“Promise me something,” he says.
“Anything.”
“Don’t waste it. Whatever comes next for you…don’t burn it down just because you don’t think you deserve it.”
My throat tightens. I swallow.
“I won’t,” I say. “I swear.”
His eyes find mine, steady and knowing. Like he can see past the walls. Past the bars. Past the version of me that walked in here in chains.He always has.
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
His breathing slows. The monitor stretches the space between beeps. I stay where I am, fists clenched at my sides, spine straight, holding the line even when there’s nothing left to fight.
Johnny’s eyes flutter close.
The monitor soon goes quiet.
For a long moment, I don’t move. Don’t breathe. I stand there until the guard clears his throat and gently touches my shoulder.
“It’s time, Tate.”
I nod once. Step back. Turn away.
I don’t look back.
Somewhere deep in my chest, something breaks, but I keep walking. Because that’s what he taught me.
Control.
And I won’t waste it.
Chapter One
Millie
I stare at the eviction notice taped crookedly to the door, one corner peeling where the glue has given up.
FINAL NOTICE.
The words don’t seem to make any sense. For a long moment, I just stand in the dim hallway, my key still clutched in my hand, backpack heavy on my shoulder…staring. Like if I don’t move, this won’t be real. Like maybe the paper will disappear if I stay as still as possible.
But it doesn’t.
I shove the door open and step inside.
The apartment smells wrong. Not the usual stale mix of old food and cigarettes…something sharper. Cleaner. Temporary.
I find my mother in the bedroom, shoving clothes into a duffel bag. She doesn’t look surprised to see me. That’s the first clue this isn’t new.
“What’s that?” I ask, my voice sounding too thin in my own ears. “Why is there an eviction notice on the door?”
She doesn’t stop packing. Just shrugs one shoulder and keeps folding like this is any other afternoon.
“We’re getting kicked out.”
My chest tightens. “What do you mean, we’re getting kicked out?”
