“Stop overreacting, you’re ruining her day!” my mother hissed, grabbing my hair and pushing me over the balcony railing at my sister’s party. I blacked out. When I woke up, the upscale venue was surrounded by federal agents, and my mother was sobbing on her knees while my sister held a document and begged me…

died in throats. An elderly aunt two seats down let out a choked gasp, quickly pressing a linen napkin to her mouth. One of the younger cousins stared at the floor, his face burning crimson.

Lucas froze. His small hand, which had been reaching for his water glass, hovered in mid-air. He looked at the dog food, then up at me, his bottom lip beginning continue reading …