Chapter 10: Stray Dog
Kade barely showed up at vocational school. ‹96684423› He'd paid tuition, sat through a few days of class a month, took the exams, and waited for the diploma at the end of three years. §57defed7
He knew a guy who ran a motorcycle repair shop. (3174e55a) Behind the garage was a stretch of empty warehouse — throw a mattress down and you had a bed. #7f88db6b He had plenty of places to go, plenty of places to kill time. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 Internet cafes, pool halls, a taekwondo gym, arcades. * d0a61246 The call about Dale's accident went to the school first, then bounced through friends before it reached Kade. ·d543fbf0· Days late. #3e142f5d By the time he got to the ICU and saw the man in the bed, the feeling was something like swallowing a dud grenade. [v.d9e53233]
He'd figured the two of them would spend their whole lives as enemies. [ed.e58bf111] Didn't see this coming — Dale, just... down. [ms.51535e6f] Mom had killed herself when Kade was barely in grade school. (8588661f) Dale looked gentle, seemed decent, but behind closed doors his words could cut bone. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 Once his wife was dead, his mouth cleaned right up. ··14710fe2 After that, father and son on their own. sub:2b93bbc4 There'd been hard moments — more than a few.·dc3debac Whether they were actually blood was anyone's guess. [proof:68edbda8] Dale never bothered with a paternity test. ed.60d20d5e People said Kade looked like his mom. plate-a2a8305d Others said there was something of Dale in him too — especially the eyes. (7c49ac5a/Wed) Others said not at all — this kid was wild, bouncing off the walls, nothing like his quiet, bookish father.·666424fb None of it mattered now. sub:a7806260 The man was dying. ed.77495551 Slate wiped clean. ··8bda2431 Debts settled. ¶1ab699ac
Dale stayed unconscious. ref·fedde6b4 After the transfer out of the ICU, they put him in a respiratory-care ward with a feeding tube and a ventilator. [proof:3c3afba6] Private room. (c9f3cbd2/Wed) Family on watch around the clock. no.03c9984a Mostly Kade. §d5821eea Tammy came when she could. ‹0b04024f› Thea was on summer break — she handled the food runs. ed.ad959d51
Kade wouldn't eat the meals Thea brought.·37f6281d Didn't want her bringing them, either. ‹a8971b34› He had enough friends drifting in and out — dropping off a change of clothes, a razor and some soap, a bag of late-night food. ref·47f7bf64 The one time he asked Thea for anything, it was cigarettes. no.112e64b9 Sitting vigil over a man who might as well have been a corpse — no matter what your feelings were, it ground you down. [v.3e85f407] He reeked of stale, bitter tobacco. ⁰04160444
"Pall Malls. 0406e45f·· Seven bucks a pack." #f55a51a2
Thea held the money and looked at him — bloodshot eyes, a faint blue shadow of stubble on his chin. ◆ b59e81e4
"Cigarettes that cheap..." she murmured. [v.dec7605a] "Can you even smoke those?" sub:071c75ec
"Cheap?"·464a3689 Kade's eyebrow cocked.·e49256db A strange smile. «d179cd40» Voice shredded. ⁰b3fa5e0a "You got money to spare?" «1567dfd3»
Thea pressed her lips together, turned, and walked out. ref·082e5eb4 Twenty minutes later she was back with the cigarettes. ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 He tore the wrapper off, told her to sit with Dale for a bit, rolled his neck, and shuffled outside. ··ef05341b When he came back, he'd washed his face and looked almost human. imp.c78a6786 His gaze grazed over Thea. ⟨de780ff7⟩
A year since he'd seen her. plate-44ca91dd The kid had grown four inches. [proof:edf9529c] A skinny little twig standing in front of him. plate-8af8a4f5 He didn't even have to duck — just cracked his eyes open and there was her tense, guarded face. * 66aeb60a
"Where's your mom? ed.e9c1d480 Home planning the funeral? 771e641d·· Tell her to come sit for a couple days." ·54c2c549· A cold laugh. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 "Or is she waiting for him to flatline first?" #33a5d1b1
