I stared at the papers in my hand. Ria had somehow finagled an early release from the hospital. Under the condition that she would come by every week to make sure she was healing properly, they let her go home.

Now we were facing the black SUV that would take us to my brother. Her hand slipped into mine, and she squeezed it. She was the one who should have been afraid. Instead, I was the one hesitating.

Kamilia came up behind us. “Come on. I have to go too.”

I helped Ria into the back seat ...