Chapter 29

Charles is right. My picture will be placed in the newspaper and on social media by tomorrow.

I have to stay low-key. I can’t avenge my best friend if I am thrown in prison or worse, sentenced to death.

“I hear you,” I tell Charles as I nod.

“I’m being serious, Jen.” He says as he looks at me. I study his face.

He looks truly concerned, but what confuses me is how could he be. How

could he be concerned about me when he just met me a few days ago?

I know I’m his family and all, but I don’t want to be used as some way for him to redeem himself from the terrible choices he has made in his life.

“Charles, you’re not my father,” I tell him with a straight face and he recoils.

“What? I never said I was.” He says, and I can tell that he’s hurt by what I said.

“I do hear you though, I truly do, but I just need you to back off a bit,” I say.

Somehow I feel triggered and images of my parents dying are dancing in my mind. If I stayed