A Pack Of Blood and Lies

e, potpourri, and evergreen. The

ht slanted onto the steel-gray floor. I

wded around my flea

idded backward on the linoleum. He caught the w

which was surprising, because I was no

w over the denim couch. Shards of glass g

. Smacked i

a

biceps and pinned m

a familiar set of hazel eyes, then s

e," Lucy said, finally heav

new life, this wasn't

ried to lope around him, but his body filled t

s of her eyes with a tissue. She hadn't cared about Mom when she'd

uld I t

re your fami

e the day you force

his ear. "Ness, there were reason

. She shouldn't run with boys. It's d

flus

ridor that my neighbor stopped beating up his wife long enough to stick his head through the door. Proba

my uncle

with us. You're a

ighteen in

ed hand. "Until then, we're your le

me. "How did you even

vels," Ev

ad me wondering if Mom's death certifi

ation, nor picked up your diploma. He was trying to reach your mom, but he

listed my uncle on my school file, and shock that

n living like"-Lucy wr

e raised my hackles. Her gaze roved over our faded couch, over the chipped white veneer of th

oice had me wheeling around. Evelyn held o

usin lowered the palm he'd pla

d on Everest, she said,

me back. Worried about my uncle's reaction, I pressed her

nto my aunt's smooth, m

d at her. "W

ed to know,"

r family,

d a penciled

on Mom and I had

, Ma'am?" my

ely

d a column of metal bangles clinked agai

ably at," I said through gritted teeth. "If anyone sh

then back at my uncle. "I will gladly be

nded at the

person I don't know from Eve

I asked. "I

hat's not how it works. Now you start

was chipping away at his patience, but he had to understa

my chin.

you out to the car," Je

uldn't

ot me a br

He wou