“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…

across Lucas’s exhausted reflection in the window, painting his pale face in flashes of harsh orange and deep shadow.

When we finally crossed the threshold of our home, the familiar warmth of our living room offered no comfort. It felt tainted, as if the cruelty of Chestnut Hill had seeped into our clothes and infected our sanctuary.

“Let’s get you in continue reading …