Page 50 of Crave

My nightdress rode high, revealing my bare thighs. Still, I didn’t stop, beating his muscled back with my fists.“Put me down!”

It was useless…no, I was useless, slamming my pathetic blows into the side of his head, until I earned a savage glare. “Do that again,” he growled. “And see what happens.”

I froze, my blooming pulse all I could hear as they carried me toward the front of the house. There was no salvation of sleep anymore. No, that was ripped further away as all three carried me to the brightly lit study and stepped inside.

“What are you doing?” I bucked in Theo’s arms until I fell, hitting the floor instantly.

My knees buckled before I landed on my ass, staring up at them. Jude closed the study door and turned to me, leaving all three of them staring down at me.

“What the Hell do you want from me?” I dragged my knees closer and pushed backwards.

“You will tell us what you know.” Silas’ voice was colder and deeper. “You’re not leaving this room until you do.”

I glanced from him to the only other brother who might’ve helped me…Jude. But one glance his way and I knew it was over.Are you going to cry rape and run to the police?His warning from earlier rose.Because if you did, that would cause problems for my family. We don’t want that now, do we?

I found Silas’ cruel stare once more. He licked his lips, his chest rising hard. “Don’t make me hurt you,Angelica.”

The way he said my name sent a cold shiver along my spine.

“I don’t know anything—” I started…until he clenched his jaw, the muscles bulging.

There was an edge to him now, a dangerous edge. One that hadn’t been there last night. Something had changed. My mind raced, sending that icy wave of panic deeper.

“Tell us and we’ll let you go.” Jude added slowly. “You can leave today if you want. We’ll even give you money and you won’t ever have to see us again.”

Theo shifted with that, clenching his fists. Deep down I knew it was a lie, still that thrum of desperation took hold.

Jude leaned down, bracing his hands on his knees. “You’re our sister and I know you’d want to help us. You want to tell us the truth, because hiding something like that must be tearing you apart.”

Silas and Theo just glared at me.

“I told you before.” I whispered, carefully. “I had nothing to do with what happened.”

“But you know things we don’t.” Jude urged. “Tell us what you know about the Order.”

I shook my head, memories collided, fragments of them so clear…the click of the locks on the door. The shiver that raced as that voice came. You know what to do, Angelica. On your knees. But the rest of the memory was nothing more than a darkened blur. I just…didn’t remember.

“Tell us again where you were that day?”

I lifted my head, my mind trapped on the hazy blur inside my head. “What?”

Jude stared into my eyes, searching for something. “Tell us where you werethatday.”

“Shopping.” I murmured without thinking.

“Lie.” Silas snarled, those dark, unforgiving eyes fixed on me.

I gave a tiny shake of my head. But he wasn’t having it. He strode forward, then lunged, grabbing me from the floor and dragged me to stand. Cruel fingers dug into my arms, bruising as he drove me backwards until I hit the wall. He was everywhere, crowding in until his body blocked out the others.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” he shook me so hard my teeth gnashed.“TELL ME WHAT WERE YOU DOING THE DAY OUR PARENTS WERE MURDERED?”

“Shopping!” I screamed.“I was shopping!”

“STOP LYING TO ME!”He released my arm and grabbed my throat instead, clenching tight enough for me to feel his strength.

“I’m not lying,” I gasped.

“You told us you were at a fundraiser.” His thumb pressed down against my throat. “So, which one is it? Were you shopping, or partying?”