Mom wasn't long arriving, Varity and Enforcers with her. By then, Charlotte and I were on the front lawn, Kristophe with us. We'd left the screaming and defeated Jean Marc behind while the former Dumont family slowly gathered at the foot of the stairs, looking dazed and lost.

I'd never liked Kristophe, but the man who turned to me with a faint smile on his face was nothing like the jerk I thought I knew.

"Thank you," he said, ...