Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Sophie shook her head. “Don’t do that. You came as fast as you
could. And you got us out of there alive—that’s all that matters.”
“I agree,” a familiar voice said from the direction of the doorway.
“You kids did exactly the right thing.”
Sophie craned her neck, expecting to see Mr. Forkle shuffling
toward her. Instead, it was Magnate Leto—which was the same thing,
of course. But his heavily gelled black hair and sharper features always
made him seem more intimidating than his pudgy alter ego.
Alden was right behind him, along with . . .
“Grady.” She could barely sneak the word past all the emotions
closing off her throat as her adoptive father closed the distance
between them and pulled her into a hug.
“Hey, kiddo,” he whispered, his voice as thick and crackly as hers.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” she promised. “You know . . . all things considered.”
He kissed her cheek and leaned back to study her, and her heart
cracked a little when she saw the shadows around his blue eyes. Worry
lines creased his handsome features, and his blond hair looked like
he’d spent hours tearing his hands through it.
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” she whispered.
He shook his head and kissed her cheek again. “You have nothing
to apologize for.”
“We’re the ones who should be apologizing,” Alden added as he
crossed to the other side of the room, and Sophie had to work up the
courage to let her gaze follow.
Until that moment, she hadn’t actually seen Fitz’s injuries. But
now . . .
Well.