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Ryan began to pace "Am I to understand Sam was here when someone broke in?"

Zoe stepped forward and placed a hand on his ar she wanted was for him to find out that the intruder had been in Sa in a few et a few ritted his teeth "Okay"

"Did you see the guy's face?" Quinn asked her

"For a second He was real ugly and he had dark hair"

"Tall or short?"

"Mediuue description "How'd he get in? What did the cops find? Picked or jiht in since I left the door open when I went out for a walk" Elena stepped forward In black leggings that ended below her knees and an oversize white tank top, and with her hair in a ponytail, she looked younger than her years But when she dropped her head in shaed before Zoe's eyes "Quinn, I'm sorry I know you put in a security system and that Medici lock"

"Medeco"

Elena nodded "The point is, I was trusting And I'm sorry I never meant to put anyone at risk Especially Samantha"

Zoe realized the moment it dawned on herher adaze head-on Then she dropped to her knees and somehow shuffled her way over to where Ryan stood, concern etched all over his handsorabbed his hand "It was a lapse A stupid one One that'll never happen again, so please don't report us Don't snitch Don't take Samantha away," she wailed

Over her aze He was upset and he feared for Sarin because despite the seriousness of the moment, her mother's theatrics ay over the top Zoe was just surprised Ryan realized it, too

Ryan forced himself to stay calain the ability to breathe He'd driven up to the house to find the police leaving He'd walked in to see the place in sha the family with tales of what she'd seen

His fear for Sa in the kitchen, unhurt But his stomach churned as he'd listened to the end of Sam's story and noitnessed the unorthodox way the family handled the crisis They were upset, yes, but the break-in seemed more a cause for drama than concern

Even Saoing to take Ryan for breakfast and explain everything" Zoe placed an arm around her o to Paradeisos, yes?" Elena asked "Aunt Kassie will take good care of you"

"Okay You take care of Dad and Sairl, Zoe" She kissed her daughter's cheek and whispered soht

Watching the interaction, a lump of emotion swelled in Ryan's chest and he wondered if his sister would still be alive had she experienced even one tenth of the love so freely given in this fa repercussions came as a result of bad behavior Quite sin to Ryan as any distant country or culture

Zoe walked up beside hilance Sairl in the calm, steady voice expected of a foster-care worker Inside, Ryan struggled with his emotions and was frustrated by his inability to express thehtly onto Ima and, despite her outward bravado, he sensed she wasn't as fearless as she wanted hi— "