2026-05-13 07:43:19
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Chapter 324: Pizza Night!
The election changed the city quickly. Banners went up on lamp posts overnight. Posters appeared on walls and shop windows and the sides of bus shelters all had candidates' faces stacked one above the other in some places, the same intersection carrying four different promises from four different people. Alistair's face was everywhere: the same shot repeated across half the city, a wide smile below large text about hope and protecting the future. His campaign ads started running on television too, Alistair speaking directly to the camera about children's programs, social services, community investment. A better West Arcadia for everyone. He wasn't the only candidate doing this. The city was full of them. Older faces, younger faces, some trying to look serious and some trying to look approachable, all of them saying variations of the same things. But Alistair's presence was the loudest. He'd spent years making himself visible, and the machine he'd built for it was running at full ca
Chapter 323: The Day Before
Mara reached out and took the envelope with both hands.Anne watched her. Then she gave a small, tired nod."Thank you," she whispered.There wasn't much left to say after that. Anne finished her drink slowly. They sat in the kind of quiet that followed something difficult, both feeling spent. When Anne's cup was empty, she stood, simply said goodbye, and left.Mara watched the door close. Then she looked at the envelope in her hands.Gray appeared beside her a moment later. "Ready?""Yeah."They didn't talk much on the way out.---Back at the office, they went through everything Anne had given them.The photos were worse than expected.Children's arms and legs. Marks across their backs. Faces of staff members caught in moments that were now evidence. Mara went through them carefully, one by one, and said nothing for a long time."I can't believe this is is real," she said finally. Her voice was low and flat."Yes, it appears so." Gray said. His jaw was set.---The weeks that follow
Chapter 322: When To Stay Quiet
"I'm already here," Mara said.She'd chosen a table near the window and was sitting with her phone face-up on the table, earphone in, the line open. The cafe was small and quiet — a neighborhood place, not the kind anyone would look twice at.Gray came through the door two minutes later. He didn't look her way. He went straight to the counter, ordered a cup of coffee, opened his laptop, and took a seat two tables back and to the left. Close enough to hear everything through the connection. Far enough that he read, to any casual observer, as a man in a cafe getting some work done.Mara glanced at his reflection in the window. She almost laughed. He was very good at looking ordinary when he wanted to."Is she close?" she asked quietly."Just got a message," Mara said. "She might be here.""Right. Take out the earphone and set it near you. Leave the mic open, I'll record from here."Mara slipped the earphone out and tucked it under the edge of her handkerchief on the table. She glanced a
Chapter 321: Something Dirty
Once they were sure Eli was settling, Gray knew it was time.He'd waited as long as he reasonably could. Eli needed to feel safe first, he needed to know the condo was real and the people in it were staying. That came first. But Alistair and Lita hadn't stopped existing while Gray was patient, and whatever was behind the adoption application hadn't gone away either.One night, after Eli was in bed and Lily's door was closed and the condo was quiet, Gray sat in the living room with the lights down. He should have been sleeping. His mind wouldn't cooperate.Selina came out of the kitchen and settled beside him on the couch, folding her legs up beneath her."Planning again?" she said."Was it obvious?""You go quiet like this," she said. "Like there's something turning over behind your eyes and you're waiting for it to come around right."Gray looked at the ceiling. "I've waited long enough. Eli's settled. It's time to move."Selina didn't look surprised. She'd known this was coming. She
Chapter 320: Out of Habit
Eli fell asleep before any of them.The guest room had been quietly rearranged over the past few days — some drawings tacked to the wall, a shelf cleared for whatever Eli might want to put on it, a night light plugged in on the far side of the bed. Nothing overwhelming. Just enough to make it feel like it had been thought about.Gray adjusted the blanket, then reached over and turned off the bedside lamp, leaving only the small light. He didn't want Eli waking in the dark and not knowing where he was."Goodnight, Eli," he said quietly."Goodnight, Eli," Lily whispered from the doorway.They stepped out. Selina was waiting in the hallway."Brother, I'm going to my room!" Lily announced, and was already gone before anyone could respond. Her door closed. A second later, the faint sounds of whatever she was doing on her tablet filtered through it.Gray shook his head. She was gaming. It was always games with her."Is he asleep?" Selina asked."Out immediately," Gray said.She smiled. "He
Chapter 319: Welcome Home
Even after Gray answered, Eli kept hold of his coat.Not tight the way it had been earlier, like letting go meant losing him entirely. This was different. More quiet Like habit. Like he just wanted to make sure.They stayed in the office a little longer while Eli came back to himself. Mara sat with them, and none of them uttered a word. They didn't need to. Eli just needed time, and they gave it.Lita returned with a small bag. Gray took it from her. When he lifted it, his expression moved slightly, the bag was lighter than he'd expected. Much lighter. He didn't say anything. He just carried it."We'll be going," Gray said.Lita walked them to the door. She was still smiling."Goodbye, Sir Adams.""Goodbye."They left.---Daniel had the car at the entrance. Gray opened the door for Eli, who climbed in slowly and settled in the back seat with his knees drawn up. He was quiet through most of the drive, but Gray could feel him loosening, his shoulders coming down a little, hands unclenc
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