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Prologue

Life laughs at you so to watch, so every once in a while life goes, Hey, why don’t I mess around with Amelia a bit? Don’t you think that’ll be funny?

And then life’s friends, drama, pain, uncertainty, and unfortunate events, say, Hell, yeah, dude! We got your back Watch the shit storm we can cause

And they all get to work inserting the up the pot Then they sit around with cold beers clutched in their hands and soh uproariously At least, that’s how I think it happens, because so episode of let’s see hoe can screith Amelia today

There’s ame: Tony He has hurt and killed other people in the nae And I care very deeply about so—so deceived fro his stepfather, who was released fro so like that Or is he? He’s a fierce protector of those he loves, and he would do anything to protect his brothers … but murder?

Aiden hates Greg with a burning passion—I’m pretty sure he abused Aiden as a child But I can’t see Aiden taking his life then co over to my house to watch movies like it’s any other day

Why do the police think Aiden did it? He was at ht? When did Greg die, anyway? He’s been out of prison for a couple of weeks—wouldn’t he want to spend some time with his son, Ryan, and not bother with Aiden?

Ryan

I wonder if Aiden’s stepbrother has heard about the death of his father I wonder if he’s heard Aiden was arrested for Greg’sAiden; I don’t want to knohat he’ll do if he thinks Aiden’s responsible for the death of his father Before, this was just a petty rivalry, but now someone’s dead and Aiden’s in jail accused of murder

I can’t lose Aiden Not right now, not when he’s co City has All ht I’d ever have in , like I have a family I can’t let anyone, not Ryan, not Tony, and not even the police, take that away from me

1

The police station hums with activity Men and wo around like they’re in thelike they have all the time in the world An odd combination of disinfectant and dirt scents the air, and the constant ringing of a phone drills athere for hours No one has told us anything, as the only interaction between us and the officers has been the up practically the entire waiting area

I hate police stations I’ve been in plenty over the past year and it never gets better—the anxiety never goes away, and neither does the pit of dread that sits in the middle of my chest Police stations remind me of Tony, and every person an officer leads past us in handcuffsrooted to s can take me is Aiden

After the arrest, Julian, Mason, and Annalisa picked up the twins from their friend’s house like Aiden asked, and took them to Julian’s house for his mom to watch Everyone else came to the police station, and Julian showed up a bit later with Annalisa and his father, Vince Julian clearly got his height from his father, as well as his broad shoulders, but Vince has a stern face, and there’s a co presence about hio to his dad for help, since we clearly need a responsible adult and it’s not like Aiden has another one to turn to Plus, Aiden practically greith Julian

A bit after Vince showed up, Mason arrived with his dad, Brian The adults went to talk to the police about Aiden while the rest of us sat worriedly in the tiny reception area