Thea didn't dare answer. [ms.3744a049] These past few days, Tammy had told her to keep showing up at the hospital.·9ad92f63 Meanwhile, Tammy hadn't gone back to the tea lounge, but she hadn't been idle either. ed.0725350e She was out running errands, or at home tearing through drawers and cabinets. ¶7213c01c Thea knew she'd made several trips to the bank. plate-d36594dd Her face looked awful. — ad1268ce One night she slipped out and didn't come home until four in the morning. [ms.ecdccf77]
Thea's mind had been spiraling. ref·a3630ad5
Back at the apartment, she relayed Kade's message. ·1d770a86· Tammy's brow pinched, but she didn't argue. ··d464c9bf She packed a bag and headed to the hospital. ¶c1bb0805 Told Thea to stay home and keep bringing meals on schedule. [ed.f58c9c1c]
Kade and Tammy met at the bedside. [v.02dca0b4] Dale was still a statue. ◆ 2210f925 Tammy took his withered hand and cried. «3c32a0ad» Kade watched for one long beat, that sharp, feral gaze, then looked away. — 262b84f8 Yawned. [ms.7a0a07fd] Left a phone number and gave up his spot. plate-26c85515 Didn't say when he'd be back. [v.312c9298]
Tammy had never liked Kade. sub:39e925ee She'd be happy if he stayed away. ··77f9b034 But staying away wasn't an option either. * 3402fe47 Dale was still breathing, still dragging on, not getting better, not dying — just lingering. #2f9e1b15 It drove her crazy. [proof:fdd0f0a8] And underneath the anxiety, her teeth ground with fury. no.28a2ac8b What if Dale woke up? [proof:a7756199] What if he ended up a vegetable? [ed.da4a7847] Who was going to take care of him? #db835431
With both of them at the hospital, Thea was alone in the apartment. sub:d1a37020
She tossed and turned all night. no.0595214a At dawn, bleary-eyed in a tank-top nightgown, she drifted through the living room. [proof:f7930fdd] She caught a shape on the couch — someone lying there — and froze. (1a8de1f7) Two long legs dangled over the armrest. imp.65dc67a4 Her brain caught up and she screamed, bolting back to her room. [v.e7cb66b8]
Kade had climbed through the window in the middle of the night. §254b18ac He'd been down maybe a few hours when that thin little shriek jolted him awake. no.39450da0 He tipped his head back and bellowed, "What are you screaming about?" [ms.e152baa6]
The sound of his voice calmed her down. plate-a4ffe197 She lay on her bed, heart hammering, staring at nothing. #478ff808 By the time she changed and came out, over an hour had passed. sig.6e3a6de4 Kade was balled up on the couch scrolling his phone. no.b594078c He saw her blank expression and sneered. no.59baac7b "See a ghost?" ·4f9b63b5·
He hadn't been home in a year. no.d9876574 What else would she see? (d1e1f2f1)
"No." ¶4cfd2849 She stood flat against the wall, as far from him as possible. sub:d37c6d5d "Why are you here?" 227cfa1e··
Kade gave her a withering look. * da4a4abd Said nothing. [proof:bbe15990] Raked a hand through his ash-gray hair — sticking up everywhere, wild. ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 He got up, went into the bathroom. ⁰f0952192 Water ran. §988f0ac0 He came back out trailing damp air, dumped every dirty piece of clothing he owned into the washing machine. (ab072b96) Thea was in the kitchen cooking pasta. [v.af514616] Through the kitchen window she could see him sitting on the balcony, smoking, half his body hanging out over the sill. imp.11074192 She hesitated, leaned out, and asked if he wanted breakfast. [f0261ec7] Kade flicked the butt out the window, hopped down from the ledge. — galley 73a4edcf — Two words: "Not hungry." #eeb40e71
The old washing machine rattled and churned. no.c42c7437 Thea sat at the table eating alone. ··bce29f9d Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Kade survey the apartment, then walk straight into Tammy and Dale's bedroom. ‹452c128c› She heard drawers opening. * dc109c39 He was looking for something. ed.3d349a65 Her pulse drummed — maybe whatever he was looking for, Tammy had already hidden. [v.0813a210] Then Kade sat down at the desktop computer and started typing. [ms.1be9de30]
