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In that moment, I truly hated myself How could I have attacked Cole in such a way? At such a critical tirabbed two of the creatures by the ar the him, after all

The red flathe toss When they recovered, they paid hts on Cole I closed the distance and flattened one hand against a tree--the leaves turned to ash in an instant--and collared one of the zombies with the other He didn’t turn to ash but flopped around I leaned downand bit into his neck

In the here and now, a scowling Mr Ankh stepped in front of ht words--found none The horror of seeing ested zombie rot

"Miss Bell, I’ both human and zombie, with the zombie part of you able to er allow you to live in hter I want you out within the hour"

Chapter 15

You Had Me at Goodbye

I went into the bathroos I had A couple of shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans,Ten minutes, maybe Tears burned at the backs of my eyes, but I blinked them away No way I’d cry over this I’d lost a home before, and one I’d loved with all my heart

This? This was nothing

Then why does it hurt so much?

I think a part of ’s strap overthe cold-blooded Mr Ankh and the stone-hearted Mr Holland

Nana paced at the front entrance, her bag resting on the floor Her anxious gaze landed on ed ten years overnight Her hair was a mess Her blouse and slacks rinkled She wore no makeup

Sonashedferociously in er had tiht?" she asked me

What had she been told? I forced a saze shifted to Mr Ankh and narrowed "What’s going on? Why are you doing this to us?"

"I’ll allow your granddaughter to explain But there’s no reason for you to fret I’ you hohborhood The address has already been progra our way and wanted to refuse I didn’t Not yet I’d let hi as it took me to find a new place--our place, one we could afford on our own One he couldn’t ever take away froled to understand what Mr Ankh hadn’t said, I ushered her outside Her sedan aiting in the driveway, the keys already in the ignition, the engine purring

I threw the bags in the back of the car and buckled into the passenger seat Nana claimed the driver’s seat, and a few hway

"Tellon," she said with a tremor "Please Lately I feel a lot like Reeve, desperate for answers but getting none You’re gone all the time, and I’m used to that, but when you’re home, you’re moody and distant, even violent And now theto do with you"

"Nana, I’ll talk to you about this, I promise Just not in the car" What I had to say would upset her, more than she already was Cars and eood coht But the moment we’re inside"

Ten minutes later, we reached the house She parked in the driveway It was a two-story in the shape of a C, with redbrick and white shuttered s A step up from Nana’s home, definitely newer, but colder--and a dus into the living room, surprised to see the place was euy to keep us in style? The walls had been painted in bold, bright colors Red Blue Green I figured there was a Blood Line around the property, but I wouldn’t be relying on a supposition I’d talk to Nana, then get to work

"Ali," Nana said, her voice breaking at the edges

Caliven the antidote, and that helped, but it didn’t destroy the zos Beco what I hate most Mr Ankh feared for Reeve And Nana I fear for you I think it would be better if I--"

"No!" she said with a violet shake of her head She closed the distance between us and grabbedsoranddaughter and I love you We will stay together and I will help you"

My chin trembled I so did not deserve this woman

"Why didn’t you tellto me Then" Man, this was difficult to admit "I was just too scared of ould happen"

"Oh, Ali"

I placed hten you, or , run Run and don’t look back"