Page 127 of Pretty Little Threats

Daddy scoffs. “I’m going for a walk.”

“I’ll join you when I’m done.”

Daddy slams the door. I startle and Mommy exhales. “He’s tired, sweetie. He’s not mad at you.”

“Why are you fighting? I don’t like it when you fight.”

Mommy’s face is bathed in golden light. Sometimes I think she’s an angel, but tonight, she looks sad. “Being married is hard,” she admits, fixing the blanket on either side of me. “Do you want me to sing to you?”

I clutch my stuffed bunny, the soft fur against my cheek soothing me, and nod. Mommy smiles and pushes my hair out of my face. She lies down next to me and holds me as she sings my favorite lullaby. I stare at her, memorizing the way her eyes shimmer in the light and the way her voice sounds. One day, I’ll be just like her.

My eyes get heavy, and she runs her fingers through my hair. By the time she’s done, I’m so sleepy.

“I love you, Rosie.”

“I love you, Mommy.”

She gets up, turns the light off, and creeps out of the room. The front door closes a few moments later. I wait five seconds before I climb out of bed and rush to the window, opening it just in time to see the monster get her.

“Rose.” Orion grasps my shoulder, pulling me out of my head, but even as I look at him, I see everything I’ve tried so hard to bury.

My chest constricts. A gun raises, aiming straight for the pane of glass protecting my mind from the truth. Anticipation contracts every muscle in my body. A sharp soundsplits through my ears, and I flinch in my seat, even though it’s a memory.

My mouth goes dry.

The bullet pierces through the shield, glass shattering and bursting in the air, until all that’s left?—

Shaking my head, I press both my palms to my chest, trying to stop whatever I’ve done. But the truth is right there. Shrouded in the night isn’t a monster or an assassin. It was him.

“He killed her.” I cover my mouth with a trembling hand, blinking back tears. “I remember now. They were fighting and—” The words can’t get past the emotions clogging my throat.

Dad shot Mom. He took her from me. Greif bowls me over. My stomach is hollow, but the bile churns, burning and roiling in my gut. Darkness dots across my vision, and I take a shaky breath, trying to fight back against the emotions, but they’re so strong.

The gun fires and Mom’s body falls to the ground seconds later.

My tiny fists banged against the glass, but the monster—my dad—couldn’t hear me screaming her name.

A shudder rolls over me, and I wrap my arms around myself, shaking my head, trying to dispel the truth. I can’t. It’s real. I remember. I remember everything now.

“I’m so sorry, Rose.” Orion presses his lips together and glances away.

“Why?” The question isn’t meant for Orion, but he answers, anyway.

“Some white-collar criminals can get violent, murdering to protect their secrets.” Orion pauses, giving me time to swipe at my cheeks. “I think it’s a valid assumption that, once your mom found out and tried toclose the company, your dad was trying to cover his tracks.”

Get it together Rose, Millers aren’t weak.

Pinching my eyes closed, I try to purge that voice from my mind. I try to erase knowing what happened. I shove the last ten minutes to the furthest reaches of my mind, sniffing and drying my cheeks, numbness tingling through me.

I blink.Bury it.

My breath shudders out of me.

I breathe in.Don’t let your feelings get the better of you.

My limbs are heavy, but I force my spine to straighten.

I exhale.Be strong.

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