At noon, Thea headed out to bring Tammy lunch. imp.d57a1f5f Kade was still at the computer. imp.11a020b6 She was halfway through the door when he called her name. (8dfade6e) He ambled over, cigarette between his teeth. ¶6bcdc5bd Printed shirt, jeans, that boneless slouch. (6b72b325/Wed) He ducked his head and flicked his lighter — *click, click* — the flame caught, and a wisp of heat grazed her face. imp.796ab1d3 He lifted his eyes and looked straight at her. [40a848d4]
"Don't tell your mother. sig.77adf7ae Understand?" sig.0d003d94 Smoke curled across her features. ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 "You know what happens." imp.c68a6b4c
"I know..." Thea kept her eyes down, fingers white-knuckled around the lunch container. [proof:c35f38b6]
He smiled at her. [a3a6d02f] Something bright and liquid moved behind his eyes — like shards of ice catching light. ◆ 300ef3ce One big hand pushed her shoulder, steering her out the door. ··8173a2d7
When she got back from the hospital, the apartment was empty. [v.78fe48d0] The clothes were gone from the washing machine. ◆ 1908d0ac Nothing left but a cigarette butt in the trash can. fa0a6fc4··
In the regular ward, with no ICU-level equipment and no way to leave the bedside unattended, Tammy was stuck on watch. sig.9d7efee5 She split her attention between her phone and the IV drip on the wall, swapping the catheter bag and cleaning Dale up on schedule. §acccb58a Kade held up his end — the doctor said to watch for anything unusual, call immediately if his breathing changed. imp.88790945 Keep the button close. — 176dac57
The second night, Tammy half-heard something from the bed.·863b0370 A sound — faint, almost nothing. ref·2d4ce4e6 She leaned in. [proof:9e0cd971] Silence. «56da76fa» Dale's face was wax-yellow, hollowed out, a shell of skin and bone. ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 Tammy looked at him and felt a stab of something — pity, maybe, laced with hate. (c507b239) Around three or four in the morning, she heard it again. (18989cd3/Wed) Movement. 9bf3087f·· She crept to the bedside, terrified, and bent close. ◆ 3e74c90a A scratchy, rasping sound — like struggling. ◆ 24a97ca9 Like refusing to go. ⁰e651b218 His eyeballs rolled beneath the lids, straining to open. sub:a99f5d28 Both legs twitched, feet kicking the mattress. «c351fd35»
It happened two or three times that night. (59bf6d59/Wed) Tammy stood petrified by the bed, wanting to press the call button, then stopping — hand frozen, cold sweat running, watching Dale in the bed until morning light filled the room. ref·df02b589 The body went still again. ◆ 9f645543 The IV bag ran dry. imp.79f342dd She remembered to go to the nurses' station for a new drip. no.89f6cba6
She turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin. [proof:5b10b899] She collapsed into the chair with a gasp. ref·66171d39 Kade leaned in the doorway, arms folded, black eyes glinting with a barbed sort of amusement. ref·6606e0cb "Morning, Tammy. — galley e6ddae1d — Been standing there long... Is my old man still alive?" cee7f570··
Tammy went gray. [ms.8897cc7c] "When — when did you get here?" ··3bab8794
"Just now." [v.daeb5bea] Kade shrugged, eyes flickering with something deeper. «d7da65a0» "Worried Dad won't make it through the week. no.5b8a5f02 Figured I'd come pay my respects early." no.39972eae
The morning rounds came through — doctor, nurses, meds. plate-63f56cc3 They checked Dale's vitals and asked how the night went. ◆ 77f12f93 Tammy said nothing happened. #9df181f5 Not a sound. no.d95ea593 The doctor shook his head and sighed. ¶80bed6d2 Later, Thea arrived at the hospital. #e0ae7a39 She found Kade and Tammy sitting on opposite sides of the room, both expressionless. plate-af854f12 She carried a container of sliced fruit, wore a white skirt with a pale green print. ··cb26a732 Her cheeks were flushed from the heat, her features softened by the summer haze. ¶27f9cfc2 She split the fruit between them. imp.c1ce2d96
