Chapter 25

Liana’s POV

I turned toward the door with Killian, Ryan’s hand in mine now. But before we stepped outside, I paused.

My eyes found that hallway again. Still empty.

“Goodbye Mom.”

“Goodbye dear,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Killian reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Mom, don’t forget. Help us pacify him.”

“I will.”

I nodded and blinked fast, biting my lower lip as we stepped out the door.

We left without a goodbye from dad.

And it hurt more than anything else that had happened.

***

The drive back to Killian’s house was quiet. Ryan had fallen asleep in the backseat, curled up with his arms around his little backpack. Killian was focused on the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other brushing against mine every now and then. But I barely noticed, because I was still thinking about everything that happened that morning, the way Dad refused to come out, how he couldn’t even say goodbye. I