Origin story to the Family Comes First series by Mason Fitzgibbon. The Wilcox family's horrifying and twisted traditions all began in 1873. Joseph: After the death of their parents, Joseph's younger brother announces he is leaving the farm and moving his family to New York City. Joseph is overcome with betrayal and is terrified that the Wilcox family will disappear. His son, Miles, is the only one to carry on the family name. The only problem is that Miles has always been...different. His odd behavior made him the scapegoat for the church fire a few years ago, and now, no one nearby will associate with the family. When Joseph meets Maisie, at a tavern, he realizes what he must do to ensure the survival of the Wilcox family. Maisie: Having a family was always a dream for Maisie. Her own family was full of abuse and abandonment. She only had her grandmother to rely on, but after her death, she was trapped in hell. Desperate for money, she begins selling herself to the men at the local tavern. She has a series of regulars that take turns tormenting her each night. When Joseph walks into the tavern, she sees a potential new customer. Completely unaware of his sinister plans, she leaves with him, not knowing that her life will never be the same. She finally gets a family, but at what cost? *This story can be read as a standalone *Thank you to @iamrodneyvsmith for the amazing cover

The boys glanced between themselves, and I held my necklace tightly. "What do you mean?" Marko asked. I stared down at my soup thinking to myself that if I stared hard enough, maybe the bowl would break and I could escape. I didn't even want to hear what she had to say. "She's just a bit strange, is all. I mean, burning down your childhood home would count as strange, right?" I stopped breathing altogether. It was deadly silent, but Dwayne tapped my foot with his again. The Lost Boys (1987) Lost Boys x OC Started: June 4, 2019 Completed: February 28, 2020 Revised: October 16, 2020 Beta'd by @chimilkie !