Page 127 of The Forbidden Note

Mom shoots to her feet so fast, her chair topples to the ground.

I fly after him, wrenching Zane by the shoulder. “Stop it.”

Zane glares into his father’s face. “Touch her and I will burneverythingdown, even if I have to light myself on fire first.”

Jarod Cross’s smile is this wicked sharp thing that sets me on edge.

“Still so reckless, Zane.” He tilts his head, unfazed. “How can you ever have what you want?”

“Enough.” Dutch drags Zane off.

Jarod Cross smooths his collar back down.

“Jarod, what did you mean by that?” mom cries. “What do you mean something might happen to my daughter?”

“He meant what he said, mom. That was a threat.” My eyes narrow in his direction.

Jarod Cross laughs. “A threat? Why would I threaten my own step-daughter?”

When he reaches for me, Finn, Dutch and Zane move quickly between us, blocking me from view.

Jarod Cross smirks. “What is this? A swat team?”

The boys don’t say a word.

Jarod Cross cranes his neck past Zane to look me in my eyes. “Are you scared of me, Miss Jamieson?”

“You’d like me to be, wouldn’t you?”

He laughs again. “I see the boys have gotten to you. Gracie, you can’t believe the words of rebellious and headstrong teenagers. It’s easier for them to chase conspiracies than to admit they lack discipline and self-restraint. Of course, that’s my fault. I didn’t train them well. Not like Marian raised you.”

Mom’s eyes dart between me and Jarod, still looking shocked and confused.

“We’re leaving,” Zane growls.

“Mom, let’s go,” I say.

Her body remains rooted to the ground.

I wait for her.

“Mom,” I insist.

Her face tightens and then smooths out. Iseethe moment she chooses him.

“Why don’t we all just sit down and talk this through. Jarod can explain exactly what he meant and I—”

“Mom, juststopit,” I snap.

Her mouth clamps shut and she looks at me like I’m a different person.

Maybe I am.

Maybe Sloane’s death was the first step of my transformation.

Maybe my fingers are stained in blood.

Maybe I’m slowly turning into a monster too.

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