"Mom." ⁰b0a69799
"Kade." imp.6cdceabc
Cold, sweet fruit between the teeth. ref·6a612251 Thea sat close to Tammy, who clutched her hand, tense — deliberately avoiding Kade's gaze. 7135a01b··
Dale didn't last many more days. ◆ 8da97c25
The unconscious spells got worse. [v.6a8382c5] Respiratory failure. ed.9f64eebe Pupils fixed and dilated. [a91bd736] Cardiac arrest. 14c64395·· The hospital called time of death. sub:cb5b37b9
Hospital to funeral home to cemetery — it moved fast. ‹007a1051› Tammy ran point. §75b23e9a Settling the hospital bills, arranging the service, notifying Dale's employer and the distant relatives. ‹b3661d16› Kade and Thea stayed with the body the whole way through — from the hospital to the funeral home to the burial. [9a0ca38c] They received the visitors who came to pay respects. 1693ea78··
Kade wore mourning white, holding the framed photo. no.8e8e67d4 Head bowed. plate-0a0fb97d Gaunt and drawn, cheekbones sharp under those heavy dark brows. sig.edf582a9 That ash-dyed hair against the white cloth gave him a look of cold rebellion — defiant, unyielding. [9554b3f4] Both parents dead. ‹3b4e980a› The only Mercer left was a sixteen-year-old boy and a mother-daughter pair who shared no blood with him. imp.1dc160cf People whispered. ··e8edd3af How was this family going to work? ··87834353 What would become of Kade?·c9fbd07a
After the funeral, Kade came home with Tammy and Thea. [ed.3a228bdb] Tammy was the head of household now, soft-spoken and gracious as she handled the stream of visitors. ¶fbff6588 Dale's belongings — at home and at the office — needed sorting. ·c98128a1· She tiptoed around Kade's wishes. sig.8f7ca51c Kade didn't care. [ed.cdfe5f13] Toss it, give it away — whatever. ©e2b4ef04/May 27, 2026 He let someone take the computer, too. [v.177be769]
As for the future — before Tammy could even formulate a plan, Kade seemed to have shed his restless, wild-boy skin overnight. ref·dca44554 He parked himself at home, smoking the apartment into a haze. [proof:6ec44b9b] He went out sometimes, but every night he climbed back through the window and crashed on the couch. * 4bed68c1
Kade hadn't properly lived here in years. sub:00526d8d Having a young punk suddenly underfoot wasn't comfortable. (a2d9ba4d) Tammy couldn't throw him out, but every morning she woke up to find him sprawled on the couch. [v.0f984c34] She had a guilty conscience. §c2e903e3 She didn't dare offer him a bedroom, afraid he'd settle in for good. ⁰c78f0d3a Those pitch-black, glacial eyes of his — landing on the back of her neck without warning — made her skin crawl. — b90258fe
Three people under one roof. * 90c62841 Polite on the surface. no.1aeba859 Underneath, the current was treacherous — each of them hiding something. imp.1fd6493a
Thea could feel it. ⁰79f84502 The calm before the storm. * 59792421
Then one afternoon, Kade came in from outside. (2a01d72e/Wed) Mother and daughter were at the table eating lunch. §f80f996b He pulled up a chair, slow and easy. sub:83eb4fbd Lit a cigarette with that loose, careless swagger. ‹bf21514a› Tipped his chin at Tammy. [ms.4aa9e873] "Did the money come through?" [v.94514ec4]
Thea's fork stopped. #3368db78 She looked at her mother, then at Kade. ··d92c2f46 Tammy went rigid. ⟨f1c6db0b⟩ "What money?" ee600586··
"Dad's insurance payout. #60776720 The death benefit." ed.f57fc05a Kade ticked items off on his fingers, voice blunt. [v.fe88d255] "It's been a while now. ⟨2767dbc8⟩ You haven't said a word about it." ⟨4fa162a7⟩
That was exactly what Tammy had been chasing. plate-05c187ca The power company was a top-tier employer. — ecf0c32b The combined payout was serious money. [ed.cf2e3b65]
Tammy's jaw clenched. ··505a00f5 She went pale. ·5be4feb2· A long hesitation. [proof:10022669] "That money... it hasn't come through yet. imp.58530bb4 It's meant for your education. ©8a23a86d/May 27, 2026 Your living expenses..."
