Page 17 (1/2)

And that--that h

"What’s so funny?" Harper snaps at ? Is my father even alive?"

"Do you care?"

"Of course I care!"

"As far as I know he is I have not spoken with hi time" I’m the one who turns away now Because this will require a lot of thinking on my part The probleether? Who is calling the shots? Why was I really sent to the beach? What the fk happened in those hours I lost?

"Is there a way to find out?" Sasha asks "If the Adlobal alert if the Admiral was dead" I should push Sasha for her answers too I really should But she’s being very good, als up

"So nohat, Ja the sun still, and it’s about to set, so the bright glow froht so we could watch the sun go down again, get her back in her routine But the rippling orange and yellow colors across the Pacific Ocean were ical Beautiful and filled with proht playing across the hot current of air in the desert has a hopeless feel to it

This desert sunset feels like the end

"You have to make a choice, Harper" I take her hand and turn her around "You trust me and let me lead the way" I stop to search her for doubt She holds her eyes steady, unlikefor lies, for pretenses and ulterior rief

"Or you can go your oay You’re not my contract, Harper" I slip my hand behind her neck She’s sweaty fro pink from the sun and when she looks up at h for one day "You’re not my contract, and if you stay with me, I promise to take care of you I promise I will keep you safe I promise that the only way they will hurt you is if they killto you?"

"Yes" God, that makes me so happy there’s no way in hell I can hide the s to me You’re mine So if you stay, you need to understand that You’re ers down her ar on her hand until she takes a step toward "I’ve alanted you"

She stares intothe truth

"Sasha," I say as I turn and lead Harper over to the porch "Bedtime"