Page 45 of Crave

He turned around then and left, striding past Gabe. “I’ll be just out here in case you need anything, Angel.”

My stomach tightened at the name mom gave me. She was the only one who’d ever used it and now so did Jude.

“You okay?” Gabe asked when his brother left. But there wasn’t a trace of concern in his tone. He might as well have asked me if I was a murderer.

I crossed my arms over my chest remembering the look of disgust on his face from before. An image that was now burned in my mind. “Do you really care?”

Silence.

I guess that was an answer in itself. I turned my head, unable to look at the detached, stoney stare anymore.

“It’s not safe here for you anymore. Maybe it is best for you to leave.”

My knees buckled, leaving me to slide down the wall. Gabe was the only one left who cared about me. Agony tore across my chest and tears followed, blurring the darkened outline of him.

“I thought you were better than what you did tonight. I thought you were…special. I guess now I know you’re not. You’re just like the rest of them.”

A sob ripped free, searing like fire in the back of my throat. I closed my eyes as the memory came, tearing me apart with talons.OWNED. DAUGHTER. MINE. MINE. MINE.I was back there, at that place. With that man. He stood over me, looming in the shadows. His face was nothing more than a blur.

That’s the way.He gasped, breathing hard.Just like that, Angelica. Just. Like. That.

My body reacted, throbbing and warming. I opened my eyes staring through the blur at an empty room. Gabe had left me, just like he had last night. I was alone now. Maybe I always had.

Beep.

Through the watery glare I caught the screen light up from my cell phone. The one I had in my purse that Silas stole from me. I stopped crying, and looked at the empty door knowing it was Gabe who left it. Gabe who didn’t quite turn his back on me after all. Gabe, who gave me a way out of here.

I lunged, scurrying forward across the floor and grabbed my cell.

Penn:Your goddamn brother just attacked me at a party. What the fuck is happening and where are you?

I sniffed, my hands shaking as I unlocked my cell and pulled up his message. He hadn’t responded to the last five of my calls and messages…until now. I typed a reply.

Penn, I need your help. I need to get out of here. My brothers…I stopped, my mind racing before I started again.My brothers think I had something to do with our parents' deaths. I need you to come and get me. Can you do that?

Send.

I waited with my heart in the back of my throat.

Beep.

Hurriedly, I turned the volume down, pushing the cell hard against my chest as I shoved up from the floor and moved to the door, closing it as gently as I could before turning to the reply Penn sent me.

Penn:what the actual fuck, I’m sorry I missed your calls. My stupid brother broke my cell and then dragged me to this goddamn place with his friends. I can’t get you tonight, but I promise to come tomorrow, unless you’re in actual danger. Are you in danger?

Am I in danger? I weighed up the question. Yes. No.Maybe, I didn’t know. I was in my room, guarded by my damn brothers who were planning what I didn’t know. But I had time, didn’t I? I had time to figure out how to get away from here. I glanced down at my cell.

No.I typed.I’m not in danger. I’ll see you tomorrow and Penn. I’m glad you’re okay.

Send.

I made my way to my bed, slipped under the covers and pushed my cell under the pillow. It was the only weapon I had now. One which might get me out of here…but it did nothing to ward off the nightmares of that place.

The moment I closed my eyes they swept in, almost like they were waiting for me.

Promise me, mom barked, her eyes wide as she wrenched her gaze from the road to me.Promise me you’ll never tell them. I looked down at the buttons on her blouse and fear gripped me.

Mom. I lifted my gaze to hers.Mom, your buttons aren’t right.