Chapter 267

I had no idea how Mina was related to the child, whether she’d turned her or found her and took her in, but I could only assume she was speaking of the old woman on the sofa. Before I could stop her, the little girl sprang out of the box and ran to Mina. She was faster than any creature I’d ever seen, and for a moment it alarmed me.

But she buried her head in her mother’s lap, the tearless crying continued, and Mina, who couldn’t even reach out and wrap her arms around her child one last time said quietly, “It’s all right, Bonnie. Cassidy will take care of you now, child.”

I didn’t even know how Mina knew my name, though I supposed she’d found it in my mind. I felt compelled that her words would be true. I would take care of the child, though I had no idea how or what that would mean.

Bonnie was having nothing to do with it, though. “No, Mama!” she shrieked. It was as if she knew what was about to