["\u201cCongratulations,\t Heiress,\u201d\t Jameson\t called\t back,\t his\t voice\t dripping\t with everything\tbut\tfelicitations.\t\u201cI\tguess\tyou\thad\tthe\tgood\tfortune\tof\tbeing\tborn\ton the\tright\tday.\tMystery\tsolved.\u201d","CHAPTER\t78 There\thad\tto\tbe\tmore\tto\tthe\tpuzzle\tthan\tthis.\tThere\thad\tto\tbe.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tjust\tbe a\trandom\tperson\tborn\ton\tthe\tright\tcalendar\tdate.\tThat\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tit.\tWhat\tabout\tmy mother?\t What\t about\t her\t secret\u2014a\t secret\t she\u2019d\t mentioned\t on\t my\t fifteenth birthday,\t a\t full\t year\t before\t Emily\t had\t died?\t And\t what\t about\t the\t letter\t Tobias Hawthorne\thad\tleft\tme? I\u2019m\tsorry. What\thad\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\t to\t apologize\tfor?\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\t randomly select\ta\tperson\twith\tthe\tright\tbirthday.\tThere\thas\tto\tbe\tmore\tto\tit\tthan\tthat. But\t I\t could\t still\t hear\t Nash\t telling\t me:\t You\u2019re\t the\t glass\t ballerina\u2014or\t the knife. \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry.\u201d\t Grayson\t spoke\t again\t beside\t me.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t not\t Jameson\u2019s\t fault\t that he\u2019s\t like\t this.\t It\u2019s\t not\t Jameson\u2019s\t fault\u2026\u201d\t The\t invincible\t Grayson\t Hawthorne seemed\tto\tbe\thaving\ttrouble\ttalking.\t\u201c\u2026\tthat\tthis\tis\thow\tthe\tgame\tends.\u201d I\t was\t still\t wearing\t my\t clothes\t from\t the\t gala.\t My\t hair\t was\t still\t in\t Emily\u2019s braid. \u201cI\t should\t have\t known.\u201d\t Grayson\u2019s\t voice\t was\t swollen\t with\t emotion.\t \u201cI\t did know.\tThe\tday\tthat\tthe\twill\twas\tread,\tI\tknew\tthat\tall\tof\tthis\twas\tbecause\tof\tme.\u201d I\t thought\t of\t the\t way\t Grayson\t had\t shown\t up\t at\t my\t hotel\t room\t that\t night. He\u2019d\tbeen\tangry,\tdetermined\tto\tfigure\tout\twhat\tI\thad\tdone. \u201cWhat\t are\t you\t talking\t about?\u201d\t I\t searched\t his\t face\t and\t eyes\t for\t answers. \u201cHow\tis\tthis\tbecause\tof\tyou?\tAnd\tdon\u2019t\ttell\tme\tyou\tkilled\tEmily.\u201d No\tone\u2014not\teven\tThea\u2014had\tcalled\tEmily\u2019s\tdeath\ta\tmurder. \u201cI\t did,\u201d\t Grayson\t insisted,\t his\t voice\t low\t and\t vibrating\t with\t intensity.\t \u201cIf\t it weren\u2019t\tfor\tme,\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tthere.\tShe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tjumped.\u201d Jumped.\tMy\tthroat\twent\tdry.\t\u201cBeen\twhere?\u201d\tI\tasked\tquietly.\t\u201cAnd\twhat\tdoes any\tof\tthis\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tyour\tgrandfather\u2019s\twill?\u201d Grayson\t shuddered.\t \u201cMaybe\t I\t was\t meant\t to\t tell\t you,\u201d\t he\t said\t after\t a\t long while.\t \u201cMaybe\t that\t was\t always\t the\t point.\t Maybe\t you\t were\t always\t meant\t to\t be equal\tparts\tpuzzle\u2026\tand\tpenance.\u201d\tHe\tbowed\this\thead.","I\u2019m\tnot\tyour\tpenance,\tGrayson\tHawthorne.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tthe\tchance\tto\tsay\tthat out\t loud\t before\t he\t was\t talking\t again\u2014and\t once\t he\t started,\t it\t would\t have\t taken an\tact\tof\tGod\tto\tstop\thim. \u201cWe\u2019d\t always\t known\t her.\t Mr.\t and\t Mrs.\t Laughlin\t have\t been\t at\t Hawthorne House\tfor\tdecades.\tTheir\tdaughter\tand\tgranddaughters\tused\tto\tlive\tin\tCalifornia. The\t girls\t came\t to\t visit\t twice\t a\t year\u2014once\t with\t their\t parents\t at\t Christmastime, and\tagain\tin\tthe\tsummer,\tfor\tthree\tweeks,\talone.\tWe\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tmuch\tof\tthem\tat Christmas,\tbut\tin\tthe\tsummers,\twe\tall\tplayed\ttogether.\tIt\twas\ta\tbit\tlike\tsummer camp,\t really.\t You\t have\t camp\t friends,\t who\t you\t see\t once\t a\t year,\t who\t have\t no place\t in\t your\t ordinary\t life.\t That\t was\t Emily\u2014and\t Rebecca.\t They\t were\t so different\t from\t the\t four\t of\t us.\t Skye\t said\t it\t was\t because\t they\t were\t girls,\t but\t I always\t thought\t it\t was\t because\t there\t were\t only\t two\t of\t them,\t and\t Emily\t came first.\tShe\twas\ta\tforce\tof\tnature,\tand\ttheir\tparents\twere\talways\tso\tworried\tshe\u2019d overexert\therself.\tShe\twas\tallowed\tto\tplay\tcards\twith\tus,\tand\tother\tquiet,\tindoor games\u2014but\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tallowed\tto\troam\toutside\tthe\tway\twe\tdid,\tor\tto\trun. \u201cShe\u2019d\tget\tus\tto\tbring\ther\tthings.\tIt\tbecame\ta\tbit\tof\ta\ttradition.\tEmily\twould set\t us\t on\t a\t hunt,\t and\t whoever\t found\t what\t she\u2019d\t requested\u2014the\t more\t unusual and\thard\tto\tfind,\tthe\tbetter\u2014won.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\twin?\u201d\tI\tasked. Grayson\t shrugged.\t \u201cWe\u2019re\t brothers.\t We\t didn\u2019t\t have\t to\t win\t anything\t in particular\u2014just\twin.\u201d That\t tracked.\t \u201cAnd\t then\t Emily\t got\t a\t heart\t transplant,\u201d\t I\t said.\t Jameson\t had told\tme\tthat\tmuch.\tHe\u2019d\tsaid\tthat\tafterward,\tshe\twanted\tto\tlive. \u201cHer\t parents\t were\t still\t protective,\t but\t Emily\t had\t lived\t in\t glass\t cages\t long enough.\tShe\tand\tJameson\twere\tthirteen.\tI\twas\tfourteen.\tShe\u2019d\tbreeze\tin\tfor\tthe summers,\tthe\tconsummate\tdaredevil.\tRebecca\twas\talways\tafter\tus\tto\tbe\tcareful, but\t Emily\t insisted\t that\t her\t doctors\t had\t said\t that\t her\t activity\t level\t was\t only limited\t by\t her\t physical\t stamina.\t If\t she\t could\t do\t it,\t there\t was\t no\t reason\t she shouldn\u2019t.\t The\t family\t moved\t here\t permanently\t when\t Emily\t was\t sixteen.\t She and\t Rebecca\t didn\u2019t\t live\t on\t the\t estate,\t the\t way\t they\t had\t during\t visits,\t but\t my grandfather\tpaid\tfor\tthem\tto\tattend\tprivate\tschool.\u201d I\t saw\t where\t this\t was\t going.\t \u201cShe\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t a\t summer\t camp\t friend anymore.\u201d \u201cShe\twas\teverything,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid\u2014and\the\tdidn\u2019t\texactly\tsay\tit\tlike\tit\twas a\t compliment.\t \u201cEmily\t had\t the\t entire\t school\t eating\t out\t of\t the\t palm\t of\t her\t hand. Maybe\tthat\twas\tour\tfault.\u201d Even\t just\t being\t Hawthorne-adjacent\t changed\t the\t way\t that\t people\t looked\t at","you.\tThea\u2019s\tstatement\tcame\tback\tto\tme. \u201cOr\tmaybe,\u201d\tGrayson\tcontinued,\t\u201cit\twas\tjust\tbecause\tshe\twas\tEm.\tToo\tsmart, too\tbeautiful,\ttoo\tgood\tat\tgetting\twhat\tshe\twanted.\tShe\thad\tno\tfear.\u201d \u201cShe\twanted\tyou,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\tJameson,\tand\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tchoose.\u201d \u201cShe\tturned\tit\tinto\ta\tgame.\u201d\tGrayson\tshook\this\thead.\t\u201cAnd\tGod\thelp\tus,\twe played.\t I\t want\t to\t say\t that\t it\t was\t because\t we\t loved\t her\u2014that\t it\t was\t because\t of her,\t but\t I\t don\u2019t\t even\t know\t how\t much\t of\t that\t was\t true.\t There\u2019s\t nothing\t more Hawthorne\tthan\twinning.\u201d Had\tEmily\tknown\tthat?\tUsed\tit\tto\ther\tadvantage?\tHad\tit\tever\thurt\ther? \u201cThe\t thing\t was\u2026\u201d\t Grayson\t choked.\t \u201cShe\t didn\u2019t\t just\t want\t us.\t She\t wanted what\twe\tcould\tgive\ther.\u201d \u201cMoney?\u201d \u201cExperiences,\u201d\t Grayson\t replied.\t \u201cThrills.\t Race\t cars\t and\t motorcycles\t and handling\texotic\tsnakes.\tParties\tand\tclubs\tand\tplaces\twe\tweren\u2019t\tsupposed\tto\tbe. It\t was\t a\t rush\u2014for\t her\t and\t for\t us.\u201d\t He\t paused.\t \u201cFor\t me,\u201d\t he\t corrected.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t know\twhat\tit\twas,\texactly,\tfor\tJamie.\u201d Jameson\tbroke\tup\twith\ther\tthe\tnight\tshe\tdied. \u201cOne\t night,\t I\t got\t a\t call\t from\t Emily,\t late.\t She\t said\t that\t she\t was\t done\t with Jameson,\t that\t all\t she\t wanted\t was\t me.\u201d\t Grayson\t swallowed.\t \u201cShe\t wanted\t to celebrate.\tThere\u2019s\tthis\tplace\tcalled\tDevil\u2019s\tGate.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tcliff\toverlooking\tthe\tGulf \u2014one\t of\t the\t most\t famous\t cliff-diving\t locations\t in\t the\t world.\u201d\t Grayson\t angled his\thead\tdown.\t\u201cI\tknew\tit\twas\ta\tbad\tidea.\u201d I\ttried\tto\tform\twords\u2014any\twords.\t\u201cHow\tbad?\u201d He\twas\tbreathing\theavily\tnow.\t\u201cWhen\twe\tgot\tthere,\tI\theaded\tfor\tone\tof\tthe lower\tcliffs.\tEmily\theaded\tfor\tthe\ttop.\tPast\tthe\tdanger\tsigns.\tPast\tthe\twarnings. It\twas\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\tWe\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tthere\tat\tall.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow why\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t let\t me\t wait\t until\t morning\u2014not\t until\t later,\t when\t I\t realized she\u2019d\tlied\tabout\tchoosing\tme.\u201d Jameson\thad\tbroken\tup\twith\ther.\tShe\u2019d\tcalled\tGrayson,\tand\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen in\tthe\tmood\tto\twait. \u201cCliff\tdiving\tkilled\ther?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cNo,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid.\t\u201cShe\twas\tfine.\tWe\twere\tfine.\tI\twent\tto\tgrab\tour\ttowels, but\twhen\tI\tcame\tback\u2026\tEmily\twasn\u2019t\teven\tin\tthe\twater\tanymore.\tShe\twas\tjust lying\ton\tthe\tshoreline.\tDead.\u201d\tHe\tclosed\this\teyes.\t\u201cHer\theart.\u201d \u201cYou\tdidn\u2019t\tkill\ther,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cThe\t adrenaline\t did.\t Or\t the\t altitude,\t the\t change\t in\t pressure.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know. Jameson\twouldn\u2019t\ttake\ther.\tI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave,\teither.\u201d","She\tmade\tdecisions.\tShe\thad\tagency.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tyour\tjob\tto\ttell\ther\tno.\tI\tknew instinctively\tthat\tno\tgood\tcould\tcome\tof\tsaying\tany\tof\tthat,\teven\tif\tit\twas\ttrue. \u201cYou\tknow\twhat\tmy\tgrandfather\ttold\tme,\tafter\tEmily\u2019s\tfuneral?\tFamily\tfirst. He\t said\t that\t what\t happened\t to\t Emily\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t happened\t if\t I\u2019d\t put\t my family\t first.\t If\t I\u2019d\t refused\t to\t play\t along,\t if\t I\u2019d\t chosen\t my\t brother\t over\t her.\u201d Grayson\u2019s\tvocal\tcords\ttensed\tagainst\this\tthroat,\tas\tif\the\twanted\tto\tsay\tsomething else\t but\t couldn\u2019t.\t Finally,\t it\t came.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t what\t this\t is\t about.\t One-zero-one- eight.\t October\t eighteenth.\t The\t day\t Emily\t died.\t Your\t birthday.\t It\u2019s\t my grandfather\u2019s\tway\tof\tconfirming\twhat\tI\talready\tknew,\tdeep\tdown. \u201cAll\tof\tthis\u2014all\tof\tit\u2014is\tbecause\tof\tme.\u201d","CHAPTER\t79 When\tGrayson\tleft,\tOren\tescorted\tme\tback\tto\tthe\thouse. \u201cHow\tmuch\tdid\tyou\thear?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim,\tmy\tmind\ttangled\twith\tthoughts\tand emotions\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tI\twas\tready\tto\thandle. Oren\tgave\tme\ta\tlook.\t\u201cHow\tmuch\tdo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\thave\theard?\u201d I\t bit\t at\t the\t inside\t of\t my\t lip.\t \u201cYou\t knew\t Tobias\t Hawthorne.\t Would\t he\t have picked\t me\t to\t inherit\t just\t because\t Emily\t Laughlin\t died\t on\t my\t birthday?\t Did\t he decide\tto\tleave\this\tfortune\tto\ta\trandom\tperson\tborn\ton\tOctober\teighteenth?\tHold a\tlottery?\u201d \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t know,\t Avery.\u201d\t Oren\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u201cThe\t only\t person\t who\t ever really\tknew\twhat\tTobias\tHawthorne\twas\tthinking\twas\tMr.\tHawthorne\thimself.\u201d I\t made\t my\t way\t back\t through\t the\t halls\t of\t Hawthorne\t House,\t back\t toward\t the wing\t I\t shared\t with\t my\t sister.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t certain\t that\t either\t Grayson\t or\t Jameson would\tever\tspeak\ta\tword\tto\tme\tagain.