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"There you are It’s ti her eyes a few tiun to well in them, she smiled "That ridiculous three-layer, double-A-shaped cake?"

"Three-layer, chocolate cake," Grace reer sirls ran after little Chava just behind Grace, laughing loudly--a re into her ive heart How could she be sure Vincent wouldn’t go back to dealing again? He’d risked it all ht to what Grace had said the day she last spoke to hierous--not just to her but to her family

Rose walked back to the kitchen with Grace, never addressing Lorenzo’s comment He didn’t stick around to watch the rest of her and Ben’s performance, and she couldn’t have beenalong with this He was a good friend, but this was the last ti this She hated that now not only would Vincent know she’d broken a pro but he’d be under the i Ben out and giving hi more than a kiss on the cheek, Rose was surprised to see herjust inside the door She had ato be a doctor Why didn’t you tell me?"

Rose rolled her eyes Of course this would be the only thing that interested her hter was practically supporting her Two daughters who et her drea to work another day in her life if she had the both of the her bills

"I didn’t think you’d care," Rose said flatly continuing to walk through the front room

"Rose," her mother said in a tone so unlike her, Rose had to turn and look back at her "I know I haven’t been the greatest mother to you or Grace, but I do care I’ve never been able to express ive me for that, but I want you to know that I do care I’ve always cared"

Rose stared at her wanting to ask her so s like, first and foremost, why the hell hadn’t she ever said it before, but this wasn’t the time or place Already people were headed toward the, her mother turned to Alison and her boyfriend Ezekiel "It was very nice to see you again Mrs Zendejas," Alison said

As Rose said her goodbyes to her friend and her boyfriend, her ot back, her one to bed It was for the best Rose wasn’t up for that conversation just yet She had enough going on in her head She’d take the fact that her mother claimed to care about her as a win and leave it at that before pushing and getting the real truth: a truth she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Vince

Running as fast as his tired legs would move, Vince could see the helicopter up ahead Just a couple of hundred feet o "You can do this, damn it," he muttered to himself

Every step he took felt heavier and ht for the little air that trickled in, and he coughed most of it back up; the air was so thick with smoke and dust

"Hurry up!" One of the soldiers in the helicopter yelled out "We gotta get out of here!"

Vince lifted his hand in an effort to show that he’d heard the guy and he was trying his damnedest to hurry He’d never been so terrified but at the same time so determined in his life

Rose’s voice still fresh in his ive up How could he have ever considered it? The only thing that stopped Will fro for his Missy Anne was death He loved her thatRose ith soht of just what Rose really ed his life in such a way that he’d never be the same person he was before hehe did, he did for her now Running for his life noas all for her He needed to get out of here alive, needed toon his hands and knees because he kne his life would never be coet her back He’d stop at nothing now

Stu as he reached the helicopter, he was pulled in by two different pairs of ar for air He’d uy at the door yelled back at the pilot "Hurry your ass up, Private! You’re gonna get us all killed!"

As Vince lay there, he could hear the huffing and groaning getting closer as the last guy they aiting on finally o!"

Not a second later, the helicopter shifted violently, and Vince reached for the closest thing that was nailed down--the legging of the co-pilot’s seat Tightening his grip around it, he held on as it got harder and harder to grip with the sharp turns the helicopter et past this, we’re home free!" The soldier at the door of the helicopter started shooting, and Vince covered his face with his forearm