The Bound Between Us

Katelyn shot Daria a sharp look. "That's no way to speak, young lady. Say you're sorry."

Seeing Daria get scolded, Autumn's heart ached for her. "It's okay, really. She's just a kid. They all act up sometimes."

But Daria shouted, "She's mean! She yelled at Daddy!"

Kids have a way of knowing who's good to them and who isn't. They feel it deep down.

Katelyn huffed, exasperated. "Honestly, where are your manners? Sometimes I wonder if you have a mother at all. Flynn, take Daria upstairs."

That last jab-saying it's like Daria had a mother but no one to teach her-cut Autumn to the core.

Bitterness welled up inside her, but she forced herself to stay composed.

Flynn scooped up Daria and tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, let's go see if Emmie and Nancy want to play."

Daria was adorable and usually sweet as sugar-except when Autumn was around. Flynn liked her anyway. Kids shouldn't have to be dragged into grown-up

messes.

On the way upstairs, Daria just kept chattering away, making Flynn laugh as she promised she'd find him a girlfriend someday.

Flynn couldn't help but be curious about why Daria was so hostile toward Autumn.

Once they were upstairs, Flynn asked gently, "Hey, Daria, why were you so upset with that lady downstairs? Did she do something to your dad?"

Daria, only two, couldn't really put her feelings into words. She buried her face in Flynn's shoulder and mumbled, "She's bad. I don't like her."

Flynn grinned, "That's fair. You don't have to like her. Honestly, I'm not her biggest fan either."

lit up. "Really, Uncle Flynn? You

Flynn smiled. "So, who

fishing for a compliment,

hesitating, Daria chirped,

Aunt Ana was Anastasia.

the mention of her name made Flynn sigh. He wondered how Ana

***

Southridge Estates

left her room in ages. Herman brought

she barely touched

how many times

tried

shake the

was stuck in a maze with no

world of adults, even giving up can feel like a luxury you

herself to love Herman, but she

she drifted like a ghost-sitting by the window, lying in

was at

managed to

on it was a single text:

Herman to a warden at Northside Penitentiary—a

drove out into a

Ben's neighborhood, Dailey hopped out with an umbrella and

shot Dailey a look. Dailey pulled a

soon as they stepped inside, the metallic tang of