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When no one answers me, the penny finally drops.
That’s not Erin… that’s me. And I’ve done both those things. I’ve seen things I shouldn’t since I’ve seen their faces, and in their warped reality I’ve definitely been disrespectful.
As my eyes once again zone in on the brand on her forehead, I furrow my brows in confusion. That’s not where mine is. My hand immediately moves to my shoulder, and I absentmindedly tap the ruined skin below my shirt while I try to figure out why it’s there.
When Gray asks if there are any other marks on Erin’s body, I’m almost convinced he can read my thoughts.
Tido changes to a picture of her shoulder which bears the same brand as mine. “Only this,” he answers.
I shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, I should have fucking expected it. Gunner’s so fucking unhinged that of course he’d make a point of branding us identically.
“Why on her shoulder?” Slasher asks. The question barely leaves his lips before Alana elbows him in the stomach. “What the fuck did you do that for?” he growls.
She discreetly tips her head in my direction, but when he’s too slow to pick up on her subtle cues, I say, “Because that’s where he branded me.”
Alana’s eyes immediately water. “Oh, Z,” she cries.
I know she’d already deduced as much, but I’m also aware that suspecting and knowing isn’t the same.
“Don’t,” I choke out. “If you cry, I’ll start again.”
She nods and mimes zipping her lips, then she immediately cringes as she realizes how sick that seems now.
“When you say he branded you,” Tido says, pausing until he has everyone’s attention. “Do you mean the same place? Or with the same—”
“Ring,” I say, finishing for him. “Gunner used his beard ring.” My voice holds steady even though a sliver of cold runs down my spine.
He shifts nervously. “Are you sure it’s the same? I mean, could it be another one?”
I slowly get out of Gray’s lap and he follows me as I walk up to Tido. Then I bare my shoulder to the cop, ignoring Alana’s cry and Slasher’s growl as all of them look at the completely identical brand on my shoulder.
“I’m pretty sure it’s the same,” I deadpan.
Once I’ve had enough of them staring, I pull the shirt back into place and turn to look at Tido who’s tapping away on his phone.
“Is it a thumb ring?” he asks, still typing.
I shake my head. “A beard ring. A silver beard ring.”
Tido asks a bunch more questions, and I answer him the best I can. I don’t like talking about any of it, but it’s a small price to pay if it can somehow help the PD and detectives stop the Reapers from killing more innocent women.
“Is there anything else I should know?” Gray asks.
Tido looks at him. “Yeah. The Reapers took all the other whores with them.”
Zoe
Ijerk awake and immediately roll out of bed, settling into a crouch as I reach for the knife stashed under my pillow. I blink rapidly to get used to the darkness, looking around to find the source for my rude awakening.
“What the fuck are you doing, Princess?” Gray’s sleep laden tone is gruff, and by the sounds of it he’s not as awake as I am.
“Someone’s here,” I hiss back. “Someone broke into our apartment.”
His movement is nothing but a blur as he reaches for his gun, and within seconds he’s in front of me, shielding me with his body.
“Where?” he whispers.
Looking around, I don’t see anything out of place. “I don’t know,” I admit. “But I felt them. They touched me.” Fear and anger make it hard to remain still.
