Chapter 3

I lunged wildly, clawing at the water, but caught nothing.

"Cry, Aurora. Why aren't you crying?"

"When Vivi's parents were dying, did you watch them like this too—so coldly?"

Vivienne's voice carried a sick thrill.

"Baby, her mother too! Get rid of her!"

Margaret stirred just then, dazed, searching for Richard.

"Rory, where's your Dad?"

She followed my gaze to the churning water, and understanding hit her.

But Sebastian was closing in. All I could do was drag her toward the shore.

The rotor wash behind us nearly slammed us flat.

I pushed her forward with everything I had.

"Mom! Run!"

Sebastian had gone completely off the rails.

"Aurora—playtime's over."

My stomach dropped. I turned.

Sebastian was leaning out of the cabin, a modified nail gun in his hands.

The black barrel was aimed at us.

Vivienne clapped in glee.

"Let them find out what a nail through the bone feels like!"

My scalp prickled.

"Mom! Faster!"

The gravel slope was right there.

If we could just climb it, find cover—

Then—*BANG!*

My right knee exploded. I pitched face-first into the mud and couldn't rise.

The pant leg drenched in blood, bone visible through the hole.

"Rory!"

Margaret had already scrambled up the slope. She spun around at my scream and, without a second's thought, lunged back toward me.

Cold sweat drenched me from the pain. I roared at her, voice shredded.

"Mom! Don't come back! Run!"

"Find Damon! Only Damon can stop Sebastian!"

Sebastian's cousin, Damon Locke, was the true controlling authority of the Locke family trust.

If Damon learned Sebastian had killed Richard, Sebastian would be *finished*.

"I won't leave you!" Margaret wailed, the sound tearing out of her.

"I can't leave you alone!"

But she was a woman who had been sheltered and cherished all her life—she couldn't drag me anywhere.

Every attempt only sank us deeper.

Under my final, desperate look, Margaret bit down hard on her lip, turned, and ran up the slope.

"Rory, wait for me! You *have* to live!"

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