#Chapter 11 – Independence

“Cut the crap, Rafe,” dad snaps, and my eyes go immediately wide because dad only uses that tone when he’s really mad. “What the hell are you doing at the Academy when you told us two nights ago that you were taking your sister somewhere safe?!” Jesse visibly gulps while Rafe struggles to keep his composure under what is probably dad’s most menacing glare. While the three of us obviously know that he loves us, he’s still probably the scariest man on the planet. Only mom is completely immune to him. “Rafe, you look so cute!” My face bursts into a smile when I hear mom’s voice coming through the video call. “Show me Jesse! Oh my god, your little uniforms!” “Ella –“ Dad says on a sigh, reminding her that they called for a reason. “Oh right. Yes! Boys, where is your sister!?” “It’s fine, mom,” Rafe says, and I know that he feels more secure now, talking to her. Rafe and mom have always had a special bond, just like me and dad. “I promise you – we’ve got everything under control, Ariel