ra

d snake. I had read it a dozen times, the

your

atch had been fixed. Abigail had sent a maintenance person that evening without asking any questions, though her eye

red girl crying in her car by dawn. I wasn't going to let Jace

him in t

ntire life. Jace was leaning against a black vintage Mustang, the hood open, his hands covered in grease. He looked different-less

ook up when

re?" I asked,

tossed a wrench into a t

estate," I said, folding my arms

eyes cold and unreadable. "I'm no

n in the

ed toward the garage door, pulling it open. The morning sun flooded i

lowed

the main gates. The gates were massive, wrought-ir

rd them, his han

going?" I cal

without turning around

I said. "Your parents

owly, a dangerous smile

ked. He pulled a small remote from his pocket. "I have

ow,"

tton. The gates b

and held it up so he

ing?" he asked,

lock the gates from my phone. And if you try to leave, I'll call your parents. I'll tell

me, his jaw

ldn't,"

me,"

he road stretching out before him. He could run. He could just walk out and ne

step towar

sed my

h a deafening clang, the i

d, his eyes bla

led, walking toward me. "You think a

id, my voice calm. "And my job is to keep

He was so close I could see the flecks of gold

ou," he w

Hate is better th

, he laughed. It was a harsh, bitter so

d, shaking his head. "Y

"But I'm not the

he house. He stopped halfway up the d

find a way out. And when I do, you

ared into

king. I had won the battle. But I knew he was

il prepare dinner. I hadn't seen Jace since the m

k him in?" Abigail

said. "He was

"The gates aren't the only thing keeping him here, you know.

t she meant when the k

his hair slicked back. He looked like a completel

said, his voice flat. "I ha

d and wa

strange feeling se

a suit," Abigail murmure

t it was. But I k

in bed, I heard a s

. "Who

came through the wood.

houldn't. But something in his voice-a strange, al

the doo

uit. He looked tired, the shadow

ly. "For the note. For eve

prised by the

just trying to do your job. I

n eyes filled with someth

" he said. "To be

what to say.

ll, sad smile a

e door, my

to believe that there was a good p

couldn't shake the feeling that I

ed saving. He was a wildfire. And wildfires didn't a

ing right in th