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I think I stopped breathing "What infor time before she finally said it "You are adopted"

My mouth fell open "What?"

Words spilled froh "Your father and I couldn’t conceive on our own, after trying every option I soave us you Like a gift It was such a wonderful time in our lives and it makes me so, so sad that we’ve lost touch with each other since your father left We were supposed to be the perfect fa’s perfect in life But we try And I’ve tried, Samantha, I’ve really tried to be the bestyou’ve needed I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this before and I’m so sorry if it hurts you to hear it now"

I couldn’t have been more stunned if I’d just been hit by a truck

Kraven had been right He’d taken one look atI’d never even considered once in my life

I was adopted

"Wh-who are my birth parents?" My voice was croaky, like I had to force the words out when they’d rather stay safely inside

She got up from the table and paced over to the kitchen sink She clutched it for a ain, the strain on her face clearly showing her age and weariness "There wasn’t ency did tell me your mother was in her very early twenties She was desperate to find a good home for her baby That’s all I know I’m sorry, honey"

Early twenties Sootten in trouble and needed to fix her ht made my throat feel thick and my eyes burn

"Do you know her name?"

She shook her head "I was told she dropped you off and then disappeared For years I thought she ht come back for you and take us to court over custody, but she never did I can go with you to the agency We can try to find out ot shakily toover my shoulder I felt cold now, and it didn’t have ed intoelse I’d learned this week

"Yeah…" I cleared my throat and let out a shuddery breath "I, uh…maybe I don’t know I need tilad you told me I am"

"Honey, sit down Let’s talk so for me at Crave We’ll have to talk…later"

I escaped fro back I couldn’t deal with this right now, it was too lass of wine in hand, a woo and never breathed a word about it Not even a hint

But noas all too clear to me, and I couldn’t believe I’d never seen it I’d never been anything like my tall, blond, blue-eyed, sociable parents--they were like Barbie and Ken, practically I was short, dark-haired, pale, and had pretty much been a loner all land with the promise to see nore those feelings, shove them down deep and let them manifest as a sudden need to shoplift a few items from the mall and hone my sense of humor into a sharp weapon

This abandonment felt different I didn’t even have words for it It just made me feel…empty At least ain since he left two years ago Which he’d done Once Last Christmas he’d held true to his pro at a nearby hotel We’d spent a day and a half together This girl who’d leftat all

A tear slipped down my cheek as I set forth onpopulated, well-lit streets, so my mother never had a problem with it when Carly couldn’t pick me up I wiped the tear away, mad that I felt any emotion over what I’d just learned I resolved that it would be the last tear I’d shed over this uy was sitting outside the nightclub again and he watchedfate at a fearless rate," he said "Despite what she’s lost, she’ll find her way in the dark city, guided by the watchers of the night who protect us from the shadows Some friend, so resonated in his words, freezing me in place, but I tried to shake it off I didn’t have ti babble He freakedthe electricity when he’d touched me last tiht h stuff already

"All is not as it seems," he called after me

"Not exactly a news flash there," Iconversation with ht And it wasn’t just to hang out with Carly and eat greasy food by the armful I needed answers Real ones

I scanned the di for her As promised, she ith Paul, in a corner booth He stared across the table at her like he’d just won the lottery She laughed at whatever he was saying It looked like they were having a great time