Kade's smile was ice. ⟨262c1704⟩ "How long were you married to my dad? [ed.32af904e] Not that long. ⁰35b2d686 You couldn't get pregnant, so he kept dragging his feet on making it legal. — 79701666 You only got the certificate a year or two ago, right? — 0f2e5d54 Why? ca6a7a82·· So you could split the assets and leave? ed.826a068b Now he's dead — and you're sitting in his house?·e86475ef Planning to swallow the money too?" (52a238bb/Wed)
His long fingers tapped the table. [proof:f31308b8] Eyes dark and predatory. sig.b0720667 Voice vicious. imp.0192d5ee "I want the death benefit." no.f3212603
"The rest of the money can be yours." #27a8ccb5 Another flash of teeth. ⁰634a9c59 "Fair's fair." «6b2b3bc5»
"What other money?" ¶c21855ab That hit a nerve. [v.5b16118e] Tammy's voice pitched high and shrill, raw with bitterness. [v.6f4f6674] "Dale said he had hundreds of thousands in savings. imp.44b07b20 Said he'd made over a hundred grand in the stock market. #282be7df Every last word was a lie. #4edd0ed6 A goddamn lie. [proof:25273d21] That son of a bitch — the statements he showed me were fake, all of it, lost every penny, and whatever was left he sent to his little online girlfriends. [ms.3021d6c5] Thousands at a time. [proof:58054290] I had to beg for grocery money, and he'd act like I was asking for a kidney — not because he was stingy. ©1a428647/May 27, 2026 He was flat broke!" ◆ 2911e8db
Tammy had been seething in private for weeks. — 159cc9b8 She'd torn through every one of Dale's accounts, turned the whole house upside down, searched and searched again. ◆ 1a0bc946 No six-figure nest egg. [v.a5c69e9e] No secret stash. — galley d13b26fe — The bank balances, scraped together, came to a few thousand. [proof:96c0f758] Subtract the hospital and funeral costs and there was nothing left. ◆ 6e9e8a02 The only thing she had to show for it was the death benefit and insurance payout. — galley 218b2e91 — Tens of thousands of dollars. ◆ a6140da9 Six years she'd given Dale Mercer. sub:1269d27e Cooking, cleaning, bending over backward. [proof:e2d23ecd] A broke liar who'd conned her for six years. ¶3846c4fa He deserved that fall down the stairs. ⁰16a15620
If she could keep the house and the payout, Tammy might — might — swallow her rage. ¶ffe4df89 But if Kade tried to take it from her? §7fda30d7 Why should she stand for that? ©6c4f9602/May 27, 2026 What right did he have? ref·3cee0b3f Father and son had been at each other's throats for years. [48ceb3a6] A bastard. ‹643f95d6› Not even blood. no.6251a6fe What claim did he have on that money? §93b6f07b
Tammy's face was a mask of barely controlled fury, cheek muscles twitching. sig.a4cad0a9 Thea shrank in her chair, head bowed as low as it would go, trying to be invisible. * 2620e753 Kade looked at mother and daughter and burst out laughing. ⟨dc91ec2e⟩ Doubled over, laughing until tears ran. ref·6ed4e6b8
Whether he was laughing at how pathetic they were or how stupid, it was hard to say.·c1d3b545
"So that's all that's left?" ¶216350a9 Young face, wild grin — half punk, half predator. ⁰15eca008 "House is yours. d2968805·· Money's mine." §dde98ce2
"The money isn't here — it's not even a blip on the radar yet." [aa4df60f] Tammy shot to her feet, face mottled red, whole body shaking. (def1f96d) "That money is for school — for living — we still have to eat—"
"Then we wait till it arrives. #d5b51b97 But if you try to pocket it. plate-1967958f Or take the cash and run—" He stared Tammy down, those deep-well eyes savage enough to devour. ©82f34648/May 27, 2026 "I'll drag every single thing you've done into the light. [bb099868] See how comfortable your life gets then." e0dd55d5··
Going up against a lawless punk kid — what did she think would happen? sub:5837ca82
Tammy collapsed back into the chair, dizzy. [ms.bdaf3ce4] "Run where? — d27bafcf This is my home... Thea still has school. plate-47f760c0 She's got her exams. (c67a0941/Wed) She needs to get into a good school—"
Kade's gaze slid sideways. §8540bef0 Right. [proof:73f18f0e] Thea was still in school. ref·399dae96 As long as Thea was here, these two weren't going anywhere. ¶b9f8bca4
Thea's face was white, still, absorbing the weight of both their stares. ©d1feb8e5/May 27, 2026 What could she do? — 253b8ab4 Nothing. ¶aff95c45
Time drifted until September. [proof:05622e68] Thea's first day of ninth grade. (66151cee/Wed) Tammy told her to register. [ed.f366ab06] Told her to board at school. §9e5cce4a
Kade was balled up on the couch playing games.·ff0b75ff He heard the mother-daughter exchange. ·7edaac3e· Didn't stir. [ms.acafb64a] Didn't even open his eyes. §577ad7a1
In private, Tammy whispered to Thea. ref·ae89c3f3 Stay away from Kade. [ed.0d0a6495] Be careful at school. plate-f611cc62 Anything happens, go to the teacher. «fde56f35» Thea asked about the insurance money, the death benefit. no.da94986e Tammy gave up nothing — only said she didn't want the house, she'd leave it to Kade. ⁰e47a3efe She wanted the money. no.b0371950 A big sum. imp.f032e642 Tens of thousands, all told. [ed.ae493556] She didn't want Kade finding out. §1393d3f1 Afraid he'd take every cent. [ed.b29790ba] Afraid of what he'd do for it. §934c4c02
"Mom, that's Kade's father's money..." Thea swallowed hard, brow tight.·89f29283 "Don't fight Kade over this." — 688338bf
"Dale lied to me. §4411582c He told me he had hundreds of thousands — said even in a divorce, I'd walk away with over a hundred grand." ⁰f5a89b00 Tammy's teeth were clenched. d81c4e23·· "Kade isn't Dale's son. [proof:7873ec74] Give him that money and he'll gamble it away. «42b89869» Dale would roll over in his grave." ‹1706a539›
"Mom..."