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tthe\tfuture\theld,\tor\twhy the\t idea\t that\t I\t might\t have\t been\t chosen\t for\t a\t completely\t trivial\t reason\t felt\t like such\ta\tpunch\tto\tthe\tgut. How\tmany\tpeople\ton\tthis\tplanet\tshared\tmy\tbirthday? I\t stopped\t on\t the\t stairs,\t in\t front\t of\t the\t portrait\t of\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t that Xander\t had\t shown\t me\t what\t felt\t like\t a\t lifetime\t ago.\t I\t racked\t my\t mind\t now,\t as I\u2019d\tdone\tthen,\tfor\tany\tmemory,\tany\tmoment\tin\ttime\twhen\tmy\tpath\thad\tcrossed with\t the\t billionaire\u2019s.\t I\t looked\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t in\t the\t eye\u2014Grayson\u2019s\t silver eyes\u2014and\tsilently\tasked\thim\twhy. Why\tme? Why\twere\tyou\tsorry? I\tpictured\tmy\tmother\tplaying\tI\tHave\tA\tSecret.\tDid\tsomething\thappen\tthe\tday I\twas\tborn? I\t stared\t at\t the\t portrait,\t taking\t in\t every\t wrinkle\t on\t the\t old\t man\u2019s\t face,\t every","hint\t to\t personality\t in\t his\t posture,\t even\t the\t muted\t color\t in\t the\t background.\t No answers.\tMy\teyes\tcaught\ton\tthe\tartist\u2019s\tsignature. Tobias\tHawthorne\tX.\tX.\tVIII I\tlooked\tback\tat\tthe\told\tman\u2019s\tsilver\teyes.\tThe\tonly\tone\twho\tever\treally\tknew what\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t was\t thinking\t was\t Mr.\t Hawthorne\t himself.\t This\t was\t a self-portrait.\tAnd\tthe\tletters\tnext\tto\tthe\tname? \u201cRoman\tnumerals,\u201d\tI\twhispered. \u201cAvery?\u201d\tOren\tsaid\tbeside\tme.\t\u201cEverything\tokay?\u201d In\tRoman\tnumerals,\tX\twas\tten,\tV\twas\tfive,\tand\tI\twas\tone. \u201cTen.\u201d\t I\t put\t my\t finger\t under\t the\t first\t X,\t then\t moved\t it\t to\t the\t rest\t of\t the letters,\treading\tthem\tas\ta\tsingle\tunit.\t\u201cEighteen.\u201d Remembering\t the\t mirror\t that\t had\t hidden\t the\t armory,\t I\t reached\t behind\t the portrait\u2019s\tframe.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhat\tI\twas\tfeeling\tfor\tuntil\tI\tfound\tit.\tA\tbutton.\tA release.\tI\tpushed\tit,\tand\tthe\tportrait\tswung\toutward. Behind\tit,\ton\tthe\twall,\twas\ta\tkeypad. \u201cAvery?\u201d\t Oren\t said\t again,\t but\t I\t was\t already\t bringing\t my\t fingers\t up\t to\t the keypad.\tWhat\tif\tthe\tnumbers\taren\u2019t\tthe\tfinal\tanswer?\tThe\tpossibility\tcaught\tme in\tits\tjaws\tand\twouldn\u2019t\tlet\tgo.\tWhat\tif\tthey\u2019re\tmeant\tto\tlead\tto\tthe\tnext\tclue? I\t brought\t my\t index\t finger\t to\t the\t keypad\t and\t tried\t the\t obvious\t combination. \u201cOne.\tZero.\tOne.\tEight.\u201d There\t was\t a\t beep,\t and\t then\t the\t top\t of\t the\t step\t below\t me\t began\t to\t rise, revealing\t a\t compartment\t underneath.\t I\t ducked\t down\t and\t reached\t inside.\t There was\tonly\tone\tthing\tin\tthe\thollowed\tstair:\ta\tpiece\tof\tstained\tglass.\tIt\twas\tpurple, in\t the\t shape\t of\t an\t octagon,\t with\t a\t tiny\t hole\t in\t the\t top,\t through\t which\t a\t sheer, shimmering\t ribbon\t had\t been\t threaded.\t It\t looked\t almost\t like\t a\t Christmas ornament. As\tI\theld\tthe\tstained\tglass\tup\tby\tthe\tstring,\tmy\teyes\tcaught\ton\tthe\tunderside of\tthe\tpanel.\tEtched\tinto\tthe\twood\twas\tthe\tfollowing\tverse. Top\tof\tthe\tclock Meet\tme\tat\thigh Tell\tthe\tlate\tday\thello Wish\tthe\tmorning\tgood-bye A\ttwist\tand\ta\tflip","What\tdo\tyou\tsee? Take\tthem\ttwo\tat\ta\ttime And\tcome\tfind\tme","CHAPTER\t80 I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t what\t I\t was\t supposed\t to\t do\t with\t the\t stained-glass\t ornament\t or what\tto\tmake\tof\tthe\twords\twritten\tunder\tthe\tstair,\tbut\tas\tLibby\thelped\tme\tlet\tmy hair\tdown\tthat\tnight,\tone\tthing\twas\tperfectly\tclear. The\tgame\twasn\u2019t\tover. The\t next\t morning,\t with\t Oren\t in\t my\t wake,\t I\t went\t in\t search\t of\t Jameson\t and Grayson.\tI\tfound\tthe\tformer\tin\tthe\tsolarium,\tshirtless\tand\tstanding\tin\tthe\tsun. \u201cGo\taway,\u201d\the\tsaid\twhen\tI\topened\tthe\tdoor,\twithout\teven\tlooking\tto\tsee\twho it\twas. \u201cI\t found\t something,\u201d\t I\t told\t him.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t think\t the\t date\t is\t the\t answer\u2014at least,\tnot\tall\tof\tit.\u201d He\tdidn\u2019t\treply. \u201cJameson,\t are\t you\t listening\t to\t me?\t I\t found\t something.\u201d\t For\t what\t little\t time I\u2019d\tknown\thim,\the\u2019d\tbeen\tdriven,\tobsessed.\tWhat\tI\theld\tin\tmy\thand\tshould\thave engendered\tat\t least\t a\t glimmer\t of\t curiosity,\t but\t when\t he\t turned\t to\t face\t me,\t his eyes\tdull,\tall\the\tsaid\twas\t\u201cToss\tit\tover\twith\tthe\trest.\u201d I\t looked,\t and\t in\t a\t nearby\t trash\t can,\t I\t saw\t at\t least\t half\t a\t dozen\t stained-glass octagons,\tidentical\tto\tthe\tone\tthat\tI\theld,\tright\tdown\tto\tthe\tribbon. \u201cThe\t numbers\t ten\t and\t eighteen\t are\t everywhere\t in\t this\t godforsaken\t house.\u201d Jameson\u2019s\tvoice\twas\tmuted,\this\tmanner\tcontained.\t\u201cI\tfound\tthem\tscratched\tonto a\tpanel\ton\tmy\tcloset\tfloor.\tThat\tlittle\tpurple\tbugger\twas\tunderneath.\u201d He\t didn\u2019t\t bother\t gesturing\t to\t the\t trash\t can\t or\t specifying\t which\t piece\t of stained\tglass\the\twas\treferring\tto. \u201cAnd\tthe\tothers?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cOnce\tI\tstarted\tlooking\tfor\tthe\tnumbers,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tstop,\tand\tonce\tyou\tsee\tit,\u201d Jameson\tsaid,\this\tvoice\tlow,\t\u201cyou\tcan\u2019t\tunsee\tit.\tThe\told\tman\tthought\the\twas\tso smart.\tHe\tmust\thave\thidden\thundreds\tof\tthose\tthings,\tall\tover\tthe\thouse.\tI\tfound","a\tchandelier\twith\teighteen\tcrystals\tin\tthe\touter\tcircle\tand\tten\tin\tthe\tmiddle\u2014and a\t hidden\t compartment\t down\t below.\t There\t are\t eighteen\t stone\t leaves\t on\t the fountain\t outside,\t and\t ten\t finely\t drawn\t roses\t in\t its\t bowl.\t The\t paintings\t in\t the music\t room\u2026\u201d\t Jameson\t looked\t down.\t \u201cEverywhere\t I\t look,\t everywhere\t I\t go, another\treminder.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t see,\u201d\t I\t told\t him\t fiercely.\t \u201cYour\t grandfather\t couldn\u2019t\t have\t done this\tall\tafter\tEmily\tdied.\tYou\twould\thave\tnoticed\u2014\u201d \u201cWorkmen\t in\t the\t house?\u201d\t Jameson\t said,\t finishing\t my\t sentence.\t \u201cThe\t great Tobias\tHawthorne\tadded\ta\troom\tor\twing\tto\tthis\tplace\tevery\tyear,\tand\tin\ta\thouse this\t size,\t something\t is\t always\t needing\t to\t be\t replaced\t or\t repaired.\t My\t mother was\talways\tbuying\tnew\tpaintings,\tnew\tfountains,\tnew\tchandeliers.\tWe\twouldn\u2019t have\tnoticed\ta\tthing.\u201d \u201cTen-eighteen\t isn\u2019t\t the\t answer,\u201d\t I\t insisted,\t willing\t his\t eyes\t to\t mine.\t \u201cYou have\tto\tsee\tthat.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tclue\u2014one\the\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tus\tto\tmiss.\u201d Us.\tI\u2019d\tsaid\tus\u2014and\tI\tmeant\tit.\tBut\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tmatter. \u201cTen-eighteen\t is\t answer\t enough,\u201d\t Jameson\t said,\t turning\t his\t back\t on\t me.\t \u201cI told\tyou,\tAvery:\tI\u2019m\tnot\tplaying\tanymore.\u201d Grayson\t was\t harder\t to\t find.\t Eventually,\t I\t tried\t the\t kitchen\t and\t found\t Nash instead. \u201cHave\tyou\tseen\tGrayson?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim. Nash\u2019s\texpression\twas\tguarded.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\twants\tto\tsee\tyou,\tkid.\u201d The\tnight\tbefore,\tGrayson\thadn\u2019t\tblamed\tme.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tlashed\tout.\tBut\tafter he\u2019d\ttold\tme\tabout\tEmily,\the\u2019d\twalked\taway. He\u2019d\tleft\tme\talone. \u201cI\tneed\tto\tsee\thim,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cGive\t it\t some\t time,\u201d\t Nash\t advised.\t \u201cSometimes,\t you\t gotta\t excise\t a\t wound before\tit\tcan\theal.\u201d I\t ended\t up\t back\t on\t the\t staircase\t to\t the\t East\t Wing,\t back\t in\t front\t of\t the\t portrait. Oren\tgot\ta\tcall,\tand\the\tmust\thave\tdecided\tthe\tthreat\tto\tme\twas\tcontained\tenough now\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tto\twatch\tme\tmope\taround\tHawthorne\tHouse\tall\tday.\tHe excused\thimself,\tand\tI\twent\tback\tto\tstaring\tat\tTobias\tHawthorne. It\t had\t seemed\t like\t fate\t when\t I\u2019d\t found\t the\t clue\t in\t this\t portrait,\t but\t after","talking\tto\tJameson,\tI\tknew\tthat\tit\twasn\u2019t\ta\tsign\u2014or\teven\ta\tcoincidence.\tThe\tclue I\u2019d\tfound\thad\tbeen\tone\tof\tmany.\tYou\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tthem\tto\tmiss\tthis,\tI\taddressed the\t billionaire\t silently.\t If\t he\t really\t had\t done\t all\t of\t this\t after\t Emily\u2019s\t death,\t his persistence\t seemed\t cruel.\t Did\t you\t want\t to\t make\t sure\t that\t they\t wouldn\u2019t\t forget what\thappened? Is\t this\t whole\t twisted\t game\t just\t a\t reminder\u2014an\t incessant\t reminder\u2014to\t put family\tfirst? Is\tthat\tall\tI\tam? Jameson\t had\t said,\t right\t from\t the\t beginning,\t that\t I\t was\t special.\t I\t hadn\u2019t realized\t until\t now\t how\t badly\t I\u2019d\t wanted\t to\t believe\t that\t he\t was\t right,\t that\t I wasn\u2019t\t invisible,\t wasn\u2019t\t wallpaper.\t I\t wanted\t to\t believe\t that\t Tobias\t Hawthorne had\tseen\tsomething\tin\tme\tthat\thad\ttold\thim\tI\tcould\tdo\tthis,\tthat\tI\tcould\thandle the\tstares\tand\tthe\tlimelight,\tthe\tresponsibility,\tthe\triddles,\tthe\tthreats\u2014all\tof\tit.\tI wanted\tto\tmatter. I\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tbe\tthe\tglass\tballerina\tor\tthe\tknife.\tI\twanted\tto\tprove,\tat\tleast to\tmyself,\tthat\tI\twas\tsomething. Jameson\tmay\thave\tbeen\tdone\twith\tthe\tgame,\tbut\tI\twanted\tto\twin.","CHAPTER\t81 Top\tof\tthe\tclock Meet\tme\tat\thigh Tell\tthe\tlate\tday\thello Wish\tthe\tmorning\tgood-bye A\ttwist\tand\ta\tflip What\tdo\tyou\tsee? Take\tthem\ttwo\tat\ta\ttime And\tcome\tfind\tme I\tsat\ton\tthe\tsteps,\tstaring\tat\tthe\twords,\tthen\tworked\tthrough\tthe\trhyme\tline\tby line,\t turning\t the\t piece\t of\t stained\t glass\t over\t in\t my\t hands.\t Top\t of\t the\t clock.\t I pictured\ta\tclock\u2019s\tface\tin\tmy\thead.\tWhat\u2019s\tat\tthe\ttop? \u201cTwelve.\u201d\tI\trolled\tthat\tover\tin\tmy\tmind.\tThe\tnumber\tat\tthe\ttop\tof\ta\tclock\tis twelve.\t Like\t dominos,\t that\t set\t off\t a\t chain\t reaction\t in\t my\t mind.\t Meet\t me\t at high\u2026 High\twhat? \u201cNoon.\u201d\tThat\twas\ta\tguess,\tbut\tthe\tnext\ttwo\tlines\tseemed\tto\tconfirm\tit.\tNoon happened\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tday,\twhen\tyou\tsaid\tgood-bye\tto\tthe\tmorning\tand hello\tto\twhat\tcame\tafter. I\tmoved\ton\tto\tthe\tsecond\thalf\tof\tthe\triddle\u2026\tand\tI\tgot\tnothing. A\ttwist\tand\ta\tflip What\tdo\tyou\tsee? Take\tthem\ttwo\tat\ta\ttime And\tcome\tfind\tme I\t focused\t on\t the\t stained\t glass.\t Was\t I\t supposed\t to\t twist\t it?\t Flip\t it?\t Did\t we need\tto\tassemble\tall\tof\tthe\tpieces\tsomehow? \u201cYou\tlook\tlike\tyou\tswallowed\ta\tsquirrel.\u201d\tXander\tplopped\tdown\ton\tthe\tstairs","next\tto\tme. I\tdefinitely\tdid\tnot\tlook\tlike\tI\u2019d\tswallowed\ta\tsquirrel,\tbut\tI\twas\tguessing\tthat was\t Xander\u2019s\t way\t of\t asking\t if\t I\t was\t okay,\t so\t I\t let\t it\t go.\t \u201cYour\t brothers\t don\u2019t want\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tquietly. \u201cI\t guess\t my\t kind\t gesture\t of\t sending\t you\t all\t to\t the\t Black\t Wood\t together exploded.\u201d\t Xander\t made\t a\t face.\t \u201cTo\t be\t fair,\t most\t of\t my\t gestures\t end\t up exploding.\u201d That\tstartled\ta\tlaugh\tout\tof\tme.\tI\ttilted\tthe\tstep\tin\this\tdirection.\t\u201cThe\tgame\u2019s not\t over,\u201d\t I\t told\t him.\t He\t read\t the\t inscription.\t \u201cI\t found\t it\t last\t night,\t after\t the Black\tWood.\u201d\tI\theld\tup\tthe\tstained\tglass.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmake\tof\tthis?\u201d \u201cNow,\t where,\u201d\t Xander\t said\t thoughtfully,\t \u201chave\t I\t seen\t something\t that\t looks like\tthat?\u201d","CHAPTER\t82 I\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tback\tin\tthe\tGreat\tRoom\tsince\tthe\treading\tof\tthe\twill.\tIts\tstained- glass\t window\t was\t tall\u2014eight\t feet\t high\t to\t only\t three\t feet\t wide\u2014and\t the\t lowest point\twas\teven\twith\tthe\ttop\tof\tmy\thead.