Page 102 of Saviors

I walked through the cage towards the door, shoving my palm into it. Instead of giving way, it rattled in place. My fingers curled around the chain-link as I shook it harder, certain it was a mistake. But it only sent vibrations up my arm.

This had to be some sick joke. Or a dream. But the metal beneath my hands felt real. And the pounding of my heart certainly was.

“Seriously. Stop playing and let me out.” My voice was shrill as panic spread through my veins.

“Who’s playing?” The chill in my bones reached my heart, stilling it as Craig smiled at me. But it wasn’t the cheerful smile I remembered from our childhood. It was cold. Vicious. “Where the fuck have you been for months? How did you get away from Simon? Who’s after me?”

“After you?” My mind spun, sending me off balance. He wasn’t making sense. Where was I? Why wasn’t he letting me out? “I have no idea what—.”

My words cut off as he hurled from the chair. He crossed the distance between us before I even processed what he was doing. His hand shot out, yanking mine through the hole in the fencing.

“Craig! You’re hurting me.” I shouted in terror as he twisted my wrist until I felt the muscles tightening.

“That’s the point.” He wrenched harder until my body bent to stop my bones from breaking. “Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused by escaping?”

“Oh god, please.” There was a snap and blinding pain. Bright lights burst behind my eyes as they jerked shut.

My scream echoed off the walls as he released me as quickly as he’d attacked. My whimpers of agony fell on deaf ears. He didn’t say a word as I maneuvered my mangled wrist back through the cage, sending more shooting pains up my arm. It didn’t feel broken, but it was definitely injured.

My face dropped in shock as I stared at the deep red marks from his fingers. I never thought he could hurt me. He was my younger brother. My family.

But the man standing in front of me wasn’t the one I remembered from months ago. He was harder. Harsher. Meaner.

Pieces of a puzzle I hadn’t wanted to look at were forming in my mind. Him telling our family I was on vacation. The fact that our parents weren’t worried about his safety.

“You knew?” I needed confirmation even as I cradled my damaged wrist.

“Of course, I did. I was the one who arranged it.” His mouth tipped into a smirk that sent my stomach plummeting. “I gave you to him in a sign of goodwill.”

“Goodwill?”

“We could hardly join their business without proving how serious we were.”

“Business?” All I could do was repeat what he said because none of this made sense. How could he give me to Simon? What had they gotten into?

“Sex trafficking.”

The words were barely out of his mouth before I retched. I hadn’t eaten in hours, but cloudy liquid still came up, spilling at my feet. It splashed across the concrete floor and my bare legs. But I had other things to worry about besides a little bile.

This is what the guys meant about not being safe. They knew. They knew my brothers had sold me into sex trafficking. Even I hadn’t known. I thought he was a crazy ex boyfriend. I’d never imagined my brothers would be responsible for my pain. My trauma.

Another thing they’d kept from me. Another lie.

More vomit rose in my throat and I couldn’t keep it down if I wanted to. Craig just stared as I choked and gagged. Oh god. Did my father know? Is that why he gave me their number? The idea was too horrible to even consider.

I swept the back of my hand over my mouth, wiping away the spit. Staring at the floor, I tried to understand. “You sold me to build trust?”

My words were slow and measured because I still refused to believe this was true. It was a nightmare and any second I’d wake up. I’d open my eyes, and I’d be in Connor’s arms or Maverick’s. Or back at my parent’s house.

Fuck, I’d even take waking up at Simon’s. At least then my own flesh and blood wouldn’t have betrayed me. This was just a drug fueled hallucination I’d made up the last few months. My rescue. The guys. None of this was real.

“Technically, no. I didn’t make any money.” I sucked in a sharp breath as my brother gestured at me like I was an object. “You were a gift. If I’d known how valuable you were, I might have held onto you for a little longer.” Another wave of nausea rolled through me. “I guess you’ll prove your worth now.”

I tried to bring air into my lungs, but the movement sent a stab of pain through my body. My chest refused to expand. Refused to believe this was happening.

“How could you do this to me? I’m your sister!” It came out in a choked sob. I felt the tears making track marks down my face, but I couldn’t stem the flow.

For a brief moment, I thought about what Ivette would do in this situation. Or Maverick. They wouldn’t cry. They would fight.

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