumped,\t and\t the\t next\t thing\t I\t knew,\t he\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t railing.\t I couldn\u2019t\t make\t out\t the\t water\t down\t below,\t but\t I\t could\t hear\t it.\t The\t night\t air\t was otherwise\tsilent,\tuntil\tJameson\tstarted\twalking. It\twas\tlike\twatching\thim\tteeter\ton\tthe\tbalcony,\tall\tover\tagain. The\t bridge\t isn\u2019t\t that\t high.\t The\t water\t probably\t isn\u2019t\t that\t deep.\t I\t turned\t my flashlight\t toward\t him,\t rising\t from\t my\t crouched\t position.\t The\t bridge\t creaked beneath\tme. \u201cWe\t need\t to\t look\t below,\u201d\t Jameson\t said.\t He\t climbed\t to\t the\t far\t side\t of\t the railing,\tbalancing\ton\tthe\tbridge\u2019s\tedge.\t\u201cGrab\tmy\tlegs,\u201d\the\ttold\tme,\tbut\tbefore\tI could\tfigure\tout\twhere\tto\tgrab\tthem\tor\twhat\the\twas\tplanning\tto\tdo,\the\tchanged his\tmind.\t\u201cNo.\tI\u2019m\ttoo\tbig.\tYou\u2019ll\tdrop\tme.\u201d\tHe\twas\tback\tover\tthe\trailing\tin\ta flash.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\thave\tto\thold\tyou.\u201d There\t were\t a\t lot\t of\t firsts\t I\u2019d\t never\t gotten\t around\t to\t after\t my\t mother\u2019s\t death. First\tdates.\tFirst\tkisses.\tFirst\ttimes.\tBut\tthis\tparticular\tfirst\u2014being\tdangled\toff\ta bridge\tby\ta\tboy\twho\u2019d\tjust\tconfessed\tto\twatching\this\tlast\tgirlfriend\tdie\u2014wasn\u2019t exactly\ton\tthe\tto-do\tlist. If\tshe\twas\twith\tyou,\twhy\tdid\tyou\tsay\tthat\tGrayson\thappened\tto\ther? \u201cDon\u2019t\tdrop\tyour\tphone,\u201d\tJameson\ttold\tme.\t\u201cAnd\tI\twon\u2019t\tdrop\tyou.\u201d","His\thands\twere\tbraced\tagainst\tmy\thips.\tI\twas\tfacedown,\tmy\tlegs\tbetween\tthe balusters,\tmy\ttorso\thanging\toff\tthe\tbridge\u2019s\tedge.\tIf\the\tlet\tgo,\tI\twas\tin\ttrouble. The\tDangling\tGame,\tI\tcould\talmost\thear\tmy\tmom\tdeclaring. Jameson\t adjusted\t his\t weight,\t serving\t as\t an\t anchor\t for\t mine.\t His\t knee\t is touching\tmine.\tHis\thands\tare\ton\tme.\tI\tfelt\tmore\taware\tof\tmy\town\tbody,\tmy\town skin,\tthan\tI\tcould\tever\tremember\tfeeling. Don\u2019t\t feel.\t Just\t look.\t I\t flashed\t my\t light\t at\t the\t underside\t of\t the\t bridge. Jameson\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\tgo. \u201cDo\tyou\tsee\tanything?\u201d \u201cShadows,\u201d\tI\treplied.\t\u201cSome\talgae.\u201d\tI\ttwisted,\tarching\tmy\tback\tslightly.\tThe blood\t was\t rushing\t to\t my\t head.\t \u201cThe\t boards\t on\t the\t bottom\t aren\u2019t\t the\t same boards\t we\t can\t see\t up\t top,\u201d\t I\t noted.\t \u201cThere\u2019s\t at\t least\t two\t layers\t of\t wood.\u201d\t I counted\tthe\tboards.\tTwenty-one.\tI\ttook\tanother\tfew\tseconds\tto\texamine\tthe\tway the\tboards\tmet\tup\twith\tthe\tshore,\tand\tthen\tI\tcalled\tback,\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tnothing\there, Jameson.\tPull\tme\tup.\u201d There\t were\t twenty-one\t boards\t beneath\t the\t bridge\t and,\t based\t on\t the\t count\t I\u2019d just\t completed,\t twenty-one\t on\t the\t surface.\t Everything\t added\t up.\t Nothing\t was amiss.\tJameson\tpaced,\tbut\tI\tthought\tbetter\tstanding\tstill. Or\t I\t would\t have\t thought\t better\t standing\t still\t if\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t watching\t him pace.\t He\t had\t a\t way\t of\t moving\u2014unspeakable\t energy,\t uncanny\t grace.\t \u201cIt\u2019s getting\tlate,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\taverting\tmy\tgaze. \u201cIt\t was\t always\t late,\u201d\t Jameson\t told\t me.\t \u201cIf\t you\t were\t going\t to\t turn\t into\t a pumpkin,\tit\twould\thave\thappened\tby\tnow,\tCinderella.\u201d Another\t day,\t another\t nickname.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t read\t into\t that\u2014I\t wasn\u2019t even\tsure\twhat\tto\tread\tinto\tthat.\t\u201cWe\thave\tschool\ttomorrow,\u201d\tI\treminded\thim. \u201cMaybe\twe\tdo.\u201d\tJameson\thit\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tbridge,\tturned,\tand\twalked\tback. \u201cMaybe\t we\t don\u2019t.\t You\t can\t play\t by\t the\t rules\u2014or\t you\t can\t make\t them.\t I\t know which\tI\tprefer,\tHeiress.\u201d Which\t Emily\t preferred.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t keep\t myself\t from\t going\t there.\t I\t tried\t to focus\t on\t the\t moment,\t the\t puzzle\t at\t hand.\t The\t bridge\t creaked.\t Jameson\t kept pacing.\tI\tcleared\tmy\tmind.\tAnd\tthe\tbridge\tcreaked\tagain. \u201cWait.\u201d\tI\tcocked\tmy\thead\tto\tthe\tside.\t\u201cStop.\u201d\tShockingly,\tJameson\tdid\tas\tI\u2019d commanded.\t \u201cBack\t up.\t Slowly.\u201d\t I\t waited,\t and\t I\t listened\u2014and\t then\t I\t heard\t the creak\tagain.","\u201cIt\u2019s\t the\t same\t board.\u201d\t Jameson\t arrived\t at\t that\t conclusion\t at\t the\t same\t time\t I did.\t \u201cEvery\t time.\u201d\t He\t squatted\t down\t to\t get\t a\t better\t look\t at\t it.\t I\t knelt,\t too.\t The board\t didn\u2019t\t look\t different\t from\t any\t of\t the\t others.\t I\t ran\t my\t fingers\t over\t it, feeling\tfor\tsomething\u2014I\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhat. Beside\tme,\tJameson\twas\tdoing\tthe\tsame.\tHe\tbrushed\tagainst\tme.\tI\ttried\tnot to\t feel\t anything\t and\t expected\t him\t to\t pull\t back,\t but\t instead,\t his\t fingers\t slid between\tmine,\tweaving\tour\thands\ttogether,\tflat\ton\tthe\tboard. He\tpressed\tdown. I\tdid\tthe\tsame. The\t board\t creaked.\t I\t leaned\t into\t it,\t and\t Jameson\t began\t rotating\t our\t hands, slowly,\tfrom\tone\tside\tof\tthe\tboard\tto\tthe\tother. \u201cIt\tmoves.\u201d\tMy\teyes\tdarted\tup\ttoward\thim.\t\u201cJust\ta\tlittle.\u201d \u201cA\tlittle\tisn\u2019t\tenough.\u201d\tHe\tpulled\this\tfingers\tslowly\tback\tfrom\tmine,\tfeather- light\tand\twarm.\t\u201cWe\u2019re\tlooking\tfor\ta\tlatch\u2014something\tkeeping\tthe\tboard\tfrom rotating\tall\tthe\tway\taround.\u201d Eventually,\twe\tfound\tit,\tsmall\tknots\tin\tthe\twood\twhere\tthe\tboard\tmet\tup\twith the\t balusters.\t Jameson\t took\t the\t one\t on\t the\t left.\t I\t took\t the\t one\t on\t the\t right. Moving\t in\t synchrony,\t we\t pressed.\t There\t was\t a\t popping\t sound.\t When\t we\t met back\t in\t the\t middle\t and\t tested\t the\t board\t once\t more,\t it\t moved\t more\t freely. Together,\twe\trotated\tit\tuntil\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe\tboard\tfaced\tupward. I\t shined\t my\t flashlight\t on\t the\t wood.\t Jameson\t did\t the\t same\t with\t his.\t Carved into\tthe\tsurface\tof\tthe\twood\twas\ta\tsymbol. \u201cInfinity,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid,\ttracing\this\tthumb\tover\tthe\tcarving. I\ttilted\tmy\thead\tto\tthe\tside\tand\ttook\ta\tmore\tpragmatic\tview.\t\u201cOr\teight.\u201d","CHAPTER\t48 Morning\tcame\tway\ttoo\tearly.\tSomehow,\tI\tdragged\tmyself\tout\tof\tbed\tand\tgot dressed.\t I\t debated\t if\t I\t could\t get\t away\t with\t skipping\t hair\t and\t makeup\t but remembered\twhat\tXander\thad\tsaid\tabout\ttelling\tthe\tstory\tso\tno\tone\telse\ttells\tit for\tyou. After\twhat\tI\u2019d\tpulled\twith\tthe\tpress\tthe\tday\tbefore,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tafford\tto\tshow weakness. As\t I\t finished\t donning\t what\t I\t mentally\t called\t my\t battle\t face,\t there\t was\t a knock\t at\t my\t door.\t I\t answered\t it\t and\t saw\t the\t maid\t who\t Alisa\t had\t told\t me\t was \u201cone\t of\t Nash\u2019s.\u201d\t She\t was\t carrying\t a\t breakfast\t tray.\t Mrs.\t Laughlin\t hadn\u2019t\t sent one\tup\tsince\tmy\tfirst\tmorning\tat\tHawthorne\tHouse. I\twondered\twhat\tI\u2019d\tdone\tto\tdeserve\tthis\tone. \u201cOur\tcrew\tdeep-cleans\tthe\thouse\tfrom\ttop\tto\tbottom\ton\tTuesdays,\u201d\tthe\tmaid informed\t me,\t once\t she\u2019d\t set\t up\t the\t tray.\t \u201cIf\t it\u2019s\t all\t right\t with\t you,\t I\u2019ll\t start\t in your\tbathroom.\u201d \u201cJust\tlet\tme\thang\tup\tmy\ttowel,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tthe\twoman\tstared\tat\tme\tlike\tI\u2019d announced\tan\tintention\tto\tdo\tnaked\tyoga\tright\tthere\tin\tfront\tof\ther. \u201cYou\tcan\tleave\tyour\ttowel\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tWe\u2019ll\tbe\tlaundering\tthem\tanyway.\u201d That\t just\t felt\t wrong.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t Avery.\u201d\t I\t introduced\t myself,\t even\t though\t she almost\tcertainly\tknew\tmy\tname.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tyour\tname?\u201d \u201cMellie.\u201d\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tvolunteer\tmore\tthan\tthat. \u201cThank\t you,\t Mellie.\u201d\t She\t stared\t at\t me\t blankly.\t \u201cFor\t your\t help.\u201d\t I\t thought about\tthe\tfact\tthat\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tkept\toutsiders\tout\tof\tHawthorne\tHouse as\tmuch\tas\tpossible.\tAnd\tstill,\tthere\twas\tan\tentire\tcrew\tin\tto\tclean\ton\tTuesdays. I\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tfound\tthat\tsurprising.\tIt\tshould\thave\tbeen\tmore\tsurprising\tthat the\tentire\tcrew\twasn\u2019t\there\tcleaning\tevery\tday.\tAnd\tyet\u2026 I\twent\tacross\tthe\thall\tto\tLibby\u2019s\troom\tbecause\tI\tknew\tshe\twould\tget\texactly how\t surreal\t and\t uncomfortable\t this\t felt.\t I\t knocked\t lightly,\t in\t case\t she\t was\t still sleeping,\tand\tthe\tdoor\tdrifted\tinward,\tjust\tfar\tenough\tfor\tme\tto\tcatch\tsight\tof\ta chair\tand\tottoman\u2014and\tthe\tman\tcurrently\toccupying\tthem.","Nash\tHawthorne\u2019s\tlong\tlegs\twere\tstretched\tout\ton\tthe\tottoman,\this\tboots\tstill on.\tA\tcowboy\that\tcovered\this\tface.\tHe\twas\tsleeping. In\tmy\tsister\u2019s\troom. Nash\tHawthorne\twas\tsleeping\tin\tmy\tsister\u2019s\troom. I\t made\t an\t involuntary\t sound\t and\t stepped\t back.\t Nash\t stirred,\t then\t saw\t me. Hat\tin\thand,\the\tslipped\tout\tof\tthe\tchair\tand\tjoined\tme\tin\tthe\thallway. \u201cWhat\t are\t you\t doing\t in\t Libby\u2019s\t room?\u201d\t I\t asked\t him.\t He\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t in\t her bed,\t but\t still.\t What\t the\t hell\t was\t the\t oldest\t Hawthorne\t brother\t doing\t keeping vigil\tover\tmy\tsister? \u201cShe\u2019s\tgoing\tthrough\tsomething,\u201d\tNash\tsaid,\tlike\tthat\twas\tnews\tto\tme.\tLike\tI hadn\u2019t\tbeen\tthe\tone\tto\thandle\tDrake\tthe\tday\tbefore. \u201cLibby\tisn\u2019t\tone\tof\tyour\tprojects,\u201d\tI\ttold\thim.\tI\thad\tno\tidea\thow\tmuch\ttime they\u2019d\t spent\t together\t these\t past\t few\t days.\t In\t the\t kitchen,\t she\u2019d\t seemed\t to\t find him\tirritating.\tLibby\tdoesn\u2019t\tget\tirritated.\tShe\u2019s\ta\tgothic\tbeam\tof\tsunshine. \u201cMy\t projects?\u201d\t Nash\t repeated,\t eyes\t narrowing.\t \u201cWhat\t exactly\t has\t Lee-Lee been\ttelling\tyou?\u201d His\tcontinual\tuse\tof\ta\tnickname\tfor\tmy\tlawyer\tonly\tserved\tto\tremind\tme\tthat they\t had\t been\t engaged.\t He\u2019s\t Alisa\u2019s\t ex.\t He\u2019s\t \u201csaved\u201d\t who\t knows\t how\t many members\tof\tthe\tstaff.\tAnd\the\tspent\tthe\tnight\tin\tmy\tsister\u2019s\troom. This\tcould\tnot\tpossibly\tend\twell.\tBut\tbefore\tI\tcould\tsay\tthat,\tMellie\tstepped out\tof\tmy\troom.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tdone\twith\tthe\tbathroom\tyet,\tso\tshe\tmust\thave heard\tus.\tHeard\tNash. \u201cMornin\u2019,\u201d\the\ttold\ther. \u201cGood\t morning,\u201d\t she\t said\t with\t a\t smile\u2014and\t then\t she\t looked\t at\t me,\t looked at\tLibby\u2019s\troom,\tlooked\tat\tthe\topen\tdoor\u2014and\tstopped\tsmiling.","CHAPTER\t49 Oren\t met\t me\t at\t the\t car\t with\t a\t cup\t of\t coffee.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t say\t a\t word\t about\t my little\t adventure\t with\t Jameson\t the\t night\t before,\t and\t I\t didn\u2019t\t ask\t how\t much\t he\u2019d observed.