ey's

nto the car, my hands

he driver, my vo

ke, I could breathe-barely. My chest rose and fell too quickly. My pulse hadn'

l

n J

greatest r

I had sl

it exploded out of me. Every memory from that night flashed like broken film reels - the way he'd tou

nam

p

fut

ought it w

a trap I'd walked into

fast, tripping over possibilities. Did he know it was me that night? Had

face when our eyes met - that shock, that

n't make it any

er ever fo

uckles turned white. He wouldn't just disown me. He

etrayals. My father used to say the Jean bloodline was "poison wearing de

ll minute before stepping out. The marble steps blurred ben

iss Walter," a m

My room felt too quiet when I got there. Too aw

oe would panic, overanalyze, maybe e

something to

ething that

ed anothe

epy voice an

. You

ly. What'

a fault. And somehow, despite her age, she was the

-cannot-say a word of this to anyone. No

kay... you're scarin

y bed, heart hammering

ere you disappear

t night, I

le

lly said. "That

my eyes

y, g

The mystery, the attraction, the way I'd felt like I could finally

he asked

I found out

ho

n Je

e other end could

re jo

sh I

" Her voice rose an

kno

you goin

have no idea. Pretend it didn't happen, maybe. Pray

. "Do you th

d just as sho

done what Dad expected. For once, you did something for yourself

of my

e was finally slowing, but my mind wouldn't rest. Every time I closed m

n's

stepped into my car. Leah slid

," she

ut w

You've been twitchy since th

o lie. Leah was my twin - lying to her was like

't tell anyone?"

s shot up.

ise,

second, then nodded

n from the Walters' side -

widened

the

here you disappe

ea

back, letting out a low

n't a

. Alan, please tell me you're not

tered. "I sle

ce in her hands. "

didn't even exchange names. It was just

partner," Leah said flatly. "

kno

ow a gasket if he found ou

wo

ca

past outside, but all I could see was her face - the shock

er," Leah s

to her.

That's th

r, because she

away - that quiet defiance, that strength wrapped in g

is huge. If Dad even suspects you're involved with her, he

kno

ou're thinkin

window, jaw tigh

e didn't have to. The s

idn't touch. My reflection in the glass tabl

self to f

truth wa

eone who's already b