THE RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN

IA'S

fingers trace light circles on my side, and I can feel his body relax against mine. I'm mouthing along to the ly

ing toward his waistband where I know he's hiding a gun. B

none other than Emilio. His blonde, fluffy hair is a mess, hi

OS BACK B

offee table. I throw myself at him, and he catches me with ea

me that much?" he teases,

in his arms-back to the couch. Without warning, he dumps me unceremoniousl

mission: launching himself onto S

wrapping his arms around him like a

ff while still keeping me balanced. "Ge

im entirely. "Oh, come on. A

s he leans back into the couch. "Yeah, yeah, s

her side of the couch, clutching his stomach as he howls. I wipe a

," I tell Emilio, sti

for it," he sho

rtuna

s of Emilio's hair out of his face. "I forgot how ex

like a Cheshire cat. "You two w

hate to admit it

s leaning against the armrest, half-listening while scrolling through something on his phone,

ou finally going to tell us what the hell took you so lo

t, and gives me that infuriatingly smug grin of his. "Oh, it didn't

what were you doing fo

ig deal. "Had a little solo holiday. Hit up some gay clubs, made some frien

on of what he just said fully hits me. "A holiday?! You went o

azed by my growing fury.

glaring at him. "Do you have any idea how many times I

amused by the whole thing. "Honestly, Mal, this is

is back on Emilio, who's now laughing lik

"You know nothing can happen to me. I

can muster. He catches it with ease, still grinning like an

says, throwing the pillow ba

mping back against Sebastian, who just pats my

owns the place. "I brought back stories. Wanna hear about t

say, already feeling

And as much as I want to stay mad, I can't help but laugh at his

☆

old, furious, and ready to unleash hell. My adoptive father stands with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes cu

But I don't. I can't. For reasons I don't even understand, I keep comin

g with disdain. He takes a step forward, and I can

to finish before his hand shoot

is tongue like poison. His grip tightens, cutting off m

her steps forward now, and for a split second, I think she might stop him.

t it's no use. He slams me down onto the nearest

and impatient. She presses the blade to my arm, an

ive them the satisfaction. The pain is sharp, blinding, and

one almost mocking. "You're always so

t. Not yet. Not here. All I can do is endure, counti

the weight of every scar they've ever given me. Every mark they've left, ev

dure. Because tha

RA'S

r way to the front office. Au

n to look at me, curiosity clear on their faces, but I ignore them. Confusion settles over me as I grab my bag, sli

ng through possibilities. Maybe it's a scheduling issue? Maybe Ama

htly on the door. A muffled, "Come i

t me with an expression I can only describe as... pity? Sympathy? I don't like it. Acros

door. "Uh... you called for me?"

it down. Her tone is making me even more nervous. Slowly, I close the door b

he desk. "Aurora, I called you out of class because I have some news.

rops. "What

ensive investigation, with the help of the police and missing persons reports, it was confirmed th

ff. "Biological family? Missing persons

bmitted DNA to the international database, and it matched with records connected to you and Ama

telling me they're my real family? How do you know they're not lying? How

Simmons says, her voice still soft. "The pol

all. "Wait, wait. You said we-me and Amalia.

lly but

pitying look deepens, and I suddenly know I'

e parents were involved in a car accident early this m

k, stunned, unable to form a coherent thought

from what I've seen they are really good people. I he

"Your biological family has taken legal steps to

ice shaking. I don't even give her a chance to respond before I turn and bolt out of

ot me, my hands trembling as I grip the steering wheel. I

ething. She had to h

ng lot, heading straight for the house. One thing is

muffled voice of a contact, someone high u

a shady organization who owed me favors. My mind was focused on the status of two of my ope

tant but reassuring. "But one of them

ge of my desk. "Good. Keep them under watc

out to end the c

ALI

t unusual for her to shout-she seemed to thrive on being loud and obnoxiou

red into the phone before han

Aurora was there, standing in the livi

ing her hands up. "How long were you planning to

. "What the hell ar

e on

anger. "Our real family! The people we were stolen from! You knew, did

rly lost. My real fam

k kn

through the tension like a blade. Both of

concealed blade I kept strapped to my side. I glanced back at Aurora, who l

ir and piercing eyes that seemed to take in everything about me in a single glance. T

lingered on me for a

s a bad

g on the doorframe. "Who are

w closer. I could feel her tensio

d slightly, though it didn't

very long time," he said, his tone calm but

. "You've got five seconds to explain

lightly but said nothing. The older

" he said simply. "And we