\t As\t he\t opened\t the\t car\t door,\t Oren\t leaned\t toward\t me.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t say\t I didn\u2019t\twarn\tyou.\u201d I\thad\tno\tidea\twhat\the\twas\ttalking\tabout,\tuntil\tI\trealized\tthat\tAlisa\twas\tsitting in\tthe\tfront\tseat.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tlooking\tsedate\tthis\tmorning,\u201d\tshe\tcommented. I\ttook\tsedate\tto\tmean\tmoderately\tless\trash\tand\ttherefore\tless\tlikely\tto\tevoke a\t tabloid\t scandal.\t I\t wondered\t how\t she\t would\t have\t described\t the\t scene\t I\u2019d stumbled\tacross\tin\tLibby\u2019s\troom. This\tis\tso\tnot\tgood. \u201cI\t hope\t you\t don\u2019t\t have\t plans\t for\t this\t weekend,\t Avery,\u201d\t Alisa\t said\t as\t Oren put\t the\t car\t in\t drive.\t \u201cOr\t the\t next\t weekend.\u201d\t Neither\t Jameson\t nor\t Xander\t had joined\t us,\t which\t meant\t that\t I\t had\t absolutely\t no\t buffer,\t and\t clearly,\t Alisa\t was royally\tpissed. My\tlawyer\tcan\u2019t\tground\tme,\tcan\tshe?\tI\tthought. \u201cI\twas\thoping\tto\tkeep\tyou\tout\tof\tthe\tlimelight\ta\tbit\tlonger,\u201d\tAlisa\tcontinued pointedly,\t \u201cbut\t since\t that\t plan\t has\t gone\t by\t the\t wayside,\t you\u2019ll\t be\t attending\t a pink\tribbon\tfund\traiser\tthis\tSaturday\tnight\tand\ta\tgame\tnext\tSunday.\u201d \u201cA\tgame?\u201d\tI\trepeated. \u201cNFL,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tcurtly.\t\u201cYou\town\tthe\tteam.\tMy\thope\tis\tthat\tscheduling\tsome high-profile\t social\t outings\t will\t provide\t enough\t grist\t for\t the\t gossip\t mill\t that\t we can\t delay\t setting\t up\t your\t first\t sit-down\t interview\t until\t after\t we\u2019ve\t gotten\t you some\treal\tmedia\ttraining.\u201d I\t was\t still\t trying\t to\t absorb\t the\t NFL\t bombshell\t when\t the\t words\t media training\tput\ta\tknot\tof\tdread\tin\tmy\tthroat. \u201cDo\tI\thave\tto\u2014\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\t Alisa\t told\t me.\t \u201cYes\t to\t the\t gala\t this\t weekend,\t yes\t to\t the\t game\t next weekend,\tyes\tto\tthe\tmedia\ttraining.\u201d I\t didn\u2019t\t say\t another\t word\t in\t complaint.\t I\u2019d\t stoked\t this\t fire\u2014and\t protected","Libby\u2014knowing\tthat,\tsooner\tor\tlater,\tI\u2019d\thave\tto\tpay\tthe\tpiper. I\tgot\tso\tmany\tstares\twhen\twe\tarrived\tat\tschool\tthat\tI\tfound\tmyself\tquestioning whether\t I\u2019d\t dreamed\t my\t last\t two\t days\t at\t Heights\t Country\t Day.\t This\t was\t what I\u2019d\texpected,\tback\ton\tday\tone.\tJust\tlike\tthen,\tThea\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tmake\ta\tmove toward\tme. \u201cYou\tdid\ta\tthing,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\ta\ttone\tthat\thighly\tsuggested\twhat\tI\u2019d\tdone\twas both\t naughty\t and\t delicious.\t Inexplicably,\t my\t mind\t went\t to\t Jameson,\t to\t the moment\ton\tthe\tbridge\twhen\this\tfingers\thad\twoven\ttheir\tway\tbetween\tmine. \u201cDo\t you\t really\t know\t why\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t left\t you\t everything?\u201d\t Thea asked,\ther\teyes\talight.\t\u201cThe\twhole\tschool\u2019s\ttalking\tabout\tit.\u201d \u201cThe\twhole\tschool\tcan\ttalk\tabout\twhatever\tthey\twant.\u201d \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t like\t me\t much,\u201d\t Thea\t noted.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t okay.\t I\u2019m\t a hypercompetitive,\tbisexual\tperfectionist\twho\tlikes\tto\twin\tand\tlooks\tlike\tthis.\tI\u2019m no\tstranger\tto\tbeing\thated.\u201d I\t rolled\t my\t eyes.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t hate\t you.\u201d\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t her\t well\t enough\t to\t hate her\tyet. \u201cThat\u2019s\tgood,\u201d\tThea\treplied\twith\ta\tself-satisfied\tsmile,\t\u201cbecause\twe\u2019re\tgoing to\t be\t spending\t a\t lot\t more\t time\t with\t each\t other.\t My\t parents\t are\t going\t out\t of town.\t They\t seem\t to\t believe\t that,\t left\t to\t my\t own\t devices,\t I\t might\t do\t something ill-advised,\t so\t I\u2019ll\t be\t staying\t with\t my\t uncle,\t and\t I\t understand\t that\t he\t and\t Zara have\ttaken\tup\tresidence\tat\tHawthorne\tHouse.\tI\tguess\tthey\u2019re\tnot\tquite\tready\tto cede\tthe\tfamily\thomestead\tto\ta\tstranger.\u201d Zara\thad\tbeen\tplaying\tnice\u2014or\tat\tleast\tnicer.\tBut\tI\u2019d\thad\tno\tidea\tthat\tshe\u2019d moved\t in.\t Then\t again,\t Hawthorne\t House\t was\t so\t gargantuan\t that\t an\t entire professional\tbaseball\tteam\tcould\tbe\tliving\tthere\tand\tI\tmight\thave\tno\tidea. For\tall\tI\tknew,\tI\tmight\town\ta\tprofessional\tbaseball\tteam. \u201cWhy\twould\tyou\twant\tto\tstay\tat\tHawthorne\tHouse?\u201d\tI\tasked\tThea.\tShe\twas the\tone\twho\u2019d\twarned\tme\taway. \u201cContrary\tto\tpopular\tbelief,\tI\tdon\u2019t\talways\tdo\twhat\tI\twant.\u201d\tThea\ttossed\ther dark\t hair\t over\t her\t shoulder.\t \u201cAnd\t besides,\t Emily\t was\t my\t best\t friend.\t After everything\t that\t happened\t last\t year,\t when\t it\t comes\t to\t the\t charms\t of\t Hawthorne brothers,\tI\u2019m\timmune.\u201d","CHAPTER\t50 When\t I\t finally\t got\t ahold\t of\t Max,\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t feeling\t chatty.\t I\t could\t tell\t that something\t was\t wrong,\t but\t not\t what.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t have\t a\t single\t fake\t expletive\t to share\t on\t the\t topic\t of\t Thea\t moving\t in,\t and\t she\t cut\t our\t back-and-forth\t short without\t any\t commentary\t whatsoever\t on\t the\t Hawthorne\t brothers\u2019\t physiques.\t I asked\tif\teverything\twas\tokay.\tShe\tsaid\tthat\tshe\thad\tto\tgo. Xander,\tin\tcontrast,\twas\tmore\tthan\twilling\tto\tdiscuss\tthe\tThea\tdevelopment. \u201cIf\tThea\u2019s\there,\u201d\the\ttold\tme\tthat\tafternoon,\tlowering\this\tvoice\tlike\tthe\twalls\tof Hawthorne\tHouse\tmight\thave\tears,\t\u201cshe\u2019s\tup\tto\tsomething.\u201d \u201cShe\tas\tin\tThea?\u201d\tI\tasked\tpointedly.\t\u201cOr\tyour\taunt?\u201d Zara\t had\t thrown\t me\t together\t with\t Grayson\t at\t the\t foundation,\t and\t now\t she was\tmoving\tThea\tinto\tthe\tHouse.\tI\trecognized\tsomeone\tstacking\tthe\tboard,\teven if\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tthe\tplay\tunderneath. \u201cYou\u2019re\t right,\u201d\t Xander\t said.\t \u201cI\t seriously\t doubt\t Thea\t volunteered\t to\t spend time\twith\tour\tfamily.\tIt\tis\tpossible\tthat\tshe\tfervently\twishes\tfor\tvultures\tto\tdine upon\tmy\tentrails.\u201d \u201cYou?\u201d\t I\t said.\t Thea\u2019s\t issues\t with\t the\t Hawthorne\t brothers\t had\t seemed\t to revolve\t around\t Emily\u2014and\t that\t meant,\t I\t had\t assumed,\t around\t Jameson\t and Grayson.\t\u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tdo?\u201d \u201cIt\t is\t a\t story,\u201d\t Xander\t said\t with\t a\t sigh,\t \u201cinvolving\t star-crossed\t love,\t fake dating,\ttragedy,\tpenance\u2026\tand\tpossibly\tvultures.\u201d I\t thought\t back\t to\t asking\t Xander\t about\t Rebecca\t Laughlin.\t He\t hadn\u2019t\t said anything\tto\tindicate\tshe\twas\tEmily\u2019s\tsister.\tHe\u2019d\tmurmured\talmost\texactly\twhat he\u2019d\tjust\tsaid\tabout\tThea. Xander\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\tme\truminate\tfor\tlong.\tInstead,\the\tdragged\tme\toff\tto\twhat\the declared\t to\t be\t his\t fourth-favorite\t room\t in\t the\t House.\t \u201cIf\t you\u2019re\t going\t to\t be going\thead-to-head\twith\tThea,\u201d\the\ttold\tme,\t\u201cyou\tneed\tto\tbe\tprepared.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\thead-to-head\twith\tanyone,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tfirmly. \u201cIt\tis\tadorable\tthat\tyou\tbelieve\tthat.\u201d\tXander\tstopped\twhere\tone\tcorridor\tmet another.\t He\t reached\t up\u2014all\t six\t foot\t three\t of\t him\u2014to\t touch\t a\t molding\t that\t ran","up\t the\t corner.\t He\t must\t have\t hit\t some\t kind\t of\t release,\t because\t the\t next\t thing\t I knew,\the\twas\tpulling\tthe\tmolding\ttoward\tus,\trevealing\ta\tgap\tbehind\tit.\tHe\tstuck his\t hand\t into\t the\t gap\t behind\t the\t molding,\t and\t a\t moment\t later,\t a\t portion\t of\t the wall\tswung\tout\ttoward\tus\tlike\ta\tdoor. I\twas\tnever\tgoing\tto\tget\tused\tto\tthis. \u201cWelcome\t to\u2026\t my\t lair!\u201d\t Xander\t sounded\t overjoyed\t to\t be\t saying\t those words. I\t stepped\t into\t his\t \u201clair\u201d\t and\t saw\u2026\t a\t machine?\t Contraption\t probably\t would have\t been\t the\t more\t accurate\t term.\t There\t were\t dozens\t of\t gears,\t pulleys,\t and chains,\ta\tcomplicated\tseries\tof\tconnected\tramps,\tseveral\tbuckets,\ttwo\tconveyor belts,\ta\tslingshot,\ta\tbirdcage,\tfour\tpinwheels,\tand\tat\tleast\tfour\tballoons. \u201cIs\tthat\tan\tanvil?\u201d\tI\tasked,\tfrowning\tand\tleaning\tforward\tfor\ta\tbetter\tlook. \u201cThat,\u201d\tXander\tsaid\tproudly,\t\u201cis\ta\tRube\tGoldberg\tmachine.\tAs\tit\tso\thappens, I\tam\ta\tthree-time\tworld\tchampion\tat\tbuilding\tmachines\tthat\tdo\tsimple\tthings\tin overly\tcomplicated\tways.\u201d\tHe\thanded\tme\ta\tmarble.\t\u201cPlace\tthis\tin\tthe\tpinwheel.\u201d I\tdid.\tThe\tpinwheel\tspun,\tblowing\ta\tballoon,\tthat\ttipped\ta\tbucket\u2026 As\t I\t watched\t each\t mechanism\t set\t off\t the\t next,\t I\t glanced\t at\t the\t youngest Hawthorne\tbrother\tout\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy\teye.\t\u201cWhat\tdoes\tthis\thave\tto\tdo\twith Thea\tmoving\tin?\u201d He\u2019d\t told\t me\t that\t I\t needed\t to\t be\t prepared,\t then\t brought\t me\t here.\t Was\t this supposed\t to\t be\t some\t kind\t of\t metaphor?\t A\t warning\t that\t Zara\u2019s\t actions\t might appear\t complicated,\t even\t when\t the\t goal\t was\t simple?\t An\t insight\t into\t Thea\u2019s charge? Xander\tcast\ta\tsideways\tlook\tat\tme\tand\tgrinned.\t\u201cWho\tsaid\tthis\thad\tanything to\tdo\twith\tThea?\u201d","CHAPTER\t51 That\tnight,\tin\thonor\tof\tThea\u2019s\tvisit,\tMrs.\tLaughlin\tmade\ta\tmelt-in-your-mouth roast\tbeef.\tOrgasmic\tgarlic\tmashed\tpotatoes.\tRoasted\tasparagus,\tbroccoli\tflorets, and\tthree\tdifferent\tkinds\tof\tcr\u00e8me\tbr\u00fbl\u00e9e. I\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t feeling\t like\t it\t was\t pretty\t revealing\t that\t Mrs.\t Laughlin\t had pulled\tout\tall\tthe\tstops\tfor\tThea\u2014but\tnot\tfor\tme. Trying\tnot\tto\tseem\tpetty,\tI\tsat\tdown\tto\ta\tformal\tdinner\tin\tthe\t\u201cdining\troom,\u201d which\t probably\t should\t have\t been\t called\t a\t banquet\t hall\t instead.\t The\t massive table\t was\t set\t for\t eleven.\t I\t cataloged\t the\t participants\t in\t this\t little\t family\t dinner: four\t Hawthorne\t brothers.\t Skye.\t Zara\t and\t Constantine.\t Thea.\t Libby.\t Nan.\t And me. \u201cThea,\u201d\tZara\tsaid,\ther\tvoice\talmost\ttoo\tpleasant,\t\u201chow\tis\tfield\thockey?\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re\tundefeated\tthis\tseason.\u201d\tThea\tturned\ttoward\tme.\t\u201cHave\tyou\tdecided which\tsport\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tplaying,\tAvery?\u201d I\tmanaged\tto\tresist\tthe\turge\tto\tsnort,\tbut\tbarely.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tdo\tsports.\u201d \u201cEveryone\t at\t Country\t Day\t does\t a\t sport,\u201d\t Xander\t informed\t me,\t before stuffing\t his\t mouth\t with\t roast\t beef.\t His\t eyes\t rolled\t upward\t with\t pleasure\t as\t he chewed.\t \u201cIt\t is\t an\t actual,\t real\t requirement\t and\t not\t a\t figment\t of\t Thea\u2019s delightfully\tvindictive\timagination.\u201d \u201cXander,\u201d\tNash\tsaid\tin\twarning. \u201cI\tsaid\tshe\twas\tdelightfully\tvindictive,\u201d\tXander\treplied\tinnocently. \u201cIf\tI\twere\ta\tboy,\u201d\tThea\ttold\thim\twith\ta\tSouthern\tbelle\tsmile,\t\u201cpeople\twould just\tcall\tme\tdriven.