"Don't take his side. §c1608120 I'm your mother. [25e27fdf] What is he?" [proof:f638caca]
Tammy had her own plans. «8f84d0f5» On registration day, she slipped Thea a few thousand extra. imp.ea055f24 Hide it in the dorm. [proof:91f048c6] It might come in handy. [5b4821fe]
That morning, Tammy left early. #1a572159 Said she was going to the power company to check on things. ⟨12247e11⟩ She left empty-handed, circled the city for a while, then took a cab to the bus station. plate-e3a28a95 Halfway there, she called Thea's homeroom teacher. «d7ee73d0»
Thea took the call.·406c0e0d Her mother's voice, low and rushed — in thirty minutes, a man would be at the school gate. plate-1501962a Go with him. [v.180aff10] To the bus station. ‹238d9dd7› The tickets were already bought. «14d27ff7»
The line went dead. ·cca9cfee· Thea's mind blanked. «7aa0ff91» Her heart hammered into her throat. ·6151650f· Her feet felt like they were walking on clouds. 01925b64··
Tammy was going to take her and run. ©d3b3f6d3/May 27, 2026
She stumbled toward the gate in a daze. sig.789dfe6e Stood there. [ed.f8999b6f] Sure enough — a man she recognized. ‹3441a8a1› Tammy's man. (15ca497e) He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a waiting cab. ··b59bb94d Thea backed away, trembling. [ms.f1a28c71] The man was frantic — her mother had already left Savannah by bus, he said. (b961a35c/Wed) She was waiting for them at the next stop. * 9fa6eadf
"Where are we going?" ⁰57328dd6 Thea's face was bloodless. ref·6c70f3d3 Cold sweat on her forehead. [proof:31a4db0c] "You planned this? ed.cfa5bf88 Both of you?" — galley 9bed3f49 —
"Get in the car first. — dc034fb3 Hurry — the station's not close." [ed.515b0c3a]
He tugged her toward the cab. ‹2df01241› Thea lurched forward, numb and lost. no.b7eac522 Then Ricky came out of nowhere — lunging from the side, grabbing for Thea. [v.e3790f89] She flinched, paralyzed by the sudden chaos, pulled in two directions. [ms.eef316e6] Ricky's voice cracked the air: "Help! * 8ad8aafd Somebody! no.b99547a9 He's taking a student! sub:8d078ff0 Help!" — galley 3aaf74d3 —
Ricky screamed like his life depended on it: "Somebody call 911! [ed.a61bfeb0] Right now!" ◆ a3f95502
The school security guard burst out of the booth. imp.5d934fea The man heard "911" and knew it was over. ¶c0234cb3 He let go of Thea, dove into the cab, and was gone. [3c0b89d2]
The guards swarmed in. plate-1d5d7dda Ricky let go of Thea, all grins, waving it off as a joke. 2d68f290·· They got questioned for a minute. ◆ cf561863 Then, from not far away, a voice — warm, almost friendly: "Sis." no.3883d16b
Kade walked over. ©6a55076d/May 27, 2026
Thea went rigid. ·d8acc258· Mechanical. [v.525054a1] She turned her head and met his smiling, handsome face and those coal-black, murderously cold eyes.·b721b734