Page 120 of Crossed

I bite my cheek until it bleeds and that odd feeling coils tighter.

The play ends and all the kids take their bows, and I’m fuming that Quinten wasn’t there.Where the hell is he?

Florence shows up onstage again, her eyes flicking toward me, and I just know like I know anything that something bad is about to happen.

“This year, we’re doing things alittlebit differently.” She pinches her fingers together and chuckles. “We thought since the church has been so kind to take part in the festival this year that we’d bring it back to its roots to honor where the festival originated from.”

I sit a little straighter.

“And originally, the Festival ofFoolsalways crowned a king.” Her eyes meet mine, and dread fills up my stomach.

No.

I try to stand but Parker’s hand jerks me back down, and I hit the pew with an audible smack. Tears spring into my eyes from the pain that bleeds from between my legs and spreads up my back.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Cade move off the wall entirely, and I risk a side- eyed glance, shaking my head, hoping he gets the message.

“What the hell is going on?” Dalia asks, nodding toward Florence. “Why is that bitch looking at you like that?”

A couple of kids, her asshole son included, bring out a little makeshift throne, made from a small child-sized chair with streamers down the side and a giant sign on the back that reads “King Fool.”

My stomach burns, and my fingernails cut into the palms of my hands.

I look at Dalia. “When you find Quin, you take him from here.”

She frowns. “What?”

“Promise me, Dalia. Take him far away.”

Slowly, she nods. “I promise.”

I turn my head to my husband.

“Parker,” I say through clenched teeth. “Let me up.” He looks at me, scowling.

“Parker, I swear to God, if you don’t let me up, I willscreamat the top of my lungs.”

His jaw tenses, and for a moment, I think he’ll test me, but I’m banking on the fact that he doesn’t like to be embarrassed. It isn’t good for his image if his wife seems like she’s losing her mind.

He releases my thigh and I shoot up to a stand, shoving my way through the pew and to the side of the stage. Parker’s eyes are on mine, and they narrow into slits when they glide just beyond my shoulder, and I know without looking that Cade is right behind me.

I stiffen my jaw and don’t say a word.

“Please welcome our King Fool, Quinten Paquette!” Florence cheers.

Laughter and cheers ring out around the sanctuary as Quinten is brought out by a small group of kids.

My heart cracks in half and my eyes blur from rage, because while he may not understand what’s going on, I sure as hell do.

She’smockinghim. In front of everyone.

That tight ball inside me unravels and snaps, and I’m lost to everything except my fury.

Florence moves off the stage, walking right toward me, a smarmy smile on her face that I can’t wait to rip off her face.

Because I’m done. I’m sick and fuckingtiredof everyone thinking they can do shit like this and get away with it. She moves by me and into the back hallway, and as soon as I see Dalia snatch Quinten off the stage, I’m after Florence.

I think I hear Parker call my name, but I ignore him, my vision tunneled into a singular focus. He might be following me, but I don’t care.