"Maya....." her mother started, shock evident in her tone.
"No," Maya interrupted, standing abruptly, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "No, I'm not going to pretend this is anything other than what it is. Dakota is selfish. She's always been selfish. Wild and reckless and completely incapable of thinking about anyone except herself."
"Your sister is missing...." Richard began, his voice carrying a warning.
"My sister ruined my engagement party!" Maya shouted, all the careful control she'd been maintaining for hours finally shattering. "She just disappeared so completely that my entire celebration turned into a search party for her!"
Tears were streaming down Maya's face now, but they were angry tears, bitter tears, tears that had nothing to do with fear for Dakota's safety and everything to do with resentment that had been building for three years.
