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A wave of frustration swallows me whole. This can’t be my life. I have to get away even if Logan kills me in the process. I refuse to be his pet forever.
“Come on,” Kristen says, patting my wrist. “There’s a creek nearby. Everyone is washing up.”
She rises to her feet and then offers her hand to me. I shove my feet into my boots before taking her offering. A groan of pain rumbles out of me. I’m nineteen, but I feel more like ninety this morning.
I follow her out of the tent and immediately scan the camp, looking for my siblings. Everyone is a blur, but I recognize Destiny sitting beside Jace, both of them eating. She doesn’t seem to be in any immediate distress, which is relieving. Near the fire, a group of kids and women are lively chatting. Raegan is nowhere to be found.
If CJ hurt her…
You’ll what?
Bitterness creeps through me. I can’t do shit. I’m fucking helpless. Kristen points to a pathway between two tents. I follow after her, scanning the ground for anything I could use for a weapon—something more substantial than a rabbit bone. It’d be too easy for anyone to leave a knife or a gun lying around. By the time we make it to the babbling creek, I’ve found nothing useful for fighting a war with an entire group of people in an effort to save myself and my family.
Kristen undresses down to her bra and panties before tiptoeing into the water. Slowly, I peel off my clothes and boots, leaving my boxers on. The water is icy cold but does wonders to bring clarity to my brain. If only I could also bring clarity to my vision.
I notice Sadie and Tom’s kids Wyatt and Olivia talking quietly together, all of their teeth chattering as they wash up. She, too, doesn’t seem to be traumatized from last night.
What about Raegan?
Sucking in a breath, I dip under the water, letting the chill shock me to the bone. When I emerge, my teeth also begin to chatter.
“Here,” Kristen says, thrusting a bar of soap at me. “Who knows when the next chance to bathe is.”
I take the bar of soap—a bar Mom made thattheystole—and lather my body up. The scent reminds me of her. A terrible ache forms in my chest. God, I miss her. I miss them all.
They’re still alive.
They have to be.
Living in a world without my parents would hurt too much. I can’t imagine it and refuse to. Pushing those thoughts away, I scrub at my face, hair, and then hit my pits. Once I’ve rinsed away all the soap, I sink deeper into the creek to pull down my boxers. Quickly, I wash my dick and balls. Then I consider what to do about my ass.
I want him gone from me, but it’s all so tender down there.
Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I soap up my fingers before gently running them along my ass crack. When I brush over my ravaged hole, my breaths come out ragged. The soap stings, but I wash the area anyway. If I didn’t think it’d be extremely painful, I’d stick my fingers inside and clean there too just to rid myself of him. Instead, I let the rushing water do what it can.
“Hi, Ronan,” a velvety voice purrs. “You’re looking a little rough this morning.”
Mya swims over to me, a wolfish grin on her face. Ignoring her, I look for Kristen, eager to get out of this cold ass water. Before I can escape, Mya’s fingers bite into my bicep.
“You don’t have to be rude,” she says with a pout in her tone, plucking the soap from my hands. “You’ll be my husband one day. We should be spending time together.”
Tearing my stare from Kristen, I peer down at Mya, who’s now inches away from me. Her eyes, though ringed in new bluish bruising, flicker with mischief. Maybe to some other guy, she’d be attractive, but to me, she’s just another extension of evil in this fucked-up group.
“I’m not the only one looking a little rough this morning,” I grunt, gesturing at her swollen nose and bruised face. “Did you run into a tree?”
“More like my fist!”
Raegan’s voice is nearby, followed by a cackle of laughter. My heart squeezes in my chest. She sounds like her usual self. Thank fuck.
“Cut your shit,” CJ grumbles, dragging her farther down the creek with him and out of my line of vision.
“My uncle won’t put up with her continued disobedience,” Mya hisses, poking at my chest. “You people think you’re so funny and smart. You’re nothing but a commodity to be consumed and discarded when we no longer need you.”
I glower at her, taking a step closer. “I wish I could have watched her hit you.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrow. “Maybe I should tell Logan what an asshole you’re being. I’m sure he’d be up for a little more training.”
I’m not sure if she means the beatings or the rape. Either way, her threat is effective. I cringe at her words before turning and swimming away from her.
