Page 209 of Bliss & Her Idols

Philomena knew.

Shefucking knewabout the twins but she still didn’t protect Torin.

Torin rests his forehead against the glass. His breath ghosts it.

I rest my hand on his shoulder. I need him to know that Jin and I are here with him.

Sometimes, when you investigate, peering beneath the surface into your past and family, you discover shocking things.

Agonizing things.

Because the truth can set you free but it also hurts like a fucking bitch.

The only positive is that the twins are looking just as sick to discover after twenty years that their sister had known about their attempted murder all along.

“Sister,” Devin whispers, pushing Aran more firmly behind him, “we don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then why are you both shaking?”

“We didn’t do anything,” Aran tries. “It was only a—”

“Prank,” Devin finishes.

Philomena’s backhand is hard enough to knock Devin stumbling back into the arms of his twin.

Aran twists his brother, smoothing his thumb over Devin’s bleeding lip.

The twins twine around each other, before turning to their sister with matching dark expressions.

“Be glad that I need your skills with the Idols, or I truly would be sending you for a thorough reconditioning course at the center.” Philomena stalks to the door, pulling it open. “Now, help me with the Idol who should have been responsible for keeping Jin a good Beta. He’s failed, and I don’t accept that.”

“Shit,” Jin cusses.

Alarm rushes through me.

My gaze shoots to the doorway.

Stapleton and Zoe are dragging someone into the room between them.

Jin’s breathing has become erratically fast.

When I wrap my arms around Jin’s waist, he clings to me desperately.

The man’s legs and bare feet scrape along the floor, as he’s hauled into the studio. He appears to be trying to get them underneath himself to walk but he can’t quite manage it.

He’s dressed in the same black t-shirt and joggers that I now realize is the Idols’ uniform. It’s stained with suspicious patches that may be blood.

His shiny black hair, which has sparkling star shaped beads woven into it, hangs over his face.

The twins’ sudden enthusiasm like their favorite toy has just been brought in frightens me.

“Anything for you, sister.” Devin licks over his busted lip, pointing at the floor. “Drop the asshole there.”

Zoe and Stapleton drop the man to the hard floor.

The Beta can’t catch himself with his hands in time. His face cracks against the floor.

Jin winces.

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