\u201d \u201cThea.\u201d\tConstantine\tfrowned\tat\ther. \u201cRight.\u201d\tThea\tdabbed\tat\ther\tlips\twith\ther\tnapkin.\t\u201cNo\tfeminism\tat\tthe\tdinner table.\u201d This\ttime,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tbite\tback\tthe\tsnort.\tPoint,\tThea. \u201cA\t toast,\u201d\t Skye\t declared\t out\t of\t nowhere,\t holding\t up\t her\t wineglass\t and slurring\tthe\twords\tenough\tthat\tit\twas\tclear\tshe\u2019d\talready\tbeen\timbibing. \u201cSkye,\tdear,\u201d\tNan\tsaid\tfirmly,\t\u201chave\tyou\tconsidered\tsleeping\tit\toff?\u201d","\u201cA\ttoast,\u201d\tSkye\treiterated,\tglass\tstill\theld\thigh.\t\u201cTo\tAvery.\u201d For\tonce,\tshe\u2019d\tgotten\tmy\tname\tright.\tI\twaited\tfor\tthe\tguillotine\tto\tdrop,\tbut Skye\tsaid\tnothing\telse.\tZara\traised\ther\tglass.\tOne\tby\tone,\tevery\tother\tglass\twent up. Every\t person\t in\t this\t room\t had\t probably\t gotten\t the\t message:\t No\t good\t could come\t of\t challenging\t the\t will.\t I\t might\t have\t been\t the\t enemy\u2014but\t I\t was\t also\t the one\twith\tthe\tmoney. Is\tthat\twhy\tZara\tbrought\tThea\there?\tTo\tget\tclose\tto\tme?\tIs\tthat\twhy\tshe\tleft me\talone\tat\tthe\tfoundation\twith\tGrayson? \u201cTo\t you,\t Heiress,\u201d\t Jameson\t murmured\t to\t my\t left.\t I\t turned\t to\t look\t at\t him.\t I hadn\u2019t\tseen\thim\tsince\tthe\tnight\tbefore.\tI\twas\tfairly\tcertain\the\u2019d\tskipped\tschool.\tI wondered\t if\t he\u2019d\t spent\t the\t day\t in\t the\t Black\t Wood,\t looking\t for\t the\t next\t clue. Without\tme. \u201cTo\tEmily,\u201d\tThea\tadded\tsuddenly,\ther\tglass\tstill\traised,\ther\teyes\ton\tJameson. \u201cMay\tshe\trest\tin\tpeace.\u201d Jameson\u2019s\t glass\t came\t down.\t His\t chair\t was\t pushed\t roughly\t back\t from\t the table.\t Farther\t down,\t Grayson\u2019s\t fingers\t tightened\t around\t the\t stem\t of\t his\t own glass,\this\tknuckles\tgoing\twhite. \u201cTheadora,\u201d\tConstantine\thissed. Thea\t took\t a\t drink\t and\t adopted\t the\t world\u2019s\t most\t innocent\t expression. \u201cWhat?\u201d Everything\t in\t me\t wanted\t to\t follow\t Jameson,\t but\t I\t waited\t a\t few\t minutes\t before excusing\tmyself.\tLike\tthat\twould\tkeep\tany\tof\tthem\tfrom\tknowing\texactly\twhere I\twas\tgoing. In\t the\t foyer,\t I\t pressed\t my\t hand\t flat\t against\t the\t wall\t panels,\t hitting\t the sequence\tdesigned\tto\treveal\tthe\tcoat\tcloset\tdoor.\tI\tneeded\tmy\tcoat\tif\tI\twas\tgoing to\t venture\t off\t into\t the\t Black\t Wood.\t I\t was\t sure\t that\t was\t where\t Jameson\t had gone. As\tmy\thand\thooked\taround\tthe\thanger,\ta\tvoice\tspoke\tfrom\tbehind\tme.\t\u201cI\u2019m not\tgoing\tto\task\tyou\twhat\tJameson\tis\tup\tto.\tWhat\tyou\u2019re\tup\tto.\u201d I\tturned\tto\tface\tGrayson.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tnot\tgoing\tto\task\tme,\u201d\tI\trepeated,\ttaking\tin the\tset\tof\this\tjaw\tand\tthose\tcanny\tsilver\teyes,\t\u201cbecause\tyou\talready\tknow.\u201d \u201cI\twas\tthere\tlast\tnight.\tAt\tthe\tbridge.\u201d\tThere\twere\tedges\tin\tGrayson\u2019s\ttone\u2014 not\trough,\tbut\tsharp.\t\u201cThis\tmorning,\tI\twent\tto\tsee\tthe\tRed\tWill.\u201d","\u201cI\t still\t have\t the\t decoder,\u201d\t I\t pointed\t out,\t trying\t not\t to\t read\t anything\t into\t the fact\t that\t he\u2019d\t seen\t his\t brother\t and\t me\t at\t the\t bridge\u2014and\t didn\u2019t\t sound\t happy about\tit. Grayson\tshrugged,\this\tshoulders\tpulling\tagainst\tthe\tconfines\tof\this\tsuit.\t\u201cRed acetate\tis\teasy\tenough\tto\tcome\tby.\u201d If\t he\u2019d\t seen\t the\t Red\t Will,\t he\t knew\t that\t their\t middle\t names\t were\t clues.\t I wondered\t if\t his\t mind\t had\t gone\t immediately\t to\t their\t fathers.\t I\t wondered\t if\t that hurt\thim,\tthe\tway\tit\thurt\tJameson. \u201cYou\twere\tthere\tlast\tnight,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\techoing\tback\twhat\the\u2019d\ttold\tme.\t\u201cAt\tthe bridge.\u201d\tHow\tmuch\thad\the\tseen?\tHow\tmuch\tdid\the\tknow? What\thad\the\tthought\twhen\tJameson\tand\tI\thad\ttouched? \u201cWestbrook.\t Davenport.\t Winchester.\t Blackwood.\u201d\t Grayson\t took\t a\t step toward\tme.\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tlast\tnames\u2014but\tthey\tare\talso\tlocations.\tI\tfound\tthe\tclue\ton the\tbridge\tafter\tyou\tand\tmy\tbrother\thad\tgone.\u201d He\u2019d\tfollowed\tus\tthere.\tHe\u2019d\tfound\twhat\twe\u2019d\tfound. \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\twant,\tGrayson?\u201d \u201cIf\t you\t were\t smart,\u201d\t he\t warned\t softly,\t \u201cyou\u2019d\t stay\t away\t from\t Jameson. From\t the\t game.\u201d\t He\t looked\t down.\t \u201cFrom\t me.\u201d\t Emotion\t slashed\t across\t his features,\t but\t he\t masked\t it\t before\t I\t could\t tell\t what,\t exactly,\t he\t was\t feeling. \u201cThea\u2019s\tright,\u201d\the\tsaid\tsharply,\tturning\taway\tfrom\tme\u2014walking\taway\tfrom\tme. \u201cThis\tfamily\u2014we\tdestroy\teverything\twe\ttouch.\u201d","CHAPTER\t52 I\tknew\tfrom\tthe\tmap\troughly\twhere\tthe\tBlack\tWood\twas.\tI\tfound\tJameson\ton the\t outskirts,\t standing\t eerily\t still,\t like\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t move.\t Without\t warning,\t he broke\t that\t stillness,\t punching\t furiously\t at\t a\t nearby\t tree,\t hard\t and\t fast,\t the\t bark tearing\tat\this\thands. Thea\t brought\t up\t Emily.\t This\t is\t what\t even\t the\t mention\t of\t her\t name\t does\t to him. \u201cJameson!\u201d\tI\t was\talmost\t to\t him\tnow.\t He\t jerked\this\t head\t toward\tme,\t and\t I stopped,\t overwhelmed\t with\t the\t feeling\t that\t I\t shouldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t there,\t that\t I had\tno\tright\tto\twitness\tany\tof\tthe\tHawthorne\tboys\thurting\tthat\tmuch. The\tonly\tthing\tI\tcould\tthink\tto\tdo\twas\ttry\tto\tmake\twhat\tI\u2019d\tjust\tseen\tmatter less.\t \u201cBroken\t any\t fingers\t lately?\u201d\t I\t asked\t lightly.\t The\t Pretending\t It\t Doesn\u2019t Matter\tGame. Jameson\twas\tready\tand\twilling\tto\tplay.\tHe\theld\this\thands\tup,\tgrunting\tas\the bent\tthem\tat\tthe\tknuckles.\t\u201cStill\tintact.\u201d I\tdragged\tmy\teyes\tfrom\thim\tand\ttook\tin\tour\tsurroundings.\tThe\tperimeter\twas so\t densely\t wooded\t that\t if\t the\t trees\t hadn\u2019t\t already\t shed\t their\t leaves,\t no\t light would\thave\tbeen\table\tto\tmake\tit\tto\tthe\tforest\tfloor. \u201cWhat\t are\t we\t looking\t for?\u201d\t I\t asked.\t Maybe\t he\t didn\u2019t\t consider\t me\t a\t real partner\tin\tthis\thunt.\tMaybe\tthere\twas\tno\treal\twe\u2014but\the\tanswered. \u201cYour\tguess\tis\tas\tgood\tas\tmine,\tHeiress.\u201d All\taround\tus,\tbare\tbranches\tstretched\tup\toverhead,\tskeletal\tand\tcrooked. \u201cYou\t skipped\t school\t today\t to\t do\t something,\u201d\t I\t pointed\t out.\t \u201cYou\t have\t a guess.\u201d Jameson\t smiled\t like\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t feel\t the\t blood\t welling\t up\t on\t his\t hands. \u201cFour\t middle\t names.\t Four\t locations.\t Four\t clues\u2014carvings,\t most\t likely. Symbols,\tif\tthe\tclue\ton\tthe\tbridge\twas\tinfinity;\tnumbers,\tif\tit\twas\tan\teight.\u201d I\twondered\twhat,\tif\tanything,\the\u2019d\tdone\tto\tclear\this\tmind\tbetween\tlast\tnight and\tentering\tthe\tBlack\tWood.\tClimbing.\tRacing.\tJumping. Disappearing\tinto\tthe\twalls.","\u201cDo\tyou\tknow\thow\tmany\ttrees\tfour\tacres\tcan\thold,\tHeiress?\u201d\tJameson\tasked jauntily.\t\u201cTwo\thundred,\tin\ta\thealthy\tforest.\u201d \u201cAnd\tin\tthe\tBlack\tWood?\u201d\tI\tprompted,\ttaking\tfirst\tone\tstep\ttoward\thim,\tthen another. \u201cAt\tleast\ttwice\tthat.\u201d It\t was\t like\t the\t library\t all\t over\t again.\t Like\t the\t keys.\t There\t had\t to\t be\t a shortcut,\ta\ttrick\twe\tweren\u2019t\tseeing. \u201cHere.\u201d\tJameson\tbent\tdown,\tthen\tplaced\ta\troll\tof\tglow-in-the-dark\tduct\ttape in\tmy\thand,\tletting\this\tfingers\tbrush\tmine\tas\the\tdid.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tbeen\tmarking\toff\ttrees as\tI\tcheck\tthem.\u201d I\t concentrated\t on\t his\t words\u2014not\t his\t touch.\t Mostly.\t \u201cThere\t has\t got\t to\t be\t a better\tway,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tturning\tthe\tduct\ttape\tover\tin\tmy\thands,\tmy\teyes\tfinding\ttheir way\tto\this\tonce\tmore. Jameson\u2019s\t lips\t twisted\t into\t a\t lazy,\t devil-may-care\t smirk.\t \u201cGot\t any suggestions,\tMystery\tGirl?\u201d Two\tdays\tlater,\tJameson\tand\tI\twere\tstill\tdoing\tthings\tthe\thard\tway,\tand\twe\tstill hadn\u2019t\tfound\tanything.\tI\tcould\tsee\thim\tbecoming\tmore\tand\tmore\tsingle-minded. Jameson\t Winchester\t Hawthorne\t would\t push\t until\t he\t hit\t a\t wall.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t sure what\t he\t would\t do\t to\t break\t through\t it\t this\t time,\t but\t every\t once\t in\t a\t while,\t I caught\thim\tlooking\tat\tme\tin\ta\tway\tthat\tmade\tme\tthink\the\thad\tsome\tideas. That\twas\thow\the\twas\tlooking\tat\tme\tnow.\t\u201cWe\taren\u2019t\tthe\tonly\tones\tsearching for\t the\t next\t clue,\u201d\t he\t said\t as\t dusk\t began\t to\t give\t way\t to\t darkness.\t \u201cI\t saw Grayson\twith\ta\tmap\tof\tthe\twoods.\u201d \u201cThea\u2019s\t tailing\t me,\u201d\t I\t said,\t ripping\t off\t a\t piece\t of\t tape,\t hyperaware\t of\t the silence\t all\t around\t us.\t \u201cThe\t only\t way\t I\t can\t shake\t her\t is\t when\t she\t sees\t an opportunity\tto\tmess\twith\tXander.\u201d Jameson\t brushed\t gently\t past\t me\t and\t marked\t off\t the\t next\t tree\t over.\t \u201cThea holds\ta\tgrudge,\tand\twhen\tshe\tand\tXander\tbroke\tup,\tit\twas\tugly.\u201d \u201cThey\t dated?\u201d\t I\t slid\t past\t Jameson\t and\t searched\t the\t next\t tree,\t running\t my fingers\tover\tthe\tbark.\t\u201cThea\tis\tpractically\tyour\tcousin.\u201d \u201cConstantine\tis\tZara\u2019s\tsecond\thusband.\tThe\tmarriage\tis\trecent,\tand\tXander\u2019s always\tbeen\ta\tfan\tof\tloopholes.\u201d Nothing\t with\t the\t Hawthorne\t brothers\t was\t ever\t simple\u2014including\t what Jameson\tand\tI\twere\tdoing\tnow.\tSince\twe\u2019d\tworked\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe","forest,\t the\t trees\t were\t spread\t farther\t apart.\t Up\t ahead,\t I\t could\t see\t a\t large\t open space\u2014the\t only\t place\t in\t the\t Black\t Wood\t where\t grass\t was\t able\t to\t grow\t on\t the forest\tfloor. My\t back\t to\t Jameson,\t I\t moved\t to\t a\t new\t tree\t and\t began\t running\t my\t hands over\tthe\tbark.\tAlmost\timmediately,\tmy\tfingers\thit\ta\tgroove. \u201cJameson.\u201d\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t pitch-dark\t yet,\t but\t there\t was\t little\t enough\t light\t in\t the woods\t that\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t entirely\t make\t out\t what\t I\u2019d\t found\t until\t Jameson\t appeared beside\tme,\tshining\tan\textra\tlight.\tI\tran\tmy\tfingers\tslowly\tover\tthe\tletters\tcarved into\tthe\ttree. TOBIAS\tHAWTHORNE\tII Unlike\tthe\tfirst\tsymbol\twe\u2019d\tfound,\tthese\tletters\tweren\u2019t\tsmooth.\tThe\tcarving hadn\u2019t\tbeen\tdone\twith\tan\teven\thand.\tThe\tname\tlooked\tlike\tit\thad\tbeen\tcarved\tby a\tchild. \u201cThe\t I\u2019s\t at\t the\t end\t are\t a\t Roman\t numeral,\u201d\t Jameson\t said,\t his\t voice\t going electric.\t\u201cTobias\tHawthorne\tthe\tSecond.\u201d Toby,\tI\tthought,\tand\tthen\tI\theard\ta\tcrack.\tA\tdeafening\techo\tfollowed,\tand\tthe world\texploded.\tBark\tflying.\tMy\tbody\tthrown\tbackward. \u201cGet\tdown!\u201d\tJameson\tyelled. I\tbarely\theard\thim.\tMy\tbrain\tcouldn\u2019t\tprocess\twhat\tI\twas\thearing,\twhat\thad just\thappened.