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Helen dragged her feet. “Me, too.”
“Nope.” She pulled harder and out the door.
“Night, Ethan.”
“Goodnight!” I called out after them and when they were gone, I felt even more tired. Pulling off all my clothes, I crawled into bed
and wrapped the sheets around me two times. As I closed my eyes, I couldn’t help but remember the…the screams, all the screaming, and the booms. I couldn’t help but see Dona and Wyatt.
I didn’t care what happened or who else got hit, just not them.
Mommy would cry if it hit them. I had only seen Mom cry once and that was when I was a baby and Wyatt was sick. I never wanted to see it again.
Rule 56. Never let Mom cry.
MELODY
“Citizens of Chicago, I stand before you not only as your governor but as a mother of three children at Pennington Academy. I understand the fear. I understand your anger, and most importantly, I understand your desire for justice, which can never cover the pain. We lost nine innocent children at the one place where they should be the safest. I…I want to assure you all that none of us will rest until the shooter is found. The FBI is already in contact with the Chicago PD. As for the families of the victims, we’ve already met, only briefly, as I know they need time as a family to mourn. I can give no further information as this is an ongoing investigation—”
“Governor! Governor!”
“Governor, what is going on in this city? Just this morning Mayor Weston was forced to resign in light of allegations of prostitution and bribery. Then later Deputy Commissioner Cheung was found to be part of a child slavery and prostitution ring, now this shooting. It feels like, despite all your best efforts, Chicago is reverting back to its former infamy. Do you have any comments?”
“Yes. First, what is your name?”
“Phoebe Salinger, with NKB News.”
“Okay. Second, you’re a fucking idiot, Phoebe Salinger with NKB News.”
“Madam Governor, would you like to explain—”
“Would I like to explain why you are a fucking idiot? No problem. I’m not sure you have enough brain cells left to figure it out yourself. Nine kids died today. Nine. At the school my children attend. I’ve spent the last few hours speaking with the FBI, local police, and the families of the victims, meaning I was unable to go home and see my own children. It is the mayor’s duty to speak out during times like these, but this city currently has no mayor, so I stepped up. Instead of focusing on the tragedy at hand, you want me to take the time to comment about two men and their sexual exploits? If you want to be a news reporter, Ms. Salinger, report the news. If you want to make shocking headlines, start a blog and get the hell out.”
“There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Governor Callahan’s verbal ass-whipping of a reporter from—”
“That’s enough radio, thank you.” Mina nodded up to the driver while I leaned back into the leather seat, unable to look away from the tablet in my hands. Ethan, Wyatt, and Dona…they all slept perfectly. I had even heard Dona snoring softly. My mind was reeling with so much rage, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wasn’t sure what to even say. I wanted to kill them. I was going to burn the Tàiyáng family to the ground.
“If you keep gripping on it like that it’s going to break, Mel.” Mina reached over, yanking the tablet from my hands as we pulled up to the mansion.
I didn’t even wait for the car to come to a stop before I opened the door and raced up the stairs.
“Welcome—” Our butler started to greet me, but he passed by in a flash as I ran, skipping every other stair as I made it first to Ethan’s room.
“Ethan?” I called, not caring if I woke him or not. He rolled over as I moved over to him. I noticed once again he had chosen to sleep naked; it made me smile because I remembered how he was when he first figured out how to take off his diaper. The moment he had the chance he would take off his clothes and diaper, hold the diaper above his head, and run all over the halls. It was fucking hilarious. The whole family would try to catch him, even Evelyn, and none of us did—correction, none of us wanted to. He would just keep laughing and laughing as if nothing else made him happier than being chased after.
“Mama?” He rolled back over when I brushed his messy hair away from his eyes, tracing the mark on his eyebrow. Was he hurt?
“Mio bel leoncino.”
“You’re home.” He turned back over, giving me a hug. “I missed you.”
Swallowing slowly, I kissed his head and forehead. “I missed you too…I’m sorry I’m late.”
“It’s okay. Daddy always says your job is important. Everybody knows you. The girls in my class think you’re really pretty, too.” He grinned, rubbing his eyes. He sat up and the moment he noticed he was naked, he pulled the sheets up and fell back down.
“Who are you hiding from? I remember the times you used to run around the whole house naked—”
“Mom!” His muffled voice came from under the covers. Hugging him tightly, I kissed all over his sheets before I let him go.
