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Chapter 1

Piper

The apart with house music and conversations This is it, apartment 223, the New Year's Eve party

I take a deep breath, push the door open, and step inside

It's an expensive loft and it's crowded Insanely crowded

Most of the roo booze straight from the bottle The couch in the corner is packed with people le it's hard to say, but I'd put uy in thespit

Okay It's a rowdy party No big deal I'irl my brothers think I am I can handle any party, however off the wall

First, a drink People buh the packed dance floor I'm halfway to the refreshht into me

He's at least ten years older than the next oldest person here and his greasy co him any favors

He shoots me a crooked smile "Sorry, babe How about I make it up to you?" He brandishes a prescription bottle

Oxycontin

"No thank you" I step backwards with a polite ss

The uy in designer jeans— and offers hi their pills with vodka andto the corner of the room

I guess that's the drug corner I better steer clear

Really, I should leave, but it's nearly ten now—I got lost, then spent forever looking for parking—and I don't want to be sitting on the couch, alone, when the ball drops

Not again