\tI\u2019m\tbleeding. Pain. Jameson\t grabbed\t me\t and\t pulled\t me\t toward\t the\t ground.\t The\t next\t thing\t I knew,\this\tbody\twas\tover\tmine\tand\tthe\tsound\tof\ta\tsecond\tgunshot\trang\tout. Gun.\t Someone\u2019s\t shooting\t at\t us.\t There\t was\t a\t stabbing\t pain\t in\t my\t chest.\t I\u2019ve been\tshot. I\theard\tfootsteps\tbeating\tagainst\tthe\tforest\tfloor,\tand\tthen\tOren\tyelled,\t\u201cStay down!\u201d\t Weapon\t drawn,\t my\t bodyguard\t put\t himself\t between\t us\t and\t the\t shooter. A\t small\t eternity\t passed.\t Oren\t took\t off\t running\t in\t the\t direction\t the\t shots\t had come\tfrom,\tbut\tI\tknew,\twith\ta\tprescience\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\texplain,\tthat\tthe\tshooter\twas gone. \u201cAre\tyou\tokay,\tAvery?\u201d\tOren\tdoubled\tback.\t\u201cJameson,\tis\tshe\tokay?\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s\t bleeding.\u201d\t That\t was\t Jameson.\t He\u2019d\t pulled\t back\t from\t my\t body\t and was\tlooking\tdown\tat\tme. My\tchest\tthrobbed,\tjust\tbelow\tmy\tcollarbone,\twhere\tI\u2019d\tbeen\thit. \u201cYour\t face.\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t touch\t was\t light\t against\t my\t skin.\t The\t moment\t his","fingertips\t skimmed\t lightly\t over\t my\t cheekbone,\t the\t nerves\t in\t my\t face\t were jarred\talive.\tHurts. \u201cDid\tthey\tshoot\tme\ttwice?\u201d\tI\tasked,\tdazed. \u201cThe\t assailant\t didn\u2019t\t shoot\t you\t at\t all.\u201d\t Oren\t made\t quick\t work\t of\t displacing Jameson\t and\t ran\t his\t hands\t expertly\t over\t my\t body,\t checking\t for\t damage.\t \u201cYou got\t hit\t by\t a\t couple\t of\t pieces\t of\t bark.\u201d\t He\t probed\t at\t the\t wound\t below\t my collarbone.\t\u201cThe\tother\tcut\u2019s\tjust\ta\tscratch,\tbut\tthe\tbark\u2019s\tlodged\tdeep\tin\tthis\tone. We\u2019ll\tleave\tit\tuntil\twe\u2019re\tready\tto\tstitch\tyou\tup.\u201d My\tears\trang.\t\u201cStitch\tme\tup.\u201d\tI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tjust\trepeat\twhat\the\twas\tsaying back\tto\thim,\tbut\tit\twas\tliterally\tall\tmy\tmouth\twould\tdo. \u201cYou\u2019re\t lucky.\u201d\t Oren\t stood,\t then\t did\t a\t quick\t check\t of\t the\t tree,\t where\t the bullet\thad\thit.\t\u201cA\tcouple\tof\tinches\tto\tthe\tright,\tand\twe\u2019d\tbe\tlooking\tat\tremoving a\tbullet,\tnot\tbark.\u201d\tMy\tbodyguard\tstalked\tpast\tthe\tplace\twhere\tthe\ttree\thad\tbeen hit\tto\t another\t tree\t behind\tus.\t In\tone\t smooth\tmotion,\t he\tproduced\t a\tknife\t from his\tbelt\tand\tjammed\tit\tinto\tthe\ttree. It\ttook\tme\ta\tmoment\tto\trealize\tthat\the\twas\tdigging\tout\ta\tbullet. \u201cWhoever\tfired\tthis\tis\tlong\tgone\tnow,\u201d\the\tsaid,\twrapping\tthe\tbullet\tin\twhat appeared\tto\tbe\tsome\tkind\tof\thandkerchief.\t\u201cBut\twe\tmight\tbe\table\tto\ttrace\tthis.\u201d This,\t as\t in\t a\t bullet.\t Someone\t had\t just\t tried\t to\t shoot\t us.\t Me.\t My\t brain\t was finally\tcatching\tup\tnow.\tThey\tweren\u2019t\taiming\tfor\tJameson. \u201cWhat\t just\t happened\t here?\u201d\t For\t once,\t Jameson\t didn\u2019t\t sound\t like\t he\t was playing.\tHe\tsounded\tlike\this\theart\twas\tbeating\tas\trapidly\tand\tviciously\tas\tmine. \u201cWhat\t happened,\u201d\t Oren\t replied,\t glancing\t back\t into\t the\t distance,\t \u201cis\t that someone\tsaw\tthe\ttwo\tof\tyou\tout\there,\tdecided\tyou\twere\teasy\ttargets,\tand\tpulled their\ttrigger.\tTwice.\u201d","CHAPTER\t53 Someone\t shot\t at\t me.\t I\t felt\u2026\t numb\t wasn\u2019t\t the\t right\t word.\t My\t mouth\t was\t too dry.\t My\t heart\t was\t beating\t too\t fast.\t I\t hurt,\t but\t it\t felt\t like\t I\t was\t hurting\t from\t a distance. Shock. \u201cI\t need\t a\t team\t in\t the\t northeast\t quadrant.\u201d\t Oren\t was\t on\t the\t phone.\t I\t tried\t to focus\t on\t what\t he\t was\t saying\t but\t couldn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t focus\t on\t anything,\t not\t even my\t arm.\t \u201cWe\t have\t a\t shooter.\t Gone\t now,\t almost\t certainly,\t but\t we\u2019ll\t sweep\t the woods\tjust\tin\tcase.\tBring\ta\tmed\tkit.\u201d Oren\t hung\t up,\t then\t turned\t his\t attention\t back\t to\t Jameson\t and\t me.\t \u201cFollow me.\tWe\u2019ll\tstay\twhere\twe\thave\tcover\tuntil\tthe\tsupport\tteam\tgets\there.\u201d\tHe\tled\tus back\ttoward\tthe\tsouth\tend\tof\tthe\tforest,\twhere\tthe\ttrees\twere\tdenser. It\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tthe\tteam\tlong\tto\tarrive.\tThey\tcame\tin\tATVs\u2014two\tof\tthem.\tTwo men,\ttwo\tvehicles.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tthey\tpulled\tup,\tOren\trattled\toff\tcoordinates:\twhere we\u2019d\t been\t when\t we\t were\t shot,\t the\t direction\t the\t bullets\t had\t come\t from,\t the trajectory. The\t men\t didn\u2019t\t say\t anything\t in\t response.\t They\t drew\t their\t weapons.\t Oren climbed\tinto\tthe\tfour-seat\tATV\tand\twaited\tfor\tJameson\tand\tme\tto\tdo\tthe\tsame. \u201cYou\theaded\tback\tto\tthe\tHouse?\u201d\tone\tof\tthe\tmen\tasked. Oren\tmet\this\tsubordinate\u2019s\teyes.\t\u201cThe\tcottage.\u201d Halfway\t to\t Wayback\t Cottage,\t my\t brain\t started\t working\t again.\t My\t chest\t hurt. I\u2019d\tbeen\tgiven\ta\tcompress\tto\thold\ton\tthe\twound,\tbut\tOren\thadn\u2019t\ttreated\tit\tyet. His\tfirst\tpriority\thad\tbeen\tgetting\tus\tto\tsafer\tground.\tHe\u2019s\ttaking\tus\tto\tWayback Cottage.\tNot\tHawthorne\tHouse.\tThe\tcottage\twas\tcloser,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tshake\tthe feeling\tthat\twhat\tOren\thad\treally\tbeen\tsaying\tto\this\tmen\twas\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\ttrust the\tpeople\tat\tthe\tHouse. So\tmuch\tfor\tthe\tway\the\u2019d\tassured\tme\u2014repeatedly\u2014that\tI\twas\tsafe.\tThat\tthe","Hawthorne\tfamily\twasn\u2019t\ta\tthreat.\tThe\tentire\testate,\tincluding\tthe\tBlack\tWood, was\twalled\tin.\tNo\tone\twas\tallowed\tpast\tthe\tgate\twithout\ta\tthorough\tbackground check. Oren\t doesn\u2019t\t think\t we\u2019re\t dealing\t with\t an\t outside\t threat.\t I\t let\t that\t sink\t in,\t a heaviness\t in\t my\t stomach\t as\t I\t processed\t the\t limited\t number\t of\t suspects.\t The Hawthornes\u2014and\tthe\tstaff. Going\tto\tWayback\tCottage\tfelt\tlike\ta\trisk.\tI\thadn\u2019t\tinteracted\twith\tthe\tLaughlins much,\t but\t they\t hadn\u2019t\t ever\t given\t me\t the\t impression\t that\t they\t were\t glad\t I\t was here.\tExactly\thow\tloyal\tare\tthey\tto\tthe\tHawthorne\tfamily?\tI\tthought\tabout\tAlisa saying\tthat\tNash\u2019s\tpeople\twould\tdie\tfor\thim. Would\tthey\tkill\tfor\thim,\ttoo? Mrs.\t Laughlin\t was\t at\t home\t when\t we\t arrived\t at\t Wayback.\t She\u2019s\t not\t the shooter,\tI\tthought.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tmade\tit\tback\there\tin\ttime.\tCould\tshe? The\t older\t woman\t took\t one\t look\t at\t Oren,\t Jameson,\t and\t me\t and\t ushered\t us inside.\tIf\ta\tbleeding\tperson\tbeing\tstitched\tup\tat\ther\tkitchen\ttable\twas\tan\tunusual occurrence,\tshe\tgave\tno\tsign\tof\tit.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tif\tthe\tway\tshe\twas\ttaking\tthis\tin stride\twas\tcomforting\u2014or\tsuspicious. \u201cI\u2019ll\tput\ton\tsome\ttea,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tMy\theart\tpounding,\tI\twondered\tif\tit\twas\tsafe to\tdrink\tanything\tshe\tgave\tme. \u201cYou\tokay\twith\tme\tplaying\tmedic?\u201d\tOren\tasked,\tsettling\tme\tin\ta\tchair.\t\u201cI\u2019m sure\tAlisa\tcould\tarrange\tfor\tsome\tfancy\tplastic\tsurgeon.\u201d I\twasn\u2019t\tokay\twith\tany\tof\tthis.\tEveryone\thad\tbeen\tso\tsure\tthat\tI\twasn\u2019t\tgoing to\tget\tax-murdered\tthat\tI\u2019d\tlet\tmy\tguard\tdown.\tI\u2019d\tpushed\tback\tthe\tthought\tthat people\thad\tkilled\tover\tfar\tless\tthan\twhat\tI\u2019d\tinherited.\tI\u2019d\tlet\tevery\tsingle\tone\tof the\tHawthorne\tbrothers\tpast\tmy\tdefenses. This\t wasn\u2019t\t Xander.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t get\t my\t body\t to\t calm\t down,\t no\t matter\t how hard\t I\t tried.\t Jameson\t was\t right\t next\t to\t me.\t Nash\t doesn\u2019t\t want\t the\t money,\t and Grayson\twouldn\u2019t\u2026 He\twouldn\u2019t. \u201cAvery?\u201d\t Oren\t prompted,\t a\t note\t of\t concern\t working\t its\t way\t into\t his\t deep voice. I\t tried\t to\t stop\t my\t mind\t from\t racing.\t I\t felt\t sick\u2014physically\t sick.\t Stop panicking.\tI\thad\ta\tpiece\tof\twood\tin\tmy\tflesh.\tI\twould\thave\tpreferred\tnot\thaving a\tpiece\tof\twood\tin\tmy\tflesh.\tPull\tit\ttogether.","\u201cDo\t what\t you\t need\t to\t do\t to\t stop\t the\t bleeding,\u201d\t I\t told\t Oren.\t My\t voice\t only shook\ta\tlittle. Removing\tthe\tbark\thurt.\tThe\tdisinfectant\thurt\ta\thell\tof\ta\tlot\tmore.\tThe\tmed kit\tincluded\ta\tshot\tof\tlocal\tanesthetic,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tamount\tof\tanesthetic\tthat could\t alter\t my\t brain\u2019s\t awareness\t of\t the\t needle\t when\t Oren\t began\t stitching\t my skin\tback\ttogether. Focus\t on\t that.\t Let\t it\t hurt.\t After\t a\t moment,\t I\t looked\t away\t from\t Oren\t and tracked\t Mrs.\t Laughlin\u2019s\t movements.\t Before\t handing\t me\t my\t tea,\t she\t laced\t it\u2014 heavily\u2014with\twhiskey. \u201cDone.\u201d\tOren\tnodded\tto\tmy\tcup.\t\u201cDrink\tthat.\u201d He\u2019d\tbrought\tme\there\tbecause\the\ttrusted\tthe\tLaughlins\tmore\tthan\the\ttrusted the\tHawthornes.\tHe\twas\ttelling\tme\tthat\tit\twas\tsafe\tto\tdrink.\tBut\the\u2019d\ttold\tme\ta lot\tof\tthings. Someone\t shot\t at\t me.\t They\t tried\t to\t kill\t me.\t I\t could\t be\t dead.\t My\t hands\t were shaking.\tOren\tsteadied\tthem.\tHis\teyes\tknowing,\the\tlifted\tmy\tteacup\tto\this\town mouth\tand\ttook\ta\tdrink. It\u2019s\t fine.\t He\u2019s\t showing\t me\t that\t it\u2019s\t fine.\t Unsure\t if\t I\u2019d\t ever\t be\t able\t to\t kick myself\tout\tof\tfight-or-flight\tmode,\tI\tforced\tmyself\tto\tdrink.\tThe\ttea\twas\thot.\tThe whiskey\twas\tstrong. It\tburned\tall\tthe\tway\tdown. Mrs.\tLaughlin\tgave\tme\tan\talmost\tmaternal\tlook,\tthen\tscowled\tat\tOren.\t\u201cMr. Laughlin\twill\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\thappened,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tas\tif\tshe\therself\twere\tnot at\t all\t curious\t about\t why\t I\t was\t bleeding\t at\t her\t kitchen\t table.\t \u201cAnd\t someone needs\t to\t clean\t up\t the\t poor\t girl\u2019s\t face.\u201d\t She\t gave\t me\t a\t sympathetic\t look\t and clucked\ther\ttongue. Before,\tI\u2019d\tbeen\tan\toutsider.\tNow\tshe\twas\thovering\tlike\ta\tmother\then.\tAll\tit took\twas\ta\tfew\tbullets. \u201cWhere\t is\t Mr.\t Laughlin?\u201d\t Oren\t asked,\t his\t tone\t conversational,\t but\t I\t heard the\tquestion\u2014and\tthe\timplication\tunderneath.\tHe\u2019s\tnot\there.\tIs\the\ta\tgood\tshot? Would\the\u2014 As\tif\tsummoned,\tMr.\tLaughlin\twalked\tthrough\tthe\tfront\tdoor\tand\tlet\tit\tslam behind\thim.\tThere\twas\tmud\ton\this\tboots. From\tthe\twoods? \u201cSomething\u2019s\thappened,\u201d\tMrs.\tLaughlin\ttold\ther\thusband\tcalmly. Mr.\tLaughlin\tlooked\tat\tOren,\tJameson,\tand\tme\u2014in\tthat\torder,\tthe\tsame\torder in\twhich\this\twife\thad\ttaken\tin\tour\tpresence\u2014and\tthen\tpoured\thimself\ta\tglass\tof whiskey.\t\u201cSecurity\tprotocols?\u201d\the\tasked\tOren\tgruffly.","Oren\tgave\ta\tbrisk\tnod.\t\u201cIn\tfull\tforce.\u201d He\tturned\tback\tto\this\twife.\t\u201cWhere\u2019s\tRebecca?\u201d\the\tasked. Jameson\tlooked\tup\tfrom\this\town\tcup\tof\ttea.\t\u201cRebecca\u2019s\there?\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s\t a\t good\t girl,\u201d\t Mr.\t Laughlin\t grunted.\t \u201cComes\t to\t visit,\t the\t way\t she should.\u201d So\twhere\tis\tshe?\tI\tthought. Mrs.\t Laughlin\t rested\t a\t hand\t on\t my\t shoulder.