\tThe\tdesign\twas\tsimple\tand\tgeometric. In\tthe\ttopmost\tcorners\twere\ttwo\toctagons,\tthe\texact\tsize,\tshade,\tcolor,\tand\tcut\tas the\tone\tin\tmy\thand. I\tcraned\tmy\tneck\tto\tget\ta\tbetter\tlook.\tA\ttwist\tand\ta\tflip\u2026 \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u201d\tXander\tasked\tme. I\tcocked\tmy\thead\tto\tthe\tside.\t\u201cI\tthink\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tneed\ta\tladder.\u201d Perched\t high\t on\t the\t ladder,\t with\t Xander\t holding\t it\t down\t below,\t I\t pressed\t my hand\t against\t one\t of\t the\t stained-glass\t octagons.\t At\t first,\t nothing\t happened,\t but when\t I\t pushed\t on\t the\t left\t side,\t the\t octagon\t rotated\u2014seventy\t degrees,\t and\t then something\tstopped\tit. Does\tthat\tqualify\tas\ta\ttwist? I\t turned\t the\t second\t octagon.\t Pressing\t left\t and\t right\t didn\u2019t\t do\t anything,\t but pushing\t at\t the\t bottom\t did.\t The\t glass\t flipped\t a\t hundred\t and\t eighty\t degrees\t and then\tsome,\tbefore\tlocking\tinto\tplace. I\t made\t my\t way\t back\t down\t to\t Xander,\t who\t was\t holding\t the\t ladder,\t unsure what\tI\u2019d\taccomplished.\t\u201cA\ttwist\tand\ta\tflip,\u201d\tI\trecited.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tsee?\u201d We\t stepped\t back,\t taking\t in\t the\t wide\t view.\t Sun\t shone\t through\t the\t window, causing\t diffused\t colored\t lights\t to\t appear\t on\t the\t Great\t Room\t Floor.\t The\t two panels\t I\u2019d\t turned,\t in\t contrast,\t cast\t purple\t beams.\t Eventually,\t those\t beams crossed. What\tdo\tyou\tsee? Xander\t squatted\t at\t the\t spot\t where\t the\t beams\t of\t light\t met\t on\t the\t floor. \u201cNothing.\u201d\tHe\ttested\tthe\tfloorboard.\t\u201cI\twas\texpecting\tit\tto\tpop\tout,\tor\tto\tgive\u2026\u201d I\twent\tback\tto\tthe\triddle.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tsee?\tI\tsaw\tthe\tlight.\tI\tsaw\tthe\tbeams","crossing.\u2026\tWhen\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tgo\tanywhere,\tI\twent\tfarther\tback\tin\tthe\tpoem\u2014all the\tway\tto\tthe\ttop. \u201cNoon,\u201d\t I\t remembered.\t \u201cThe\t first\t half\t of\t the\t riddle\t described\t noon.\u201d\t The gears\tin\tmy\tbrain\tturned\tfaster.\t\u201cThe\tangle\tof\tthe\tbeams\tmust\tdepend\tat\tleast\ta little\t on\t the\t angle\t of\t the\t sun.\t Maybe\t the\t twist\t and\t the\t flip\t only\t show\t you\t what you\tneed\tto\tsee\tat\tnoon?\u201d Xander\t chewed\t on\t that\t for\t a\t second.\t \u201cWe\t could\t wait,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cOr\u2026\u201d\t He dragged\tout\tthe\tword.\t\u201cWe\tcould\tcheat.\u201d We\t spread\t out,\t testing\t the\t surrounding\t floorboards.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t that\t long\t until noon.\t The\t angles\t couldn\u2019t\t change\t that\t much.\t I\t tapped\t the\t heel\t of\t my\t hand against\tboard\tafter\tboard.\tSecure.\tSecure.\tSecure. \u201cFind\tanything?\u201d\tXander\tasked\tme. Secure.\t Secure.\t Loose.\t The\t board\t beneath\t my\t hand\t wasn\u2019t\t wiggling,\t but\t it had\tmore\tgive\tthan\tthe\tothers.\t\u201cXander\u2014over\there!\u201d He\tjoined\tme,\tplaced\this\thands\ton\tthe\tboard,\tand\tpressed.\tThe\tboard\tpopped up.\tXander\tremoved\tit,\trevealing\ta\tsmall\tdial\tunderneath.\tI\tturned\tthe\tknob,\tnot sure\twhat\tto\texpect.\tThe\tnext\tthing\tI\tknew,\tXander\tand\tI\twere\tsinking.\tThe\tfloor around\tus\twas\tsinking. When\tit\tstopped,\tXander\tand\tI\tweren\u2019t\tin\tthe\tGreat\tRoom\tanymore.\tWe\twere underneath\tit,\tand\tdirectly\tin\tfront\tof\tus\twas\ta\tset\tof\tstairs.\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\tgo\tout on\t a\t limb\t and\t guess\t that\t this\t was\t one\t of\t the\t entrances\t to\t the\t tunnels\t that\t Oren didn\u2019t\tknow\tabout. \u201cTake\t the\t stairs\t two\t at\t a\t time,\u201d\t I\t told\t Xander.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t the\t next\t line.\u201d\t Take them\ttwo\tat\ta\ttime\tand\tcome\tfind\tme.","CHAPTER\t83 I\thad\tno\tidea\twhat\twould\thave\thappened\tif\twe\thadn\u2019t\tdescended\tthe\tstairs\ttwo at\ta\ttime,\tbut\tI\twas\tglad\twe\thadn\u2019t\tfound\tout. \u201cHave\t you\t ever\t been\t in\t the\t tunnels?\u201d\t I\t asked\t Xander,\t once\t we\u2019d\t made\t it uneventfully\tdown. Xander\twas\tsilent\tlong\tenough\tto\tmake\tthe\tquestion\tfeel\tloaded.\t\u201cNo.\u201d Concentrating,\t I\t took\t in\t my\t surroundings.\t The\t tunnels\t were\t metal,\t like\t a giant\t pipe\t or\t something\t out\t of\t a\t sewer\t system,\t but\t they\t were\t surprisingly\t well lit.\t Gaslights?\t I\t wondered.\t I\u2019d\t lost\t any\t sense\t of\t how\t far\t down\t we\t were.\t Up ahead,\tthe\ttunnels\tspread\tout\tin\tthree\tdirections. \u201cWhich\tway?\u201d\tI\tasked\tXander. Solemnly,\the\tpointed\tstraight\tahead. I\tfrowned.\t\u201cHow\tdo\tyou\tknow?\u201d \u201cBecause,\u201d\t Xander\t replied\t jauntily,\t \u201cthat\u2019s\t what\t he\t said.\u201d\t He\t gestured\t near my\tfeet.\tI\tlooked\tdown\tand\tyelped. It\ttook\tme\ta\tmoment\tto\trealize\tthat\tthere\twere\tgargoyles\tat\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe stairs,\t a\t match\t for\t the\t ones\t in\t the\t Great\t Room,\t except\t that\t the\t gargoyle\t on\t the left\thad\tone\thand\u2014and\tone\tfinger\u2014extended,\tpointing\tthe\tway. Come\tfind\tme. I\t started\t walking.\t Xander\t followed.\t I\t wondered\t if\t he\t had\t any\t idea\t what\t we were\twalking\ttoward. Come\tfind\tme. I\t remembered\t Xander\t telling\t me\t that\t even\t if\t I\u2019d\t thought\t that\t I\t had manipulated\t Tobias\t Hawthorne,\t the\t old\t man\t would\t have\t been\t the\t one manipulating\tme. He\u2019s\t dead,\t I\t told\t myself.\t Isn\u2019t\t he?\t That\t thought\t hit\t me\t hard.\t The\t press certainly\t thought\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t died.\t His\t family\t seemed\t to\t believe\t it. But\thad\tthey\tactually\tseen\this\tbody? What\telse\tcould\tit\tmean?\tCome\tfind\tme.","Five\tminutes\tlater,\twe\thit\ta\twall.\tThere\twas\tnowhere\telse\tto\tgo,\tnothing\tto\tsee, no\tturns\twe\tcould\thave\ttaken\tsince\twe\u2019d\tstarted\tdown\tthis\tpath. \u201cMaybe\t the\t gargoyle\t lied.\u201d\t Xander\t sounded\t like\t he\t was\t enjoying\t that statement\ta\tlittle\ttoo\tmuch. I\tpushed\tagainst\tthe\twall.\tNothing.\tI\tturned\tback.\t\u201cDid\twe\tmiss\tsomething?\u201d \u201cPerhaps,\u201d\tXander\tsaid\tthoughtfully,\t\u201cthe\tgargoyle\tlied!\u201d I\tlooked\tback\tway\twe\u2019d\tcome.\tI\twalked\tthe\tpath\tback\tslowly,\ttaking\tin\tevery detail\tof\tthe\ttunnel.\tBit.\tBy\tbit.\tBy\tbit. \u201cLook!\u201d\tI\ttold\tXander.\t\u201cThere.\u201d It\twas\ta\tmetal\tgrate,\tbuilt\tinto\tthe\ttunnel\tfloor.\tI\tducked\tdown.\tThere\twas\ta brand\tname\tengraved\ton\tthe\tmetal,\tbut\ttime\thad\tworn\taway\tmost\tof\tthe\tletters. The\tonly\tones\tthat\twere\tleft\twere\tM\u2026 And\tE. \u201cCome\t find\t me,\u201d\t I\t whispered.\t Squatting\t down,\t I\t grabbed\t the\t grate\t with\t my fingers\tand\tpulled.\tNothing.\tI\tpulled\tagain,\tand\tthis\ttime\tthe\tgrate\tpopped\tup.\tI fell\tbackward,\tbut\tXander\tcaught\tme. The\ttwo\tof\tus\tstared\tdown\tinto\tthe\thole\tbelow. \u201cIt\t is\t possible,\u201d\t Xander\t whispered,\t \u201cthat\t the\t gargoyle\t was\t telling\t the\t truth.\u201d Without\t waiting\t for\t me,\t he\t lowered\t himself\t into\t the\t hole\u2014and\t dropped.\t \u201cYou coming?\u201d If\t Oren\t knew\t I\t was\t doing\t this,\t he\t would\t kill\t me.\t I\t dropped\t down\t and\t found myself\tin\ta\tsmall\troom.\tHow\tfar\tunderground\tare\twe\tnow?\tThe\troom\thad\tfour walls,\t three\t of\t them\t identical.\t The\t fourth\t was\t made\t of\t concrete.\t Three\t letters had\tbeen\tcarved\tinto\tthe\tcement. A.\tK.\tG. My\tinitials. I\twalked\ttoward\tthe\tletters,\tmesmerized,\tand\tthen\tI\tsaw\ta\tred\tlaser-like\tlight pass\tover\tmy\tface.\tThere\twas\ta\tbeep,\tand\tthen\tthe\tconcrete\twall\tsplit\tin\ttwo,\tlike an\televator\topening.\tBehind\tit\twas\ta\tdoor. \u201cFacial\t recognition,\u201d\t Xander\t said.\t \u201cIt\t didn\u2019t\t matter\t which\t one\t of\t us\t found this\tplace.\tWithout\tyou,\twe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\table\tto\tget\tpast\tthe\twall.\u201d Poor\tJameson.\tHe\u2019d\tgone\tto\tall\tthat\teffort\tto\tkeep\tme\tclose,\tthen\tditched\tme before\tI\tcould\tplay\tmy\tpart.\tThe\tglass\tballerina.\tThe\tknife.\tThe\tgirl\twith\tthe\tface that\tunlocks\tthe\twall\tthat\treveals\tthe\tdoor\tthat\u2026 \u201cThat\t what?\u201d\t I\t stepped\t forward\t to\t examine\t the\t door.\t There\t were\t four\t touch pads,\tone\tin\teach\tcorner\tof\tthe\tdoor.\tXander\thit\tone\tto\twake\tit\tup,\tand\tan\timage of\ta\tfluorescent\thand\tappeared.","\u201cUh-oh,\u201d\tXander\tsaid. \u201cWhat\tuh-oh?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cThis\t one\t has\t Jameson\u2019s\t initials\t on\t it.\u201d\t Xander\t moved\t on\t to\t the\t next\t one. \u201cGrayson\u2019s.\tNash\u2019s.\u201d\tAt\tthe\tlast\tone,\the\tpaused.\t\u201cMine.\u201d\tHe\tplaced\this\thand\tflat on\t the\t screen.\t It\t made\t a\t beeping\t sound,\t and\t then\t I\t heard\t what\t sounded\t like\t a deadbolt\tbeing\tthrown. I\ttried\tthe\tdoor\u2019s\thandle.\t\u201cStill\tlocked.\u201d \u201cFour\tlocks.\u201d\tXander\twinced.\t\u201cFour\tbrothers.\u201d My\t face\t had\t been\t needed\t to\t get\t this\t far.\t Their\t hands\t were\t required\t to\t go farther.","CHAPTER\t84 Xander\t left\t me\t to\t guard\t the\t room.\t He\t said\t that\t he\t would\t be\t back\u2014with\t his brothers. Easier\t said\t than\t done.\t Jameson\t had\t made\t his\t feelings\t clear.\t Grayson\t had made\t himself\t very\t hard\t to\t find.\t Nash\t had\t never\t gotten\t sucked\t in\t to\t their grandfather\u2019s\t game\t in\t the\t first\t place.\t What\t if\t they\t don\u2019t\t come?\t Whatever\t was behind\tthis\tdoor,\tit\twas\twhat\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\twanted\tus\tto\tfind.\tOctober eighteenth\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tanswer\u2014not\tin\tits\tentirety. Out\tof\tall\tthe\tpeople\tin\tthe\tworld\twith\tmy\tbirthday,\twhy\tme?\tWhat\twas\tthe billionaire\tsorry\tfor?\tThere\tare\ttoo\tmany\tpieces,\tI\tthought.\tI\tcan\u2019t\tfit\tit\ttogether \u2014any\tof\tit.\tI\tneeded\thelp. Overhead,\tthere\twere\tfootsteps.\tAbruptly,\tthe\tsound\tstopped. \u201cXander?\u201d\tI\tcalled.\tNo\tresponse.\t\u201cXander,\tis\tthat\tyou?\u201d More\tfootsteps\u2014coming\tcloser.\tWho\telse\tknows\tabout\tthis\ttunnel?\tI\u2019d\tbeen so\t intent\t on\t finding\t answers\t and\t following\t this\t to\t its\t end\t that\t I\u2019d\t almost forgotten:\tSomeone\tin\tHawthorne\tHouse\thad\tgiven\tDrake\taccess\tto\tthe\ttunnels. These\ttunnels. I\t pressed\t my\t back\t against\t the\t wall.\t I\t could\t hear\t someone\t moving\t directly overhead.\t The\t footsteps\t stopped.\t A\t figure\t appeared\t above\t me,\t backlit\t and looming\tover\tmy\tonly\texit\tfrom\tthis\tspace.\tFemale.\tPale. \u201cRebecca?\u201d","CHAPTER\t85 Avery.\u201d\t Rebecca\t stared\t down\t at\t me.\t \u201cWhat\t are\t you\t doing\t down\t there?\u201d\t She sounded\t perfectly\t normal,\t but\t all\t I\t could\t think\t was\t that\t Rebecca\t Laughlin\t had been\t on\t the\t estate\t the\t night\t Drake\t had\t shot\t at\t me.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t have\t an\t alibi, because\twhen\twe\u2019d\tarrived\tat\tWayback\tCottage,\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tthere,\tand\tneither\tof her\tgrandparents\tknew\twhere\tshe\twas.\tShe\u2019d\tsaid\tsomething\tabout\twarning\tme. The\t next\t day,\t Rebecca\t had\t looked\u2014according\t to\t Thea\u2014like\t she\u2019d\t been crying.\tWhy? \u201cWhere\t were\t you,\u201d\t I\t asked\t her,\t my\t mouth\t going\t dry,\t \u201cthe\t night\t of\t the shooting?\u201d Rebecca\tclosed\ther\teyes.\t\u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tit\u2019s\tlike,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u201cto have\tyour\tentire\tlife\trevolve\taround\tone\tperson,\tand\tthen\tyou\twake\tup\tone\tday, and\tthat\tperson\tis\tgone.\u201d That\t wasn\u2019t\t an\t answer\t to\t my\t question.