Page 66 of Shattered Souls

He leans down, covering my body with his own, and takes my mouth to his. The kiss is searing, claiming, and full of pure passion all at once. He pistons into me, kissing me deeper. Then, his mouth moves to my neck, nipping and sucking at the tender skin. Once more, only this time he takes my nipple between his teeth, my next orgasm on the cusp already.

My eyes never open, intensifying every move of his body.

“Open those pretty eyes, Rayvn.” I do. I open them to see Hayze fisting his cock, signing for me to open my mouth.

I open my mouth and lay my tongue out for him. He presses his dripping tip to my wet offering and within seconds, explodes onto it. The hot ropes of cum coat my tongue, cheek and chin.

Before I can even react to Hayze’s climax, Synn burrows himself deep in me and fills me, and I’m right behind him with my own release, again. I throw my head back, swallowing the saltiness on my tongue and pant, exhaustion gnawing at my bones.

“You’re goddamned perfect, Rayvn.” Synn lays back down, pulling me to his chest. Hayze lays on the other side, spooning into my backside. One of them, not sure which one, pops on the news, something that’s become routine. We catch the tail end of some story, the news caster wrapping up, before she gains a more serious tone.

“Breaking news coming from Kissimmee, Florida.” I sit up so fast I’m pretty sure I almost knock Hayze out. I can feel the mute brother sign something to the other, but my ears are burning and my mind is swimming now.

“Reports are coming in that the suspect previously arrested in the murder of Charlie Russ and disappearance of Mae Russ has been released due to new evidence surfacing.” The room’s spinning. The contents of my stomach are in my throat as I watch my own face pop up on the screen, my previous state of euphoria snuffed out wholly.

“Fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Charlie Russ’s own daughter, previously presumed missing, Mae Russ. Police are now on a hunt to find the young woman and bring her to justice for her crimes. The suspect fled the state lines in Charlie’s red pickup truck, as shown in highway patrol cameras.” The footage of my desperate escape plays across the screen. The red pickup taking me across Florida state lines.

“Mae Russ was last seen crossing the border to Montana, two years ago. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Mae Russ, please contact authorities. There is a $25⁠—”

“Turn it off!” I cover my ears, and tuck my body in on itself. Dad’s voice circles my head, telling me it’ll be all right. That I’m still his little girl. I used to find comfort in the voice. But now—now I want to peel my skin off and stuff it in my ears to muffle him out.

I’m crying, though the tears don’t even process on my skin. All I can feel and think is him. The way his blood pooled around his head, and his eyes watched me as I left his stiff body to rot.

How did I not think to clean the gun? Did I really think I’d get away with murder? Is this where my time ends? Will these men turn on me and kill me? Or will they see me as one of them?

22

Seek

She won’t speak.

She curled in on herself and hasn’t moved.

“Do you know anything?” I ask Hayze, both of us watching her balled up body from the kitchen. My brother seems very put off by the state of the already frail girl. I am too, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something much bigger at hand than her emotions.

We’re currently harboring a wanted criminal after so many years of running from the law ourselves.

“I knew she was from Kissimmee, but not that she’s wanted.” I stare at him.

“Or that her fucking name is actually Mae?” He stares right back at me, his expression flat.

“Okay, Tomas.” He signs nice and slow for me.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” I push past him, making my way towards Rayvn—Mae—towards mine. I crouch down in front of her. She’s still naked, shivering and sniffling deep in her little human cocoon.

“Rayvn,” I don’t touch her, knowing just how dangerous these moods can get. Hayze must feel the tension too much and all at once. A plate flies across the kitchen, smashing into the wall and raining down to the ground in a thousand tiny pieces.

Rayvn lifts her head, looking at the source of the noise. Her eyes are red, as well as her nose, while her brows are permanently stitched together. I hook a finger under her chin before she has the chance to sink back into her body, and force her to look at me.

“I need to know, Rayvn.” I force my voice to remain calm. I’m not mad, not wholly—just heartbroken that she might be taken from us. Especially after what we just shared.

She shakes her head, sniffling. “Baby, I can make it go away. But I need your help—I need to know.” She cries harder, reluctantly unraveling her body so she’s straight once more.

“I can’t.” The words are hidden between sucks of choppy air, but I hear her. I also understand that fear of telling anyone your darkest secret.

“Must I remind you? We’ve killed people in front of you, little scarecrow. We’re used to getting messy.” Hayze sits on the couch, reaches up to sign to her, but stops short when he realizes his hands are trembling.

“It’s not the same.” She tugs a blanket over her bare chest and scoots back until her back is flush with the couch. “Two years. I made it two years before they found out it was me.” Hayze pushes off the couch, walks to the fun room and slams his fists into the walls a few times. I’ve always felt bad for his lack of options to express his emotions—this is one of those times.