The Chase, Volume 3 Read Online Free PDF

me a wide grin and wrapped her tiny arms around my waist. “You’re the best brother ever.”
    I hugged her back tightly. “I’m your big brother. It’s my job to protect you.”
    She loosened her grip around me and looked up at me with a frown. “Will you always protect me?”
    I curled my hands into fists and put my arms on my hips for my Superman stance. “Of course! You’re only four. But I’m ten.” I raised my chin as high as I could. “I’m a man now. It’s my job to protect my baby sister.”
    “Promise?” She looked up at me with wide-eyes and admiration.
    My chest swelled with happiness at the way she looked at me. “Yes. I p—”
    “Trent, honey?” My mother’s voice interrupted me as she came into the room.
    “Hi, mom.” I broke my Superman stance and smiled at her.
    “Hi, Trent’s mommy. Trent found Sophia for me. He’s the best.” Blair lifted Sophia up to show my mother.
    My mother made a face at her and turned to look at me. “Trent. Come on. Let’s go home.”
    I frowned, the carefree joy I had just felt instantly popped by her words. “Can I stay for a bit longer? Cindy said I could stay for dinner.” I didn’t love Blair’s mother’s cooking, but I loved being able to eat dinner with Blair and our father. It was nice to sometimes pretend that I lived with them under the same house like a family.
    “Yup. I heard mommy tell Trent he can stay for dinner,” Blair added, trying to help my cause. She looked hopefully at my mother, her eyes filled with the same hope I had of staying for dinner.
    “Please? Can we stay?” I pouted. “We can have dinner with dad, Blair, and Cindy.”
    “Pretty please!” Blair begged.
    “No. We have plans,” my mother snapped sharply. “I dropped you off here for the weekend based on the arrangement your father and I have. I’m supposed to pick you up now, so let’s go.”
    “But mom, it’s just dinner.” I walked over to her and pulled on her sleeve, hoping I could convince her.
    “No is no. Don’t test my patience, Trent. You know that’s not good for anyone.”
    Downcast, I looked down at my feet and mumbled, “Fine.” I walked over to Blair to hug her goodbye.
    “See you next week?” She hugged me back tightly.
    “Yup. See you next week.” I walked toward the doorway where my mother was waiting.
    Then Blair came running toward me and gave me another hug. “You haven’t promised!”
    “Promised what?” I frowned at her, confused by what she said.
    “To always protect me.” She looked at me with eager eyes.
    I smiled. “I promise.”
    She giggled in delight. “I’ll miss you.”
    “Me too. Take care of Sophia while I’m gone.” I tried my best to be the big brother and be strong and not show any tears.
    “Okay, I will. I promise.” She beamed at me.
    “Okay, that’s enough,” my mother’s impatient voice cut in. She grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Blair. “Come on, we gotta go.”
    I watched Blair’s sad expression as I followed my mother down the hallway toward the front door.
    “Trent, be careful with her. What did I tell you about being nice to her?” She squeezed my hand harder, pinching my fingers together.
    I frowned and tried to yank my hand out of her grip. “But mom, she’s my sister. I love her.”
    “Don’t you dare love her,” she hissed at me. “ She’s the daughter of the bitch who stole your father away from us.”
    “But Blair and Cindy are so nice to me. They couldn’t have done anything wrong.” My hand was starting to hurt in my mother’s tight grip. I didn’t know why, but I knew she hated Blair and her mother. She never liked dropping me off at their house they lived at with my father.
    “Trent, just get in the car.”
    I could tell from her tone that she wasn’t happy. I hated to see her angry, so I got into the car without saying another word. I stared out the car window as my mother drove us away from the house my father, Blair, and Cindy lived. I felt a sense