\t I\t thought\t about\t Thea\t telling\t me\t that she\twas\tonly\tdoing\twhat\tEmily\twould\thave\twanted. What\twould\tEmily\thave\twanted\tRebecca\tto\tdo\tto\tme? Xander\tneeded\tto\tget\tback\there\u2014quick. \u201cIt\t was\t my\t fault,\t you\t know,\u201d\t Rebecca\t said\t up\t above,\t her\t eyes\t still\t closed. \u201cEmily\twas\ttaking\thuge\trisks.\tI\ttold\tour\tparents.\tThey\tgrounded\ther,\tforbade\ther from\tseeing\tthe\tHawthornes.\tBut\tEm\thad\ther\tways.\tShe\tconvinced\tour\tmom\tand dad\t that\t she\t was\t done\t acting\t out.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t lift\t the\t ban\t on\t the\t boys,\t but\t they did\tstart\tletting\ther\thang\tout\twith\tThea\tagain.\u201d \u201cThea,\u201d\tI\trepeated,\t\u201cwho\tyou\twere\tsecretly\tdating.\u201d Rebecca\u2019s\t eyelids\t shot\t open.\t \u201cEmily\t found\t us\t together\t that\t afternoon.\t She was\u2026\tangry.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tshe\tgot\tme\talone,\tshe\ttold\tme\tthat\twhat\tThea\tand\tI\thad wasn\u2019t\tlove,\tthat\tif\tThea\treally\tloved\tme,\tshe\tnever\twould\thave\tpretended\tto\tbe with\t Xander.\t Emily\t said\u2026\u201d\t Rebecca\t was\t caught\t up\t in\t memory\t now,\t fully. Violently.\t\u201cShe\ttold\tme\tthat\tThea\tloved\ther\tmore\u2014and\tshe\twould\tprove\tit.\tShe asked\tThea\tto\tcover\tabout\tthe\tcliff\tdiving.\tI\tbegged\tThea\tnot\tto,\tbut\tshe\tsaid\tthat after\teverything,\twe\towed\tit\tto\tEm.\u201d","Thea\thad\tcovered\tfor\tEmily\tthe\tnight\tshe\thad\tdied. \u201cMost\t of\t the\t things\t Emily\t talked\t the\t boys\t into,\t she\t could\t do,\t but\t even professional\tcliff\tdivers\tdon\u2019t\tjump\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tof\tDevil\u2019s\tGate.\tIt\twould\thave been\t dangerous\t for\t anyone,\t but\t that\t much\t adrenaline,\t that\t much\t cortisol,\t a change\tin\taltitude\tand\tpressure,\twith\ther\theart?\u201d\tRebecca\twas\tspeaking\tso\tsoftly now\tthat\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tshe\ttruly\tremembered\tI\twas\tlistening.\t\u201cI\u2019d\ttried\ttelling\tmy parents\t what\t she\t was\t doing,\t and\t that\t didn\u2019t\t work.\t I\u2019d\t tried\t begging\t Thea,\t and she\u2019d\tchosen\tEmily\tover\tme.\tSo\tI\tdecided\tto\tgo\tto\tJameson.\tHe\twas\tthe\tone\twho was\tsupposed\tto\ttake\ther\tto\tDevil\u2019s\tGate.\u201d Rebecca\u2019s\thead\tdipped,\tdeep\tred\thair\tfalling\tinto\ther\tface.\tThea\twas\tright\u2014 Rebecca\tLaughlin\twas\tbeautiful.\tBut\tright\tnow\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tlook\tquite\tright. \u201cI\thad\ta\tvoice\trecording,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u201cof\tEmily\ttalking.\tShe\tused\tto\ttell me\t everything\t the\t boys\t did\t with\t her\t and\t for\t her\t and\t to\t her.\t She\t liked\t to\t keep score.\u201d\t Rebecca\t paused,\t and\t when\t she\t spoke\t again,\t her\t voice\t was\t sharper- edged.\t \u201cI\t played\t the\t recording\t for\t Jameson.\t I\t told\t myself\t that\t I\t was\t doing\t it\t to protect\t my\t sister,\t to\t keep\t him\t from\t taking\t her\t to\t the\t cliffs.\t But\t the\t truth\t was, she\u2019d\ttaken\tThea\taway\tfrom\tme.\u201d So\t you\t took\t something\t away\t from\t her,\t I\t thought.\t \u201cJameson\t broke\t up\t with her,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tHe\u2019d\ttold\tme\tthat\tmuch. \u201cIf\t he\t hadn\u2019t,\u201d\t Rebecca\t replied,\t \u201cmaybe\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t needed\t to\t push things\t so\t much.\t Maybe\t she\t would\t have\t relented\t and\t jumped\t from\t one\t of\t the lower\t cliffs.\t Maybe\t it\t would\t have\t been\t okay.\u201d\t Her\t voice\t got\t even\t softer.\t \u201cIf Emily\thadn\u2019t\tcaught\tThea\tand\tme\ttogether\tthat\tafternoon,\tif\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tour relationship\tas\tsuch\ta\tbetrayal\u2014she\tmight\tnot\thave\tneeded\tto\tjump\tat\tall.\u201d Rebecca\t blamed\t herself.\t Thea\t blamed\t the\t boys.\t Grayson\t took\t the\t weight\t of all\tof\tit\tonto\thimself.\tAnd\tJameson\u2026 \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry.\u201d\t Rebecca\u2019s\t apology\t jarred\t me\t from\t my\t thoughts.\t Her\t tone\t told me\tshe\twasn\u2019t\ttalking\tabout\tEmily\tanymore.\tShe\twasn\u2019t\ttalking\tabout\tsomething that\thad\thappened\tover\ta\tyear\tago. \u201cSorry\tfor\twhat?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tWhat\tare\tyou\tdoing\tdown\there,\tRebecca? \u201cIt\u2019s\t not\t that\t I\t have\t anything\t against\t you.\t But\t it\u2019s\t what\t Emily\t would\t have wanted.\u201d She\tis\tnot\twell.\tI\thad\tto\tfind\ta\tway\tout\tof\there.\tI\thad\tto\tget\taway\tfrom\ther. \u201cEmily\twould\thave\thated\tyou\tfor\tstealing\ttheir\tmoney.\tShe\twould\thave\thated the\tway\tthey\tlook\tat\tyou.\u201d \u201cSo\tyou\tdecided\tto\tget\trid\tof\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tstalling\tfor\ttime.\t\u201cFor\tEmily.\u201d Rebecca\tstared\tat\tme.\t\u201cNo.\u201d","\u201cYou\tknew\tabout\tthe\ttunnels,\tand\tsomehow,\tyou\ttold\tDrake\u2026\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tRebecca\tinsisted.\t\u201cAvery,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tdo\tthat.\u201d \u201cYou\tsaid\tit\tyourself.\tEmily\twould\thave\twanted\tme\tgone.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tEmily.\u201d\tThe\twords\twere\tguttural. \u201cThen\twhat\twere\tyou\tapologizing\tfor?\u201d\tI\tasked. Rebecca\tswallowed.\t\u201cMr.\tHawthorne\ttold\tme\tabout\tthe\ttunnels\tone\tsummer when\tI\twas\tlittle.\tHe\tshowed\tme\tall\tthe\tentrances,\tsaid\tI\tdeserved\tsomething\tthat was\tjust\tmine.\tA\tsecret.\tI\tcome\tdown\there\twhen\tI\tneed\tto\tget\taway\u2014sometimes when\tI\u2019m\tvisiting\tmy\tgrandparents,\tbut\tsince\tEmily\tdied,\tthings\tare\tpretty\tawful at\thome,\tso\tsometimes\tI\tenter\tfrom\tthe\toutside.\u201d I\twaited.\t\u201cAnd?\u201d \u201cThe\t night\t of\t the\t shooting,\t I\t saw\t someone\t else\t in\t the\t tunnels.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t say anything,\tbecause\tEmily\twouldn\u2019t\thave\twanted\tme\tto.\tI\towed\ther,\tAvery.\tAfter what\tI\tdid\u2014I\towed\ther.\u201d \u201cWho\tdid\tyou\tsee?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer.\t\u201cDrake?\u201d Rebecca\tmet\tmy\teyes.\t\u201cHe\twasn\u2019t\talone.\u201d \u201cWho\t else\t was\t there?\u201d\t I\t waited.\t Nothing.\t \u201cRebecca,\t who\t else\t was\t in\t the tunnel\twith\tDrake?\u201d Who\twould\tEmily\thave\twanted\ther\tto\tprotect? \u201cOne\t of\t the\t boys?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t feeling\t like\t the\t ground\t was\t crumbling\t beneath me. \u201cNo,\u201d\tRebecca\tsaid\tquietly.\t\u201cTheir\tmother.\u201d","CHAPTER\t86 Skye?\u201d\tI\ttried\tto\twrap\tmy\tmind\taround\tthat.\tShe\u2019d\tnever\tseemed\tlike\ta\tthreat, the\tway\tZara\thad.\tPassive-aggressive,\tsure,\tand\tpetty.\tBut\tviolent? We\u2019re\t all\t friends\t here,\t aren\u2019t\t we?\t I\t could\t hear\t her\t declaring.\t I\t make\t it\t a policy\tto\tbefriend\teveryone\twho\tsteals\tmy\tbirthright. I\tcould\tsee\ther\tholding\tout\ta\tglass\tof\tchampagne\tand\ttelling\tme\tto\tdrink. \u201cSkye\t was\t down\t here\t with\t Drake\t the\t night\t of\t the\t shooting,\u201d\t I\t said,\t making myself\t confront\t the\t implications\t head-on.\t \u201cShe\t gave\t him\t access\t to\t the\t estate, probably\teven\tpointed\thim\ttoward\tthe\tBlack\tWood.\u201d Toward\tme. \u201cI\t should\t have\t told\t someone,\u201d\t Rebecca\t said\t softly.\t \u201cAfter\t the\t shooting,\t as soon\tas\tI\trealized\twhat\tI\u2019d\tseen\u2014I\tshould\thave\tspoken\tup.\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d\t That\t word\t was\t razor\t sharp\u2014and\t spoken\t by\t someone\t other\t than\t me. \u201cYou\tshould\thave.\u201d\tOverhead,\tGrayson\tstepped\tinto\tview. Rebecca\tturned\tto\tface\thim.\t\u201cIt\twas\tyour\tmother,\tGray.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\u2014\u201d \u201cYou\tcould\thave\ttold\tme,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid\tquietly.\t\u201cI\twould\thave\ttaken\tcare\tof it,\tBex.\u201d I\tdoubted\tGrayson\u2019s\tmethod\tof\ttaking\tcare\tof\tit\twould\thave\tinvolved\tturning his\tmother\tover\tto\tthe\tpolice. \u201cDrake\t tried\t again,\u201d\t I\t said,\t glaring\t daggers\t at\t Rebecca.\t \u201cYou\t know\t that, right?\t He\t tried\t to\t run\t us\t off\t the\t road.\t He\t could\t have\t killed\t me\u2014and\t Alisa\t and Oren\tand\tThea.\u201d Rebecca\tmade\ta\tgarbled\tsound\tthe\tsecond\tI\tsaid\tThea\u2019s\tname. \u201cRebecca,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid,\this\tvoice\tlow. \u201cI\tknow,\u201d\tRebecca\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tEmily\twouldn\u2019t\thave\twanted\u2026\u201d \u201cEmily\u2019s\tgone.\u201d\tGrayson\u2019s\ttone\twasn\u2019t\tharsh,\tbut\this\twords\ttook\tRebecca\u2019s breath\taway.\t\u201cBex.\u201d\tHe\tmade\ther\tlook\tat\thim.\t\u201cRebecca.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tcare\tof\tthis.\tI promise\tyou:\tEverything\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tfine.\u201d \u201cEverything\tis\tnot\tfine,\u201d\tI\ttold\tGrayson. \u201cGo,\u201d\the\tmurmured\tto\tRebecca.\tShe\twent,\tand\twe\twere\talone.","Grayson\t lowered\t himself\t slowly\t into\t the\t hidden\t room.\t \u201cXander\t said\t you needed\tme.\u201d He\u2019d\t come.\t Maybe\t that\t would\t have\t meant\t more\t if\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t just\t had\t that conversation\twith\tRebecca. \u201cYour\tmother\ttried\tto\thave\tme\tkilled.\u201d \u201cMy\tmother,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid,\t\u201cis\ta\tcomplicated\twoman.\tBut\tshe\u2019s\tfamily.\u201d And\the\twould\tchoose\tfamily\tover\tme,\tevery\ttime. \u201cIf\t I\t asked\t you\t to\t let\t me\t handle\t this,\u201d\t he\t continued,\t \u201cwould\t you?\t I\t can guarantee\tthat\tno\tmore\tharm\twill\tcome\tto\tyou\tor\tyours.\u201d How\t exactly\t he\t could\t guarantee\t anything\t was\t unclear,\t but\t there\t was\t no doubt\t that\t he\t believed\t he\t could.\t The\t world\t bends\t to\t the\t will\t of\t Grayson Hawthorne.\t I\t thought\t about\t the\t day\t I\u2019d\t met\t him,\t how\t sure\t he\u2019d\t seemed\t of himself,\thow\tinvincible. \u201cWhat\t if\t I\t play\t you\t for\t it?\u201d\t Grayson\t asked\t when\t I\t didn\u2019t\t reply.\t \u201cYou\t like\t a challenge.\t I\t know\t you\t do.\u201d\t He\t stepped\t toward\t me.\t \u201cPlease,\t Avery.\t Give\t me\t a chance\tto\tmake\tthis\tright.\u201d There\twas\tno\tmaking\tthis\tright\u2014but\tall\the\u2019d\tasked\tfor\twas\ta\tchance.\tI\tdon\u2019t owe\thim\tthat.\tI\tdon\u2019t\towe\thim\tanything.\tBut\u2014 Maybe\tit\twas\tthe\texpression\ton\this\tface.\tOr\tthe\tknowledge\tthat\the\u2019d\talready lost\teverything\tto\tme\tonce.\tMaybe\tI\tjust\twanted\thim\tto\tsee\tme\tand\tthink\tabout something\tother\tthan\tOctober\teighteenth. \u201cI\u2019ll\tplay\tyou\tfor\tit,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tgame?\u201d Grayson\u2019s\t silver\t eyes\t held\t mine.\t \u201cThink\t of\t a\t number,\u201d\t he\t told\t me.\t \u201cOne\t to ten.\t If\t I\t guess\t it,\t you\t let\t me\t handle\t the\t situation\t with\t my\t mother\t my\t way.\t If\t I don\u2019t\u2026\u201d \u201cI\tturn\ther\tin\tto\tthe\tpolice.\u201d Grayson\ttook\thalf\ta\tstep\ttoward\tme.\t\u201cThink\tof\ta\tnumber.\u201d The\todds\twere\tin\tmy\tfavor\there.\tHe\tonly\thad\ta\t10\tpercent\tchance\tof\tguessing correctly.\tI\thad\ta\t90\tpercent\tchance\tthat\the\twould\tget\tit\twrong.\tI\ttook\tmy\ttime choosing.\t There\t were\t certain\t numbers\t that\t people\t defaulted\t to.\t Seven,\t for instance.\t I\t could\t go\t for\t an\t extreme\u2014one\t or\t ten,\t but\t those\t seemed\t like\t easy guesses,\t too.\t Eight\t was\t on\t my\t brain,\t from\t the\t days\t we\u2019d\t spent\t solving\t the numerical\tsequence.\tFour\twas\tthe\tnumber\tof\tHawthorne\tbrothers. If\t I\t wanted\t to\t keep\t him\t from\t guessing,\t I\t needed\t to\t go\t for\t something unexpected.\tNo\trhyme,\tno\treason. Two. \u201cDo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\twrite\tthe\tnumber\tdown?\u201d\tI\tasked.","\u201cOn\twhat?\u201d\tGrayson\tasked\tsoftly. I\tswallowed.\t\u201cHow\tdo\tyou\tknow\tthat\tI\twon\u2019t\tlie\tabout\tmy\tnumber\tif\tyou\tget it\tright?\u201d Grayson\twas\tquiet\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds,\tthen\tspoke.\t\u201cI\ttrust\tyou.