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I blinked, bringing a terrified Clara into focus and a tear-stained ferocious Zel "No!" she screa into her, and it took every single reserve left inside to shove her away The second she tumbled to the floor, Zel scooped her up and darted backward

I fell offto crush the overpowering orders

Kill Sever Bleed Devour

I looked up, searching for the letter opener I kept on the desk I needed a weapon to putI would never be able to live with

"Clara, no!" Zel cried, sounding muffled in the crash of orders in ht on the conditioning, and she was the one who ended it Her loud, little voice yelled, "Stop it!"

And…it did

Just like that Instant silence, leaving ht, breathing hard I cliht to move after a lifetiruff, strained Gulping in air, I ran hands through one, replaced with appalled horror in her gaze My heart deflated Why can’t I be fucking norht I ruined it Proved to Zel Clara wasn’t safe around me Fuck!

"Hazel, you know I--" What could I say? I’d ress in the last two days than ever before, but it wasn’t enough It would never be fucking enough to deserve them

Clara squirmed in her mother’s hold Zel see herself, Clara cah for me to witness the fierceness in her dark eyes "I’, sending a curtain of shiny hair around her face "Don’t yell atNone of this was fair Not to Clara, or Zel, or even me I was and alould be a machine who should remember his place and stay in the dark

Clara was so innocent So pure Everything that I wasn’t

"I won’t yell at you, little one It wasn’t your fault" Sighing heavily, I stayed slouched on the floor, keeping a careful eye on her "I think you and your o"

Zel sucked in a harsh breath, life ani died when she nodded once "Yes, Clara I think Mr Fox needs to have soo to the beach with Auntie Clue and Ben"

"But I don’t want to go to the beach with therew pink "It was my fault Don’t kick us out, please You haven’t told me any stories You haven’t shownher bottoht then My life split, heading into a crossroads

I was obsessed with finding redemption Destroyed by love Possessed by hope Consumed by a past I couldn’t shake My eyes locked with Zel’s It was tie, or issues that I ht never be free of, but before Zel walked away from me forever, I wanted her to know the truth

I wanted to know her I wanted to earn her trust I wanted a connection I didn’t want to be feared or hated I didn’t want to be an inconvenience or burden

It was ti, so she could decide for herself

It was the only way forward And it would mean I’d lose both of theain

"I think it’s time I told you a story, Clara" My voice sounded heavy and bleak I’ll tell you things that’ll scar your htening her back "I don’t think that’s a good idea" Sheher arhtly reined erief "Please, Fox You keep forgetting she’s a child You can’t tell her what I think you want to You can’t unburden yourself onto such an innocent mind I won’t let you"

"I’ll filter I’ll turn it into a fairy-tale I proive me the opportunity to tell someone Before you leave"

She bit her lip, deliberations filling her eyes

I looked atthem up, I said, "I can tell you the story behind every scar, every nick, and every mark on my body I’ll answer any question you want, and then you can cast judgees--they were ruthless weapons and held a lifetiiveat Clara, I added, "I’ll tell you about a boy who lost his life only to have a little girl give it back to hily sweet, her dark eyes so wide and forgiving Her fierceness h and perfect

"I’d like that But I want ave in Her shoulders slu home"

I nodded I could live with that I couldn’t expect anythingon her face "Tell me now"

Chapter 15

The day I told the father ofand scarred

Instead of the swarlared as if I were scu bitch

I didn’t know he had rich parents, or that he stood to inherit a substantial e around fast food chains I thought he was an orphan--likehome to his perfect bed It wasn’t until I stalked him to his house that I found out the truth