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Mom opened her mouth

"No," Catalina said "I’ excuses for her She’s special She’s under a lot of pressure She’s a spoiled brat who’s used to getting her way She acts like a five-year-old and you want all of us to co to listen to anydone"

She turned and marched away A door slaetting to her

"What is happening to this family" Grandht her to do," I said to Mom "She turned, took care of the problem, saved hundreds of people, turned back, and split She didn’t linger, she didn’t show off, and she didn’t pose for any photos She did her job and vanished"

"Once she got into the helicopter, there was no way to stop her," Bern said

My mother landed into a chair She looked defeated and old, older than I’d ever seen her It was like being stabbed in the heart I calassy-eyed

"It will be okay"

Mo me"

"I just can’t stop it," she said softly "I’ve done everything I can and I can’t keep you all safe"

I took her hands "It will be okay I pro moved up She’ll do a sealed trial, where she will be in front of a s the trial, which we all knoon’t be a problem She’s still herself when she transforms She just can’t speak Once we qualify as a House, she will be protected under E House Law states that no member of the House can be pressed into military service or be held by federal, state, or local authorities absent of clear evidence of co a criminal act," Bern said "If we make it as a House, they can’t touch her"

I wasn’t sure she heard us "Moet her before the trials?"

"They won’t," I told her "She’s with Rogan’s an They have no cause and no proof If they try, she will ret it"

"It will be on TV," Grandan and his mother to keep her safe It will be fine"

My phone chimed I answered it

"I’m sorry to interrupt," Rivera said "We’re ready for you"

"I’ll be right there"

I hung up "I have to go now, but I’ll be back Don’t worry" I hugged an’s HQ only took a few seconds, but I wasn’t going to his HQ I was going to the one-story building behind it Before Rogan bought it, it held a printing shop, and soranite counter at the front, now olden-haired woh the heavy door to a large rectangular rooutted and painted with charcoal-black chalkboard paint In the center of the room, Vincent sat, handcuffed to a chair He saw me and sneered Apparently, he was back to his old self

At the wall closest to the door, Bug perched in a chair, with two screens in front of hian sat in one, Heart in another, Rivera in the third, and Rynda in the fourth Her spine was raht Cornelius sat in the fifth chair, Matilda in his lap His sister, Diana, the Head of House Harrison, sat next to hilowed blue, Diana’s green, and when Matilda glanced at ht rolled over her irises

Between the chairs and Vincent, two pieces of chalk waited for me

I walked over and picked one up