\u201d I\t knew,\t with\t every\t fiber\t of\t my\t being,\t that\t Grayson\t Hawthorne\t didn\u2019t\t trust easily\u2014or\tmuch.\tI\tswallowed.\t\u201cGo\tahead.\u201d He\t took\t at\t least\t as\t much\t time\t generating\t his\t guess\t as\t I\t had\t choosing\t my number.\t He\t looked\t at\t me,\t and\t I\t could\t feel\t him\t trying\t to\t unravel\t my\t thoughts and\timpulses,\tto\tsolve\tme,\tlike\tone\tmore\triddle. What\tdo\tyou\tsee\twhen\tyou\tlook\tat\tme,\tGrayson\tHawthorne? He\tmade\this\tguess.\t\u201cTwo.\u201d I\t turned\t my\t head\t toward\t my\t shoulder,\t breaking\t eye\t contact.\t I\t could\t have lied.\tI\tcould\thave\ttold\thim\tthat\the\twas\twrong.\tBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t.\t\u201cGood\tguess.\u201d Grayson\t let\t out\t a\t ragged\t breath,\t and\t then\t I\t felt\t him\t gently\t turning\t my\t face back\t toward\t his.\t \u201cAvery.\u201d\t He\t almost\t never\t used\t my\t given\t name.\t He\t gently traced\tthe\tline\tof\tmy\tjaw.\t\u201cI\twon\u2019t\tlet\tanyone\thurt\tyou\tever\tagain.\tYou\thave\tmy word.\u201d He\tthought\the\tcould\tprotect\tme.\tHe\twanted\tto.\tHe\twas\ttouching\tme,\tand\tall\tI wanted\twas\tto\tlet\thim.\tLet\thim\tprotect\tme.\tLet\thim\ttouch\tme.\tLet\thim\u2014 Footsteps.\tThe\tclattering\tabove\tpushed\tme\tinto\ttaking\ta\tstep\tback\tfrom\thim, and\ta\tfew\tmoments\tlater,\tXander\tand\tNash\tclimbed\tdown\tinto\tthe\troom. I\tmanaged\tto\tlook\tat\tthem\u2014not\tGrayson\t\u201cWhere\u2019s\tJameson?\u201d\tI\tasked. Xander\tcleared\this\tthroat.\t\u201cI\tcan\treport\tthat\tsome\tvery\tcolorful\tlanguage\twas used\twhen\tI\trequested\this\tpresence.\u201d Nash\tsnorted.\t\u201cHe\u2019ll\tbe\there.\u201d We\twaited\u2014five\tminutes,\tthen\tten. \u201cYou\t might\t as\t well\t unlock\t yours,\u201d\t Xander\t told\t the\t others.\t \u201cYour\t hands,\t if you\tplease.\u201d Grayson\twent\tfirst,\tthen\tNash.\tAfter\tthe\ttouch\tpads\tscanned\ttheir\thands,\twe heard\tthe\ttelltale\tsound\tof\tdeadbolts\tbeing\tthrown,\tone\tafter\tthe\tother. \u201cThree\tlocks\tdown,\u201d\tXander\tmurmured.\t\u201cOne\tto\tgo.\u201d Another\tfive\tminutes.\tEight.\tHe\u2019s\tnot\tcoming,\tI\tthought. \u201cJameson\t isn\u2019t\t coming,\u201d\t Grayson\t said,\t like\t he\u2019d\t lifted\t the\t thought\t from\t my mind\tas\teasily\tas\the\u2019d\tguessed\tmy\tnumber. \u201cHe\u2019ll\tbe\there,\u201d\tNash\trepeated. \u201cDon\u2019t\tI\talways\tdo\twhat\tI\u2019m\ttold?\u201d We\t looked\t up\u2014and\t Jameson\t jumped.\t He\t landed\t between\t his\t brothers\t and","me,\t going\t almost\t to\t the\t ground\t to\t absorb\t the\t shock.\t He\t straightened,\t then\t met their\teyes,\tone\tat\ta\ttime.\tNash.\tXander.\tGrayson. Then,\t me.\t \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t know\t when\t to\t stop,\t do\t you,\t Heiress?\u201d\t That\t didn\u2019t exactly\tfeel\tlike\tan\tindictment. \u201cI\u2019m\t tougher\t than\t I\t look,\u201d\t I\t told\t him.\t He\t stared\t at\t me\t for\t a\t moment\t longer, then\tturned\tto\tthe\tdoor.\tHe\tplaced\this\thand\tflat\ton\tthe\tpad\tthat\tbore\this\tinitials. The\t last\t deadbolt\t was\t thrown,\t and\t the\t door\t was\t released.\t It\t creaked\t open\u2014an inch,\t maybe\t two.\t I\t expected\t Jameson\t to\t reach\t for\t the\t door,\t but\t instead,\t he walked\tback\tto\tthe\topening\tand\tjumped,\tcatching\tits\tsides\twith\this\thands. \u201cWhere\tare\tyou\tgoing?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim.\tAfter\teverything\tit\thad\ttaken\tto\tget\tto this\tpoint,\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tjust\twalk\taway. \u201cTo\t hell,\t eventually,\u201d\t Jameson\t answered.\t \u201cProbably\t to\t the\t wine\t cellar,\t for now.\u201d No.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tjust\tleave.\tHe\twas\tthe\tone\twho\thad\tdragged\tme\tinto\tthis,\tand he\twas\tgoing\tto\tsee\tit\tthrough.\tI\tjumped\tto\tcatch\tonto\tthe\topening\toverhead,\tto go\t after\t him.\t I\t felt\t my\t grip\t slipping.\t Strong\t hands\t grabbed\t me\t from\t beneath \u2014Grayson.\tHe\tpushed\tme\tupward,\tand\tI\tmanaged\tto\tclimb\tout\tand\tto\tmy\tfeet. \u201cDon\u2019t\tleave,\u201d\tI\ttold\tJameson. He\t was\t already\t walking\t away.\t When\t he\t heard\t my\t voice,\t he\t stopped\t but didn\u2019t\tturn\tback. \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\u2019s\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t that\t door,\t Heiress,\t but\t I\t do\t know that\tthe\told\tman\tlaid\tthis\ttrap\tfor\tme.\u201d \u201cJust\tfor\tyou?\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tan\tedge\tworking\tits\tway\tinto\tmy\tvoice.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\twhy\tit required\t all\t four\t brothers\u2019\t hands\t and\t my\t face\t to\t get\t this\t far?\u201d\t Clearly,\t Tobias Hawthorne\thad\tmeant\tfor\tall\tof\tus\tto\tbe\there. \u201cHe\t knew\t that\t any\t game\t he\t left,\t I\t would\t play.\t Nash\t might\t say\t screw\t it, Grayson\tmight\tget\tbogged\tdown\tin\tlegalities,\tXander\tmight\tbe\tthinking\tabout\ta thousand\t and\t one\t other\t things\u2014but\t I\t would\t play.\u201d\t I\t could\t see\t him\t breathing\u2014 see\thim\thurting.\t\u201cSo,\tyes,\the\tmeant\tthis\tfor\tme.\tWhatever\tis\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof that\tdoor\u2026\u201d\tJameson\tdrew\tin\tanother\tragged\tbreath.\t\u201cHe\tknew.\tHe\tknew\twhat\tI did,\tand\the\twanted\tto\tmake\tsure\tI\tnever\tforgot.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\the\tknow?\u201d\tI\tasked. Grayson\tappeared\tbeside\tme\tand\trepeated\tmy\tquestion.\t\u201cThe\told\tman\tknew what,\tJamie?\u201d Behind\t me,\t I\t could\t hear\t Nash\t and\t Xander\t climbing\t into\t the\t tunnel,\t but\t my mind\t barely\t registered\t their\t presence.\t I\t was\t focused\u2014wholly,\t intensely\u2014on Jameson\tand\tGrayson.","\u201cKnew\twhat,\tJamie?\u201d Jameson\tturned\tback\tto\tface\this\tbrother.\t\u201cWhat\thappened\ton\tten-eighteen.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\tmy\tfault.\u201d\tGrayson\tstrode\tforward,\ttaking\tJameson\u2019s\tshoulders\tin\this hands.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tthe\tone\twho\ttook\tEmily\tthere.\tI\tknew\tit\twas\ta\tbad\tidea,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t care.\tI\tjust\twanted\tto\twin.\tI\twanted\ther\tto\tlove\tme.\u201d \u201cI\t followed\t you\t that\t night.\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t statement\t hung\t in\t the\t air\t for\t several seconds.\t\u201cI\twatched\tthe\ttwo\tof\tyou\tjump,\tGray.\u201d All\tof\ta\tsudden,\tI\twas\tback\twith\tJameson,\theaded\tfor\tthe\tWest\tBrook.\tHe\u2019d told\tme\ttwo\tlies\tand\tone\ttruth.\tI\twatched\tEmily\tLaughlin\tdie. \u201cYou\tfollowed\tus?\u201d\tGrayson\tcouldn\u2019t\tmake\tsense\tof\tthat.\t\u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cMasochism?\u201d\t Jameson\t shrugged.\t \u201cI\t was\t pissed.\u201d\t He\t paused.\t \u201cEventually, you\tran\toff\tto\tget\tthe\ttowels,\tand\tI\u2026\u201d \u201cJamie.\u201d\tGrayson\tdropped\this\thands\tto\this\tsides.\t\u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tdo?\u201d Grayson\t had\t told\t me\t that\t he\u2019d\t left\t to\t get\t the\t towels,\t and\t when\t he\u2019d\t gotten back,\tEmily\twas\tlying\ton\tthe\tshore.\tDead. \u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tdo?\u201d \u201cShe\tsaw\tme.\u201d\tJameson\tturned\tfrom\this\tbrother\tto\tlook\tat\tme.\t\u201cShe\tsaw\tme, and\t she\t smiled.\t She\t thought\t she\u2019d\t won.\t She\t thought\t she\t still\t had\t me,\t but\t I turned\t and\t walked\t away.\t She\t called\t my\t name.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t stop.\t I\t heard\t her\t gasp. She\twas\tmaking\tthis\tlittle\tstrangling\tsound.\u201d I\tbrought\tmy\thand\tto\tmy\tmouth\tin\thorror. \u201cI\tthought\tshe\twas\tplaying\twith\tme.\tI\theard\ta\tsplash,\tbut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tturn\taround. I\t made\t it\t probably\t a\t hundred\t yards.\t She\t wasn\u2019t\t calling\t after\t me\t anymore.\t I glanced\t back.\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t voice\t broke.\t \u201cEmily\t was\t hunched\t over,\t crawling\t out of\tthe\twater.\tI\tthought\tshe\twas\tpretending.\u201d He\u2019d\tthought\tshe\twas\tmanipulating\thim. \u201cI\t just\t stood\t there,\u201d\t Jameson\t said\t dully.\t \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t do\t a\t damn\t thing\t to\t help her.\u201d I\t watched\t Emily\t Laughlin\t die.\t I\t thought\t I\t was\t going\t to\t be\t sick.\t I\t could\t see him,\t standing\t there,\t trying\t to\t show\t her\t that\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t hers\t anymore,\t trying\t to resist. \u201cShe\tcollapsed.\tShe\twent\tstill,\tand\tshe\tstayed\tstill.\tAnd\tthen\tyou\tcame\tback, Gray,\t and\t I\t left.\u201d\t Jameson\t shuddered.\t \u201cI\t hated\t you\t for\t taking\t her\t there,\t but\t I hate\tmyself\tmore\tbecause\tI\tlet\ther\tdie.\tI\tstood\tthere,\tand\tI\twatched.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\ther\theart,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cWhat\tcould\tyou\thave\u2014\u201d \u201cI\tcould\thave\ttried\tCPR.\tI\tcould\thave\tdone\tsomething.\u201d\tJameson\tswallowed. \u201cBut\t I\t didn\u2019t.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t how\t the\t old\t man\t knew,\t but\t he\t cornered\t me\t a\t few","days\t later.\t He\t told\t me\t that\t he\t knew\t I\u2019d\t been\t there\t and\t asked\t whether\t I\t felt culpable.\tHe\twanted\tme\tto\ttell\tyou,\tGray,\tand\tI\twouldn\u2019t.\tI\tsaid\tthat\tif\the\twas\tso damn\t set\t on\t you\t knowing\t that\t I\u2019d\t been\t there,\t he\t could\t tell\t you\t himself.\t But\t he didn\u2019t.\tInstead\u2026\the\tdid\tthis.\u201d The\tletter.\tThe\tlibrary.\tThe\twill.\tTheir\tmiddle\tnames.\tThe\tdate\tof\tmy\tbirth\u2014 and\tEmily\u2019s\tdeath.\tThe\tnumbers,\tscattered\tall\tover\tthe\testate.\tThe\tstained\tglass, the\t riddle.\t The\t passage\t down\t into\t the\t tunnel.\t The\t grate\t marked\t M.\t E.\t The hidden\troom.\tThe\tmoving\twall.\tThe\tdoor. \u201cHe\twanted\tto\tmake\tdamn\tsure,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tI\tnever\tforgot.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tXander\tblurted\tout.\tThe\tothers\tturned\tto\tlook\tat\thim.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tnot\twhat this\t is,\u201d\t he\t swore.\t \u201cHe\t wasn\u2019t\t making\t a\t point.\t He\t wanted\t us\u2014all\t four\t of\t us\u2014 together.\tHere.\u201d Nash\tput\ta\thand\ton\tXander\u2019s\tshoulder.\t\u201cThe\told\tman\tcould\tbe\ta\treal\tbastard, Xan.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tnot\twhat\tthis\tis,\u201d\tXander\tsaid\tagain,\this\tvoice\tmore\tintense\tthan\tI\u2019d ever\theard\tit\u2014like\the\twasn\u2019t\tspeculating.\tLike\the\tknew. Grayson,\twho\thadn\u2019t\tsaid\ta\tword\tsince\tJameson\u2019s\tconfession,\tspoke\tup\tnow. \u201cWhat\tprecisely\tare\tyou\tsaying,\tAlexander?\u201d \u201cThe\ttwo\tof\tyou\twere\twalking\taround\tlike\tghosts.\tYou\twere\ta\trobot,\tGray.\u201d Xander\t was\t speaking\t quickly\t now\u2014almost\t too\t quickly\t for\t the\t rest\t of\t us\t to follow.\t\u201cJamie\twas\ta\tticking\ttime\tbomb.\tYou\thated\teach\tother.\u201d \u201cWe\thated\tourselves\tmore,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid,\this\tvoice\tlike\tsandpaper. \u201cThe\told\tman\tknew\the\twas\tsick,\u201d\tXander\tadmitted.\t\u201cHe\ttold\tme,\tright\tbefore he\tdied.\tHe\tasked\tme\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfor\thim.\u201d Nash\u2019s\teyes\tnarrowed.\t\u201cAnd\twhat\twas\tthat?\u201d Xander\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer.\tGrayson\u2019s\teyes\tnarrowed.\t\u201cYou\thad\tto\tmake\tsure\twe played.\u201d \u201cIt\t was\t my\t job\t to\t make\t sure\t you\t saw\t this\t to\t the\t end.\u201d\t Xander\t looked\t from Grayson\t to\t Jameson.\t \u201cBoth\t of\t you.\t If\t either\t of\t you\t stopped\t playing,\t it\t was\t my job\tto\tdraw\tyou\tback.\u201d \u201cYou\tknew?\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cAll\tthis\ttime,\tyou\tknew\twhere\tthe\tclues\tled?\u201d Xander\twas\tthe\tone\twho\u2019d\thelped\tme\tfind\tthe\ttunnel.\tHe\twas\tthe\tone\twho\u2019d solved\tthe\tBlack\tWood.\tEven\tback\tat\tthe\tvery\tbeginning\u2026 He\ttold\tme\tthat\this\tgrandfather\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\tmiddle\tname. \u201cYou\t helped\t me,\u201d\t I\t said.