\t \u201cThere\u2019s\t a\t bathroom\t through there,\tdear,\u201d\tshe\ttold\tme\tquietly,\t\u201cif\tyou\twant\tto\tclean\tup.\u201d","CHAPTER\t54 The\tdoor\tMrs.\tLaughlin\thad\tsent\tme\tthrough\tdidn\u2019t\tlead\tdirectly\tto\ta\tbathroom. It\t led\t to\t a\t bedroom\t that\t held\t two\t twin\t beds\t and\t little\t else.\t The\t walls\t were painted\ta\tlight\tpurple;\tthe\ttwin\tcomforters\twere\tquilted\tfrom\tsquares\tof\tfabric\tin lavender\tand\tviolet. The\tbathroom\tdoor\twas\tslightly\tajar. I\t walked\t toward\t it,\t so\t painfully\t aware\t of\t my\t surroundings\t that\t I\t felt\t like\t I could\t have\t heard\t a\t pin\t drop\t a\t mile\t away.\t There\u2019s\t no\t one\t here.\t I\u2019m\t safe.\t It\u2019s okay.\tI\u2019m\tokay. Inside\t the\t bathroom,\t I\t checked\t behind\t the\t shower\t curtain.\t There\u2019s\t no\t one here,\t I\t told\t myself\t again.\t I\u2019m\t okay.\t I\t managed\t to\t get\t my\t cell\t phone\t out\t of\t my pocket\t and\t called\t Max.\t I\t needed\t her\t to\t answer.\t I\t needed\t not\t to\t be\t alone\t with this.\tWhat\tI\tgot\twas\tvoicemail. I\tcalled\tseven\ttimes,\tand\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tpick\tup. Maybe\t she\t couldn\u2019t.\t Or\t maybe\t she\t doesn\u2019t\t want\t to.\t That\t hit\t me\t almost\t as hard\tas\tlooking\tin\tthe\tmirror\tand\tseeing\tmy\tblood-streaked,\tdirt-smeared\tface.\tI stared\tat\tmyself. I\tcould\thear\tthe\techo\tof\tgunfire. Stop.\t I\t needed\t to\t wash\u2014my\t hands,\t my\t face,\t the\t streaks\t of\t blood\t on\t my chest.\t Turn\t on\t the\t water,\t I\t told\t myself\t sternly.\t Pick\t up\t the\t washcloth.\t I\t willed my\tbody\tto\tmove. I\tcouldn\u2019t. Hands\treached\tpast\tme\tto\tturn\ton\tthe\tfaucet.\tI\tshould\thave\tjumped.\tI\tshould have\tpanicked.\tBut\tsomehow,\tmy\tbody\trelaxed\tinto\tthe\tperson\tbehind\tme. \u201cIt\u2019s\tokay,\tHeiress,\u201d\tJameson\tmurmured.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tgot\tyou.\u201d I\t hadn\u2019t\t heard\t Jameson\t come\t in.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t entirely\t sure\t how\t long\t I\u2019d\t been standing\tthere,\tfrozen. Jameson\treached\tfor\ta\tpale\tpurple\twashcloth\tand\theld\tit\tunder\tthe\twater. \u201cI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tI\tinsisted,\tas\tmuch\tto\tmyself\tas\tto\thim. Jameson\tlifted\tthe\twashcloth\tto\tmy\tface.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\ta\thorrible\tliar.\u201d\tHe\tran\tthe","cloth\tover\tmy\tcheek,\tworking\this\tway\tdown\ttoward\tthe\tscratch.\tA\tbreath\tcaught in\t my\t throat.\t He\t rinsed\t the\t washcloth,\t blood\t and\t dirt\t coloring\t the\t sink,\t as\t he lifted\tthe\tcloth\tback\tto\tmy\tskin. Again. And\tagain. He\twashed\tmy\tface,\ttook\tmy\thands\tin\this\tand\theld\tthem\tunder\tthe\twater,\this fingers\tworking\tthe\tdirt\tfrom\tmine.\tMy\tskin\tresponded\tto\this\ttouch.\tFor\tthe\tfirst time,\t no\t part\t of\t me\t said\t to\t pull\t away.\t He\t was\t so\t gentle.\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t acting\t like this\twas\tjust\ta\tgame\tto\thim\u2014like\tI\twas\tjust\ta\tgame. He\t picked\t the\t washcloth\t back\t up\t and\t ran\t it\t down\t my\t neck\t to\t my\t shoulder, over\t my\t collarbone\t and\t across.\t The\t water\t was\t warm.\t I\t leaned\t into\t his\t touch. This\t is\t a\t bad\t idea.\t I\t knew\t that.\t I\u2019d\t always\t known\t that,\t but\t I\t let\t myself concentrate\ton\tthe\tfeel\tof\tJameson\tHawthorne\u2019s\ttouch,\tthe\tstroke\tof\tthe\tcloth. \u201cI\u2019m\tokay,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tI\tcould\talmost\tbelieve\tthat. \u201cYou\u2019re\tbetter\tthan\tokay.\u201d I\tclosed\tmy\teyes.\tHe\u2019d\tbeen\tthere\twith\tme\tin\tthe\tforest.\tI\tcould\tfeel\this\tbody over\tmine.\tProtecting\tme.\tI\tneeded\tthis.\tI\tneeded\tsomething. I\topened\tmy\teyes,\tlooked\tat\thim.\tFocused\ton\thim.\tI\tthought\tabout\tgoing\ttwo hundred\tmiles\tan\thour,\tabout\tthe\tclimbing\twall,\tabout\tthe\tmoment\tI\u2019d\tfirst\tseen him\t up\t on\t that\t balcony.\t Was\t being\t a\t sensation\t seeker\t so\t bad?\t Was\t wanting\t to feel\tsomething\tother\tthan\tawful\treally\tso\twrong? Everyone\tis\ta\tlittle\twrong\tsometimes,\tHeiress. Something\t gave\t inside\t of\t me,\t and\t I\t pushed\t him\t gently\t back\t against\t the bathroom\t wall.\t I\t need\t this.\t His\t deep\t green\t eyes\t met\t mine.\t He\t needs\t it,\t too. \u201cYes?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim\thoarsely. \u201cYes,\tHeiress.\u201d My\tlips\tclosed\tover\this.\tHe\tkissed\tme\tback,\tgentle\tat\tfirst,\tthen\tnot\tgently\tat all.\tMaybe\tit\twas\tthe\taftereffects\tof\tshock,\tbut\tas\tI\tdrove\tmy\thands\tinto\this\thair, as\t he\t grabbed\t my\t ponytail\t and\t angled\t my\t face\t upward,\t I\t could\t see\t a\t thousand versions\t of\t him\t in\t my\t mind:\t Balanced\t on\t the\t balcony\u2019s\t railing.\t Shirtless\t and sunlit\tin\tthe\tsolarium.\tSmiling.\tSmirking.\tOur\thands\ttouching\ton\tthe\tbridge.\tHis body\tprotecting\tmine\tin\tthe\tBlack\tWood.\tTrailing\ta\twashcloth\tdown\tmy\tneck\u2014 Kissing\t him\t felt\t like\t fire.\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t soft\t and\t sweet,\t the\t way\t he\t had\t been while\t washing\t away\t the\t blood\t and\t dirt.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t need\t soft\t or\t sweet.\t This\t was exactly\twhat\tI\tneeded. Maybe\t I\t could\t be\t what\t he\t needed,\t too.\t Maybe\t this\t didn\u2019t\t have\t to\t be\t a\t bad idea.\tMaybe\tthe\tcomplications\twere\tworth\tit.","He\t pulled\t back\t from\t the\t kiss,\t his\t lips\t only\t an\t inch\t away\t from\t mine.\t \u201cI always\tknew\tyou\twere\tspecial.\u201d I\t felt\t his\t breath\t on\t my\t face.\t I\t felt\t every\t last\t one\t of\t those\t words.\t I\u2019d\t never thought\t of\t myself\t as\t special.\t I\u2019d\t been\t invisible\t for\t so\t long.\t Wallpaper.\t Even after\t I\u2019d\t become\t the\t biggest\t story\t in\t the\t world,\t it\t had\t never\t really\t felt\t like anyone\twas\tpaying\tattention\tto\tme.\tThe\treal\tme. \u201cWe\u2019re\t so\t close\t now,\u201d\t Jameson\t murmured.\t \u201cI\t can\t feel\t it.\u201d\t There\t was\t an energy\tin\this\tvoice,\tlike\tthe\tbuzzing\tof\ta\tneon\tlight.\t\u201cSomeone\tobviously\tdidn\u2019t want\tus\tlooking\tat\tthat\ttree.\u201d What? He\twent\tto\tkiss\tme\tagain,\tand,\tmy\theart\tsinking,\tI\tturned\tmy\thead\tto\tthe\tside. I\u2019d\t thought\u2026\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t what\t I\u2019d\t thought.\t That\t when\t he\t told\t me\t I\t was special,\the\twasn\u2019t\ttalking\tabout\tthe\tmoney\u2014or\tthe\tpuzzle. \u201cYou\t think\t someone\t shot\t at\t us\t because\t of\t a\t tree?\u201d\t I\t said,\t the\t words\t getting caught\t in\t my\t throat.\t \u201cNot,\t say,\t the\t fortune\t I\t inherited\t that\t your\t family\t would like\t to\t get\t their\t hands\t on?\t Not\t the\t billions\t of\t reasons\t that\t anyone\t with\t the\t last name\tHawthorne\thas\tto\thate\tme?\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t think\t about\t that,\u201d\t Jameson\t whispered,\t cupping\t my\t cheeks.\t \u201cThink about\t Toby\u2019s\t name\t carved\t into\t that\t tree.\t Infinity\t carved\t into\t the\t bridge.\u201d\t His face\twas\tclose\tenough\tto\tmine\tthat\tI\tcould\tstill\tfeel\this\tbreath.\t\u201cWhat\tif\twhat\tthe puzzle\tis\ttrying\tto\ttell\tus\tis\tthat\tmy\tuncle\tisn\u2019t\tdead?\u201d Was\tthat\twhat\the\u2019d\tbeen\tthinking\twhen\tsomeone\twas\tshooting\tat\tus?\tIn\tthe kitchen,\tas\tOren\ttook\ta\tneedle\tto\tmy\twound?\tAs\the\u2019d\tbrought\this\tlips\tto\tmine? Because\tif\tthe\tonly\tthing\the\u2019d\tbeen\table\tto\tthink\tabout\twas\tthe\tmystery\u2026 You\u2019re\tnot\ta\tplayer,\tkid.\tYou\u2019re\tthe\tglass\tballerina\u2014or\tthe\tknife. \u201cWill\tyou\tlisten\tto\tyourself?\u201d\tI\tdemanded.\tMy\tchest\twas\ttight\u2014tighter\tnow than\t it\t had\t been\t in\t the\t forest,\t in\t the\t thick\t of\t it\t all.\t Nothing\t about\t Jameson\u2019s reaction\tshould\thave\tsurprised\tme,\tso\twhy\tdid\tit\thurt? Why\twas\tI\tletting\tit\thurt? \u201cOren\t just\t pulled\t a\t chunk\t of\t wood\t out\t of\t my\t chest,\u201d\t I\t said,\t my\t voice\t low, \u201cand\tif\tthings\thad\tworked\tout\ta\tlittle\tdifferently,\the\tcould\thave\tbeen\tpulling\tout a\t bullet.\u201d\t I\t gave\t Jameson\t a\t second\t to\t reply\u2014just\t one.\t Nothing.\t \u201cWhat\t happens to\tthe\tmoney\tif\tI\tdie\twhile\tthe\twill\tis\tin\tprobate?\u201d\tI\tasked\tflatly.\tAlisa\thad\ttold me\tthe\tHawthorne\tfamily\tdidn\u2019t\tstand\tto\tbenefit,\tbut\tdid\tthey\tknow\tthat?\t\u201cWhat happens\t if\t whoever\t fired\t that\t gun\t scares\t me\t off,\t and\t I\t leave\t before\t the\t year\t is up?\u201d\t Did\t they\t know\t that\t if\t I\t left,\t it\t all\t went\t to\t charity?\t \u201cNot\t everything\t is\t a game,\tJameson.\u201d","I\tsaw\tsomething\tflicker\tin\this\teyes.\tHe\tclosed\tthem,\tjust\tfor\tan\tinstant,\tthen opened\tthem\tand\tleaned\tin,\tbringing\this\tlips\tpainfully\tclose\tto\tmine.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tthe thing,\tHeiress.\tIf\tEmily\ttaught\tme\tanything,\tit\u2019s\tthat\teverything\tis\ta\tgame.\tEven this.\tEspecially\tthis.\u201d","CHAPTER\t55 Jameson\tleft,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tfollow\thim. Thea\u2019s\tright,\tGrayson\twhispered\tin\tthe\trecesses\tof\tmy\tmind.\tThis\tfamily\u2014we destroy\t everything\t we\t touch.\t I\t choked\t back\t tears.\t I\u2019d\t been\t shot\t at,\t I\u2019d\t been injured,\tand\tI\u2019d\tbeen\tkissed\u2014but\tI\tsure\tas\thell\twasn\u2019t\tdestroyed. \u201cI\u2019m\t stronger\t than\t that.\u201d\t I\t angled\t my\t face\t toward\t the\t mirror\t and\t looked myself\tin\tthe\teye.\tIf\tit\tcame\tdown\tto\ta\tchoice\tbetween\tbeing\tscared,\tbeing\thurt, and\tbeing\tpissed,\tI\tknew\twhich\tone\tI\tpreferred. I\ttried\tcalling\tMax\tone\tmore\ttime,\tthen\ttexted\ther:\tSomeone\ttried\tto\tkill\tme, and\tI\tmade\tout\twith\tJameson\tHawthorne. If\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tgarner\ta\tresponse,\tnothing\twould. I\tmade\tmy\tway\tback\tinto\tthe\tbedroom.\tEven\tthough\tI\u2019d\tcalmed\tdown\ta\tlittle, I\t still\t scanned\t for\t threats,\t and\t I\t saw\t one:\t Rebecca\t Laughlin,\t standing\t in\t the doorway.\t Her\t face\t looked\t even\t paler\t than\t usual,\t her\t hair\t as\t red\t as\t blood.\t She looked\tshell-shocked. Because\tshe\toverheard\tJameson\tand\tme?\tBecause\ther\tgrandparents\ttold\ther about\tthe\tshooting?\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure.\tShe\twas\twearing\tthick\thiking\tboots\tand\tcargo pants,\tboth\tof\tthem\tspattered\twith\tmud.\tStaring\tat\ther,\tall\tI\tcould\tthink\twas\tthat if\t Emily\t had\t been\t even\t half\t as\t beautiful\t as\t her\t sister\t was,\t it\t was\t no\t wonder Jameson\tcould\tlook\tat\tme\tand\tthink\tonly\tabout\this\tgrandfather\u2019s\tgame. Everything\tis\ta\tgame.\tEven\tthis.\tEspecially\tthis. \u201cMy\t grandmother\t sent\t me\t to\t check\t on\t you.\u201d\t Rebecca\u2019s\t voice\t was\t soft\t and hesitant. \u201cI\u2019m\tokay,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tI\talmost\tmeant\tit.\tI\thad\tto\tbe\tokay. \u201cGran\t said\t you\t were\t shot.\u201d\t Rebecca\t stayed\t in\t the\t doorway,\t like\t she\t was afraid\tto\tcome\tany\tcloser. \u201cShot\tat,\u201d\tI\tclarified. \u201cI\u2019m\t glad,\u201d\t Rebecca\t said,\t and\t then\t she\t looked\t mortified.\t \u201cI\t mean,\t that\t you weren\u2019t\t shot.\t It\u2019s\t good,\t right,\t getting\t shot\t at\t instead\t of\t shot?\u201d\t Her\t gaze\t darted nervously\tfrom\tme\ttoward\tthe\ttwin\tbeds,\tthe\tquilts.\t\u201cEmily\twould\thave\ttold\tyou","to\t simplify\t and\t say\t that\t you\t were\t shot.