Page 36 of Crave
“I wasn’t planning murder, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“How do we know that?” He spat, his lips curling. “I don’t trust a single thing that comes out of your mouth.”
Promise me.
I pushed that voice back. “I could ask you the same thing.”
He scowled, his voice growing dangerous. “What did you say to me?”
“I said,” I met that stare, holding it. “I could ask you the same thing. Any of you.” I scanned every gaze in that room. “I did nothing. Iknownothing.”
Silas reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “Where do you and mom go when you go out?”
“Where we go?” My mind raced. “Functions, fundraisers…shopping. I don’t know, where do you go?”
He clenched his cell in a fist and strode forward, towering over me. “This isn’t about me, is it?”
I searched his eyes finding the glint of rage. “Then why is it about me?”
“What is the Order?”
I froze. My breaths racing.
Promise me on your life you’ll never tell them.That whispered plea grew louder. Only I didn’t know what I was supposed to keep secret. I…didn’t remember. The dark patches in my memory were far to frequent for me to piece together. Vague words flashing behind my eyes.Daughter. Owned. Control.The moment I tried to remember more a heavy weight smothered my mind, suffocating every memory I’d ever had of that place.
I closed my eyes as that weight descended. Fragments flickered and my senses sharpened. The hard floor against my knees as I knelt. Someone’s heavy breath against my ear. A sudden stretch between my legs, my body trembling.
“Tell me what you do there?”
That’s the girl, now open your mouth.
Heat moved, spreading through my belly and plunged down. The pressure between my thighs grew bolder.
That’s it…Jesus Christ, Angel, that’s it. The man’s grunt filled me.
Panic flared as I opened my eyes, finding that hateful glare from my brother.
“What is the Order?” He demanded.
My pulse was dull and booming in my ears. I shook my head, my voice croaky and distant. “Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“Silas.” Lincoln warned.
But Silas didn’t care about his uncle. Instead he lifted his cell and swiped his thumb across the screen. Theo, Jude and Lincoln stood mesmerized as he opened some kind of message. But Gabe never looked at them, he looked at me.
“It’s…it’s an orphanage.” I whispered.
“Liar.”Silas barked and pressed play on the video.
“You will be on your knees. Do you understand?”
I jolted with the sound of that voice. The same one from my mind. No…no…
“Yes.” My own voice echoed through his cell.
“Yes, what?”
