Chapter 22

LEAH

The rest of the meeting is a blur.

Aaron hauls me to my feet and starts talking over the noise in the room about ‘personally conducting an investigation.’ And then, out of deference to me, he offered to pay my father’s bad debt so that the Regional Council would not be impacted

while he sorted through matters.

Which, of course, made everyone think he was some kind of

savior.

But could you really praise a firefighter for saving a burning building if he was the one who started the fire in the first

place?

No. Of course not.

And what Aaron did is criminal and gaslighting and all kinds

of twisted.

But it isn’t just Aaron who came out of the meeting smelling

like roses.

I made a good impression too, apparently. I struck a chord with some of the Elders. And they’ve granted my father a

reprieve because of it.

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held packs. together. At least a few of the council

matters of treachery or

over

anyway.

was hoping for but I’ve bought my father

and that has to count for

more than I can say for me.

seething as Aaron keeps his hand on my arm and brings me out of the building to the car. He opens the door, physically lifts me

ever so

intentionally gentle gesture that lets me

to slam

the opposite

sitting next to me

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time, and I wonder what that’s about. Typically, Aaron doesn’t go anywhere without James or William, so it’s weird not to see one of

the vehicle

are

turning left Aaron instructs

we going?” I ask.

purses his

I’d do anything. I promised. Hoping he’d

dad.

going wherever he wants to go and not asking too many

avoided,”

me.”

a face. I stare at him for a

“Oh. You’re

I

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a room with no food for a week. The man who set me up to be convicted

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