Chapter 311

OLIVIA

I poured a cup of tea, my hands shaking. The house was silent, too silent. No more sounds of Samuel running around. Just quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you feel like something’s wrong, even when nothing’s happening

The door opened. Nick’s mother walked in, her clothes covered in blood–blood that wasn’t hers. She looked like she’d just come from a fight, like she’d been in the middle of something dangerous. Her hair was messy, her face pale, and she stumbled like she didn’t know where she was

I froze. “Why did you come here like this?” I snapped, my voice sharp. I didn’t mean to sound so angry, but the sight of her like that–it set me off.

She stared at me, confused. “I didn’t think,” she stammered. “I had to deal with the men we caught. I thought I could check on the kids. I didn’t realize I still had blood on me.”

I cut her off. “You didn’t think? Samuel’s still scared after the shooting. And you show up like this? What if he sees you? How do you think that’ll affect him?”

She stepped back, looking guilty. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Get out,” I said, my voice firm. I didn’t want to hear her excuses. Not now. Not after everything.

She hesitated. “Olivia, please-”

hear it. I walked toward the stairs, but her voice stopped me. “Olivia, I didn’t do

here, living through it. You couldn’t even handle one day

the blood, the bodies. He was just a kid. He shouldn’t have had to see that. But

his quiet breathing. He was trying to sleep, trying to forget. But I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Kids don’t just forget things like that They

about it.

to focus on Samuel. On helping him heal. Because in this house, we couldn’t let the past take over. Not now.

softly on his door. “Samuel? It’s me. Can I come

a pause, then a quiet,

bed, his knees pulled up to his chest. He looked small, too small for everything he’d been through. I sat down next to him, putting an arm

okay?” I asked, even though I knew the

keep hearing the

safe now. I’m here, and I’m not going

held him tight, wishing I could take all the fear and pain away.

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