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When the car finally stopped, I watched my friends climb from the backseat of the lihtly in his own and say, "If you’d like, I can come inside and help…"

"No" Abby shook her head "I’ll tell her"

Mo over ht then I was certain that Su to trade herto face that moment

I knew because it was a trade I would have willingly ent Townsend’s hand was onelse He didn’t have to Then he cli him drive away

"Ca up at the moon It was the first time in years I didn’t wonder ifat it too

"Ca in Bex’s face ht streael, and I expected her to say, "I heard about your dad"

I thought she ht scream, "I’m so sorry"

Liz is the kindest of us all I fully expected her to throw her arms around me and let me cry and cry until I couldn’t cry anymore

What I wasn’t prepared for was to see her smile

And yell, "It’s Mr Solomon! Mr Solomon is awake!"

Liz’s hand was inAnd while I know that, physically, Liz really isn’t a ht then I couldn’t stop her As soon as we reached Joe Soloo inside

"Mr Solo past me, Macey on her heels Then Aunt Abby was beside me, her hand on my shoulder, but neither of usat the woman by the bed

She didn’t look like a spy or a headmistress or even a mother in that

"Hi, girls," Mom said She held his hands and smiled at me "Look who’s up"

I don’t think I realized it at the ti if I’d ever seeif I’d ever be happy again But the look on my mother’s face was one of pure, undeniable joy I turned to my aunt, saw that realization in her eyes too, and then, more than ever, I wanted to run away and take my bad neith me

"Welcome back, ladies," Mr Solomon said, but his voice sounded different, as if the ss

He was propped a little higher than he had been when he was sleeping A little color filled his cheeks, but his lips were chapped and dry Mom held a cup to his mouth, and he sipped, then smiled at her, but the effort

I’d slept for six days Joe Solomon had been out for six months I didn’t want to knohat that felt like

"Joe!" Zach cried, pushing pastto his mentor’s side "Joe…" He let the word trail off

"Well, Rachel, the standards in this placejust anyone in here," Mr Soloain And I realized just how much tension there must have been in the room for a man like him to try to break it

"Cauess our expressions weren’t at all what she was expecting "Isn’t that wonderful?"

"Yes Of course," Abby said Faint traces of dirt and blood still clung to her fingers Her voice cracked when she said, "We missed you so much"

Only Liz seemed to share my mother’s smile as she studied the ood" She spoke to us all, but she looked at Mr Soloood"

"Thank you, Ms Sutton"

"You do," Mo closer tolike I’d never seen hi to fa that I would never get to sain

"So," Mr Solomon said, "what did I her GirlActually, that couldn’t be further fro it, knowing the risks and the costs and sacrificing safety and security anyway I’d seen my aunt Abby jump in front of a bullet once, and yet in that moment she was terrified I didn’t want to knohat I looked like

"What is it?"from the room that held so many people who didn’t know that this wasn’t the time to be happy

"Rachel" I heardaway "We need to talk"

Of all the nooks and crannies, the narrow passageways and grand halls that co Woht possibly be the Protection and Enforcehts, and in the dark it’s all stillness and shadows Plus, it’s the only place on cas

"You’rea bad habit out of this"

I don’t knoas --that Zach had found me so quickly or that he’d actually left Joe’s side If the man I loved like a father were upstairs, I don’t think I’d walk away froain

"You should be with hi up at the ht where I need to be"

"Did Abby…"

"She’s telling them now"

"Is Joe your father, Zach?"

I don’t knohere the question came from, but it was out, and I couldn’t take it back even if I’d wanted to

"No" Zach shook his head "I never knewabout hiuilty forandcould havehim

"I’m sorry," I said

"I’lad he’s awake," I said My throat burned "I’her Girl," Zach said, reaching forback," I said