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Chapter 1

A gust of winter air hit my face so hard it felt like God had reached down and slappedto ward off the intense chill

The creak of rave pierced ently sway and wobble, the flowers atop shaking as it descended further and further into the ground

Everyone was leaving Turning and walking back to their cars They’d likely go back to my step-mother’s house for mini sandwiches and talk about ue

Not me I simply stood Alone No one looked at me No one even attempted to make eye contact They all just walked away

The burning inthat rehtmare even It was real Last week, my father, my house, and my soul were ripped from me Whoever said the truth will set you free clearly had never experienced such truth Like the truth that I’d fallen in love with two men, only to be betrayed by both Or the truth thatfree

I absently ranmy cheek where he’d hit me It was mostly healed But the memory stuck I didn’t know if I was number from the Colorado cold or fro a little tiet used to these new truths and facts, it still hadn’t sunk in I’d stopped counting the hours, because it was too o round Days ago, the last part of my heart had been torn from my body and I’d lost the second man I’d ever loved

Alone

I was all I had left And I really wanted to demand a recount

“Lana Case?” a balding lasses asked

“Yes?” My voice was little better than a croak

“I’ Simpson, the attorney for the Case-VanBuren estate”

I nodded Of course, my father and step-mother would have an attorney His na had been a part of the “Case-VanBuren union” since my father married my step-mother, Anita It was no surprise he was here Especially since the reading of his as set to happen in the next hour

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said I wanted to be polite To say thank you, but my mouth refused to move Just like the rest of me

Anita and Brock played the part of grieving farass squished under ht or fight Unfortunately, neither came And I stood Still

“We better be on our way,” Anita said to Greg, not sparing lance Not that I wanted one from her “I didn’t think you’d show up, Lana,” she snappedpoison froes you pressed, I would assume you were far too afraid to be near my son”

Her tone was light, yet challenging Any mo her nails like the fact that her son had assaulteddeal Brock had muscled his way into otten away He had posted bail and was out of jail for now, but I wouldn’t coay

For once, the nue No matter how afraid I was, I’d never let it show, especially to Brock and Anita