Page 98 of Frozen Hearts
I can survive this.
I repeat my mantra twice more, gathering strength from it before opening my eyes and straightening my spine. The small move has my shoulders brushing against the person behind me, and I sense him freeze before ever so slightly stepping back.
I stare into the darkness, waiting.
“You mean you don’t recognize me?” that same low menace growls in my ear.
My brain whirs, trying to put a face to the voice, but I come up empty.Maybeit sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.
“No?”
No. I’d remember a voice that sounded like that. While his deep husk terrifies me, I would remember the low timbre and commanding tone. I couldn’t possibly forget the primal response that stirs low in my belly. Even laced with danger, the allure is irresistible. There’s a seductive edge to his menace that draws me in even as my brain pleads for me to escape.
His stubble scrapes along my skin, the coarseness sending a tremor of exhilaration and fear skittering along my spine as the tip of his nose runs up the side of my face. Lips at my ear, he whispers darkly, “You don’t recognize your own brother?”
His words are like a bucket of ice water being poured over me, dousing any scandalous thoughts the baser part of me was considering.
“G-Grayson?’’
His low chuckle has shivers zinging down my spine.
“That’s right, little sis. You didn’t think you were rid of me for good, did you?”
My whole body begins to tremble, and I feel lightheaded as I struggle to remain on my feet.
“I don’t—what are you…Why am I here?” My voice is a helpless whimper.
He keeps me waiting, his silence terrifying me more than his words ever could.
“Why, you have sinned, little sis. Committed such heinous crimes, for which you must be punished.” His breath is a gentle caress against my skin, but the sinister threat of his words turns my stomach to stone.
“And we are your judge, jury, and executioner.”
25
RILEY
Forcing a confidence I don’t feel, I ask, “What is your plan, Grayson? You can’t keep me here indefinitely. People will be looking for me if I disappear.”
Grayson’s low chuckle is cold and heartless as it sweeps over my skin. “Surely, you don’t think I’m that stupid, Riley. I’ve made it my mission to learn everything I need to know about your life.”
I stiffen at his confession. There’s no way he could know about Aurora. Things would not be unfolding the way they are if he had. He’d have confronted me in a rage, demanding to know her parentage. There wouldn’t be any of these mind games.
“Other than rehearsals and your shifts at Lux, you have no other plans for winter break. You haven’t made any friends on campus, and even your own mother doesn’t want to see you for Christmas.”
I internally groan as I recall a late-night phone call with Logan before everything blew up between us, where we discussed our plans for winter break. Well, mostly, he told me about the huge family dinner his parents host every year and how excited he was to go home and see them, albeit he could only spend Christmas Day with them because of his hockey schedule.
When I told him I had no plans other than to work and get ahead of my schoolwork, he invited me to go home with him. Somehow, I doubt that invitation still stands.
Regarding the mother barb, if Grayson intended for that to sting, he missed the mark. I’d far rather not see my mother over Christmas. Aurora is the sole link between us. She is the only reason why I would ever want to see that vile woman. However, he is wrong. Assuming my mom doesn’t cancel—and there’s still plenty of time for her to do just that—then Iwillbe seeing my mother on Christmas day. Which gives me two weeks to figure a way out of this situation.
Unfortunately, Ava and Isabella left today to stay with their mother for Christmas, so they won’t notice my disappearance, and the only other person who would is Tara.
“One of us will escort you to each of your shifts,” Grayson continues, answering that predicament before hope can grow roots and germinate in my chest. “But before you go getting any grand ideas of tattling or trying to slip away, we will always have eyes on you. And in case you need further incentive to toe the line, we have enough clout between the three of us to ensure your scholarship is revoked and you lose your place at Halston.”
My teeth grind as I swallow my scoff. Of course, they’re playing thewe’re rich so we own youcard.
However, I can’t afford to call their bluff. I’ve already missed out on so much of Rora’s life, and knowing it will be another four years before I’m graduated and in a situation to provide for her eats at me every day. I can’t allow any wrenches to be thrown in the works that may delay that any further.
