Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“I’m listening.”
“You know the president of that club was involved in all those foster children going missing around this area, and how it all blew up and went down not so long ago? Well, they took out some of the main players, but they never found out who was pulling the strings on that little puppet show.”
Marek’s eyes flash. “Ivan.”
I nod.
“You want me to give them Ivan.”
“I want you to give me something that will lead them toward Ivan. It’s him, or you, I’m certain I know what you’ll pick.”
Marek studies me, his eyes not giving a single thing away. He is a man you’ll never read, and when you think you’ve got him figured out, he will do the complete opposite. That’s how he gets everything he wants.
“You’re turning out more and more like your mother with every passing day. Thinking outside the box. I’m impressed, Acacia.”
He’s complimenting me, but I know that means little coming from him.
“I’d say I’m flattered, but I’m not. Do we have a deal?”
“I do not make deals.”
“Fine,” I grind out. “Then do I have permission to give them something that will lead them toward Ivan and not you?”
A sharp nod.
The go ahead.
“Wonderful,” I mutter.
I turn, walking past him to the door, thinking our meeting is over.
I should know by now that with Marek, there is always something more.
“You did not think I would have accepted a meeting with you simply to discuss an errant biker club, now did you, Acacia?”
I pause and suck my breath into my lungs as my skin prickles. The tone of his voice has everything inside me tensing.
I don’t like it.
I don’t trust it.
I don’t turn.
I feel him approach; the air thickens, and his presence is strong behind me as he leans in close to my ear and murmurs, “I know your mother didn’t call me. I know you’re lying. I know you have done something.”
No.
I thought I had pulled that phone call off.
I thought he believed me.
I should have known better.
Marek cannot be manipulated.
It is a mistake I know I’m about to pay for.
“I don’t know where she is,” I whisper. “I swear to you, Marek. I was just trying to buy some more time.”
“You’re a liar,” he snarls. “You know what I do to liars, girl.”
My bottom lip trembles with pure fear.
“I’m not lying,” I keep my voice steady. “I don’t know where she is.”
“We shall see.”
No.
No.
Bringing his fingers to his lips, he whistles.
It’s a whistle that I’ve heard before, a whistle that I know means pain and anguish. Within seconds, the door opens and two of his men appear at the base of the RV.
“Take her to the cage.”
“No,” I cry out, as Marek shoves me forward and one of the men takes hold of me. “Marek, I’m not lying. I swear I’m not.”
As if he doesn’t hear me, the door to the RV closes and the two men drag me out of the tent and toward another tent. It’s smaller, but I know the things that happen inside that tent are far worse than anything you could imagine in the main one. I squirm and fight, but it’s no use. These men will take me out without so much as a thought, and I know it.
The moment we step inside, the scent of blood and urine assaults my nose. I clench my eyes shut, not wanting to see the cages, not wanting to witness the torture of the poor girls they keep in here like dogs. As I’m thrown into a cage and the door slams, I let my body fall onto the lightly covered floor. They leave no trace of them behind when they move from town to town. The floors are entirely covered so that not a single drop of blood is left behind.
That doesn’t mean that they’re not unleashing hell behind these walls.
Slowly, I open my eyes, staring around in the bitter darkness. I can’t see anything, but I know I’m not alone here. Nobody dares make a sound, in fear of their lives, and I know better than to try and speak, either. Clenching my fists, I curse myself for coming here. I am failing with every step I take right now, and I’ve just gotten myself tangled into a mess that I’m struggling to get out of.
What was I thinking?
I curl into a ball on my side, clenching my eyes shut, trying desperately to think of a way out of this.
I know there is only one option, but if I say it out loud, this world is going to explode in my face.
I can’t do it.
I can’t.
If I tell the truth, everything will change.
If I break, it’s over for me.
Marek won’t let me go until he knows the truth.
Until he forces me to unleash my secret.
Until I am forced to tell him that ... I killed my mother.