The Scars Of Her Disdain

sterile, usually a famili

d, her artist' s hands swollen and bandaged, a m

ondition"-blurred into the background, drowned out by

chilling hesitation when I asked for justice. "We need

d there, a mask of neutrality, while Brandon

tional instability," Sarah' s voice

texts: "Ethan, I\'m scared."

ssages in question appe

ater, laughing with the chief and Brandon' s

ismissed." Brandon was free. I was or

dollar bill at my feet, his expensive cologne suffocating me as

' d honed as a SEAL shattered. I lunged, my

e. Sarah screamed "Assault!" playing the

ely made it back to Lily' s apartment. The silenc

written. "She told me I was overre

SB drive. Proof. The audio played: Brandon'

ppear." "You\'re in thi

a voicemail to Sarah. "Why? I trusted you. He...

ambition; she was a co-conspira

ctive sneered, "Case closed, pal." Then he an

' t show. "Brandon Thorne\'s father owns t

hing, sharing a possessive kiss outside the DA' s office.

echoed: "He scares me, Ethan."

e pavement before me. "My name is Ethan Miller," I choked out to the guards, "My

father. He looked at the medals, then at me. "

' s picture, his face hardening to granite. "This is

s own. You have the full weight of the United States milit