\u201d\t Rebecca\t sounded\t more\t sure\t of\t herself telling\t me\t what\t Emily\t would\t have\t said\t than\t trying\t to\t summon\t an\t appropriate response\t herself.\t \u201cThere\t was\t a\t bullet.\t You\t were\t wounded.\t Emily\t would\t have said\tyou\twere\tentitled\tto\ta\tlittle\tmelodrama.\u201d I\t was\t entitled\t to\t look\t at\t everyone\t like\t they\t were\t a\t suspect.\t I\t was\t entitled\t to an\tadrenaline-fueled\tlapse\tin\tjudgment.\tAnd\tmaybe\tI\twas\tentitled,\tjust\tthis\tonce, to\tpush\tfor\tanswers. \u201cYou\t and\t Emily\t shared\t this\t room?\u201d\t I\t said.\t That\t was\t obvious\t now,\t when\t I looked\t at\t the\t twin\t beds.\t When\t Rebecca\t and\t Emily\t came\t to\t visit\t their grandparents,\t they\t stayed\t here.\t \u201cWas\t purple\t your\t favorite\t color\t as\t a\t kid\t or hers?\u201d \u201cHers,\u201d\tRebecca\tsaid.\tShe\tgave\tme\ta\tvery\tsmall\tshrug.\t\u201cShe\tused\tto\ttell\tme that\tmy\tfavorite\tcolor\twas\tpurple,\ttoo.\u201d In\tthe\tpicture\tI\u2019d\tseen\tof\tthe\ttwo\tof\tthem,\tEmily\thad\tbeen\tlooking\tdirectly\tat the\tcamera,\tdead\tcenter;\tRebecca\thad\tbeen\ton\tthe\tfringes,\tlooking\taway. \u201cI\tfeel\tlike\tI\tshould\twarn\tyou.\u201d\tRebecca\twasn\u2019t\teven\tfacing\tme\tanymore.\tShe walked\tover\tto\tone\tof\tthe\tbeds. \u201cWarn\t me\t about\t what?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t and\t somewhere\t in\t the\t back\t of\t my\t mind,\t I registered\t the\t mud\t on\t her\t boots\u2014and\t the\t fact\t that\t she\u2019d\t been\t on\t the\t premises, but\tnot\twith\ther\tgrandparents,\twhen\tI\u2019d\tbeen\tshot\tat. Just\tbecause\tshe\tdoesn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\ta\tthreat\tdoesn\u2019t\tmean\tshe\tisn\u2019t\tone. But\t when\t Rebecca\t started\t talking\t again,\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t about\t the\t shooting.\t \u201cI\u2019m supposed\t to\t say\t that\t my\t sister\t was\t wonderful.\u201d\t She\t acted\t like\t that\t wasn\u2019t\t a change\t of\t subject,\t like\t Emily\t was\t what\t she\t was\t warning\t me\t about.\t \u201cAnd\t she was,\t when\t she\t wanted\t to\t be.\t Her\t smile\t was\t contagious.\t Her\t laugh\t was\t worse, and\t when\t she\t said\t something\t was\t a\t good\t idea,\t people\t believed\t her.\t She\t was good\t to\t me,\t almost\t all\t the\t time.\u201d\t Rebecca\t met\t my\t gaze,\t head-on.\t \u201cBut\t she wasn\u2019t\tnearly\tas\tgood\tto\tthose\tboys.\u201d Boys,\t plural.\t \u201cWhat\t did\t she\t do?\u201d\t I\t asked.\t I\t should\t have\t been\t more\t focused on\t who\t shot\t me,\t but\t part\t of\t me\t couldn\u2019t\t shake\t the\t way\t Jameson\t had\t invoked Emily,\tright\tbefore\twalking\taway\tfrom\tme. \u201cEm\t didn\u2019t\t like\t to\t choose.\u201d\t Rebecca\t seemed\t to\t be\t picking\t her\t words carefully.\t \u201cShe\t wanted\t everything\t more\t than\t I\t wanted\t anything.\t And\t the\t one time\tI\twanted\tsomething\u2026\u201d\tShe\tshook\ther\thead\tand\taborted\tthat\tsentence.\t\u201cMy job\twas\tto\tkeep\tmy\tsister\thappy.\tIt\u2019s\tsomething\tmy\tparents\tused\tto\ttell\tme\twhen we\twere\tlittle\u2014that\tEmily\twas\tsick,\tand\tI\twasn\u2019t,\tso\tI\tshould\tdo\twhat\tI\tcould\tto make\ther\tsmile.\u201d","\u201cAnd\tthe\tboys?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cThey\tmade\ther\tsmile.\u201d I\tread\tinto\twhat\tRebecca\twas\tsaying\u2014what\tshe\u2019d\tbeen\tsaying.\tEm\tdidn\u2019t\tlike to\t choose.\t \u201cShe\t dated\t both\t of\t them?\u201d\t I\t tried\t to\t get\t a\t handle\t on\t that.\t \u201cDid\t they know?\u201d \u201cNot\tat\tfirst,\u201d\tRebecca\twhispered,\tlike\tsome\tpart\tof\ther\tthought\tEmily\tmight hear\tus\ttalking. \u201cWhat\thappened\twhen\tGrayson\tand\tJameson\tfound\tout\tshe\twas\tdating\tboth of\tthem?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\t only\t asking\t that\t because\t you\t didn\u2019t\t know\t Emily,\u201d\t Rebecca\t said. \u201cShe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tchoose,\t and\tneither\tone\tof\tthem\twanted\tto\tlet\ther\tgo.\tShe turned\tit\tinto\ta\tcompetition.\tA\tlittle\tgame.\u201d And\tthen\tshe\tdied. \u201cHow\t did\t Emily\t die?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t because\t I\t might\t never\t get\t another\t opening like\tthis\tone\u2014not\twith\tRebecca,\tnot\twith\tthe\tboys. Rebecca\twas\tlooking\tat\tme,\tbut\tI\tgot\tthe\tgeneral\tsense\tthat\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tseeing me.\tThat\tshe\twas\tsomewhere\telse.\t\u201cGrayson\ttold\tme\tthat\tit\twas\ther\theart,\u201d\tshe whispered. Grayson.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tthink\tbeyond\tthat.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tuntil\tRebecca\thad\tleft\tthat\tI had\trealized\tshe\u2019d\tnever\tgotten\taround\tto\ttelling\tme\twhat,\tspecifically,\tshe\tought to\thave\tbeen\twarning\tme\tabout.","CHAPTER\t56 It\t was\t another\t three\t hours\t before\t Oren\t and\t his\t team\t cleared\t me\t to\t go\t back\t to Hawthorne\tHouse.\tI\trode\tback\tin\tthe\tATV\twith\tthree\tbodyguards. Oren\t was\t the\t only\t one\t who\t spoke.\t \u201cDue\t in\t part\t to\t Hawthorne\t House\u2019s extensive\t network\t of\t security\t cameras,\t my\t team\t was\t able\t to\t track\t and\t verify locations\t and\t alibis\t for\t all\t members\t of\t the\t Hawthorne\t family,\t as\t well\t as\t Ms. Thea\tCalligaris.\u201d They\t have\t alibis.\t Grayson\t has\t an\t alibi.\t I\t felt\t a\t rush\t of\t relief,\t but\t a\t moment later,\t my\t chest\t tightened.\t \u201cWhat\t about\t Constantine?\u201d\t I\t asked.\t Technically,\t he wasn\u2019t\ta\tHawthorne. \u201cClear,\u201d\tOren\ttold\tme.\t\u201cHe\tdid\tnot\tpersonally\twield\tthat\tgun.\u201d Personally.\tReading\tbetween\tthose\tlines\tshook\tme.\t\u201cBut\the\tmight\thave\thired someone?\u201d\t Any\t of\t them\t might\t have,\t I\t realized.\t I\t could\t hear\t Grayson\t telling\t me that\tthere\twould\talways\tbe\tpeople\ttripping\tover\tthemselves\tto\tdo\tfavors\tfor\this family. \u201cI\t know\t a\t forensic\t investigator,\u201d\t Oren\t said\t evenly.\t \u201cHe\t works\t alongside\t an equally\tskilled\thacker.\tThey\u2019ll\ttake\ta\tdeep\tdive\tinto\teveryone\u2019s\tfinances\tand\tcell phone\trecords.\tIn\tthe\tmeantime,\tmy\tteam\tis\tgoing\tto\tfocus\ton\tthe\tstaff.\u201d I\tswallowed.\tI\thadn\u2019t\teven\tmet\tmost\tof\tthe\tstaff.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\texactly\thow many\tof\tthem\tthere\twere,\tor\twho\tmight\thave\thad\topportunity\u2014or\tmotive.\t\u201cThe entire\tstaff?\u201d\tI\tasked\tOren.\t\u201cIncluding\tthe\tLaughlins?\u201d\tThey\u2019d\tbeen\tkind\tto\tme after\t I\u2019d\t emerged\t from\t washing\t up,\t but\t right\t now\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t afford\t to\t trust\t my gut\u2014or\tOren\u2019s. \u201cThey\u2019re\t clear,\u201d\t Oren\t told\t me.\t \u201cMr.\t Laughlin\t was\t at\t the\t House\t during\t the shooting,\tand\tsecurity\tfootage\tconfirms\tMrs.\tLaughlin\twas\tat\tthe\tcottage.\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout\tRebecca?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tShe\u2019d\tleft\tthe\testate\tright\tafter\ttalking\tto\tme. I\t could\t see\t Oren\t wanting\t to\t say\t that\t Rebecca\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t threat,\t but\t he\t didn\u2019t. \u201cNo\tstone\twill\tbe\tleft\tunturned,\u201d\the\tpromised.\t\u201cBut\tI\tdo\tknow\tthat\tthe\tLaughlin girls\tnever\tlearned\tto\tshoot.\tMr.\tLaughlin\twasn\u2019t\teven\tallowed\tto\tkeep\ta\tgun\tat the\tcottage\twhen\tthey\twere\tpresent.\u201d","\u201cWho\telse\twas\ton\tthe\tpremises\ttoday?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cPool\tmaintenance,\ta\tsound\ttechnician\tworking\ton\tupgrades\tin\tthe\ttheater,\ta massage\ttherapist,\tand\tone\tof\tthe\tcleaning\tstaff.\u201d I\t committed\t that\t list\t to\t memory,\t then\t my\t mouth\t went\t dry.\t \u201cWhich\t cleaning staff?\u201d \u201cMelissa\tVincent.\u201d The\tname\tmeant\tnothing\tto\tme\u2014until\tit\tdid.\t\u201cMellie?\u201d Oren\u2019s\teyes\tnarrowed.\t\u201cYou\tknow\ther?\u201d I\tthought\tof\tthe\tmoment\tshe\u2019d\tseen\tNash\toutside\tLibby\u2019s\troom. \u201cSomething\t I\t should\t know?\u201d\t Oren\t asked\u2014and\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t really\t a\t question.\t I told\t him\t what\t Alisa\t had\t said\t about\t Mellie\t and\t Nash,\t what\t I\u2019d\t seen\t in\t Libby\u2019s room,\twhat\tMellie\thad\tseen.\tAnd\tthen\twe\tpulled\tup\tto\tHawthorne\tHouse,\tand\tI saw\tAlisa. \u201cShe\u2019s\t the\t only\t person\t I\u2019ve\t let\t past\t the\t gates,\u201d\t Oren\t assured\t me.\t \u201cFrankly, she\u2019s\tthe\tonly\tone\tI\tintend\tto\tlet\tpast\tthose\tgates\tfor\tthe\tforeseeable\tfuture.\u201d I\tprobably\tshould\thave\tfound\tthat\tmore\tcomforting\tthan\tI\tdid. \u201cHow\tis\tshe?\u201d\tAlisa\tasked\tOren\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\texited\tthe\tSUV. \u201cPissed,\u201d\t I\t answered,\t before\t Oren\t could\t reply\t on\t my\t behalf.\t \u201cSore.\t A\t little terrified.\u201d\t Seeing\t her\u2014and\t seeing\t Oren\t standing\t next\t to\t her\u2014broke\t the\t dam, and\t an\t accusation\t burst\t out\t of\t me.\t \u201cYou\t both\t told\t me\t I\t would\t be\t fine!\t You swore\t that\t I\t was\t not\t in\t danger.\t You\t acted\t like\t I\t was\t being\t ridiculous\t when\t I mentioned\tmurder.\u201d \u201cTechnically,\u201d\t my\t lawyer\t replied,\t \u201cyou\t specified\t ax-murder.\t And technically,\u201d\tshe\tcontinued\tthrough\tgritted\tteeth,\t\u201cit\tis\tpossible\tthat\tthere\twas\tan oversight,\tlegally\tspeaking.\u201d \u201cWhat\t kind\t of\t oversight?\t You\t told\t me\t that\t if\t I\t died,\t the\t Hawthornes wouldn\u2019t\tget\ta\tpenny!\u201d \u201cAnd\tI\tstand\tby\tthat\tconclusion,\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid\temphatically.\t\u201cHowever\u2026\u201d\tShe clearly\tfound\tany\tadmission\tof\tfault\tdistasteful.\t\u201cI\talso\ttold\tyou\tthat\tif\tyou\tdied while\t the\t will\t was\t in\t probate,\t your\t inheritance\t would\t pass\t through\t to\t your estate.\tAnd\ttypically,\tit\twould.\u201d \u201cTypically,\u201d\tI\trepeated.\tIf\tthere\twas\tone\tthing\tI\u2019d\tlearned\tin\tthe\tpast\tweek,\tit was\tthat\tthere\twas\tnothing\ttypical\tabout\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2014or\this\theirs. \u201cHowever,\u201d\t Alisa\t continued,\t her\t voice\t tight,\t \u201cin\t the\t state\t of\t Texas,\t it\t is possible\t for\t the\t deceased\t to\t add\t a\t stipulation\t to\t the\t will\t that\t requires\t heirs\t to survive\thim\tby\ta\tcertain\tamount\tof\ttime\tin\torder\tto\tinherit.\u201d I\u2019d\t read\t the\t will\t multiple\t times.\t \u201cPretty\t sure\t I\u2019d\t remember\t if\t there\t was","something\t in\t there\t about\t how\t long\t I\t had\t to\t avoid\t dying\t to\t inherit.\t The\t only stipulation\u2014\u201d \u201cWas\t that\t you\t must\t live\t in\t Hawthorne\t House\t for\t one\t year,\u201d\t Alisa\t finished. \u201cWhich,\tI\twill\tadmit,\twould\tbe\tquite\tthe\tdifficult\tstipulation\tto\tfulfill\tif\tyou\twere dead.\u201d That\twas\ther\toversight?\tThe\tfact\tthat\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tlive\tin\tHawthorne\tHouse\tif\tI wasn\u2019t\talive? \u201cSo\t if\t I\t die\u2026\u201d\t I\t swallowed,\t wetting\t my\t tongue.\t \u201cThe\t money\t goes\t to charity?\u201d \u201cPossibly.\t But\t it\u2019s\t also\t possible\t that\t your\t heirs\t could\t challenge\t that interpretation\ton\tthe\tbasis\tof\tMr.\tHawthorne\u2019s\tintent.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\thave\theirs,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\teven\thave\ta\twill.