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Connie looks self-righteously incensed. “I offered! But she—”
“Let me guess. She said I didn’t need the calories.”
Connie winces.
“It’s fine. Not your fault. I know how Mom works.”
“You sure you’ll be okay?”
“I have seven ex-Special Ops men guarding me, Connie. If anyone in the world is safe, it’s me.” I give her an impish grin.
Truth be told, I don’t want anyone hovering over me.
Except, maybe, Drew.
“Stay safe. Be careful.” Her frown deepens. “Nothing is ever what it seems like on the surface.”
Everyone keeps saying that. Before I can ask her what she means, Connie skitters off.
I’m finally alone.
My stomach’s full, my head is ready to explode, all I can think about is having Drew touch me, and someone’s trying to kill me.
Not just someone.
Them.
What’s a presidential candidate's daughter supposed to do in a moment like this?
Nap.
My own bed has become my best friend. I guess Jane is second. Drew’s third? At this point I can’t be choosy.
Bed it is.
Within seconds of settling my cheek on the pillow, I’m out.
Can’t breathe. Can’t think. Can’t move can’t escape can’t anything help help help.
I’m in the darkness Daddy help me come get me oh oh oh stop the pain stop it stop it stop it noooooooo.
Something wet covers my face. It’s sticky and tangy, like blood but thicker. Someone yanks my hair up, so hard each strand tingles, pulled tight until it snaps, making my neck muscles spasm. I crawl into the soft spot inside my mind where none of this happens but they won’t stop touching me, filling me, opening me, making me scream and grunt and cry until I can’t make sound.
And then darkness.
Not enough darkness.
My shoulders can’t move, the bones grinding so hard. It’s a different pain than what they do to me elsewhere. Grind my bones for a thousand years, but please don’t do that any more.
Please.
I open my eyes. Can’t talk, but maybe if they see my eyes they’ll stop. If I say please with my eyes.
But my eyes are covered with one of my scarves.
I don’t exist. They covered my eyes so I can’t see them.
And so they can’t see me beg them no.
