The Big Sister - Part One (18 page)

“Luke, the boy who ultimately killed my mother. She wanted me to find him and make him pay for what he did. For what he ruined.”

My world had shrunk to a pinpoint. All this running away and I had led my family from the frying pan and right into the hottest fire of all. I’d feared the authorities, feared what the screwed up justice system might serve my brother with after he’d only protected himself. I hadn’t had a clue that there might be a more serious threat than a misguided judge or unsympathetic social worker.

There might be a family member, some kind of vigilante seeking justice — especially since the woman who had raised Luke had died as a result of his actions.

I knew my brother was blameless in this, but someone else might not see eye to eye with me. Someone else might maneuver until they were in the correct place to exact revenge for something that was irretrievably lost.

Adam was that somebody, and my brother was in danger. We had to leave Miami at once, had to flee from this latest threat to our family.

“I have to apologize,” Adam said, looking down at me. I tried to still my heart, tried to steel my features, but there was no telling what the expression on my face was revealing.

“For what?” I asked, choking on the words, afraid of the answer that would come.

“I might have unfairly targeted your brother,” he said. “Just because of his first name. Because your parents are deceased. Because I thought he might fit the bill. But it’s not right to throw that blame on him — on you — just because of your tragic circumstances. Luke can’t be the kid I’m looking for. Your parents died recently, you said, and besides, this all happened in Albuquerque, where I’m from.”

That was it. It was all I could do to stay on my feet, to not faint dead away or run screaming into the night.

I whimpered as I knew there was no mistaking it. Adam was looking for my brother.

~~~

To be continued in THE BIG SISTER, Part 2 of 2.

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