chapter 6

Gannon Liam’s forceful smack against my chest jolts me awake, instantly alert as I catch sight of the town limits unfolding before us. “Orphanage first,” I command, and he nods, deftly steering the car toward our destination. Leaning over into the back seat, I extract my jacket from the bag, as a chill lingers in the morning air. We pull over in front of the dilapidated building. The orphanage, a crumbling structure on the brink of condemnation, had been modified to accommodate the old hag’s wheelchair-bound existence after our last visit. Today, however, she will no longer need to fret about her future, for hers will come to an end. Liam pulls over to the curb, and I step out of the car, closing the door with a gentle click. The children remain asleep, their absence evident in the stillness that permeates the premises. They are all tucked away in their beds. I effortlessly hop over the small brick fence that encloses the front yard, while Liam opens the trunk. “No need for those,” I c