Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Clean break.
Last night and this morning were perfect. I’ll hold on to those moments and remember them when Dad is making my life a living hell. It’ll have to be enough.
When Della realizes we’re leaving, she has a meltdown. Kicking and squirming with big, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. She tries to run back over to Sparrow, but one of the cops grabs on to her, easily dragging her back. Sparrow’s nostrils flare, anger burning hot in his stare, yet he remains a statue.
Thank God.
Just stay put until we get out of here, Sparrow.
Soon, we’ll be gone. My guys will be safe. Ty will be safe. They won’t get arrested or shot at because of me. All will be well in their world.
It means subjecting me and Della back to our own personal hell, though. I’m sickened by the thought of going back there. I don’t know what else to do. This seems like the only way. Maybe, after some time passes, I’ll have another opportunity to escape. I will try and remain hopeful.
Dad leads us out of the apartment and into the elevators. It’s not until the doors close do I fully comprehend what I’ve just done.
I left the only men who’ve ever tried to protect me or save me, willingly going with the monster.
Hopeful?
There’s no hope anymore.
I left hope in Scout’s bed this morning.
Hope is lost. All that’s left is darkness and it’s quickly swallowing me up.
Chapter Seventeen
Landry
My father’s fury is a thick, suffocating cloud in the car. Della’s face is buried into my side as she refuses to look at him. I take shallow breaths, attempting to calm the raging storm of anxiety inside my chest.
What was I thinking?
I sacrificed us for slaughter to save the triplets.
The silence in the car is almost worse than if he were yelling at me. I can feel each unspoken word like a lash against my flesh. I hold Della tight, trying to convey to her that this is temporary.
It is temporary.
I’ll figure out a way to escape for good. I did it once; I can do it again.
Find a way to hide away from my father forever.
Save Della.
Save myself.
The driver pulls up in front of our building. A heaviness settles on my shoulders, weighing me into the seat. My whole body feels as though it’s filled with lead.
I can’t willingly walk up there.
I can’t.
A crowd of people rush the car, startling me from my daze. Reporters are snapping pictures and shouting out questions. At least in front of these people, Dad won’t do anything cruel.
Dad’s security push away some people opening the side door for us. Della is pulled from my grasp and one of the men carries her off. I scramble after her, my heart in my throat.
A reporter steps right in my path, shoving a microphone in my face. “Is it true you were kidnapped and held against your will?”
“Miss Croft!” Another microphone bumps into the side of my head as someone tries to get it near my mouth. “Were you hurt? What did the kidnappers want from you? Did they touch you?”
Dad wraps an arm over my shoulders, smacking the microphones away. “The police did their jobs and got me my girls back. Please allow me some time to reunite with them. I’ll give an official statement later.”
The reporters start shouting again, but Dad is done speaking. He ushers me through the crowd and into the building.
“Where’s Della?” I croak out, hysteria building in my throat.
Dad ignores me, guiding me into the elevator. She’s not there. Just the two of us and some more security detail.
“Dad,” I plead. “Where’s Della?”
His jaw clenches but he won’t look at me or speak. I bite back a sob, pushing past him when the elevator doors open to our floor. I break out into a sprint, desperate to see my sister once more before the monster is let loose and life goes back to the way it was before.
Bursting through our front door, I find Della clinging to Sandra. Sandra’s features are pulled tight, disproval shining bright in her eyes.
I’ve made things worse for us.
I can see it written all over her expression. And I know it’s true. That’s why it feels like a punch to the chest, knocking the air out of me. Footsteps resound behind me as my dad and his men approach. Sandra’s spine straightens and she turns on her heel with Della, guiding her down to her bedroom. She disappears inside with her and closes the door. For once, I’m thankful for Sandra’s presence. At least Della has someone and maybe Dad will just take it out on me, not her. It wasn’t Della’s fault.
Not waiting to be told, I bolt to my own bedroom. It’s not until I close the door behind me do I notice the change.