The Bound Between Us

When Pattie spotted someone slouched in a shallow dirt patch not far away, she stopped short.

She knew instantly-it was Layna.

It had been almost two years since the day Layna abandoned her. Back then, when Leo and Penny West kidnapped Pattie, Layna had bolted, leaving her to face it alone. Since then, Pattie hadn't seen or heard a word about Layna-not from Salma, not from Anastasia. To see her now, out of the blue, was a real shock.

Liana, noticing Pattie had just been hit with a rock, dashed over, worry etched on her face. "Pattie, are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

She checked Pattie for injuries, then turned on Layna. "Hey, you can't just throw rocks at people! What if you really hurt someone? That's not alright.”

Layna scrambled out of the dirt, defiant as ever. She strode up to Pattie and spat, "You little tattletale. Always running to the grown-ups. Can't say anything now, huh? Serves you right. That's karma."

Liana stared, stunned that a kid Layna's age-seven, maybe eight-could sound so nasty. "That's enough! Apologize. You can't say things like that at your age."

Layna pulled a face and stuck out her tongue. "And who are you supposed to be? Think you can tell me what to do?"

Liana had seen troublemakers before, but Layna was something else rude, stubborn, and wild.

shoved Liana, sending her crashing to

tight as she charged Layna,

hair, scratching, even biting-faces flushed with

scrambled up, trying to pull them apart, but

Pattie yanked Layna's hair. They

yelping in pain, and Pattie seized the chance, kicking Layna in the

Liana could only stare.

jaws clenched, eyes fierce—like

a woman came running,

going on here?

up

Are you bullying her?" She rushed to Layna, who was now covered in scratches, and glared at Pattie and Liana. "Look at her! My daughter's all scratched What kind of kid are you? And you-are you her mom? So what,

moment. She pointed at Pattie and wailed, “Auntie, she hit me! Look at my neck and face! I just wanted to play, and she attacked

floored. "Wait, that's not true! You started it-you threw a rock and shoved me—ma'am,

off. "Don't bother! My girl told me everything. Your kid's standing there silent so

the woman and Layna just stared blankly Layna grinned, seizing her chance to mock: