Page 78 of Tainted Love
I curse and fumble to unbuckle my belt, to follow him before he gets himself killed. Bea rushes to keep up and passes me a torch as we push through the slightly overgrown path. I switch on the light and shine it around, but Benny got a good head start. Squashing the rising anxiety that’s building inside of me, I push forward, knowing we’re still a good ten-minute walk from the old miner’s cottage. I just hope Benny doesn’t do anything stupid before we get there to back him up. The last thing I want is another two lives on my hands.
“Who do you think has her?” Bea murmurs, keeping her voice low.
“Madeline,” I grunt out.
Her eyes widen. “Your foster sister? Why would she take his daughter? And what makes you think she brought her here? It’s the middle of nowhere.”
“Because she’s a fucking psychopath,” I say, reaching out a hand to steady her when she trips over a hidden tree root. I slow my pace slightly so she can keep up without hurting herself. “This backs onto the Ferguson’s property and we used to come camping down here.”
“But why would she kidnap a little girl and bring her here?”
“We came down here the week before Oli and I left foster care. If she’s trying to get our attention, it will be because of what happened here that night.”
“What happened?”
Six Years Ago…
“Grow up Madeline,” Benny sneers. “Why would we want to play Truth or Dare withyou?”
My eyes widen at the venom in his tone. Something has obviously happened in the last twenty-four hours between these two to cause the bad blood. Or maybe he’s finally seen through his pussy-coloured glasses and knows he’s better than her sick, twisted sexual deviancy.
“What’s wrong, big brother?” Nick taunts him. “Can’t handle not being the favourite?”
I grip Benny’s arm before he can do something stupid. “Don’t let them get to you, man,” I murmur under my breath. “It’s what they want.”
He shakes me off with a scowl, crossing his arms across his chest. “I don’t give a fuck. I’m done with that psychotic bitch.”
Madeline doesn’t let his outburst phase her. “Right back at ya, Benjamin, baby.” She smirks at me before turning her devious gaze on Jas. “Truth or dare, Jasmine?”
My hands ball into fists as Jas’s cheeks heat and she mumbles, “Pass.”
“Uh-uh,” Madeline shakes her head with a cruel, vindictive smile. “That’s not how it works. Pick one, or I’ll tell Mum and Dad who stole the liquor.”
Fear flashes in Jas’s eyes and I wish I could go to her, but if Madeline gets even the scent of what is really going on between me and Jas, she’ll make her life a nightmare. Instead, I grit out, “Leave her alone, Madeline.”
“Do you want to take her turn, Elias?” she asks innocently. Acrack of lightning lights up the sky, and I wonder if it’s a warning sign.
Knowing I need to keep Madeline’s attention off Jas, I mutter, “Whatever. Dare.” There’s no way I’ll tell her any of my secrets.
“I dare you to kiss Benny.”
“What?!” I burst out at the same time he shouts, “Get fucked.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you playing at?”
She shrugs, feigning innocence. “Well, you weren’t interested in me after that first blow job, and Nick said he’s never heard you talk about any other girls, so I figured maybe you were gay.”
I grind my teeth and force myself to stare Madeline down rather than see the reaction on Jas’s face at the revelation. “It’s not like I had any choice in the matter when you forced yourself on me,” I spit at her. “Ever consider I just wasn’t interested in your overused cunt?”
The smile disappears from her face, overtaken by a cold, conniving sneer. She shoves Nick off her lap and climbs to her feet. Sam and Nick—her two little lapdogs—follow suit, flanking her. “So you’d rather a virginal goth who will probably cut you to pieces in some satanic breeding ritual?”
I freeze, my gaze flickers quickly to Jas before I realise my mistake. How the fuck does Madeline know? We’ve been so careful, even my own twin hasn’t realised our connection is deeper than friends. And Benny only knows because I needed to make sure someone would look out for Jas when I left.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I choke out.
The need to go to Jas, to hold her and protect her from Madeline’s onslaught is overwhelming, but Nick is inching closer to her, and I’m scared if I make any sudden movements, he’ll hurt her.
Another rumble of thunder sounds overhead, and a mistyrain falls over us. The cold liquid soaks my hair and drips down my back, but I can’t move.
