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"Big enough?" Violet gathers her hair at the base of her neck "It’s huge It’s the secret they’re keeping from you It’s the reason you believe that they are rays ofsunshine when they aren’t"

"What?" I press "What is it that’s so huge thataway?"

"My mom’s the one that drove your mom out of Snowflake The one who helped you two escape in the night My mom kept the secret of where you hen Eli went to prison That’s right, everyone’s precious Eli went to prison for eight years and it’s yourrapidly and a strange sound leaves her throat as she goes white

The blow slaht into my stomach and I stumble back and land on the bed There’s a buzz in my head and my eyes flicker in front of me as I try to understand

"Shit," Violet whispers as she shoves her hand through her hair "Just shit I didn’t say that Please, Emily, I didn’t say that"

But she did Violet said it and it’s there andin half "What did he go for prison for?"

"Eet in Violet’s face "What did Eli go to prison for?"

Her lips thin out "Atteravated assault"

The roo to like it"

"Because I’ what I’ve heard so far?" I shout "Tell et this far and stop!"

She closes her eyes and whispers, "It was your mother’s brother Your uncle Your ether and when her brother tried to break theer propels me out the door of my room

"Emily!" Violet is hot on my heels, but I’m faster I jerk open the front door, my hand smacks the screen and the moment I’m on the front porch, there are talls of leather vests indrawl "The McKinleys said that you aren’t allowed to leave the house"

"What are you going to do?" I yell "What the freak are you going to do to stop h that I havethey can do to me I slip past them and I’m down the stairs Loud footsteps behind me My name from their lips From Violet’s lips But I don’t care

Eli served time in prison He almost killed someone My mother’s brother My uncle An uncle I didn’t even know existed They’ve lied They’ve all lied