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That was the first time she had mentioned her past I didn’t want to push her for information I kne hard it was to share the darker parts of our memories

"They died when I was in middle school" I felt her draw in a deep breath, but she didn’t stop "They were killed by a drunk driver A hit and run"

"I’m sorry" It was such a useless phrase, but what else could I say? I hated hearing the grief in her voice

"The worst part was that if the driver had stopped and called for help, they would have had a fighting chance Theybusiness that was pretty popular" She shrugged, but I could tell it still hurt her "But he didn’t and they died there, in the randmother I , but I was so angry at the world, it was probably the best place for me She put me to work and eventually I found a sense of cals?" I’d had Marcus, even if he hadn’t been the best role model At least I’d had someone to turn to

That is, before he’d decided I was better off dead

"Only child But I had Grandh family" She chuckled, but it sounded a little wet "So much personality in such a tiny wo phased Graer than life"

"You said she passed, too?" I ree then I’d o to an art school, but ere still close" She looked up at me "At soe the world for taking the people I loved from me or I could be thankful I’d had any tiets that"

I tightened my arm around her My heart swelled She was too perfect for someone like me She was too perfect, period

"Not everyone would be able to move on the way you did" I turned my head so I could kiss her teilante and hunted down the drunken driver I know a few people like that"

A sleepy chuckle floated up toBut if I could have found that drunk driver before the police I probably would have tried to kill hi a cell with soine you killing someone on purpose, love" I closed my eyes, happy to have her next to ht she had drifted off to sleep It wasn’t until she moved her hand up to the stitches on my shoulder that I realized she was still awake

"I would kill to protect the people I love" Her voice was so soft I almost didn’t hear it She slid her hand lower, over e

I closedto be soabout it I didn’t deserve Ava, and the closer we beca enough to push her away I knew eventually she would see the monster I was and wouldn’t think twice as she ran away Theseas I lived

"Point ht direction and I’ll kill the her inonwar I wasn’t sure why she was crying, but I wrapped hter Words weren’tsuit

MY FINGERS TIGHTENED, digging intoI didn’t trust my hands away fro to teach hi in the casino! I aainst the concrete of Mavis s him the basics, the very bare basics, so we can build from there This isn’t the kind of stuff you’ll need to escape those pros It’s completely different" He held his hands in the air, his eyes trained on me like I was predator

Two days Today and tohtes of Owen and Mavis dead circled around uys away I wasn’t enough…of anything

"You can ithnod "Go grab some workout clothes from my room and meet me back down here I have a routine Stretch, run, stretch, katas, and then sparring Work for you?"

"Hell yes!" I took the stairs two at a ti to address Mavis Theto floor mirrors covered one wall and I realized that her closet lay just behind those doors

Once I’d found clothing that actually fit, I headed back outside The pants were capris on ood