Chapter 97

**Sloane**

The word landed in my chest and stayed there, heavy and warm, like a hand pressed over a wound. *Family.* I’d spat the word out of other mouths before, as an accusation, as a threat, but here it came like something offered, not demanded. It sounded different when Pa said it, not tidy, not sentimental, just the plain promise of people who would stand and not let you fall. For a moment, I