Until Forever Fades

y Test R

eact, snatching up the paper. Her hands tremble

n she s

na

father'

forbidden her to call anymore because he was dead. She

was never sup

loomed over her. "That was

revocable. The truth was out. And no

ice wavered. "T

the wall-just inches from Thalia's head. And that was it. That was the mome

the paper into her pocket a

didn't look back. She couldn't. She had to get out. Because now she had something worth r

as she ran. Her heart pounded against he

rious voice boomed. "You

g after her. The heavy stomp of his boots sent

k. T

ked. The windows? No, he'd catch her before she

the house. She heard Richard curse, realizing she'd changed direction, but she didn'

t behind her, laced with d

as Richard crashed down the main s

ic surged in her chest. She yanked at it harder, her breath

no,

tchen. The knives. The heavy ceramic bow

-a b

ront

d, hope flaring for a single sec

ke

er's boy

ey felt Richard d

pe of saving her from this f

's going on?"

did, his lips curling into a wicked

stomach

ave them? But why wou

h Richard.

lways looked away when his friend-Richard

casually against the doorframe, blocking the exit. This wasn't jus

e was getting ready for a fight. "You're not leaving, Th

ischievous laugh, even though

r wrist. The world was a blur of trees and shadows, the cold air slicing against her skin,

t caught on the uneven ground. Thalia yanked her

eeded

wo

nches clawed at her arms, roots threatened to trip her, but she kept going. Behind t

asing them to help, to protect her mother. But something

her pocket. This was never about protecting her. Or her m

gh the darkness. "You

ke

f his voice, and for a split second, Thal

gripping her mother's

twisted in confl

flashlight. Then, Jake's voice, smooth

ze. Thalia's s

ali

ot love. Ju

he turned, barely visible in the dim glow of the f

g. "I told you it wouldn't work. Ri

hand tremble in hers. "

halia's breath caught. Jake never loved her mother. He

ed, stepping closer. "N

d. "He hits me, Ja

The final, brutal truth. Jake never cared. He never saw her mother as someone

hest. "No," she said sharp

ething almost amused. "And

olster. The knife strapped to his side. Jake was

e had already won. And that was his mistake. She took a slow step forward, slipping her hand into

he saw the words. Paternity Test Results. His smirk faltere

neither did you." Her fists clenched. "

eeping Thalia's mother trapped. It was about keeping Richard's secrets buried. "You

enc

bbed her mother's hand and ran. This time-Jake didn't chase them. And for the first time in her life,