\t He\u2019d\t manipulated\t me.\t Moved\t me\t around,\t like\t a lure. \u201cI\t told\t you\t that\t I\t am\t a\t living,\t breathing\t Rube\t Goldberg\t machine.\u201d\t Xander","looked\tdown.\t\u201cI\twarned\tyou.\tKind\tof.\u201d\tI\tthought\tof\tthe\tmoment\the\u2019d\ttaken\tme to\tsee\tthe\tmachine\the\u2019d\tbuilt.\tI\u2019d\tasked\thim\twhat\tit\thad\tto\tdo\twith\tThea,\tand\this response\thad\tbeen\tWho\tsaid\tthis\thad\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tThea? I\t stared\t at\t Xander\u2014the\t youngest,\t tallest,\t and\t arguably\t most\t brilliant Hawthorne.\tWhere\tyou\tgo,\the\u2019d\ttold\tme\tback\tat\tthe\tgala,\tthey\u2019ll\tfollow.\tAll\tthis time,\tI\u2019d\tthought\tthat\tJameson\twas\tthe\tone\twho\twas\tusing\tme.\tI\u2019d\tthought\tthat he\u2019d\tkept\tme\tclose\tfor\ta\treason. It\thad\tnever\tonce\toccurred\tto\tme\tthat\tXander\thad\this\treasons,\ttoo. \u201cDo\t you\t know\t why\t your\t grandfather\t chose\t me?\u201d\t I\t demanded.\t \u201cHave\t you known\tthe\tanswer\tall\tthis\ttime?\u201d Xander\theld\this\thands\tup\tin\tfront\tof\this\tbody,\tlike\the\tthought\tI\tmight\tthrottle him.\t \u201cI\t only\t know\t what\t he\t wanted\t me\t to\t know.\t I\t have\t no\t idea\t what\u2019s\t on\t the other\t side\t of\t that\t door.\t I\t was\t only\t supposed\t to\t get\t Jamie\t and\t Gray\t here. Together.\u201d \u201cAll\tfour\tof\tus,\u201d\tNash\tcorrected.\t\u201cTogether.\u201d\tI\tremembered\twhat\the\u2019d\tsaid\tin the\tkitchen.\tSometimes\tyou\tgotta\texcise\ta\twound\tbefore\tit\tcan\theal. Was\tthat\twhat\tthis\twas?\tWas\tthat\tthe\told\tman\u2019s\tgrand\tplan?\tBring\tme\there, spur\tthem\tinto\taction,\thope\tthat\tthe\tgame\tlet\tthe\ttruth\tcome\tout? \u201cNot\t just\t the\t four\t of\t us,\u201d\t Grayson\t told\t Nash.\t He\t looked\t back\t toward\t me. \u201cClearly,\tthis\twas\ta\tgame\tfor\tfive.\u201d","CHAPTER\t87 We\tdropped\tback\tdown\tinto\tthe\troom,\tone\tat\ta\ttime.\tJameson\tlaid\this\thand\tflat against\tthe\tdoor\tand\tpushed\tit\tinward.\tThe\tcell\tbeyond\twas\tempty,\texcept\tfor\ta small\t wooden\t box.\t On\t the\t box,\t there\t were\t letters\u2014golden\t letters\t etched\t into golden\t tiles\t that\t looked\t like\t they\u2019d\t come\t out\t of\t the\t world\u2019s\t most\t expensive game\tof\tScrabble. The\tletters\ton\tthe\tbox\tspelled\tout\tmy\tname:\tAVERY\tKYLIE\tGRAMBS. There\twere\tfour\tblank\ttiles,\tone\tbefore\tmy\tfirst\tname,\tone\tafter\tmy\tlast,\tand two\t separating\t the\t names\t from\t each\t other.\t After\t everything\t that\t had\t just happened\u2014Jameson\u2019s\t confession,\t then\t Xander\u2019s\u2014it\t seemed\t wrong\t that\t this should\tcome\tdown\tto\tme. Why\t me?\t This\t game\t might\t have\t been\t designed\t to\t bring\t Jameson\t and Grayson\tback\ttogether,\tto\tbring\tsecrets\tto\tthe\tsurface,\tto\tbleed\tout\tpoison\tbefore it\tturned\tto\trot\u2014but\tsomehow,\tfor\tsome\treason,\tit\tended\twith\tme. \u201cLooks\tlike\tit\u2019s\tyour\trodeo,\tkid.\u201d\tNash\tnudged\tme\tto\tthe\tbox. Swallowing,\tI\tknelt.\tI\ttried\tto\topen\tthe\tbox,\tbut\tit\twas\tlocked.\tThere\twas\tno spot\tfor\ta\tkey,\tno\tcombination\tpad. Above\tme,\tJameson\tspoke.\t\u201cThe\tletters,\tHeiress.\u201d He\tjust\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\thimself.\tEven\tafter\teverything,\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tstop\tplaying the\tgame. I\t reached\t tentatively\tfor\t the\t A\t in\t Avery.\t It\tcame\t off\tthe\t box.\tOne\t by\tone,\t I peeled\toff\tthe\tother\tletters\tand\tthe\tblank\ttiles,\tand\tI\trealized\tthis\twas\tthe\ttrigger for\tthe\tlock.\tI\tstared\tat\tthe\tpieces,\tnineteen\tof\tthem\ttotal.\tMy\tname.\tThat\tclearly wasn\u2019t\tthe\tcombination\tto\tunlock\tthe\tbox.\tSo\twhat\tis? Grayson\t dropped\t down\t beside\t me.\t He\t organized\t the\t letters,\t vowels\t first, consonants\tin\talphabetical\torder. \u201cIt\u2019s\tan\tanagram,\u201d\tNash\tcommented.\t\u201cRearrange\tthe\tletters.\u201d My\t gut\t response\t was\t that\t my\t name\t was\t just\t my\t name,\t not\t an\t anagram\t of anything,\tbut\tmy\tbrain\twas\talready\tsifting\tthrough\tthe\tpossibilities. Avery\twas\teasy\tto\tturn\tinto\twords,\ttwo\tof\tthem,\tjust\tby\tadding\tthe\tspace\tthat","had\tbeen\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tname\tto\tsplit\tit.\tI\tplaced\tthe\ttiles\tback\ton\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe box,\tpushing\teach\tone\tinto\tplace\twith\ta\tclick. A\tvery\u2026 I\tput\tanother\tspace\tafter\tvery.\tThat\tleft\ttwo\tblank\ttiles\tand\tall\tthe\tletters\tfrom my\tmiddle\tand\tlast\tnames. Kylie\t Grambs,\t arranged\t according\t to\t Grayson\u2019s\t method,\t read:\t A,\t E,\t I,\t B,\t G, K,\tL,\tM,\tR,\tS,\tY. Big.\tBalm.\tBale.\tI\tstarted\tpulling\twords\tout,\tseeing\twhat\teach\tof\tthem\tleft\tme with,\tand\tthen\tI\tsaw\tit. All\tat\tonce,\tI\tsaw\tit. \u201cYou\thave\tgot\tto\tbe\tkidding\tme,\u201d\tI\twhispered. \u201cWhat?\u201d\t Jameson\t was\t 100\t percent\t in\t this\t now,\t whether\t he\t wanted\t to\t be\t or not.\tHe\tknelt\tnext\tto\tGrayson\tand\tme\tas\tI\tput\tthe\tletters\tup,\tone\tby\tone. Avery\tKylie\tGrambs\u2014the\tname\tI\u2019d\tbeen\tgiven\tthe\tday\tI\twas\tborn,\tthe\tname that\t Tobias\tHawthorne\t had\t programmed\t into\t the\tbowling\talley\t and\tthe\t pinball machine\t and\t who\t knew\t how\t many\t other\t places\t in\t the\t House\u2014became, reordered,\tA\tvery\trisky\tgamble. \u201cHe\t kept\t saying\t that,\u201d\t Xander\t murmured.\t \u201cThat\t no\t matter\t what\t he\t planned, it\tmight\tnot\twork.\tThat\tit\twas\u2026\u201d \u201cA\tvery\trisky\tgamble,\u201d\tGrayson\tfinished,\this\tgaze\tmaking\tits\tway\tto\tme. My\tname?\tI\ttried\tto\tprocess\tthat.\tFirst\tmy\tbirthday,\tnow\tmy\tname.\tWas\tthat it?\tWas\tthat\twhy?\tHow\thad\tTobias\tHawthorne\teven\tfound\tme? I\tsnapped\tthe\tlast\tblank\ttile\tinto\tplace,\tand\tthe\tbox\u2019s\tlock\tdisengaged.\tThe\tlid popped\topen.\tInside,\tthere\twere\tfive\tenvelopes,\tone\twith\teach\tof\tour\tnames. I\t watched\t as\t the\t boys\t opened\t and\t read\t theirs.\t Nash\t swore\t under\t his\t breath. Grayson\t stared\t at\t his.\t Jameson\t let\t out\t a\t broken\t little\t laugh.\t Xander\t shoved\t his into\this\tpocket. I\t turned\t my\t attention\t from\t the\t four\t of\t them\t to\t my\t envelope.\t The\t last\t letter Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t sent\t to\t me\t had\t explained\t nothing.\t Opening\t this\t one,\t I expected\t clarity.\t How\t did\t you\t find\t me?\t Why\t tell\t me\t you\u2019re\t sorry?\t What\t were you\tsorry\tfor? There\twas\tno\tpaper\tinside\tmy\tenvelope,\tno\tletter.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tit\tcontained was\ta\tsingle\tpacket\tof\tsugar.","CHAPTER\t88 I\tplace\ttwo\tsugar\tpackets\tvertically\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tbring\ttheir\tends\ttogether, forming\ta\ttriangle\tcapable\tof\tstanding\ton\tits\town.\t\u201cThere,\u201d\tI\tsay.\tI\tdo\tthe\tsame with\tthe\tnext\tpair\tof\tpackets,\tthen\tset\ta\tfifth\tacross\tthem\thorizontal,\tconnecting the\ttwo\ttriangles\tI\tbuilt. \u201cAvery\t Kylie\t Grambs!\u201d\t My\t mom\t appears\t at\t the\t end\t of\t the\t table,\t smiling. \u201cWhat\thave\tI\ttold\tyou\tabout\tbuilding\tcastles\tout\tof\tsugar?\u201d I\tbeam\tback\tat\ther.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tonly\tworth\tit\tif\tyou\tcan\tgo\tfive\tstories\ttall!\u201d In\t my\t dream,\t that\t was\t where\t the\t memory\t had\t ended,\t but\t this\t time,\t holding the\t sugar\t in\t my\t hand,\t my\t brain\t took\t me\t one\t step\t further.\t A\t man\t eating\t in\t the booth\tbehind\tme\tglances\tback.\tHe\tasks\tme\thow\told\tI\tam. \u201cSix,\u201d\tI\tsay. \u201cI\t have\t some\t grandsons\t at\t home\t who\t are\t just\t about\t your\t age,\u201d\t he\t says. \u201cTell\tme,\tAvery,\tcan\tyou\tspell\tyour\tname?\tYour\tfull\tname,\tlike\tyour\tmom\tsaid\ta minute\tago?\u201d I\tcan,\tand\tI\tdo. \u201cI\t met\t him,\u201d\t I\t said\t quietly.\t \u201cJust\t once,\t years\t ago\u2014just\t for\t a\t moment,\t in passing.\u201d\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t heard\t my\t mom\t say\t my\t full\t name.\t He\u2019d\t asked me\tto\tspell\tit. \u201cHe\tloved\tanagrams\tmore\tthan\tscotch,\u201d\tNash\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\the\twas\ta\tman\twho loved\ta\tgood\tscotch.\u201d Had\tTobias\tHawthorne\tmentally\trearranged\tthe\tletters\tin\tmy\tfull\tname\tright in\tthat\tmoment?\tHad\tit\tamused\thim?\tI\tthought\tabout\tGrayson,\thiring\tsomeone\tto dig\tup\tdirt\ton\tme.\tOn\tmy\tmother.\tHad\tTobias\tHawthorne\tbeen\tcurious\tabout\tus? Had\the\tdone\tthe\tsame? \u201cHe\twould\thave\tkept\ttrack\tof\tyou,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid\troughly.\t\u201cA\tlittle\tgirl\twith a\tfunny\tlittle\tname.\u201d\tHe\tglanced\tat\tJameson.\t\u201cHe\tmust\thave\tknown\ther\tdate\tof birth.\u201d \u201cAnd\tafter\tEmily\tdied\u2026\u201d\tJameson\twas\tlooking\tat\tme\tnow\u2014only\tat\tme.\t\u201cHe thought\tof\tyou.\u201d","\u201cAnd\t decided\t to\t leave\t me\t his\t entire\t fortune\t because\t of\t my\t name?\u201d\t I\t said. \u201cThat\u2019s\tinsane.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\t the\t one\t who\t said\t it,\t Heiress:\t He\t didn\u2019t\t disinherit\t us\t for\t you.\t We weren\u2019t\tgetting\tthe\tmoney\tanyway.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\tgoing\tto\tcharity,\u201d\tI\targued.\t\u201cAnd\tyou\u2019re\ttelling\tme\tthat\ton\ta\twhim,\the wiped\tout\tthe\twill\the\u2019d\thad\tfor\ttwenty\tyears?\tThat\u2019s\u2014\u201d \u201cHe\t needed\t something\t to\t get\t our\t attention,\u201d\t Grayson\t said.\t \u201cSomething\t so unexpected,\tso\tbewildering,\tthat\tit\tcould\tonly\tbe\tseen\u2014\u201d \u201c\u2014as\t a\t puzzle,\u201d\t Jameson\t finished.\t \u201cSomething\t we\t couldn\u2019t\t ignore. Something\tto\twake\tus\tup\tagain.\tSomething\tto\tbring\tus\there\u2014all\tfour\tof\tus.\u201d \u201cSomething\tto\tpurge\tthe\tpoison.\u201d\tNash\u2019s\ttone\twas\thard\tto\tread. They\u2019d\tknown\tthe\told\tman.\tI\thadn\u2019t.\tWhat\tthey\twere\tsaying\u2014it\tmade\tsense to\tthem.\tIn\ttheir\teyes,\tthis\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\ta\twhim.\tIt\thad\tbeen\ta\tvery\trisky\tgamble.\tI had\tbeen\ta\tvery\trisky\tgamble.\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tbet\tthat\tmy\tpresence\tin\tthe House\twould\tshake\tthings\tup,\tthat\told\tsecrets\twould\tbe\tlaid\tbare,\tthat\tsomehow, someway,\tone\tlast\tpuzzle\twould\tchange\teverything. That,\tif\tEmily\u2019s\tdeath\thad\ttorn\tthem\tapart,\tI\tcould\tbring\tthem\tback\ttogether. \u201cI\ttold\tyou,\tkid,\u201d\tNash\tsaid\tbeside\tme.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tnot\ta\tplayer.\tYou\u2019re\tthe\tglass ballerina\u2014or\tthe\tknife.\u201d","CHAPTER\t89 Oren\t met\t me\t the\t moment\t I\t stepped\t foot\t into\t the\t Great\t Room.\t That\t he\u2019d\t been waiting\t made\t me\t wonder\t why\t he\u2019d\t left\t my\t side\t in\t the\t first\t place.\t Had\t it\t really been\ta\tphone\tcall\u2014or\thad\tTobias\tHawthorne\tleft\thim\twith\tinstructions\tto\tlet\tthe five\tof\tus\tfinish\tthe\tgame\talone? \u201cDo\t you\t know\t what\u2019s\t down\t there?\u201d\t I\t asked\t my\t head\t of\t security.\t He\t was more\tloyal\tto\tthe\told\tman\tthan\the\twas\tto\tme.\tWhat\telse\tdid\the\task\tyou\tto\tdo? \u201cBesides\t the\t tunnel?\u201d\t Oren\t replied.\t \u201cNo.\u201d\t He\t made\t a\t study\t of\t me,\t of\t the boys.\t\u201cShould\tI?\u201d I\t thought\t about\t what\t had\t happened\t down\t there\t while\t Xander\t was\t gone. About\tRebecca\tand\twhat\tshe\thad\ttold\tme\tdown\tbelow.\tAbout\tSkye.\tI\tlooked\tat Grayson.\t His\t eyes\t caught\t mine.\t There\t was\t a\t question\t there,\t and\t hope,\t and something\telse\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tname. All\tI\ttold\tOren\twas\t\u201cNo.\u201d That\tnight,\tI\tsat\tat\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2019s\tdesk,\tthe\tone\tin\tmy\twing.\tIn\tmy\thands,\tI held\tthe\tletter\the\u2019d\tleft\tme. Dearest\tAvery, I\u2019m\tsorry. \u2014T.\tT.\tH. I\u2019d\twondered\twhat\the\twas\tsorry\tfor,\tbut\tI\twas\tstarting\tto\tthink\tI\u2019d\thad\tthings reversed.