Page 138 of Their Little Ghost

Even though the guys dropped hints that Dad did awful things to patients, I never thought he was capable of something like this…

“Let me go!” I scream. “Mom, help!”

“You’re not getting away with it this time,” he hisses. “I won’t let you.”

I push him and manage to knock him off-balance for a second. I seize the opportunity to grab a nearby vase and swing, aiming for his head, but I miss. It crashes to the floor, shattering into hundreds of pieces.

“No!” I yell as he throws me to the ground.

“My angel’s dead,” he hisses. “It should have been you.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I say bitterly.

He wraps his hands around my throat and squeezes.

“I won’t lose her,” he says, crushing my neck. “I won’t!”

“Magnus?” Mom calls down, causing us both to freeze. “Is that you?”

Mom turns on the light and stands at the top of the staircase, watching the scene unfold. Our eyes meet, and she freezes.

“Mom!” I croak. “Help me.”

She squeals in horror. “Magnus, what?—”

Dad abandons strangling me and grapples around for what looks to be a remote control in his jacket. He jams a red button, and Mom’s hysteria dissipates instantly. Her eyes glaze over, giving her a spaced-out appearance, like she’s taken a long drag on a joint.

“Go to bed, Jocelyn,” Dad orders.

“I’ll buy a new vase tomorrow. A blue one, maybe? Fresh flowers too.” Mom smiles serenely. “Yes, that’ll be perfect.” She blows me a kiss. “Sweet dreams, Sarah.”

What. The. Fuck?

“Mom, please…”

But she’s already gone.

This is it.

He’s going to kill me too.

CHAPTER

FORTY-ONE

AIDEN

At daybreak,an orderly throws Eli into our shared cell by the scruff of his neck. He staggers in, swaying on his feet, in a haze. His skin is sallow with a yellow hue, and he’s fighting to keep his eyes open. He’s lucid. Just about.

I spring up just in time to catch him as he slumps forward. Lex grabs his other arm, and we drag him to the bottom bunk before he sags to his knees.

Eli’s entire body shakes uncontrollably like he’s crying, but no tears fall from his bloodshot eyes.

What the fuck did Acacia do this time?

“Eli?” I kneel before him and give him a hard shake. “Can you hear me?”

No response.

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