Page 8 of The Caged Girl

“You’ll do it, or I’ll kill her.” He grabbed my wrist and shoved it closer to her skin.

“No!” I shoved his hand from mine and stumbled backward.

Alister laughed before he walked over to one of his shelves. “Why didn’t you do as you were told?” Megan peered at me over her shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

Alister walked back with a sharp machete in his hand.

“Alister, you cannot be serious!” I ran in between the girls and Alister.

“On your knees.” Alister pushed me to the side and tapped the machete blade on Megan’s shoulder.

The cigar was burning in between my fingers.

“Okay! Alister, please!” I screamed as I lifted the cigar. Megan was already on her knees, sobbing as Alister lifted the blade into the air.

“Alister! I’m begging you!” I shrieked as memories of the girls I couldn’t save back in Charlotte flooded my mind.

Alister turned to me and squinted. “Put the cigar out, Demi. This is your one and only second-chance. I promise you that, my raven.”

“One…two…burn.” Alister sang out while swinging the machete. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. I wanted to take the cigar and burn Alister’s eyes, but I couldn’t. I knew the only outcome for disobedience with an Ivory was death.

“I’m so sorry,” I whimpered as I lifted the cigar and smashed it into Megan’s flesh. The cry that left her lips seared through my heart as the flesh around the cigar melted.

Alister wrapped his hand around mine and pressed it harder as I realized that, in some sick way, I was happy it wasn’t me.

Alister pulled my hand away from her back and dropped the cigar to the ground. “Clean it up, Megan, and then get the hell out of my space. Both of you leave.” He bellowed while wrapping his hand around my waist and tugging me away. Grabbing a dress from the clothing rack, Alister guided me down a hall with flickering lanterns hung.

“That was absolutely beautiful, my raven. I knew there was evil inside of you.”

Looking up at him, I hated myself for what I did next.

I smiled proudly.

CHAPTERSIX

Alister Ivory was pouringhimself a glass of whiskey as I awkwardly stood in his bedroom. His bed was massive, covered in silk and black sheets. My breathing slowed as I eyed the mirrored ceiling, staring back at my reflection. “Would you like anything to drink?” Alister asked me, his voice low.

I turned to him and walked to the built-in bar he was at. Taking the glass from his hand, my fingers brushed against his thick gold rings. I took a sip of the strong liquor and shuddered. Alister scoffed.

“I had heard of you from my brother, Ian. He told me they’d finally found you. He was thrilled you’d be marrying Conrad.” Alister poured another glass and joined me on the balcony. The sky was bright blue and melted into the stunning ocean.

“Ian and I had a tumultuous relationship, to say the least.” Alister winced, then tossed the whiskey back. “But you killed them all. My heroine.”

“Bradley. Clearly, I didn’t kill him.” I hated how I still had positive emotions for Bradley. How memories of him gifting me a pair of Nikes or of him giving me a reason to fight, flooded over the fact that he had lied to me. He was just as evil as all of them. He wanted to come here and take over this…empire.

“It’s not Bradley. The man you saw is Warren, who is Bradley’s twin brother. Ian and I had an agreement to separate them. It was Ian’s way of voiding Bradley of any emotion and Warren has become my well, just as Bradley was to Ian. A man who is willing to do anything for this family and business because he has nothing outside of these walls.”

I looked at Alister, shaking my head. “You are all liars. I know it’s him.”

Alister filled the space between us and brushed his thumb against my bottom lip once more. “Bradley had a small birthmark on his lower cheek, did you know that?”

Swallowing, I knew exactly what he was talking about. “Warren does not have that.” Alister moved away and opened a drawer, pulling out a photo album. “Here.” He tapped his finger against a black-and-white image of two young boys.

They were identical beyond the birthmark.

How could Bradley have never mentioned a twin brother, and why was he not in any of the photos he had shown me on the boat?

“Demi, take your clothes off.” Alister took the album and flung it to a corner of the room.

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