Page 56 of Cup of Lies

I stumble when my boot gets caught on a root. Nees sniggers until Koyn shuts him up with a sharp hiss. The kid is growing on me. He kind of reminds me of Theo.

My brother is a different sort of pain. This one cuts deeper and will leave a more lasting impact long after I’ve cut these people from my life. All I wanted to do since Dad brought him home was to somehow protect him from the darkness he’d walked into.

I failed at that, too.

We come to an opening that overlooks someone’s yard. There’s a cool evening breeze that makes the tire swing sway back and forth, the branch holding it creaking softly.

The facility is beyond another row of trees, but something has me turning to look at the house. Koyn cocks his head at me as ifto question my interest. I motion for him to go ahead and point at the house. He gestures for Nees to stay with me.

As soon as Koyn disappears around the next bend of trees, I creep through the yard toward the back patio. The steps groan under my weight. I gingerly make my way over to the French doors and peer into the darkened living room. Barbie dolls are scattered on the coffee table. My chest tightens.

Are they here?

There’s a picture frame on an end table, but it’s too far away for me to make out the details. I’m pretty sure it’s a man, a woman, and a child.

Just some family.

I turn to indicate we should follow the others, when I hear it.

A scream.

One filled with pain and terror.

The hairs on my arms stand on end.

It’s a woman. When she does it again, I realize I recognize it.

Romy.

“It’s her,” I hiss, backing up so I can try to charge my way through the door.

Nees stops me by grabbing my bicep. “Let me break in. I can do it with my knife. Stealth mode, remember?”

As much as I want to ignore him and do it my way, I know he’s right. If he can get us in without making a scene, we’ll be able to sneak up on them.

It’s hard to stand by when you can hear the woman you love screaming for help.

The woman I love?

My heart aches at the thought of someone hurting her. I’m desperate to protect her from the entire world. I miss everything about her so damn much. If that’s what love for a woman feels like, then yeah, I guess that’s what it is.

Nees messes with the door for a long twenty seconds or so before it pops open. He pockets the knife and then pulls his Glock out. I stalk past him into the home. The sounds of sobbing are coming from the back, behind a closed door. Two doors down the hallway, a dog starts barking. Nees rushes past me to check in that direction.

The door where I can hear her crying is locked. A well-placed kick sends it flying open. Light from a bedside lamp reveals a scene that sickens me.

A blond woman is naked and curled into a ball, trembling violently. Her arm is stretched at an odd angle, handcuffed to the headboard. My gaze lands on her ass that is covered in blue striped bruises and scabbed over welts.

Rage bubbles up inside me, causing everything to turn red except her. She’s lying in a puddle of what looks to be semen.

The bathroom door is closed. I can hear the shower running. Whoever did this to her is inside, showering as if this is fucking normal.

Is it normal?

Has he been raping my damn woman for the past six months?

I storm into the bathroom. A bearded man gapes at me in shock through the glass. He’s covered in suds, clearly washing away the evidence of his depravity.

Unable to see anything but him and the horror he caused her, I raise my weapon and don’t think twice.

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