When The Contract Ends

ain shot up

oked

had just slammed a heavy encyclopedia onto his ha

isted with a fury tha

she shrieked, he

never be

father. Liam' s predece

cry, cradling hi

n from old injuries, ne

he collection of hurts Chloe had in

said, his voice strained, try

't do a

it was

ver li

" Chlo

eplace him! Mom keeps you

ed his s

ed but stoo

er verbal and sometime

the price for h

eper, rushed in, her fa

Mr. Walker hasn't d

homas, hovered ner

Miss Chloe. I

hirled

u! You work for my m

a miniature version of Vi

s a n

a sound of resignat

looked down

iar cold wave of iso

. Five yea

s house was less

he marble floor announc

ision in a sharp power suit,

face, his cradled hand,

Victoria' s voice was

ars. "He scared me, Mommy! He w

the color of ice

took Liam' s injured hand,

me

ively pulled

o rare, felt

ar it, not aft

it mean

rfectly sculpt

difficul

was flat,

if he was okay.

," she instructed Thom

ing, come with m

shooting him a triumphant gl

as a dull counterpoint

confirmed a new fracture i

in, mor

ed the small guest room he' d been

rital bedroom; that space was a s

erfume, not her usua

slightly askew,

nce, the latest Ethan look-alike, w

or rather, a ghost sh

late husband, showering them with attention and gifts, while L

ctor, handsome, and just

to Liam when Victo

ider, a ghost in

k Walker, a man who' d only acknowl

herself and a father figure for the traumatized Chloe

s freedom, his music, in exchange for funding the experimen

slowly killing her, and the St

s shoes, a role he was never meant to fill, a role Ch

the past nea

rs from Victoria, open

only, a live-in servant w

e cut through hi

t' s a clean brea

und concerned

around Chloe. You know how

he ceiling. Blam

or Maria' s next treatment cycle," Victoria continued, her to

l. Always tr

life, all reduced to ent

te filled Li

s up in three m

was quiet,

ving then. M

ker of something unreadable in

replaced by her us

Liam. You' re just u

perfectly ma

receive the best care, h

t ask. She

his plans, we

walk out, the door click

sed hi

more m

nt down ever

, or his father, or anyone, di

eaving.

kernel of hope in the vast emp