Chapter 13
The Darker Side of Blood
Ava’s POV
A light gasp escaped my lips. I shouldn't have let her explain everything to me, I thought, frantically wiping away fresh tears. The air in the room felt heavy, like it was pressing against my chest.
"The news was too much for my mom," Nada continued, her voice hollow. "It took a toll on Lucky too, but my stepmother... she was just angry that my dad died because my younger brother was 'bored.' My mom was hospitalized that night. She couldn't handle the shock. She passed away before morning. I was left alone with those cruel bastards."
She paused and burst into tears again, the sound raw and jagged. "This is why I didn't want to tell you, Ava! It's too broken. It hurts too much. Everything happened so fast."
She yelled out in pain, and my
