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And all there is right now is an empty hallway. I look to the left and then to the right, but there’s no Elijah.
I’m a lot of things, but I’m not stupid. I can’t waste this chance to get out.
I tiptoe over the creaky floorboards, wincing when one of them squeaks loudly. Still, Elijah doesn’t appear. I take another few steps, focused on the stairs leading straight down to the front door. This time, I’m making it out. I don’t have a choice.
“What are you doing?” The voice comes along with the door to the room at the other end of the hall flying wide open. Henry storms my way, a bottle in one hand, his face flushed. “Did you get lost? You’re not supposed to be out here.”
“I—” All the air rushes out of my lungs when he pushes me against the wall.
I realize when I suck in a surprised breath that he’s drunk. He reeks like the whiskey sloshing around in the bottle and practically oozes from his pores.
“I know.” His deep, nasty laughter can only mean one thing. “You were looking for me, weren’t you? I bet you figure you might as well have a little fun before the delivery. I bet you’ve never been this close to a man, have you?” He presses his large, sweaty body against me, and I have to bite back a scream.
“Please, don’t.” I turn my face away, wincing when his lips skim my earlobe. Oh, god, he’s disgusting. The food I just ate threatens to rush back up into my mouth.
Just in time, he falls back, and I realize when Elijah takes hold of me that he pulled his father away. One glimpse of his face is enough to make my blood run cold. He looks like he could kill me.
Right now, I’m just glad he’s getting me away from his father, shoving me back into the bedroom I came from. I stumble and fall at the foot of the bed before curling in a protective ball.
A breathless sob tears itself from my chest when he slams the door, leaving the two of us together in the room. His energy is so intense I can hardly breathe while he glares down at me with his hands balled up in fists.
For the first time all night, he opens his mouth and speaks in a deep, rich voice full of hatred. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
CHAPTER THREE
ELIJAH
This stupid girl. I was so damn close, and she had to ruin everything. She has the nerve to cower on the floor, weeping and shaking. Like she’s the one whose life was ruined by somebody else’s stupid, careless actions.
To think, I used to be interested in her. Wishing we could say a few words to each other. I only ever knew her name, and it repeated in my head throughout the day, banging like a gong and reverberating through me whenever I set eyes on her.
Now? I wish she didn’t exist.
“What were you thinking?” I’m gritting my teeth so hard I can barely get the words out. I could kill her for this, for destroying my plans. “What, did you think you could stroll out of here? You couldn’t make it out at two in the morning when you weren’t considered a threat. You think they would let you escape now when you’re being held before the delivery? How stupid can you be?”
“Please… don’t hurt me.” She covers her face with her hands, and the sight of her trembling body makes me regret some of my anger. She’s just as screwed as I am, trying to get herself out of an impossible situation.
No. Don’t. I can’t afford to feel sorry for her because it isn’t her life I care about. It isn’t even my own life that matters.
At least Tristan is too young to understand what’s happening. He doesn’t see this place for what it is; he is only eight years old and clueless. He’s never considered questioning why things are the way they are. Why we’re not allowed to talk to the women. Why somebody is always watching.
And he doesn’t even know the half of it. He doesn’t see what goes on behind closed doors. He doesn’t hear the elders talking.
I was so close to getting him out of here.
Dad’s out in the hallway, shuffling around and cursing to himself. Useless. The reason we’re here. Because he’s too weak to live out in the real world, and Rebecca will give him what he needs. She holds his addiction over his head and uses it to make him do whatever she wants, including this.
I hate him. I hate myself for not leaving sooner. For thinking I had time.
“Please…” She shakes her head, still sobbing. “Help me. I don’t know what to do.”
“You can stop crying, for one thing.” She flinches at my sharp voice, and guilt stabs me in the chest. She doesn’t need this from me. Who am I turning into? I’m no better than Dad, basically bullying her when she’s obviously at the end of her rope. Is that who I’m becoming? Or is it who I already am?
Her head snaps up, red-rimmed eyes boring holes into me. “Oh, so you can actually speak? Good to know. All it took was me getting mauled by your father for you to find your voice.”
“Could you try to lower yours?” I whisper, turning my head toward the door to listen. There’s no sound now. He probably went back into his room so he can drink himself to death in peace.
“What is happening? What did she mean, delivery? What’s going to happen to me? Do you know anything? Please, Elijah.”