\t Maybe\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t left\t me\t the\t money\t as\t an\t apology.\t Maybe\t he\t was apologizing\tfor\tleaving\tme\tthe\tmoney.\tFor\tusing\tme. He\u2019d\tbrought\tme\there\tfor\tthem. I\tfolded\tthe\tletter\tin\thalf\tand\tthen\tin\thalf\tagain.\tThis\u2014all\tof\tit\u2014had\tnothing to\t do\t with\t my\t mom.\t Whatever\t secrets\t she\u2019d\t been\t keeping,\t they\t predated","Emily\u2019s\t death.\t In\t the\t grand\t scheme\t of\t things,\t this\t entire\t life-changing,\t mind- blowing,\theadline-grabbing\tchain\tof\tevents\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tme.\tI\twas\tjust a\tlittle\tgirl\twith\ta\tfunny\tlittle\tname,\tborn\ton\tthe\tright\tday. I\thave\tsome\tgrandsons\tat\thome,\tI\tcould\thear\tthe\told\tman\ttelling\tme,\twho\tare just\tabout\tyour\tage. \u201cThis\t was\t always\t about\t them.\u201d\t I\t said\t the\t words\t out\t loud.\t \u201cWhat\t am\t I supposed\t to\t do\t now?\u201d\t The\t game\t was\t over.\t The\t puzzle\t was\t solved.\t I\u2019d\t served my\tpurpose.\tAnd\tI\u2019d\tnever\tfelt\tso\tinsignificant\tin\tmy\tlife. My\t eyes\t were\t drawn\t to\t the\t compass\t built\t into\t the\t desk\u2019s\t surface.\t As\t I\t had my\t first\t time\t in\t this\t office,\t I\t turned\t the\t compass,\t and\t the\t panel\t on\t the\t desk popped\t up,\t revealing\t the\t compartment\t underneath.\t I\t traced\t my\t finger\t lightly over\tthe\tT\tetched\tinto\tthe\twood. And\tthen\tI\tlooked\tdown\tat\tmy\tletter\u2014at\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2019s\tsignature.\tT.\tT. H. My\t gaze\t traveled\t back\t to\t the\t desk.\t Jameson\t had\t told\t me\t once\t that\t his grandfather\t had\t never\t purchased\t a\t desk\t without\t hidden\t compartments.\t Having played\t the\t game,\t having\t lived\t in\t Hawthorne\t House\u2014I\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t seeing things\tdifferently\tnow.\tI\ttested\tthe\twood\tpanel\ton\twhich\tthe\tT\thad\tbeen\tetched. Nothing. Then\tI\tplaced\tmy\tfingers\tin\tthe\tT,\tand\tI\tpushed.\tThe\twood\tgave.\tClick.\tAnd then\tit\tpopped\tback\tup\tinto\tplace. \u201cT,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tout\tloud.\tAnd\tthen\tI\tdid\tthe\tsame\tthing\tagain.\tAnother\tclick.\t\u201cT.\u201d I\tstared\tat\tthe\tpanel\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime\tbefore\tI\tsaw\tit:\ta\tgap\tbetween\tthe\twood\tand the\t top\t of\t the\t desk,\t at\t the\t base\t of\t the\t T.\t I\t pushed\t my\t fingers\t underneath\t and found\tanother\tgroove\u2014and\tabove\tit\ta\tlatch.\tI\tunhooked\tthe\tlatch,\tand\tthe\tpanel rotated\tcounterclockwise. With\ta\tninety-degree\tturn,\tI\twas\tno\tlonger\tlooking\tat\ta\tT.\tI\twas\tlooking\tat\tan H.\tI\tpressed\tall\tthree\tbars\tof\tthe\tH\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime.\tClick.\tA\tmotor\tof\tsome\tkind was\t engaged,\t and\t the\t panel\t disappeared\t back\t into\t the\t desk,\t revealing\t another compartment\tunderneath. T.\tT.\tH.\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tintended\tfor\tthis\tto\tbe\tmy\twing.\tHe\u2019d\tsigned my\tletter\twith\tinitials,\tnot\this\tname.\tAnd\tthose\tinitials\thad\tunlocked\tthis\tdrawer. Inside,\t there\t was\t a\t folder,\t much\t like\t the\t one\t that\t Grayson\t had\t shown\t me\t that day\tat\tthe\tfoundation.\tMy\tname\u2014my\tfull\tname\u2014was\twritten\tacross\tthe\ttop. Avery\tKylie\tGrambs. Now\tthat\tI\u2019d\tseen\tthe\tanagram,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tunsee\tit.\tUnsure\twhat\tI\twould\tfind \u2014or\teven\twhat\tI\twas\texpecting\u2014I\tlifted\tthe\tfolder\tout\tand\topened\tit.\tThe\tfirst","thing\t I\t saw\t was\t a\t copy\t of\t my\t birth\t certificate.\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had highlighted\t my\t date\t of\t birth\u2014and\t my\t father\u2019s\t signature.\t The\t date\t made\t sense. But\tthe\tsignature? I\thave\ta\tsecret,\tI\tcould\thear\tmy\tmother\tsaying.\tAbout\tthe\tday\tyou\twere\tborn. I\thad\tno\tidea\twhat\tto\tmake\tof\tthat\u2014any\tof\tit.\tI\tflipped\tto\tthe\tnext\tpage\tand the\t next\t and\t the\t next.\t They\t were\t full\t of\t pictures,\t four\t or\t five\t a\t year,\t from\t the time\tI\twas\tsix. He\t would\t have\t kept\t track\t of\t you,\t I\t could\t hear\t Grayson\t saying.\t A\t little\t girl with\ta\tfunny\tlittle\tname. The\t number\t of\t pictures\t went\t up\t significantly\t after\t my\t sixteenth\t birthday. After\tEmily\tdied.\tThere\twere\tso\tmany,\tlike\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tsent\tsomeone to\t watch\t my\t every\t move.\t You\t couldn\u2019t\t risk\t everything\t on\t a\t total\t stranger,\t I thought.\t Technically,\t that\t was\t exactly\t what\t he\u2019d\t done,\t but\t looking\t at\t these pictures,\tI\twas\toverwhelmed\twith\tthe\tsense\tthat\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tdone\this homework. I\twasn\u2019t\tjust\ta\tname\tand\ta\tdate\tto\thim. There\twere\tshots\tof\tme\trunning\tpoker\tgames\tin\tthe\tparking\tlot\tand\tshots\tof me\tcarrying\tway\ttoo\tmany\tcups\tat\tonce\tat\tthe\tdiner.\tThere\twas\ta\tpicture\tof\tme with\t Libby,\t where\t we\t were\t laughing,\t and\t one\t where\t I\t was\t standing\t with\t my body\t between\t hers\t and\t Drake\u2019s.\t There\t was\t a\t shot\t of\t me\t playing\t chess\t in\t the park\tand\tone\tof\tme\tand\tHarry\tin\tline\tfor\tbreakfast,\twhere\tall\tyou\tcould\tsee\twas the\t back\t of\t our\t heads.\t There\t was\t even\t one\t of\t me\t in\t my\t car,\t holding\t a\t stack\t of postcards\tin\tmy\thands. The\tphotographer\thad\tcaught\tme\tdreaming. Tobias\t Hawthorne\t hadn\u2019t\t known\t me\u2014but\t he\u2019d\t known\t about\t me.\t I\t might have\tbeen\ta\tvery\trisky\tgamble.\tI\tmight\thave\tbeen\ta\tpart\tof\tthe\tpuzzle\tand\tnot\ta player.\t But\t the\t billionaire\t had\t known\t that\t I\t could\t play.\t He\t hadn\u2019t\t entered\t into this\tblindly\tand\thoped\tfor\tthe\tbest.\tHe\u2019d\tplotted,\tand\the\u2019d\tplanned,\tand\tI\u2019d\tbeen a\t part\t of\t that\t calculation.\t Not\t just\t Avery\t Kylie\t Grambs,\t born\t on\t the\t day\t that Emily\tLaughlin\thad\tdied\u2014but\tthe\tgirl\tin\tthese\tphotos. I\t thought\t about\t what\t Jameson\t had\t said,\t that\t first\t night\t when\t he\u2019d\t stepped from\tthe\tfireplace\tinto\tmy\troom.\tTobias\tHawthorne\tleft\tme\tthe\tfortune\u2014and\tall he\u2019d\tleft\tthem\twas\tme.","CHAPTER\t90 Early\t the\t next\t morning,\t Oren\t informed\t me\t that\t Skye\t Hawthorne\t was\t leaving Hawthorne\t House.\t She\t was\t moving\t out,\t and\t Grayson\t had\t instructed\t security that\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tto\tbe\tallowed\tback\ton\tthe\tpremises. \u201cAny\tidea\twhy?\u201d\tOren\tgave\tme\ta\tlook\tthat\tstrongly\tsuggested\tthat\the\tknew that\tI\tknew\tsomething. I\tlooked\tat\thim,\tand\tI\tlied.\t\u201cNot\ta\tclue.\u201d I\t found\t Grayson\t in\t the\t hidden\t staircase,\t with\t the\t Davenport.\t \u201cYou\t kicked\t your mother\tout\tof\tthe\tHouse?\u201d That\twasn\u2019t\twhat\tI\u2019d\texpected\thim\tto\tdo,\twhen\the\u2019d\twon\tour\tlittle\twager.\tFor better\tor\tworse,\tSkye\twas\this\tmother.\tFamily\tfirst. \u201cMother\t left\t of\t her\t own\t volition,\u201d\t Grayson\t said\t evenly.\t \u201cShe\t was\t made\t to understand\tit\twas\tthe\tbetter\toption.\u201d Better\tthan\tbeing\treported\tto\tthe\tpolice. \u201cYou\twon\tthe\tbet,\u201d\tI\ttold\tGrayson.\t\u201cYou\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto\u2014\u201d He\tturned\tand\ttook\ta\tstep\tup\tso\tthat\the\twas\tstanding\ton\tthe\tsame\tstair\tas\tme. \u201cYes,\tI\tdid.\u201d If\t I\t were\t choosing\t between\t you\t and\t any\t one\t of\t them,\t he\u2019d\t told\t me,\t I\t would choose\tthem,\talways\tand\tevery\ttime. But\the\thadn\u2019t. \u201cGrayson.\u201d\tI\twas\tstanding\tclose\tto\thim,\tand\tthe\tlast\ttime\twe\u2019d\tstood\ttogether on\t these\t stairs,\t I\u2019d\t bared\t my\t wounds\u2014literally.\t This\t time,\t I\t found\t my\t hands rising\tto\this\tchest.\tHe\twas\tarrogant\tand\tawful\tand\thad\tspent\tthe\tfirst\tweek\tof\tour acquaintance\t dead\t set\t on\t making\t my\t life\t hell.\t He\t was\t still\t half\t in\t love\t with Emily\tLaughlin.\tBut\tfrom\tthe\tfirst\tmoment\tI\u2019d\tseen\thim,\tlooking\taway\thad\tbeen nearly\timpossible. And\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tday,\the\u2019d\tchosen\tme.\tOver\tfamily.\tOver\this\tmother.","Hesitantly,\tI\tlet\tmy\thand\tfind\tits\tway\tfrom\this\tchest\tto\this\tjaw.\tFor\ta\tsingle second,\the\tlet\tme\ttouch\thim,\tand\tthen\the\tturned\this\thead\taway. \u201cI\t will\t always\t protect\t you,\u201d\t he\t told\t me,\t his\t jaw\t tight,\t his\t eyes\t shadowed. \u201cYou\t deserve\t to\t feel\t safe\t in\t your\t own\t home.\t And\t I\u2019ll\t help\t you\t with\t the foundation.\t I\u2019ll\t teach\t you\t what\t you\t need\t to\t know\t to\t take\t to\t this\t life\t like\t you were\t born\t to\t it.\t But\t this\u2026\t us\u2026\u201d\t He\t swallowed.\t \u201cIt\t can\u2019t\t happen,\t Avery.\t I\u2019ve seen\tthe\tway\tJameson\tlooks\tat\tyou.\u201d He\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tthat\the\twouldn\u2019t\tlet\tanother\tgirl\tcome\tbetween\tthem.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t have\tto.","CHAPTER\t91 I\t went\t to\t school,\t and\t when\t I\t came\t home,\t I\t called\t Max,\t knowing\t that\t she probably\t didn\u2019t\t even\t have\t her\t phone.\t My\t call\t got\t sent\t to\t voicemail.\t \u201cThis\t is Maxine\t Liu.\t I\u2019ve\t been\t sequestered\t in\t the\t technological\t equivalent\t of\t a\t virtual convent.\tHave\ta\tblessed\tday,\tyou\trotten\tscoundrels.\u201d I\t tried\t her\t brother\u2019s\t phone\t and\t got\t sent\t to\t voicemail\t again.\t \u201cYou\t have reached\t Isaac\t Liu.\u201d\t Max\t had\t commandeered\t his\t voicemail\t as\t well.\t \u201cHe\t is\t an entirely\ttolerable\tyounger\tbrother,\tand\tif\tyou\tleave\ta\tmessage,\the\twill\tprobably call\t you\t back.\t Avery,\t if\t this\t is\t you,\t stop\t trying\t to\t get\t yourself\t killed.\t You\t owe me\tAustralia!\u201d I\tdidn\u2019t\tleave\ta\tmessage\u2014but\tI\tdid\tmake\tplans\tto\tsee\twhat\tit\twould\ttake\tfor Alisa\t to\t send\t the\t entire\t Liu\t family\t first-class\t tickets\t to\t Australia.\t I\t couldn\u2019t travel\tuntil\tmy\ttime\tin\tHawthorne\tHouse\twas\tup,\tbut\tmaybe\tMax\tcould. I\towed\ther. Feeling\tadrift\tand\taching\tfrom\twhat\tGrayson\thad\tsaid\tand\tthe\tfact\tthat\tMax wasn\u2019t\tthere\tto\tprocess\tit\twith,\tI\twent\tlooking\tfor\tLibby.\tWe\tseriously\tneeded\tto get\ther\ta\tnew\tphone,\tbecause\ta\tperson\tcould\tget\tlost\tin\tthis\tplace. I\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tlose\tanyone\telse. I\tmight\tnever\thave\tfound\ther,\tbut\twhen\tI\tgot\tclose\tto\tthe\tmusic\troom,\tI\theard the\t piano\t playing.\t I\t followed\t the\t music\t and\t found\t Libby\t sitting\t on\t the\t piano bench\tbeside\tNan.\tThey\tboth\tsat\twith\ttheir\teyes\tclosed,\tlistening. Libby\u2019s\t black\t eye\t had\t finally\t faded\t away.\t Seeing\t her\t with\t Nan\t made\t me think\tabout\tLibby\u2019s\tjob\tback\thome.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\task\ther\tto\tjust\tkeep\tsitting\taround Hawthorne\tHouse\tevery\tday,\tdoing\tnothing. I\t wondered\t what\t Nash\t Hawthorne\t would\t suggest.\t I\t could\t ask\t her\t to\t put together\ta\tbusiness\tplan.\tMaybe\ta\tfood\ttruck? Or\tmaybe\tshe\twould\twant\tto\ttravel,\ttoo.\tUntil\tthe\twill\texited\tprobate,\tI\twas limited\t as\t to\t what\t I\t could\t do\u2014but\t the\t fine\t people\t at\t McNamara,\t Ortega,\t and Jones\thad\treason\tto\twant\tto\tstay\ton\tmy\tgood\tside.\tEventually,\tthe\tmoney\twould be\tmine.\tEventually,\tit\twould\texit\tthe\ttrust.","Eventually,\tI\u2019d\tbe\tone\tof\tthe\trichest\tand\tmost\tpowerful\twomen\tin\tthe\tworld. The\tpiano\tmusic\tended,\tand\tmy\tsister\tand\tNan\tlooked\tup\tand\tsaw\tme.\tLibby did\ther\tbest\tmother-hen\timpression. \u201cAre\tyou\tsure\tyou\u2019re\tokay?\u201d\tshe\tasked\tme.\t\u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tlook\tokay.\u201d I\tthought\tabout\tGrayson.\tAbout\tJameson.\tAbout\twhat\tI\u2019d\tbeen\tbrought\there to\t do.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t fine,\u201d\t I\t told\t Libby,\t my\t voice\t steady\t enough\t that\t I\t could\t almost believe\tit. She\t wasn\u2019t\t fooled.