A Pack Of Blood and Lies

me when you guys haven't

sed fingers around my

l be taking her al

cousin. "No one'

can of pepper spray out of Evelyn's fingers, then shackl

ists out of his grasp, but the action was as fu

Cuz. No

cle said, stepping on the can of pe

ure acting like

ve because he added space between our bodies, all the while k

Evelyn's declaration

chin wobble. She'd gained weight since I'd last seen her; no

just up and leave,

er before I call the police and have them ob

cops," Everest said

ted to spit on him. On

n open palm. "Rel

im, funneling everything I thought about him and his

drive had made him hungry-my uncle and cousin were always

d. "Jeb, we

ncredible c

ucy star

cook, and Ness won't come wi

n't just pick someo

he street, Mom,

when he'd stood up for me, but my gratitude whizzed out like air

se it will work

life. At fifty-eight, living alone with decreasing mobility, there was no way

demanding girl,

my life." Again. "I have

wling to meet his gaze. "We'll supply her with a r

ce of nicotine that had yellowed the white crescents of her nails. "All

. Evelyn. And she mad

at," Evere

's appetite was a monstrous t

the tacos with

go," Eve

st you to do

ou." Was Jeb afraid

e for help. I'd tried back in middle school, but kids found me odd and kept away. I remembered wondering if they could somehow sense what I was, smell what I was the same way I could smel

taco dish. While Evelyn warmed it in my microwave, I packed. Gather

bags and tried to wrestle the second o

t's

discussed my last rental payment and the cost of a new window, and then

r friends to s

dmirers and the sympathetic prost

ly? N

osed acting as though I hadn't h

ded up saying so he w

eturned. Evelyn offered my uncle a plate and watch

od, you won't have to worry abou

of the tension that had gelled inside my veins since

dreaded r

n was

etime before lunch, alone or accompani

with the rest of the staff. Every time someone looked my way, I disappeared into the kitchen where Ev

ning dens. Every Adirondack on the sprawling porch held a reclined body. Voices chirped. Laughter rang. It was as though the Boulder Pack hadn't come

h longer, the metal

en using on the sconce next to the ele

voi

nonetheles

my plea to join the pack the day my father was shot. I wasn't sho

"Sometimes the filth is not visible to the n

tween the dark brows shado

inued down the hallway, swiping the lo

move. "Hav

him, fake smile still in pl