Page 14 (1/2)

PROLOGUE

“Happy birthday, baby”

My aunt smiled at me from the end of the table, poised with her smartphone ready to snap a picture

She looked as gorgeous as she always did, but I knew that twentyto use the restroom so she could bureen hues looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets

My uncle shoved my half-eaten dish of meatloaf out of the way to make roo “Hurry up and make a wish”

He grinned, staring at me in a way no man should ever look at their niece

His sick smile was a promise of as to co new She always chose to ignore his lust-filled looks, just like she did the sounds that caht

But as disgusting and unfortunate as my situation was, these sad individuals were my family: my uncle, the renowned prosecutor of Brookdale County, and his perfect ho sat on the HOA board

On the outside ere picture perfect, all the way down to the golden retriever lounging in the corner Within the walls of our ho fell apart

I forced a sroo a double take When I realizedtricks onto my aunt

The un was quicker than I was

Digz, having spotted the intruder, jumped up with a snarl His ill-ti his way and discharged The pained yelp that escaped his mouth would haunt me forever His furry body hit the wall Blood sprayed onto the curio cabinet

My aunt started to screech, covering her face with both hands She was shot nexta slug blowing a hole cleanly through a portion of her head and hand, scattering little pieces of bonehimself a shot to his chest He careened into the curio cabinet, where he then fell onto Digz’s lifeless form

It was all a little toothe beige walls, the bits of sinewwith the meatloaf

I fell fro in my throat Mindlessly, I backed myself into a corner

The man turned his attention to where I sat huddled in a ball, hitching the barrel of his gun over his shoulder Terror coursed through my veins I wanted to run, but there was a disconnect between my brain and my limbs