Life had always been about right and wrong.

No gray area. No exceptions.

But my time with the bastard sons of the Institution were slowly changing my mind–forcing me to see that sometimes the only options available to someone were bad and worse.

Their justice was different than mine and I struggled with it.

Except now, they were gone. Every day I’d fought to leave them, to go home. But…I wanted them back. What did that say about me?

I was too afraid to look in the mirror.

What if I do get back to them? Their father wanted them dead.

Could I sacrifice the life I loved for them? Could I forsake my sister to stay?

Yet a nagging feeling in the back of my mind said they were glad to be rid of me. I’d been a thorn in their side from day one. Why wouldn’t they be happy I was gone?

But I was taken for a reason. Now the most important question was…

Am I bait? Or collateral damage?