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Pepper’s eyes fill with tears and they leak from the corners “And Charlie?”

I give a s for her”

“Everyone’s looking for her,” Richard drawls

Pepper’s gaze goes froave a press conference to the major news outlets I put Lida’s and Charlie’s pictures out on social media There are a lot of eyeballs out there and I’m sure they’ll find her soon”

Lowering her gaze, Pepper murmurs, “I’m so sorry I tried to protect them”

“Don’t,” I say gruffly as I drop down into the chair and lean over the bed rail to put my face closer to hers She refuses to look at me

Twisting athered around the bed “Can we have a few minutes alone?”

“Of course,” her mom says as she pulls the curtain aside Her dad and sister leave, then hersmile before she follows

When I turn back to Pepper she starts ra “I’un on me, and then Lucy came over with Charlie It was just stupid luck but when she turned away froun and she shot me I couldn’t stop her after that I called for help but—”

I place ently over her mouth “None of this is your fault, Pepper”

Her expression is dubious but she reers away “Lida is crazy None of us could have predicted this level of crazy, though I’ht you were going to die, Pepper, and it gutted h, I needed to tell you all the things that I should have told you before I kissed you goodbye this ”

“Like what?” she whispers