Page 38 of He Will Come for Me

My eyes widen at this piece of information. “What? When did she get sold?”

“Three months before you were. The auctions happen every three months. Rex tried to stop it, but he found out too late and didn’t get there in time.”

My head is spinning with all of this information. “Rex was Anna’s security.” That makes sense. Her father is a senator, who I think was on the path to running for president, eventually. “Did she get kidnapped to be sold at the auction?”

He stares at me for several seconds before responding. “No, she came home for winter break from college and her dad took her to the auction.” He pauses for a brief moment. “She thought it was a party, too.”

I’m speechless. I only met Anna’s father a few times when he’d come to the academy for parent’s weekend, but it’s hard to imagine he’d do that to her. I think about my father. It’s hard to imagine he’d do that as well.

“Are there more girls who have been sold?” I don’t want to know the answer.

“Yes, several.”

Chapter 17

Idon’t know what to say. He steps back and crosses his arms over his chest, making the opening in his shirt wider and giving me a better look at his tattooed skin underneath. Swallowing, I focus on what he just said.

Several girls were sold. “Did all the girls who were sold go to Brighton?”

“The majority.” He surprises me when he answers. I don’t know why. So far, anytime I’ve asked him a question outright, he’s answered. And as far as I know, he’s been honest. My mind begins to whirl.What could that mean?

“Were they all sold against their will?”

“Those who were sold from Brighton, yes.”

I bring my hand up to my mouth. “What does that even mean?”

He sighs and leans against the counter. “There are some people who are sold at these auctions that do it willingly.” I open my mouth, but close it again.

I need to stop keeping my head in the sand and begin doing research. I’ve been avoiding this because I don’t want to know why my father would sell me. Or why the principal would want to buy me.Who bought Anna?I rub my hands up and down my arms before jumping off the counter.

“I’m going to check on Anna.” Phoenix doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t try to stop me either. I want him to tell me everything, but at the same time I don’t.

Walking down the hall, I stop at Anna’s door. It’s cracked slightly, so I glance through and see her laying on her side facing the windows. I’m not sure if she’s asleep or not, so I knock lightly. She turns toward me and the haunted look in her eyes makes me want to kill whoever did this to her.

“Hey Anna,” I whisper because I remember how loud everything seemed when I first got here.

“Hey,” she whispers back. Her voice cracks and she grimaces. There’s a pitcher of water on her nightstand, so I walk over and pour her a glass. She struggles to sit up. I want to help her, but the determination in her eyes tells me it wouldn’t be appreciated. When she’s situated, I sit next to her and hand her the water.

Her hands shake as she brings the glass to her lips. I keep my hands under the glass just in case it falls, but allow her to do it on her own. She almost drops it, so I grab it and help her take a few more sips. Releasing a frustrated sigh, she leans her head back and closes her eyes.

I sit the glass back on the nightstand. “I hate this,” she whispers. Her voice sounds different than what I remember.

“I know. It will get easier,” I promise her.

She turns her head to look at me. “Tobias says you’ve lost your memories.” I have to remind myself Tobias is Rex.

“Yes. I don’t remember the past three years of my life.”

She turns away and looks out the windows again. “You’re lucky. I wish I could forget.”

I don’t know how to respond to that. I understand where she’s coming from and my heart hurts for her, but I wish I could remember. At least the parts where I’ve forgotten Phoenix and my life with him.

“I always knew you and Phoenix would wind up together.” One side of her mouth lifts into a small smile. She changes the subject, probably in an attempt to not talk about herself.

“How did you know that? I always thought you had a crush on him.”

She chuckles as her gaze finds mine. “I did. Everyone did, but he only had eyes for you.” My eyes widen. She shakes her head. “And you were completely oblivious.”

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