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The fact that this played out better than I thought it would made me grin. West was easy when it came to sex. If I came on to him again, I doubted he’d walk away. I wondered how Eli would feel if it did happen again. I guess I’d have to find out.
“River is right about one thing,” West continued, his voice getting louder as footsteps came by the door. “This is what she wants. And I think we all remember how good she was with listening in on conversations she wasn’t supposed to hear.”
Shit.Snatching my heels from beside me, I scrambled away from the door and raced toward the stairs. Light brightened the hall around me, and I didn’t look back, knowing at least one of them had seen me. I leaped down the steps, grateful the foyer was empty. I halted near the front door and slid my heels back on before going outside.
Scanning the circular driveway, I rushed to the far side when I saw my mom’s SUV. I pulled the door handle, knocking on the window when I realized the door was locked. I peered through the passenger window, seeing the usual driver sitting and gripping the steering wheel. He glanced at me and rolled the window down a couple of inches.
Regret covered his face, making my stomach drop. “I’m sorry, Ms. Katalina. He gave me an order.”
My breath caught in my chest as I debated what to do. Going into the house was my best bet. I’d rather deal with all three guys than my monster of a stepfather. Spinning around, I let out a cry when I came face to face with William. His vile smirk had panic clawing within me. Another man stood beside him, and I vaguely remembered him. He’d worked for William for years.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” William murmured as I pressed myself against the side of the car.
“I’ve been busy. With classes and everything,” I mumbled.
“Too busy to get rid of that hair like I asked you a week ago?”
I kept my mouth shut, knowing arguing with him would only make this worse.
“How are you enjoying being home?” he asked, fake concern lining his voice.
“It’s great,” I muttered, trying to figure out what he was up to.
“I know you must be stressed. You made it clear years ago that you never wanted to come back.”
“I always knew I would.” I looked back at the house, praying for anyone to come out. “I’ll do what’s expected of me.”
“I can help ease some of your burdens.” His words inflated my spiraling panic as he stepped closer. “It’s a lot of pressure to be a founding family, isn’t it, Katalina?”
“I’m fine.”
He held out his hand, revealing what he was holding. My mouth went dry, terror seizing me. The little colored pills in his palm were the beginning of my mother’s downfall. And now he wanted to do the same thing to me.
“No,” I hissed. “I get drug tested for basketball. I can’t take anything. I don’t need them.”
“You do,” he snapped, quickly losing patience. “There’re more important things than that damn game you love. You need to focus on the family. These will help.”
“You’re insane.” I lost all pretenses of staying calm when I witnessed the determination in his gaze. “You took my mother away with those. You turned her into your puppet. I will never become like her.”
He frowned. “You better watch how you talk to me. I will not tolerate disrespect.”
“Says the man who took his wife’s last name,” I spat out, clenching my fists. “A man who cheated and killed his way to the top. You’re nothing but a fucking leech.”
Rage sparked in his eyes as he tensed. He nodded to the man next to him. My purse fell to the ground as I tried lunging away when I realized what was happening. My scream tore through the air as the man gripped my arm, pulling me into his chest. Hysteria claimed my thoughts when he pulled my arms behind my back, his hold tight enough to leave marks.
“Stop. Don’t do this. Please,” I screamed, pure terror holding me hostage. My biggest nightmare was living my mother’s life. I’d rather fucking die.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” William snapped, stepping in front of me. “After the first couple times, you’ll be begging me to give you more. It’ll make all your worries disappear.”
“Fuck you,” I screeched, struggling against the man’s hold. “You can’t do this. Unlike you, I’m a Whitman.”
“So is your mother,” he murmured, grabbing my jaw roughly. “But soon, it’s going to be you who has a say in this town. And I want to make sure you’re listening to the right person when it comes to making decisions.”
His fingers dug into my cheeks when I tried wrenching my face away from him. The man moved my wrists into one of his hands before gripping my hair and tilting my head back. William pried my mouth open, and I screamed as he pressed the pills onto my tongue. My stomach heaved as he slammed my jaw up, causing my teeth to knock together.
The pills rested on my tongue, slowly filling my mouth with a bitter taste. I refused to swallow them. I let my eyes fill with loathing as William stared at me while he kept his hand on my jaw to keep me from opening my mouth. Smug satisfaction brewed in his gaze, snapping me out of my panic. He would not do to me what he did to my mom.
Raising my leg, I smashed my heel onto his foot. With a surprised yell, he released my face, and I immediately spit the pills onto the ground. They got lost in the darkness, and relief soared within me. I knew this wasn’t over by a long shot, but at least I still had my own rational thoughts.
