Page 123 of Shifting Hearts 1
What Alejandro didn’t know is that Maddy had her own agenda when she agreed to his terms.
She would sacrifice anything to get back what was taken from her, even if it meant losing a piece of herself in the process.
At the end the only question left to answer is if that would be enough?
For the ones who hide their true power.
I can't wait to see the chaos you create.
ONE
Maddy
Filthy liars said the fires of hell can incinerate every sinner and their appalling sins.
But nothing compares to the burning inferno of rage and revenge churning in my gut.
That’s why I prefer to take care of business myself.
I swipe the lock of fake strawberry blond hair from my face and tuck it behind my ear with more finesse than you’d expect from someone in this setting.
The rancid breath of the man before me wafts over my face, and it takes every shred of self-control to keep from revealing my murderous thoughts while staring into his lustful eyes.
I catch the faint glint of a wedding ring in the scattered light from the faded disco ball above us. No wonder he’s here—he must repulse his wife something fierce.
I step aside to turn my back on him, leaning my tits away from his pawing hands as I grind my ass into his pathetic excuse of a hard-on. The harsh fabric of his dirty jeans chafes my exposed thighs under my denim shorts.
To distract myself, I think back to the reason I am here tonight, enduring the simple dancing routine while wrapping my hands around my naked breasts to keep them from spilling everywhere.
Little Alexi.
She needs me.
If only I could save everyone in this hellhole, I could be persuaded to rid the world of every single waste of space, like the one howling behind me as I gyrate my ass in his face.
But I need to focus.
His elated cries can be heard over the music, but they are not loud enough to drown out the screams echoing in my mind after I heard them in the middle of the night, two days ago.
Alexi was taken while I was at work, but Ally, one of the other little girls in the orphanage, called me on my cell. I could hear Alexi’s hysterical cries in the background, calling out for me.
That night, I tucked my phone back into my flimsy denim shorts and ran to the locker room to get my bra and shirt. By the time I got to the orphanage, there was no sign of Alexi or the men who had dragged her from her bed.
She is only five years old.
She loves Jello and looking up at the stars from the window while she lies on her cot.
Most nights, before I leave for work, I make up stories about dragons living amongst the stars to keep the past princesses of the universe safe.
And now she is out there, somewhere, all alone, wondering why I haven’t come for her yet. And why is no one keeping her safe?
That is why I have a mission—I need to find her.
No one else is looking for her, and although I have been cautious, I am sure Mrs. Gruber has started to suspectsomething. Her client list has been quietly dwindling over the last few years.
Across the dinner table, her eyes hold less disgust now…and far more suspicion.
Family dinner, if that is what you can call it.
