Page 106 of Deliverance

“Normal?” I question with a derisive snort, hoping it hides the fear in my voice.

“Maggie,” she says, the heartbreak in her voice pulling my eyes to hers.

All of a sudden, all my strength, all my resolve, evaporates in an instant.

“I keep telling myself it’ll be the last time. That he’ll give up. That…that…”

“Oh my god!” she says as she rushes over to me.

I don’t realize I’ve collapsed to the ground until I’m sitting on my ass, my head in my hands, as I sob.

“He got to me for a while there, Sky. I was almost…afraid of Maryia before we got back together. He’s evil and sick. I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I was scared of what he’d do to me if I didn’t cooperate. He hasn’t reached out since Christmas. I thought maybe he convinced himself I was cured, or he lost interest. I just…hoped. Oh god, I can’t do it, Sky. Not right now. Not again.”

“Shhh,” she says, pulling me into her arms. “You’ll never have to. I promise, he will never hurt you again.”

“You can’t promise that,” I say with a shaking voice.

“Of course I can,” she says. “Vincent!” she shouts.

Five pairs of thundering feet echo through the house, the goth tattooed god making his appearance first as the others fill into the room right behind him.

“Siren,” Vincent says to Skyla, like he’s simply answering her call.

“I need you to kill Harry Brenton.”

“What? What did Brenton do?” Ronan asks as Vincent nods.

“Done.”

Vincent turns on his heel, heading for the door as I call out to him.

“Wait! Stop! Make him stop!” I say as I turn to Skyla.

Like she’s the Griggs whisperer, she says a single word, and he freezes.

“Stop.” Turning to face me, she shakes her head. “Why? That son of a bitch tried to break you. He’s hurt you. He doesn’t deserve to live, Maggie.”

“He’s still hurting you?” Asher asks.

“Still? You knew my best friend was being tortured and you didn’t fucking tell me?” she shrieks at her husband.

Asher’s eyebrows knit together. “Tortured? I caught her mom smacking her and assumed Harry had done the same.”

“He’s been putting her through fucking conversion therapy!” Skyla snaps, earning pained winces from all the guys.

Liam most of all looks absolutely devastated for me. His sympathy practically suffocates the air as he approaches us, crouching down beside me as he shakes his head.

“Bartlett…really?”

Maybe he feels so much sympathy because, he too, is an outsider in this society. Sure, he’s a Legacy, well technically an Elder since his induction, but he is a very proud queer man. I’m not exactly sure how he identifies because, obviously, he’s with Skyla, but I know him and his reputation enough to know that he’s the embarrassment of his family. That his sexuality is something they are desperate to keep hidden. He knows what that piece feels like, but it doesn’t make me feel good. I’m just sad for him. Sad for anyone who has to endure a life like this.

“I’ve stayed strong to who I am. I mean, I’m still dating Maryia.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.

“At what cost?” Sky asks. “He has to die.”

“You can’t just send out your boyfriend to kill someone because they hurt me.”

“The hell I can’t. That’s the perk of having an eliminator for a boyfriend, right?” she asks, her eyes coming to Vincent.