Page 46 of Pursued-

“Let’s see,” Trick says urgently.

“I’ll kill them!” Sasha’s shout is so loud the walls shake.

“Bring her. ‘Vil! Let’s see! So we can stop it.”

“Where? I’ll fucking kill them!” he yells.

I hear footsteps pounding down the stairs.

“The blood looks dry,” Trick says. “‘Vil, this way. Bring her,” he says frantically.

I open my eyes, blinking against the light. There’s running water, and Sasha walks into a shower with me. Trick’s in the doorway, getting sprayed. He scrubs my arm with a washcloth.

“No, ‘Vil. She’s not cut. Her arm’s not cut.”

“Hold her,” Sasha says. “Let me see.”

He hands me to Trick and then tears away my dress and runs his hands over me. “No. Nothing here. Turn her around.” Trick turns me, so I’m facing him. My eyes are wide with shock. “No,” Sasha says, his voice lower, calmer.

His hands catch me under the arms, and he takes me back.

“‘Vil,” Trick says softly. “What about inside?”

“Get out. I’ll check.”

Trick disappears, and Sasha carries me to the bed. I’m dripping wet, but not crying anymore. I’m too stunned.

“Raven,” he whispers. “Are you hurt inside? Did they put anything sharp inside you?”

I stare at him, too appalled to speak.

“I’ll check. I’ll be careful.”

I kick his hand away. “No. I’m not hurt inside. I-I’m okay. Just upset.”

“Whose blood was it?” he asks, still breathing hard.

I sit up, shivering. “I’m cold.”

“Yeah, all right.” He jerks the blanket and wraps it around me.

A knock on the door draws our attention. “‘Vil?” Trick calls.

Sasha strides to the door and opens it. “No. Not her blood.”

Trick exhales. “Good. Yeah. Fine.” He sucks in a breath and exhales. “Jesus Christ.” Then after a moment. “I’ll do a sweep and lock the gate. Fuck.”

ANVIL

I kneel nextto the bed, watching her, not sure what to do for her. When I reach out, she backs away and her voice is strange. She sounds lost.

“I don’t have anything. No phone. No clothes. Nothing,” she says dazedly with tears dripping down her face.. “I left without anything, and I’m not going back. I’m never going back.”

There’s a knock on the door. Her eyes dart to it.

I stand and go to the door. C stands just outside, holding Zoe at arm’s length to keep her from pushing forward.

Zoe’s crying again. She’s been crying on and off all night.