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t make\t you\t something,\u201d\t she\t told\t me.\t \u201cHave\t you\t ever had\ta\tquiche?\tI\u2019ve\tnever\tmade\ta\tquiche.\u201d I\thad\tno\treal\tdesire\tto\ttry\tone,\tbut\tbaking\twas\tLibby\u2019s\tway\tof\tshowing\tlove. She\theaded\tfor\tthe\tkitchen.\tI\twent\tto\tfollow,\tbut\tNan\tstopped\tme. \u201cStay,\u201d\tshe\tordered. There\twas\tnothing\tto\tdo\tbut\tobey. \u201cI\thear\tmy\tgranddaughter\tis\tleaving,\u201d\tNan\tsaid\ttersely\tafter\tletting\tme\tsweat it\tfor\ta\tbit. I\t considered\t dissembling,\t but\t she\u2019d\t pretty\t much\t proven\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t the\t type for\tniceties.\t\u201cShe\ttried\tto\thave\tme\tkilled.\u201d Nan\t snorted.\t \u201cSkye\t never\t did\t like\t getting\t her\t hands\t dirty\t herself.\t You\t ask me,\tif\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tkill\tsomeone,\tyou\tshould\tat\tleast\thave\tthe\tdecency\tto\tdo\tit yourself\tand\tdo\tit\tright.\u201d This\t was\t probably\t the\t strangest\t conversation\t I\u2019d\t ever\t had\t in\t my\t life\u2014and that\twas\tsaying\tsomething. \u201cNot\tthat\tpeople\tare\tdecent\tnowadays,\u201d\tNan\tcontinued.\t\u201cNo\trespect.\tNo\tself- respect.\tNo\tgrit.\u201d\tShe\tsighed.\t\u201cIf\tmy\tpoor\tAlice\tcould\tsee\ther\tchildren\tnow.\u2026\u201d I\t wondered\t what\t it\t had\t been\t like\t for\t Skye\t and\t Zara,\t growing\t up\t in Hawthorne\tHouse.\tWhat\tit\thad\tbeen\tlike\tfor\tToby. What\ttwisted\tthem\tinto\tthis? \u201cYour\t son-in-law\t changed\t his\t will\t after\t Toby\t died.\u201d\t I\t studied\t Nan\u2019s expression,\twondering\tif\tshe\u2019d\tknown. \u201cToby\twas\ta\tgood\tboy,\u201d\tNan\tsaid\tgruffly.\t\u201cUntil\the\twasn\u2019t.\u201d I\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tquite\twhat\tto\tmake\tof\tthat. Her\t hands\t went\t to\t a\t locket\t around\t her\t neck.\t \u201cHe\t was\t the\t sweetest\t child, smart\tas\ta\twhip.\tJust\tlike\this\tdaddy,\tthey\tused\tto\tsay,\tbut\toh,\tthat\tboy\thad\ta\tdose of\tme.\u201d \u201cWhat\thappened?\u201d\tI\tasked. Nan\u2019s\t expression\t darkened.\t \u201cIt\t broke\t my\t Alice\u2019s\t heart.\t Broke\t all\t of\t us, really.\u201d\tHer\tfingers\ttightened\taround\tthe\tlocket,\tand\ther\thand\tshook.\tShe\tset\ther","jaw,\t then\t opened\t the\t locket.\t \u201cLook\t at\t him,\u201d\t she\t told\t me.\t \u201cLook\t at\t that\t sweet boy.\tHe\u2019s\tsixteen\there.\u201d I\t leaned\t down\t to\t get\t a\t better\t look,\t wondering\t if\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t the Second\thad\tresembled\tany\tof\this\tnephews.\tWhat\tI\tsaw\ttook\tmy\tbreath\taway. No. \u201cThat\u2019s\tToby?\u201d\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tbreathe.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tthink. \u201cHe\twas\ta\tgood\tboy,\u201d\tNan\tsaid\tgruffly. I\tbarely\theard\ther.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttear\tmy\teyes\taway\tfrom\tthe\tpicture.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t speak,\tbecause\tI\tknew\tthat\tman.\tHe\twas\tyounger\tin\tthe\tpicture\u2014much\tyounger \u2014but\tthat\tface\twas\tunmistakable. \u201cHeiress?\u201d\t A\t voice\t spoke\t up\t from\t the\t doorway.\t I\t looked\t to\t see\t Jameson standing\t there.\t He\t looked\t different\t than\t he\t had\t the\t past\t few\t days.\t Lighter, somehow.\tMarginally\tless\tangry.\tCapable\tof\toffering\ta\tlopsided\tlittle\thalf\tsmile to\tme.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tgot\tyour\tpants\tin\ta\ttwist?\u201d I\t looked\t back\t down\t at\t the\t locket\t and\t sucked\t in\t a\t breath\t that\t scalded\t my lungs.\t\u201cToby,\u201d\tI\tmanaged.\t\u201cI\tknow\thim.\u201d \u201cYou\twhat?\u201d\tJameson\twalked\ttoward\tme.\tBeside\tme,\tNan\twent\tvery\tstill. \u201cI\tused\tto\tplay\tchess\twith\thim\tin\tthe\tpark,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cEvery\tmorning.\u201d\tHarry. \u201cThat\u2019s\t impossible,\u201d\t Nan\t said,\t her\t voice\t shaking.\t \u201cToby\u2019s\t been\t dead\t for twenty\tyears.\u201d Twenty\t years\t ago,\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t disinherited\t his\t family.\t What\t is this?\tWhat\tthe\thell\tis\tgoing\ton\there? \u201cAre\t you\t sure,\t Heiress?\u201d\t Jameson\t was\t right\t beside\t me\t now.\t I\u2019ve\t seen\t the way\tJameson\tlooks\tat\tyou,\tGrayson\thad\tsaid.\t\u201cAre\tyou\tabsolutely\tcertain?\u201d I\t looked\t at\t Jameson.\t This\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t real.\t I\t have\t a\t secret,\t I\t could\t hear\t my mother\ttelling\tme,\tabout\tthe\tday\tyou\twere\tborn.\u2026 I\treached\tfor\tJameson\u2019s\thand\tand\tsqueezed\thard.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsure.\u201d","EPILOGUE Xander\t Hawthorne\t stared\t down\t at\t the\t letter,\t the\t way\t he\t had\t every\t day\t for\t a week.\tOn\tthe\tsurface,\tit\tsaid\tvery\tlittle. Alexander, Well\tdone. Tobias\tHawthorne Well\t done.\t He\u2019d\t gotten\t his\t brothers\t to\t the\t end\t of\t the\t game.\t He\u2019d\t gotten Avery\t there,\t too.\t He\u2019d\t done\t exactly\t as\t he\u2019d\t promised\u2014but\t the\t old\t man\t had made\thim\ta\tpromise,\ttoo. When\ttheir\tgame\tis\tdone,\tyours\twill\tbegin. Xander\t had\t never\t competed\t the\t way\t his\t brothers\t did\u2014but\t oh,\t how\t he\u2019d wanted\tto.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tlying\twhen\the\u2019d\ttold\tAvery\tthat,\tjust\tonce,\the\twanted to\twin.\tWhen\tthey\u2019d\tmade\tit\tto\tthe\tfinal\troom,\twhen\tshe\u2019d\topened\tthe\tbox,\twhen he\u2019d\ttorn\topen\this\tenvelope,\the\u2019d\tbeen\texpecting\u2026\tsomething. A\triddle. A\tpuzzle. A\tclue. And\tall\the\u2019d\treceived\twas\tthis.\tWell\tdone. \u201cXander?\u201d\tRebecca\tsaid\tsoftly\tbeside\thim.\t\u201cWhat\tare\twe\tdoing\there?\u201d \u201cSighing\tmelodramatically,\u201d\tThea\tsniped.\t\u201cObviously.\u201d That\the\u2019d\tgotten\tboth\tof\tthem\there,\tin\tthe\tsame\troom,\twas\ta\tfeat.\tHe\twasn\u2019t even\t sure\t why\t he\u2019d\t done\t it,\t other\t than\t the\t fact\t that\t he\t needed\t a\t witness. Witnesses.\t If\t Xander\t was\t being\t honest\t with\t himself,\t he\u2019d\t brought\t Rebecca because\the\twanted\ther\tthere,\tand\the\u2019d\tbrought\tThea\tbecause\tif\the\thadn\u2019t\u2026 He\twould\thave\tbeen\talone\twith\tRebecca. \u201cThere\t are\t many\t types\t of\t invisible\t ink,\u201d\t Xander\t told\t them.\t In\t the\t past\t few days,\t he\t had\t held\t a\t match\t to\t the\t back\t of\t the\t page,\t heating\t its\t surface.\t He\u2019d bought\t a\t UV\t light\t and\t gone\t to\t town.\t He\u2019d\t tried\t every\t way\t he\t knew\t of","unmasking\t a\t hidden\t message\t on\t a\t page,\t except\t for\t one.\t \u201cBut\t there\u2019s\t only\t one kind,\u201d\the\tcontinued\tevenly,\t\u201cthat\tdestroys\tthe\tmessage\tafter\tit\u2019s\trevealed.\u201d If\t he\t was\t wrong\t about\t this,\t it\t was\t over.\t There\t would\t be\t no\t game,\t no winning.\tXander\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tdo\tthis\talone. \u201cWhat\texactly\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tfind?\u201d\tThea\tasked\thim. Xander\tlooked\tdown\tat\tthe\tletter\tone\tlast\ttime. Alexander, Well\tdone. Tobias\tHawthorne Perhaps\tthe\told\tman\u2019s\tpromise\thad\tbeen\ta\tlie.\tPerhaps,\tto\tTobias\tHawthorne, Xander\t had\t only\t been\t an\t afterthought.\t But\t he\t had\t to\t try.\t He\t turned\t to\t the\t tub beside\thim.\tHe\tfilled\tit\twith\twater. \u201cXander?\u201d\tRebecca\tsaid\tagain,\tand\ther\tvoice\tnearly\tundid\thim. \u201cHere\t goes\t nothing.\u201d\t Xander\t laid\t his\t letter\t gingerly\t on\t the\t surface\t of\t the water,\tthen\tpressed\tdown. At\t first,\t he\t thought\t he\u2019d\t made\t a\t horrible\t mistake.\t He\t thought\t nothing\t was happening.\t Then,\t slowly,\t writing\t appeared,\t on\t either\t side\t of\t his\t grandfather\u2019s signature.\t Tobias\t Hawthorne,\t he\u2019d\t signed\t it,\t no\t middle\t name,\t and\t now\t the reason\tfor\tthat\tomission\twas\tclear. The\t invisible\t ink\t darkened\t on\t the\t page.\t To\t the\t right\t of\t the\t signature,\t there were\tonly\ttwo\tletters,\tequating\tto\tone\tRoman\tnumeral:\tII.\tAnd\tto\tthe\tleft,\tthere was\ta\tsingle\tword:\tFind. Find\tTobias\tHawthorne\tII.","ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing\t this\t book\t was\t a\t challenge\t and\t a\t joy,\t and\t I\t am\t so\t thankful\t to\t the incredible\t teams\t (plural!)\t that\t have\t supported\t me\t through\t every\t step\t of\t the process.\t I\t worked\t with\t two\t fantastic\t editors\t on\t this\t project.\t I\t am\t so\t grateful\t to Kieran\tViola\tfor\trecognizing\tthat\tthis\twas\tabsolutely\tthe\tbook\tI\tneeded\tto\twrite next\tand\tfor\thelping\tme\tbring\tAvery,\tthe\tHawthorne\tbrothers,\tand\ttheir\tworld\tto life.\t Lisa\t Yoskowitz\t then\t guided\t the\t book\t to\t publication,\t and\t her\t passion\t and vision\t for\t this\t project,\t along\t with\t her\t market\t savvy\t and\t grace,\t have\t made\t the process\t a\t dream.\t Any\t author\t would\t be\t lucky\t to\t work\t with\t either\t one\t of\t these editors;\tI\tam\tincredibly\tblessed\tto\thave\tgotten\tto\twork\twith\tboth! Huge\t thanks\t go\t out\t to\t the\t entire\t team\t at\t Little,\t Brown\t Books\t for\t Young Readers,\t especially\t Janelle\t DeLuise,\t Jackie\t Engel,\t Marisa\t Finkelstein,\t Shawn Foster,\t Bill\t Grace,\t Savannah\t Kennelly,\t Hannah\t Koerner,\t Christie\t Michel, Hannah\t Milton,\t Emilie\t Polster,\t Victoria\t Stapleton,\t and\t Megan\t Tingley.\t Special thanks\t go\t out\t to\t my\t publicist,\t Alex\t Kelleher-Nagorski,\t whose\t enthusiasm\t for this\t project\t has\t made\t my\t day\t more\t than\t once;\t to\t Michelle\t Campbell,\t for\t her incredible\t outreach\t to\t librarians\t and\t teachers;\t and\t to\t Karina\t Granda,\t for\t her work\t on\t the\t most\t beautiful\t cover\t I\t have\t ever\t seen!\t I\t am\t also\t in\t awe\t of\t and indebted\t to\t artist\t Katt\t Phatt,\t who\t created\t the\t incredible\t artwork\t on\t the\t cover. Thank\t you\t to\t Anthea\t Townsend,\t Phoebe\t Williams,\t and\t the\t entire\t team\t at Penguin\t Random\t House\t UK\t for\t their\t passion\t for\t and\t work\t on\t this\t project,\t and the\tteam\tat\tDisney\t\u2022\tHyperion,\twho\tsaw\tthe\tpotential\tin\tthis\tbook\tin\t2018,\twhen it\twas\tjust\ta\tfour-page\tproposal. Elizabeth\tHarding\thas\tbeen\tmy\tagent\tsince\tI\twas\tin\tcollege,\tand\tI\tcould\tnot ask\tfor\ta\twiser,\tmore\tincredible\tadvocate!\tTo\tmy\tentire\tteam\tat\tCurtis\tBrown\u2014 thank\tyou,\tthank\tyou,\tthank\tyou.\tHolly\tFrederick\tchampioned\tTV\trights\tfor\tthis book.\t Sarah\t Perillo\t did\t incredible\t work\t on\t foreign\t rights\t (in\t the\t midst\t of\t a pandemic,\t no\t less!).\t Thank\t you\t also\t to\t Nicole\t Eisenbraun,\t Sarah\t Gerton, Maddie\tTavis,\tand\tJazmia\tYoung.\tI\tappreciate\tyou\tall\tso\tmuch! I\u2019m\t immensely\t grateful\t for\t the\t family\t and\t friends\t who\t saw\t me\t through\t the writing\t of\t this\t project.\t Rachel\t Vincent\t sat\t across\t from\t me\t at\t Panera\t once\t a","week,\t told\t me\t that\t I\t could\t do\t this,\t was\t always\t available\t for\t brainstorming,\t and made\t me\t smile\t even\t when\t I\t was\t stressed\t enough\t to\t want\t to\t cry.\t Ally\t Carter\t is always\t there\t through\t the\t highs\t and\t lows\t of\t publishing.\t My\t colleagues\t and students\t at\t the\t University\t of\t Oklahoma\t have\t been\t supportive\t in\t so\t many\t ways. Thank\tyou,\tall! Finally,\tthank\tyou\tto\tmy\tparents\tand\thusband,\tfor\tendless\tsupport,\tand\tto\tmy kids,\tfor\tletting\tme\tget\tenough\tsleep\tto\twrite\tthis\tbook.","Discover\tYour\tNext\tGreat\tRead Get\tsneak\tpeeks,\tbook\trecommendations,\tand\tnews\tabout\tyour\tfavorite\tauthors. Tap\there\tto\tlearn\tmore.","Discover\tYour\tNext\tGreat\tRead Get\tsneak\tpeeks,\tbook\trecommendations,\tand\tnews\tabout\tyour\tfavorite\tauthors. Tap\there\tto\tlearn\tmore.","Bring\tthe\tYA\t(book)\tparty\tto\tyour\tinbox\twith\tNOVL: theNOVL.com\/enewsletter Booked\tall\tweek. theNOVL.com Instagram.com\/TheNovl Twitter.com\/TheNovl Facebook.com\/TheNovl","ALSO\tBY\tJENNIFER\tLYNN\tBARNES The\tNaturals Killer\tInstinct All\tIn Bad\tBlood The\tLovely\tand\tthe\tLost Little\tWhite\tLies Deadly\tLittle\tScandals"]
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