\u201d \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tneed\ta\twill\tto\thave\theirs.\u201d\tAlisa\tglanced\tat\tOren.\t\u201cHas\ther\tsister been\tcleared?\u201d \u201cLibby?\u201d\tI\twas\tincredulous.\tHad\tthey\tmet\tmy\tsister? \u201cThe\t sister\u2019s\t clear,\u201d\t Oren\t told\t Alisa.\t \u201cShe\t was\t with\t Nash\t during\t the shooting.\u201d He\tmight\tas\twell\thave\tdetonated\ta\tbomb\tfor\thow\twell\tthat\twent\tover. Eventually,\t Alisa\t gathered\t her\t composure\t and\t turned\t back\t to\t me.\t \u201cYou won\u2019t\t legally\t be\t able\t to\t sign\t a\t will\t until\t you\t turn\t eighteen.\t Ditto\t for\t the paperwork\t regarding\t the\t foundation\t conservatorship.\t And\t that\t is\t the\t other oversight\there.\tOriginally,\tI\twas\tfocused\tonly\ton\tthe\twill,\tbut\tif\tyou\tare\tunable or\tunwilling\tto\tfulfill\tyour\trole\tas\tconservator,\tthe\tconservatorship\tpasses.\u201d\tShe paused\theavily.\t\u201cTo\tthe\tboys.\u201d If\t I\t died,\t the\t foundation\u2014all\t the\t money,\t all\t the\t power,\t all\t that\t potential\u2014 went\tto\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2019s\tgrandsons.\tA\thundred\tmillion\tdollars\ta\tyear\tto\tgive away.\tYou\tcould\tbuy\ta\tlot\tof\tfavors\tfor\tmoney\tlike\tthat. \u201cWho\t knows\t about\t the\t terms\t of\t the\t foundation\u2019s\t conservatorship?\u201d\t Oren asked,\tdeadly\tserious. \u201cZara\tand\tConstantine,\tcertainly,\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid\timmediately. \u201cGrayson,\u201d\tI\tadded\thoarsely,\tmy\twounds\tthrobbing.\tI\tknew\thim\twell\tenough to\tknow\tthat\the\twould\thave\tdemanded\tto\tsee\tthe\tconservatorship\tpapers\thimself. He\twouldn\u2019t\thurt\tme.\tI\twanted\tto\tbelieve\tthat.\tAll\the\tdoes\tis\twarn\tme\taway. \u201cHow\t soon\t can\t you\t have\t documents\t drawn\t up\t leaving\t control\t of\t the foundation\t to\t Avery\u2019s\t sister\t in\t the\t event\t of\t her\t death?\u201d\t Oren\t demanded.\t If\t this was\tabout\tcontrol\tof\tthe\tfoundation,\tthat\twould\tprotect\tme\u2014or\telse\tit\twould\tput Libby\tin\tdanger,\ttoo.","\u201cIs\tanyone\tgoing\tto\task\tme\twhat\tI\twant\tto\tdo?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\t can\t have\t the\t documents\t drawn\t up\t tomorrow,\u201d\t Alisa\t told\t Oren,\t ignoring me.\t \u201cBut\t Avery\t can\u2019t\t legally\t sign\t them\t until\t she\u2019s\t eighteen,\t and\t even\t then,\t it\u2019s unclear\t if\t she\u2019s\t authorized\t to\t make\t that\t kind\t of\t decision\t prior\t to\t assuming\t full control\tof\tthe\tfoundation\tat\tthe\tage\tof\ttwenty-one.\tUntil\tthen\u2026\u201d I\thad\ta\ttarget\ton\tmy\tforehead. \u201cWhat\t would\t it\t take\t to\t evoke\t the\t protection\t clause\t in\t the\t will?\u201d\t Oren changed\ttactics.\t\u201cThere\tare\tcircumstances\tunder\twhich\tAvery\tcould\tremove\tthe Hawthornes\tas\ttenants,\tcorrect?\u201d \u201cWe\u2019d\t need\t evidence,\u201d\t Alisa\t replied.\t \u201cSomething\t that\t ties\t a\t specific individual\t or\t individuals\t to\t acts\t of\t harassment,\t intimidation,\t or\t violence,\t and even\tthen,\tAvery\tcan\tonly\tkick\tout\tthe\tperpetrator\u2014not\tthe\twhole\tfamily.\u201d \u201cAnd\tshe\tcan\u2019t\tlive\tsomewhere\telse\tfor\tthe\ttime\tbeing?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d Oren\t didn\u2019t\t like\t that,\t but\t he\t didn\u2019t\t waste\t time\t on\t unnecessary\t commentary. \u201cYou\u2019ll\t go\t nowhere\t without\t me,\u201d\t Oren\t told\t me,\t steel\t in\t his\t voice.\t \u201cNot\t on\t the estate,\tnot\tin\tthe\tHouse.\tNowhere,\tyou\tunderstand?\tI\twas\talways\tclose\tby.\tNow I\tget\tto\tplay\tvisible\tdeterrent.\u201d Beside\t me,\t Alisa\t narrowed\t her\t eyes\t at\t Oren.\t \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t know\t that\t I don\u2019t?\u201d There\t was\t a\t single\t moment\u2019s\t pause,\t then\t my\t bodyguard\t answered\t the question.\t \u201cI\t had\t my\t people\t check\t the\t armory.\t Nothing\t is\t missing.\t In\t all likelihood,\t the\t weapon\t fired\t at\t Avery\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t Hawthorne\t gun,\t but\t I\t had\t my men\tpull\tthe\tsecurity\tfootage\tfrom\tthe\tpast\tfew\tdays\tanyway.\u201d I\twas\ttoo\tbusy\ttrying\tto\twrap\tmy\tmind\taround\tthe\tfact\tthat\tHawthorne\tHouse had\tan\tarmory\tto\tprocess\tthe\trest. \u201cThe\tarmory\thad\ta\tvisitor?\u201d\tAlisa\tasked,\ther\tvoice\talmost\ttoo\tcalm. \u201cTwo\tof\tthem.\u201d\tOren\tseemed\tlike\the\tmight\tstop\tthere,\tfor\tmy\tbenefit,\tbut\the pressed\ton.\t\u201cJameson\tand\tGrayson.\tBoth\thave\talibis\u2014but\tboth\twere\tlooking\tat rifles.\u201d \u201cHawthorne\tHouse\thas\tan\tarmory?\u201d\tThat\twas\tall\tI\tcould\tmanage\tto\tsay. \u201cThis\tis\tTexas,\u201d\tOren\treplied.\t\u201cThe\twhole\tfamily\tgrew\tup\tshooting,\tand\tMr. Hawthorne\twas\ta\tcollector.\u201d \u201cA\t gun\t collector,\u201d\t I\t clarified.\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t a\t fan\t of\t firearms\t before\t I\u2019d almost\tbeen\tshot. \u201cIf\t you\u2019d\t read\t the\t binder\t I\t left\t you\t detailing\t your\t assets,\u201d\t Alisa\t interjected, \u201cyou\u2019d\t know\t that\t Mr.\t Hawthorne\t had\t the\t world\u2019s\t largest\t collection\t of\t late","nineteenth-\t and\t early\t twentieth-century\t Winchester\t rifles,\t several\t of\t which\t are valued\tat\tupward\tof\tfour\thundred\tthousand\tdollars.\u201d The\tidea\tthat\tanyone\twould\tpay\tthat\tmuch\tfor\ta\trifle\twas\tmind-boggling,\tbut I\tbarely\tbatted\tan\teye\tat\tthe\tprice\ttag,\tbecause\tI\twas\ttoo\tbusy\tthinking\tthat\tthere was\ta\treason\tJameson\tand\tGrayson\thad\tboth\tmade\tvisits\tto\tthe\tarmory\tto\tlook\tat rifles\u2014one\tthat\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tshooting\tme. Jameson\u2019s\tmiddle\tname\twas\tWinchester.","CHAPTER\t57 Even\t though\t it\t was\t the\t dead\t of\t night,\t I\t made\t Oren\t take\t me\t to\t the\t armory. Following\thim\tthrough\ttwisting\thallway\tafter\thallway,\tall\tI\tcould\tthink\twas\tthat someone\tcould\thide\tforever\tin\tthis\thouse. And\tthat\twasn\u2019t\tcounting\tthe\tsecret\tpassages. Eventually,\t Oren\t came\t to\t a\t stop\t in\t a\t long\t corridor.\t \u201cThis\t is\t it.\u201d\t He\t stood\t in front\t of\t an\t ornate\t gold\t mirror.\t As\t I\t watched,\t he\t ran\t his\t hand\t along\t the\t side\t of the\tframe.\tI\theard\ta\tclick,\tand\tthen\tthe\tmirror\tswung\tout\tinto\tthe\thallway,\tlike\ta door.\tBehind\tit,\tthere\twas\tsteel. Oren\t stepped\t up,\t and\t I\t saw\t a\t line\t of\t red\t go\t down\t over\t his\t face.\t \u201cFacial recognition,\u201d\t he\t informed\t me.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t really\t only\t meant\t as\t a\t backup\t security measure.\t The\t best\t way\t to\t keep\t intruders\t from\t breaking\t into\t a\t safe\t is\t to\t make sure\tthey\tdon\u2019t\teven\tknow\tit\u2019s\tthere.\u201d Hence,\t the\t mirror.\t He\t pushed\t the\t door\t inward.\t \u201cThe\t entire\t armory\t is\t lined with\treinforced\tsteel.\u201d\tHe\tstepped\tthrough,\tand\tI\tfollowed. When\t I\u2019d\t heard\t the\t word\t armory,\t I\u2019d\t pictured\t something\t out\t of\t a\t movie: copious\t amounts\t of\t black\t and\t Rambo-style\t cartridges\t on\t the\t walls.\t What\t I\t got looked\t more\t like\t a\t country\t club.\t The\t walls\t were\t lined\t with\t cabinets\t of\t a\t deep cherry\u2013colored\t wood.\t There\t was\t an\t intricately\t carved\t table\t in\t the\t center\t of\t the room,\tcomplete\twith\ta\tmarble\ttop. \u201cThis\tis\tthe\tarmory?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tThere\twas\ta\trug\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tA\tplush,\texpensive rug\tthat\tlooked\tlike\tit\tbelonged\tin\ta\tdining\troom. \u201cNot\t what\t you\t were\t expecting?\u201d\t Oren\t closed\t the\t door\t behind\t us.\t It\t clicked into\t place,\t and\t then\t he\t flipped\t three\t additional\t dead\t bolts\t in\t quick\t succession. \u201cThere\t are\t safe\t rooms\t scattered\t throughout\t the\t house.\t This\t doubles\t as\t one\u2014a tornado\tshelter,\ttoo.\tI\u2019ll\tshow\tyou\tthe\tlocations\tof\tthe\tothers\tlater,\tjust\tin\tcase.\u201d In\t case\t someone\t tries\t to\t kill\t me.\t Rather\t than\t dwelling\t on\t that,\t I\t focused\t on the\treason\tI\u2019d\tcome\there.\t\u201cWhere\tare\tthe\tWinchesters?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cThere\t are\t at\t least\t thirty\t Winchester\t rifles\t in\t the\t collection.\u201d\t Oren\t nodded toward\ta\twall\tof\tdisplay\tcases.\t\u201cAny\tparticular\treason\tyou\twanted\tto\tsee\tthem?\u201d","A\tday\tearlier,\tI\tmight\thave\tkept\tthis\tsecret,\tbut\tJameson\thadn\u2019t\ttold\tme\tthat he\u2019d\t looked\t for\u2014possibly\t found\u2014the\t clue\t corresponding\t to\t his\t own\t middle name.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\towe\thim\tany\tsecrecy\tnow. \u201cI\u2019m\t looking\t for\t something,\u201d\t I\t told\t Oren.\t \u201cA\t message\t from\t Tobias Hawthorne\u2014a\tclue.\tA\tcarving,\tmost\tlikely\tof\ta\tnumber\tor\tsymbol.\u201d The\t etching\t on\t the\t tree\t in\t the\t Black\t Wood\t had\t been\t neither.\t Mid-kiss, Jameson\t had\t seemed\t convinced\t that\t Toby\u2019s\t name\t was\t the\t next\t clue\u2014but\t I wasn\u2019t\tso\tsure.\tThe\twriting\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\ta\tmatch\tfor\tthe\tcarving\tat\tthe\tbridge.\tIt had\tbeen\tuneven,\tchildlike.\tWhat\tif\tToby\thad\tcarved\tit\thimself,\tas\ta\tkid?\tWhat if\tthe\treal\tclue\twas\tstill\tout\tthere\tin\tthe\twoods? I\t can\u2019t\t go\t back.\t Not\t until\t we\t know\t who\t the\t shooter\t is.\t Oren\t could\t clear\t a room\tand\ttell\tme\tit\twas\tsafe.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tclear\ta\twhole\tforest. Pushing\t back\t against\t the\t echo\t of\t gunshots\u2014and\t everything\t that\t had\t come after\u2014I\t opened\t one\t of\t the\t cabinets.\t \u201cAny\t thoughts\t on\t where\t your\t former employer\t might\t have\t hidden\t a\t message?\u201d\t I\t asked\t Oren,\t my\t focus\t intense. \u201cWhich\tgun?\tWhich\tpart\tof\tthe\tgun?\u201d \u201cMr.\tHawthorne\trarely\ttook\tme\tinto\this\tconfidence,\u201d\tOren\ttold\tme.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t always\t know\t how\t his\t mind\t worked,\t but\t I\t respected\t him,\t and\t that\t respect\t was mutual.\u201d\t Oren\t removed\t a\t cloth\t from\t a\t drawer\t and\t unfolded\t it,\t spreading\t it across\tthe\ttable\u2019s\tmarble\ttop.\tThen\the\twalked\tover\tto\tthe\tcabinet\tI\u2019d\topened\tand lifted\tout\tone\tof\tthe\trifles. \u201cNone\t of\t them\t are\t loaded,\u201d\t he\t said\t intently.\t \u201cBut\t you\t treat\t them\t like\t they are.\tAlways.\u201d He\t laid\t the\t gun\t down\t on\t the\t cloth\t and\t then\t ran\t his\t fingers\t lightly\t over\t the barrel.\t\u201cThis\twas\tone\tof\this\tfavorites.\tHe\twas\tone\thell\tof\ta\tshot.\u201d I\tgot\tthe\tsense\tthat\tthere\twas\ta\tstory\tthere\u2014one\the\u2019d\tprobably\tnever\ttell\tme. Oren\tstepped\tback,\tand\tI\ttook\tthat\tas\tmy\tcue\tto\tapproach.\tEverything\tin\tme wanted\tto\tshrink\tback\tfrom\tthe\trifle.\tThe\tbullets\tthat\thad\tbeen\tfired\tat\tme\twere too\t fresh\t in\t my\t own\t memory.\t My\t wounds\t still\t throbbed,\t but\t I\t made\t myself examine\teach\tpart\tof\tthe\tweapon,\tlooking\tfor\tsomething,\tanything,\tthat\tmight\tbe a\tclue.\tFinally,\tI\tturned\tback\tto\tOren.\t\u201cWhere\tdo\tyou\tload\tthe\tbullets?\u201d I\t found\t what\t I\t was\t looking\t for\t on\t the\t fourth\t gun.\t To\t load\t a\t bullet\t into\t a Winchester\t rifle,\t you\t cocked\t a\t lever\t away\t from\t the\t stock.\t On\t the\t underside\t of that\tlever,\ton\tthe\tfourth\tgun\tI\tlooked\tat,\twere\tthree\tletters:\tO.\tN.\tE.