Page 23 of Manacled Hearts

“Why are we helping them. Why her.”

My scowl softens, my stomach drops. I wipe a gloved hand over my face and wonder just how fucked I am.

Yeah… good question—why her?

“I gave her my answer,” Madds continues. “Someday maybe you’ll give her yours.”

I right hook him in the cheek before his last word finishes its short echo.

EVELYN

I don’t recognize the person looking back at me from this gold framed bathroom mirror. She doesn’t belong in this beautiful, expensive room. Even if her wheat-colored hair matches the theme of this apartment she’s been living in for a few weeks now.

I rake my fingers through my long strands, hating how even my own touch makes me feel so vulnerable. I used to love my hair. My only pride, even when my fading body stopped feeling like mine as my meals became more scattered. The sweet memories of my mother brushing it when I was a child are now tainted.

We have to go back. There’s no way we can stay here amongst these strangers. Maddox told me what they allegedly do—businessmen. I scoff at the thought. Sure… because businessmen rescue little girls from containers. Organize operations to destroy sex trafficking rings. And have 24/7 security.

They may be businessmen, but they are definitely on the wrong side of the law.

Just as the men who took us.

Burning flares over my scalp, and I find myself clutching my hair, pulling at it. There’s a few too many hairs tangled between my fingers when I release it, and bile rises in the back of my throat. Even by my own hands I can’t handle it…

God, I need to pull myself together.

It’s too early for me to leave. I need money. A bit of time. And a plan on becoming Maya’s legal guardian. When we’re returning to Fleeton, it will be in a place of our own, not on the streets again.

Which means I need a job.

I flinch when a knock sounds at the door, startling me out of my thoughts.

“It’s me,” Katya says. “I wanted to let you know I’m home and that we’ve been invited somewhere.”

“I’ll be out in a second.”

Invited somewhere?

I rush to wash my hands, running them through my hair to fix the mess I made, and walk out. Katya’s in her bedroom, door open as she takes off her blouse.

I whip around, cringing. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry. I’m only changing.”

I’ve never been part of a family or group of friends where undressing in front of each other was normal. Nudity has always been something rather private in my life. I always found it peculiar when girls from school casually mentioned going into their bathrooms when their moms took a bath or something.

When I turn, I find her pulling on a T-shirt and switching her skirt to a pair of loose jeans. I can deal with that, but something about nudity makes me feel like they’re going to think I’m gawking at all their private parts.

“Where were you invited?”

“Not just me, all three of us,” she answers.

“I don’t understand.”

“One of the guys is having a little get-together at his house. Just our… group.”

Did she want to say The Sanctum? Maddox said that’s how they’re known in Queenscove. Like that isn’t another indication that they are more than just a business.

“They suggested it would be good for you and Maya to join,” Katya says. “Socialize in a comfortable, safe environment.”

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