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“Was it the guards?”

I clenched my jaw and stared out the

“I have other kids in there,” she said

“Well, I hope you do a better job for them than you did for me”

She pulled the car into the empty driveway and shifted it into park “Is anyone home?”

“How should I know?”

She sighed and twisted in her seat, reaching for soed my old backpack up front I snorted when I saw it—a relic from my former life

“What the hell am I supposed to do with that now?”

“I don’t know I kept it for you In case…”

It was heavy but I didn’t bother unzipping it to see as inside I didn’t care

She reached behind her for again, then handed me a folder A small white envelope was clipped to the front I flicked it open and stared at the cash

“We usually give so to kids when they…”

“Get thrown into the big, bad world?”

“Yes” She touched the folder “There are some numbers in there People you can call to help you adjust…”

“Thanks, but no” I rolled the folder and shoved it in the front pocket of o now?”

I didn’t wait for her answer I grabbed my shit and shoved the door open

“Good luck, Roman”

The doorclunk when I slammed it in her face

Chapter Forty-Six

Juliet

Fat snowflakes fluttered from the overcast sky and stuck to my windshield First snow of the year Roman’s birthday was today Would they finally let him out? I hadn’t heard from him since Mrs Shields passed away Mr Potter promised he had a plan if Roman wasn’t released after his birthday

A terrible thought wouldn’t stop nagging me What if he’d already been released to another facility far away that wouldn’t let him contact me? None of

Frustration flowed through ers ached I rolled into the driveway and shut the car off

Soht my attention

A man

My heart leapt into nition