\tThe\tway\tit","had\tbeen\tetched\tinto\tthe\tmetal\tmade\tthe\tletters\tlook\tlike\tinitials,\tbut\tI\tread\tit\tas number,\tto\tgo\twith\tthe\tone\twe\u2019d\tfound\ton\tthe\tbridge. Not\tinfinity,\tI\tthought.\tEight.\tAnd\tnow:\tOne. Eight.\tOne.","CHAPTER\t58 Oren\tescorted\tme\tback\tto\tmy\twing.\tI\tthought\tabout\tknocking\ton\tLibby\u2019s\tdoor, but\tit\twas\tlate\u2014too\tlate\u2014and\tit\twasn\u2019t\tlike\tI\tcould\tjust\tpop\tin\tand\tsay,\tThere\u2019s murder\tafoot,\tsleep\ttight! Oren\tdid\ta\tsweep\tof\tmy\tquarters\tand\tthen\ttook\tup\tposition\toutside\tmy\tdoor, feet\t spread\t shoulder-width\t apart,\t hands\t dangling\t by\t his\t side.\t He\t had\t to\t sleep sometime,\tbut\tas\tthe\tdoor\tclosed\tbetween\tus,\tI\tknew\tit\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\ttonight. I\tpulled\tmy\tphone\tout\tof\tmy\tpocket\tand\tstared\tat\tit.\tNothing\tfrom\tMax.\tShe was\t a\t night\t owl\t and\t two\t hours\t behind\t me\t time\t zone\u2013wise.\t There\t was\t no\t way she\twas\tasleep.\tI\tDM-ed\tthe\tsame\tmessage\tI\u2019d\ttexted\ther\tearlier\tto\tevery\tsocial media\taccount\tshe\thad. Please\trespond,\tI\tthought\tdesperately.\tPlease,\tMax. \u201cNothing.\u201d\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t meant\t to\t say\t that\t out\t loud.\t Trying\t not\t to\t feel\t utterly alone,\t I\t made\t my\t way\t to\t the\t bathroom,\t laid\t my\t phone\t on\t the\t counter,\t and slipped\toff\tmy\tclothes.\tNaked,\tI\tlooked\tin\tthe\tmirror.\tExcept\tfor\tmy\tface\tand\tthe bandage\tover\tmy\tstitches,\tmy\tskin\tlooked\tuntouched.\tI\tpeeled\tthe\tbandage\tback. The\twound\twas\tangry\tand\tred,\tthe\tstitches\teven\tand\tsmall.\tI\tstared\tat\tit. Someone\u2014almost\t certainly\t someone\t in\t the\t Hawthorne\t family\u2014wanted\t me dead.\tI\tcould\tbe\tdead\tright\tnow.\tI\tpictured\ttheir\tfaces,\tone\tby\tone.\tJameson\thad been\t there\t with\t me\t when\t the\t shots\t rang\t out.\t Nash\t had\t claimed\t from\t the beginning\t that\t he\t didn\u2019t\t want\t the\t money.\t Xander\t had\t been\t nothing\t but welcoming.\tBut\tGrayson\u2026 If\tyou\twere\tsmart,\tyou\u2019d\tstay\taway\tfrom\tJameson.\tFrom\tthe\tgame.\tFrom\tme. He\u2019d\t warned\t me.\t He\u2019d\t told\t me\t that\t their\t family\t destroyed\t everything\t they touched.\tWhen\tI\u2019d\tasked\tRebecca\thow\tEmily\thad\tdied,\tit\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tJameson\u2019s name\tshe\u2019d\tmentioned. Grayson\ttold\tme\tthat\tit\twas\ther\theart. I\tflipped\tthe\tshower\ton\tas\thot\tas\tit\twould\tgo\tand\tstepped\tin,\tturning\tmy\tchest from\tthe\tstream\tand\tletting\tthe\thot\twater\tbeat\tagainst\tmy\tback.\tIt\thurt,\tbut\tall\tI wanted\t was\t to\t scrub\t this\t entire\t night\t off\t me.\t What\t had\t happened\t in\t the\t Black","Wood.\tWhat\thad\thappened\twith\tJameson.\tAll\tof\tit. I\tbroke\tdown.\tCrying\tin\tthe\tshower\tdidn\u2019t\tcount. After\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo,\tI\tgot\tahold\tof\tmyself\tand\tturned\tthe\twater\toff,\tjust\tin time\tto\thear\tmy\tphone\tringing.\tWet\tand\tdripping,\tI\tlunged\tfor\tit. \u201cHello?\u201d \u201cYou\thad\tbetter\tnot\tbe\tlying\tabout\tthe\tassassination\tattempt.\tOr\tthe\tmaking out.\u201d My\tbody\tsagged\tin\trelief.\t\u201cMax.\u201d She\t must\t have\t heard\t in\t my\t tone\t that\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t lying.\t \u201cWhat\t the\t elf,\t Avery? What\tthe\teverlasting\tmothing-foxing\telf\tis\tgoing\ton\tthere?\u201d I\t told\t her\u2014all\t of\t it,\t every\t detail,\t every\t moment,\t everything\t I\u2019d\t been\t trying not\tto\tfeel. \u201cYou\thave\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthere.\u201d\tFor\tonce,\tMax\twas\tdeadly\tserious. \u201cWhat?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tI\tshivered\tand\tfinally\tmanaged\tto\tgrab\ta\ttowel. \u201cSomeone\t tried\t to\t kill\t you,\u201d\t Max\t said\t with\t exaggerated\t patience,\t \u201cso\t you need\tto\tget\tout\tof\tMurderland.\tLike,\tnow.\u201d \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tleave,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\thave\tto\tlive\there\tfor\ta\tyear,\tor\tI\tlose\teverything.\u201d \u201cSo\tyour\tlife\tgoes\tback\tto\tthe\tway\tit\twas\ta\tweek\tago.\tIs\tthat\tso\tbad?\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tincredulously.\t\u201cI\twas\tliving\tin\tmy\tcar,\tMax,\twith\tno\tguarantee of\ta\tfuture.\u201d \u201cKey\tword:\tliving.\u201d I\t pulled\t the\t towel\t tighter\t around\t me.\t \u201cAre\t you\t saying\t you\t would\t give\t up billions?\u201d \u201cWell,\t my\t other\t suggestion\t involves\t preemptively\t whacking\t the\t entire Hawthorne\tfamily,\tand\tI\twas\tafraid\tyou\u2019d\ttake\tthat\tas\ta\teuphemism.\u201d \u201cMax!\u201d \u201cHey,\tI\u2019m\tnot\tthe\tone\twho\tmade\tout\twith\tJameson\tHawthorne.\u201d I\t wanted\t to\t explain\t to\t her\t exactly\t how\t I\u2019d\t let\t that\t happen,\t but\t all\t that\t came out\tof\tmy\tmouth\twas\t\u201cWhere\twere\tyou?\u201d \u201cExcuse\tme?\u201d \u201cI\tcalled\tyou,\tright\tafter\tit\thappened,\tbefore\tthe\tthing\twith\tJameson.\tI\tneeded you,\tMax.\u201d There\t was\t a\t long,\t pregnant\t silence\t on\t the\t other\t end\t of\t the\t phone\t line.\t \u201cI\u2019m doing\tjust\tfine,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cEverything\there\tis\tjust\tpeachy.\tThanks\tfor\tasking.\u201d \u201cAsking\tabout\twhat?\u201d \u201cExactly.\u201d\tMax\tlowered\ther\tvoice.\t\u201cDid\tyou\teven\tnotice\tthat\tI\u2019m\tnot\tcalling from\t my\t phone?\t This\t is\t my\t brother\u2019s.\t I\u2019m\t on\t lockdown.\t Total\t lockdown\u2014","because\tof\tyou.\u201d I\u2019d\t known\t the\t last\t time\t we\u2019d\t talked\t that\t something\t wasn\u2019t\t right.\t \u201cWhat\t do you\tmean,\tbecause\tof\tme?\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\treally\twant\tto\tknow?\u201d What\tkind\tof\tquestion\twas\tthat?\t\u201cOf\tcourse\tI\tdo.\u201d \u201cBecause\tyou\thaven\u2019t\tasked\tabout\tme\tat\tall\tsince\tany\tof\tthis\thappened.\u201d\tShe blew\t out\t a\t long\t breath.\t \u201cLet\u2019s\t be\t honest,\t Ave,\t you\t barely\t asked\t about\t me before.\u201d My\tstomach\ttightened.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tnot\ttrue.\u201d \u201cYour\t mom\t died,\t and\t you\t needed\t me.\t And\t with\t everything\t with\t Libby\t and that\t bob-forsaken\t shipstain,\t you\t really\t needed\t me.\t And\t then\t you\t inherited billions\tand\tbillions\tof\tdollars,\tso\tof\tcourse,\tyou\tneeded\tme!\tAnd\tI\twas\thappy\tto be\tthere,\tAvery,\tbut\tdo\tyou\teven\tknow\tmy\tboyfriend\u2019s\tname?\u201d I\tracked\tmy\tmind,\ttrying\tto\tremember.\t\u201cJared?\u201d \u201cWrong,\u201d\tMax\tsaid\tafter\ta\tmoment.\t\u201cThe\tcorrect\tanswer\tis\tthat\tI\tdon\u2019t\thave a\t boyfriend\t anymore,\t because\t I\t caught\t Jaxon\t on\t my\t phone,\t trying\t to\t send himself\tscreenshots\tof\tyour\ttexts\tto\tme.\tA\treporter\toffered\tto\tpay\thim\tfor\tthem.\u201d Her\tpause\twas\tpainful\tthis\ttime.\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant\tto\tknow\thow\tmuch?\u201d My\theart\tsank.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tso\tsorry,\tMax.\u201d \u201cMe\ttoo,\u201d\tMax\tsaid\tbitterly.\t\u201cBut\tI\u2019m\tespecially\tsorry\tthat\tI\tever\tlet\thim\ttake pictures\t of\t me.\t Personal\t pictures.\t Because\t when\t I\t broke\t up\t with\t him,\t he\t sent those\t pictures\t to\t my\t parents.\u201d\t Max\t was\t like\t me.\t She\t only\t cried\t in\t the\t shower. But\t her\t voice\t was\t hitching\t now.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t even\t allowed\t to\t date,\t Avery.\t How well\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthat\twent\tdown?\u201d I\tcouldn\u2019t\teven\timagine.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tneed?\u201d\tI\tasked\ther. \u201cI\tneed\tmy\tlife\tback.\u201d\tShe\twent\tquiet,\tjust\tfor\ta\tminute.\t\u201cYou\tknow\twhat\tthe worst\tpart\tis?\tI\tcan\u2019t\teven\tbe\tmad\tat\tyou,\tbecause\tsomeone\ttried\tto\tshoot\tyou.\u201d Her\tvoice\tgot\tvery\tsoft.\t\u201cAnd\tyou\tneed\tme.\u201d That\thurt,\tbecause\tit\twas\ttrue.\tI\tneeded\ther.\tI\u2019d\talways\tneeded\ther\tmore\tthan she\thad\tneeded\tme,\tbecause\tshe\twas\tmy\tfriend,\tsingular,\tand\tI\twas\tone\tof\tmany for\ther.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\tMax.\u201d She\t made\t a\t dismissive\t sound.\t \u201cYeah,\t well,\t the\t next\t time\t someone\t tries\t to shoot\t you,\t you\u2019re\t going\t to\t have\t buy\t me\t something\t really\t nice\t to\t make\t it\t up\t to me.\tLike\tAustralia.\u201d \u201cYou\t want\t me\t to\t buy\t you\t a\t trip\t to\t Australia?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t thinking\t that\t could probably\tbe\tarranged. \u201cNo.\u201d\t Her\t reply\t was\t pert.\t \u201cI\t want\t you\t to\t buy\t me\t Australia.\t You\t can\t afford","it.\u201d I\tsnorted.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tit\u2019s\tfor\tsale.\u201d \u201cThen\tI\tguess\tthat\tyou\thave\tno\tchoice\tbut\tto\tavoid\tgetting\tshot\tat.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll\t be\t careful,\u201d\t I\t promised.\t \u201cWhoever\t tried\t to\t kill\t me\t isn\u2019t\t going\t to\t get another\tchance.\u201d \u201cGood.\u201d\t Max\t was\t quiet\t for\t a\t few\t seconds.\t \u201cAve,\t I\t have\t to\t go.\t And\t I\t don\u2019t know\t when\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t be\t able\t to\t borrow\t another\t phone.\t Or\t get\t online.\t Or anything.\u201d My\tfault.\tI\ttried\tto\ttell\tmyself\tthis\twasn\u2019t\tgood-bye\u2014not\tforever.\t\u201cLove\tyou, Max.\u201d \u201cLove\tyou,\ttoo,\tbeach.\u201d After\twe\thung\tup,\tI\tsat\tthere\tin\tmy\ttowel,\tfeeling\tlike\tsomething\tinside\tof\tme had\t been\t carved\t out.\t Eventually,\t I\t made\t my\t way\t back\t into\t my\t bedroom\t and threw\t on\t some\t pajamas.\t I\t was\t in\t bed,\t thinking\t about\t everything\t Max\t had\t said, wondering\t if\t I\t was\t a\t fundamentally\t selfish\t or\t needy\t person,\t when\t I\t heard\t a sound\tlike\tscratching\tin\tthe\twalls. I\tstopped\tbreathing\tand\tlistened.\tThere\tit\twas\tagain.\tThe\tpassageway. \u201cJameson?\u201d\t I\t called.\t He\t was\t the\t only\t one\t who\u2019d\t used\t this\t passage\t into\t my room\u2014or\tat\tleast\tthe\tonly\tone\tI\tknew\tof.\t\u201cJameson,\tthis\tisn\u2019t\tfunny.\u201d There\t was\t no\t response,\t but\t when\t I\t got\t up\t and\t walked\t toward\t the passageway,\tthen\tstood\tvery\tstill,\tI\tcould\thave\tsworn\tI\theard\tsomeone\tbreathing, right\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the\t wall.\t I\t gripped\t the\t candlestick,\t prepared\t to\t pull\t it and\t face\t down\t whoever\t or\t whatever\t stood\t beyond,\t but\t then\t my\t common\t sense \u2014and\t my\t promise\t to\t Max\u2014caught\t up\t to\t me,\t and\t I\t opened\t the\t door\t to\t the hallway\tinstead. \u201cOren?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tsomething\tyou\tshould\tknow.\u201d Oren\tsearched\tthe\tpassageway,\tthen\tdisabled\tits\tentrance\tinto\tmy\troom.\tHe\talso \u201csuggested\u201d\t I\t spend\t the\t night\t in\t Libby\u2019s\t room,\t which\t didn\u2019t\t have\t passageway access. It\twasn\u2019t\treally\ta\tsuggestion. My\tsister\twas\tasleep\twhen\tI\tknocked.\tShe\troused,\tbut\tbarely.\tI\tcrawled\tinto bed\t with\t her,\t and\t she\t didn\u2019t\t ask\t why.\t After\t my\t conversation\t with\t Max,\t I\t was fairly\tcertain\tI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\ttell\ther.\tLibby\u2019s\tentire\tlife\thad\talready\tbeen\tturned upside\t down\t because\t of\t me.\t Twice.\t First\t when\t my\t mom\t had\t died,\t then\t all\t of"]
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