Page 72 of Speak of the Devil (New Hope 3)

“He is.”

He turns my face toward the suitcase. “He has two,” I say. “That one is too small.” I turn back to him and do my best to divert his attention. “Can’t fit anything in it.”

He lifts me by my hair and forces me onto the bed.

“Sean gave his approval, in case you’re wondering.” I don’t doubt this.

“He says whatever I want. And you know what that means? In the eyes of the law, in the eyes of the church, you’re his property.”

“Adam. Please.”

“Come on,” he smiles. “You know the drill.”

The clock beside the bed reads 9:28 p.m.

“I watched the tapes,” he says, pushing into me.

“With Elliot Parker. Your performance was pretty good.”

I push against his chest. I know better than to leave marks, but I try to fight him off nevertheless. He prefers it that way. Tears spill from the corners of my eyes. I don’t know if either one of us prefers this, it just is.

“I expect you to be better,” he tells me breathlessly. “Show me what you’ve got.”

“You know I don’t want this,” I cry, and it’s the first true thing I’ve said.

“In that case,” he says. “Let me show you.”

The clock reads 10:42 by the time he finally stops.

“Your guy is downtown,” he tells me afterward, as he buttons his shirt. “At the rejuvenation center.”

“Sean?” I play stupid.

“No. Elliot Parker.”

“Elliot?” I swallow hard in a poor attempt to try to hide the inflection in my voice. “Why? He’s not a member.”

“He will be before he leaves.”

“Really?”

“We’re changing things up. We can’t be so soft anymore.”

I look away. The bruising on my thighs proves his point.

“That,” he says, “And he did something—or rather Melanie did something.”

“Melanie?”

He cocks his head. He thinks I know something. “Are you surprised?”

I shrug. “Kind of, yes.”

His face falls. “We had eyes on her, and she slept with him.”

“With Elliot?”

“Yes, with Elliot,” Adam scoffs. “Jesus Vanessa. Are you even listening?”