ouse in the Long Island suburbs. The place she had been "cared

a waiting ambush. They were all there, seated

im on the sofa, her eyes red-rimmed as if she'd been weeping for hours. Jayleen and Edd

eigning innocent confusion. "Wh

ee table. The sound cracked through the t

the hotel corridor, looking disheveled as she argued with Ayaan Carter. The angle wa

the work of a private in

st out, her voice thick with theatrical heartbreak. "We have been so g

pectant, judgmental faces. She felt no panic.

and walked to stand dir

ice calm. "Is there anyth

tness but quickly recovered. "I have nothing

d her gaze on her cousin. "Jayleen?

I don't know, Alyssa," she said, her voice dripping

ed to unnerve them all. She pulled out her phon

wo nights ago. Inside a car, under the sickly orange glow of a streetlamp, Eddie an

room fell d

ng a pasty, mottled white. Eddie froze, lo

r daughter to her future nephew-in-law,

but each word landed like a hammer blow. "Before I explain

tammered, sweat bead

on us!" Jayleen shrieked,

o be passing by and saw something I wish I hadn

nal war now would derail the entire plan. He slammed hi

Jayleen and Eddie, silenc

, it's my fault. I didn't raise Jayleen right. I will deal with this. But your e

it. Alyssa knew it. She let out a weary s

. But I think Eddie and I need

mpromise to avoid an immediate, irre

rs, leaving the chaos of their sh

he mask of weary compromise fell away, r

nto her laptop. On the screen, folders appeared, filled with more videos, more