Page 15

That manages to silence her, which is somehow worse. She sobs quietly, trembling from head to toe as Camden places her feet on the metal stirrups.

“That’s my boy.” My skin crawls at the sound of Topher’s whisper. “That’s how it’s done. Fucking own the bitch.”

How have I missed this side of him?

Why in the world did I try to rekindle what I had with this psychopath?

“You know, Sage is out. She’ll be back late.” I played with the lapel of his gray jacket one night at my doorstep.

That night, I was tipsy, and so was he. He actually talked to me during that dinner. Said that he and I weren’t that different since both our moms were dead.

“Okay.” His fingers curled around mine. Didn’t pry my hand off him like he always did. “Then?”

I took a moment to study his face. Search for the secrets he’d been keeping from me. Or maybe he didn’t have any secrets, and he was just dull. Either way, I had to find out.

There was something there before. How did we lose it?

“You could come up if you want.”

He closed the blinds over his pale blue eyes before I could figure him out. Disappeared behind his shield.

Disappointment. Another one.

Months ago, his darkness had sparked a million lights within me. I was desperate to feel that again. Needed him to quit this obsession with my virginity. We could be explosive together. In a good way. In the best way.

“We talked about this.” His brow furrowed. He stepped back into the hall. “Your virginity.”

“Yes, yes.” No sparks. No excitement. No falling feeling.

I needed him gone. For life.

That moment sealed our fate.

I gave our relationship my best because I believed in us.

I gave it my best until I couldn’t.

Now, all that’s left is to get as far away from the Hawthorne men as possible.

That’s my good girl , the memory of James’s voice whispers in my ear.

Stupid brain. He wasn’t praising me. He was mocking me.

He’s just as insane as Topher is.

“You’re going to feel a little pressure,” the doctor from hell says to Baylor.

Camden is at the top of the exam table, stroking her hair. Pretending to care.

Bullshit. It’s a reminder of his threat.

Another whimper escapes her when the doctor opens the speculum’s bill. Fuck, I’m so angry I could burst into flames.

“Calm the fuck down.” Topher must sense my murderous energy. I’m snarling too. Could be that. “Consider this your final warning.”

Telling him his father performed the same exam on me last night would be delicious. James isn’t close. Can’t scare me into silence.

Then again…

The guards. They’re spread out across the room. Two of them even have a clear shot at me. James might be furious if Topher starts shouting and causing a scene. One word from him, and I’ll be dead.

Fine. Fuck him.

Poor Baylor stares up at the ceiling while she’s being checked and probed. In her delirious state, she reaches for Camden’s hand.

The doctor exclaims, “A virgin!”

She says absolutely nothing as Camden guides her into the center of the stage. When the motherfucker takes his place behind the podium.

“The starting bid on my and Topher’s sacrifices will be the same.” Camden has his hand on Baylor’s shoulder. The other is flattened on the podium.

I see red. My chest heaves with each breath, fueling my rage further.

This is it. They’re going to put a price tag on us. This is actually real.

“So.” From where Topher holds me hostage, I can see Camden’s face. His smug grin. When I’m free, I’ll wipe it off him. I swear I will. “Starting bid on Miss Carpenter is…one million dollars.”

Flatline. No pulse. No air.

One million is the starting bid. I repeat that in my head.

Then it clicks. Then, I realize what and who I’m dealing with here.

They aren’t just rich. People who don’t blink at the ridiculous sum and start calling three, five, seven on a girl are wealthy. They own the city. Maybe the entire country.

I take a closer look at the crowd. The chief of police is here too. I recognize him from the news. How corrupt must he be to afford this?

Very. Fucking very.

The rest of them aren’t as well known. I don’t know most of them, which only solidifies my concern. The truly influential men and women, the ones who pull the strings, sometimes prefer to remain in the shadows.

They most likely are the real puppet masters.

And if they’re here, that only means one thing.

These sick four people who kidnapped Baylor and me are the puppet masters’ puppet masters.

James didn’t lie to me yesterday.

Damn it.

Asking them to help us would get us nowhere. Running away from the person who buys me and going to the cops would make matters worse.

No one will listen to me.

They’ll track me down.

They’ll send me back here.

Or.

They’ll have my head for snitching.

If my escape plan works, I’ll have to leave the country altogether. America will cease to be my home.

Shit. I don’t have a passport.

They took away my purse and driver’s license.

The Greyhound bus is my only option. I’ll stand in one of the corners of the central station. Beg for cash. For a ticket.

A good Samaritan or two will help, and then I’ll be off on a bus that’ll take me to the border. Any border. Canada, Mexico, I’m not picky.

Anywhere but here.

A fresh start.

Hopefully, one day, when the dust settles and everyone forgets about me, I’ll be able to return to Baylor.

Hope and resolution press against my ribs.

I’ve got this.

“Ten!” a man with curly red hair in the second row yells, a light Irish accent laced in his voice.

He breaks the streak of the civilized bids. Of people raising a hand to indicate they’d like to buy Baylor, please, and motherfucking thank you.

Tears roll down Baylor’s cheeks. So many of them that the front of her black dress is soaked. She’s crying in complete silence. Terrified of what a bid that high means.

Nothing good.

Her tears and the redhead’s shout set off a war between the buyers. A real one.

A woman in a blue gown with her blonde hair pulled back in a twist bares her teeth. “Twelve!”

“They’ll pay much more for you.” Topher’s lips press to my temple.

Softly. Like he cares. I curb the urge to scream.

One day, I’ll have my hands around his repulsive neck and I’ll choke him.

“That fire in your eyes. I wish I had noticed it sooner. I would’ve used you for something else. Too late now.”

Something else?

His words throw me off.

This doesn’t make any sense. None of this does.

“What are you talking?—”

Topher pushes my chin so I’m back to facing the crowd. “Shut the hell up.”

The glimmer of hope I’ve been holding on to is snuffed out. I’m no less angry, though.

“Fifteen.” An older man with a hint of an Italian accent raises his hand from the front row.

His brown eyes are narrowed. His round face is clean-shaven. His short hair is dark with gray streaks.

My stomach lurches when he shifts his leering gaze from Baylor to me, licking his lips.

Oh no. Oh no. If someone outbids him, he’s coming for me.

There’s nothing right about this man. There’s an aura surrounding him that makes me feel the most awful things.

I’m going to destroy you. Either one of you.

If he gets us…

If he takes us…

Escape plans will be a faraway dream.

Either Baylor or I might survive, but we won’t be living.

That’s how dark he looks. How evil he seems.

He wants me to see it.

Final offer, he mouths to me.

I’m going to be sick.

A deep, cleansing breath.

The world’s still spinning.

James. I hate him. Every cell in my body loathes and is repulsed by him. Despises his infuriating touch. The things he does to me.

I have to find his icy-blue eyes anyway. They’re my only escape. The only way I can tap into my anger again, to cast away my fear.

I break eye contact with the devil before me, ignoring Topher’s deranged whispered praise of: You’re going to make me so proud .

But he isn’t there.

I search the crowd. Every available space of this shithole.

No blue eyes. No terrifying shadow in the back of the room.

He’s gone.

James is gone.