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She stopped and licked her lips “I was going to take you I wanted to but I wasn’t going to take you to the school I had a bag packed as I always did I thought with hiet away, finally”

Joan’s lips pressed together, and I saw tears in her eyes

“He ca to do” Joan put her hands to her neck “He grabbed me so hard, I couldn’t breathe I nearly passed out, but then he let hter to survive the year, then I would be a good mother to her, drop her off at the school, and then co on my hands and knees”

“And you did it?”

Joan nodded “I … I played hter into that school, knoas to come, and I hated myself You didn’t deserve that” Tears fell from her eyes

I wanted to hug her, but I held ive her At the sas werewith my head

“Alexander had been waiting for this o through with it When the agreeet you as far away from all of this as possible”

“Dad wasn’t there,” I said “You could have driven off with me that day”

“That night, he told me what he did to Drew,” she said “How he … killed her He injected her with poison, Sian, but he made it look like she was shot He told me that he had so many friends ere sick and tired of The Society and all that it entailed How he had people watching There was no way I could protect you All I could do ait” Joan lifted her hand “I should have known if I couldn’t deal with hihter would find a way”

I shook h, Mom He hasn’t stopped You’re in the hospital because of him Heather’s dead because of him”

“He couldn’t stand that girl I think he knew she was placed there by The Society”

“How did you know about that?”

“Lucas toldout for you when I couldn’t”

I had no idea what to say

The doctor chose that moment to come into the room, and I stood

“Don’t go,” Joan said “We have a lot to talk about”

I nodded, but for now, I really needed to go get some coffee

Leaving the rooht toward the cafeteria where I found Gideon, Dante, Mateo, and Willia around the table

I ordered my coffee, paid for it, and went to their table to join them