My mom walks over and squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Don’t open the door for anyone.” She kisses my temple before walking back through the sliding doors and shutting them.

As soon as she does, Ryan closes the space between us. Our mouths collide. He slides his hands into my hair and holds me as he kisses me like he almost never saw me again.

When he pulls back, his face breaks into a smile, a genuine one like the first time he kissed me in my garage, and I can’t help but smile back.

Emi’s words cut into our moment as she ends her interview. “Thank you for having me.” Both of us turn toward the TV.

“What do we do now?” I ask.

Ryan traces my face with his fingertips. “We watch Emi Vega spin her story, and every Chicago news anchor proclaim they never believed gangs were behind the Swarm. And we celebrate the small step.”

I smile because he’s right. And because somewhere beneath the lies is a truth my dad fought hard to uncover. Tonight we took a step toward that. This fight is far from over, and I’m not sure the healing will ever be over. But maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe that was always the way it was going to happen.

The TV flashes to Mayor Henking standing with his wife and Cullen on his porch stairs. “We are as shocked as anyone about Richard’s alleged involvement in the Death Mob’s murders. I assure you, we will do everything we can to cooperate and uncover the truth behind what’s been going on.” Cullen looks off to the left, avoiding the cameras glaring at him, in a very anti-Cullen way. Is he struggling to cope with witnessing the attack? Sulking because he didn’t know about it? Pissed Richard was caught and his dad’s about to be under tight scrutiny?

Reporters shout at them until one reporter’s voice rises above the rest. “What was Lia Finch doing in your house tonight?”

The mayor smiles. “Ms. Finch was our guest. She is always welcome in our home.”

Ryan pulls me closer. “You’re never going back there.”

I lean into him, knowing in my gut I’ll have to. The mayor doesn’t strike me as someone who gives up easily.

But neither do I. And this is a fight I’m not willing to lose.

I rest my head against Ryan’s chest until I can hear his heartbeat.

And I breathe.

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS