Page 57 of Twisted Empire

I gritted my teeth. “No. You were and still are one of my best friends. Everything my parents told you was a lie. I mean, for god’s sake, you’re on a full scholarship to the best college in the country. It doesn’t even make sense that I’d call you brainless and boring behind your back.”

“No shit. Still hurts, though.”

“Look, if our friendship ever meant anything to you, then please give me five minutes to explain. That’s all I’m asking for.”

There was a long silence on the other end. “Fine. Five minutes,” Greer finally said. “As soon as I’ve finished my coffee, I’m hanging up.”

I launched into a condensed version of my experiences over the last six months. The way Tobias King bought me from my parents. The way I was taken. The things that were done to me. The things Crown and Dagger did to other women too. Kidnapping, rape, torture, forced pregnancy, murder.

I waited for Greer’s response with bated breath and a racing heart. She was silent again, for even longer this time. Finally, she let out a snort of laughter. “I get it. I’m on loudspeaker, and this is a prank. Your new friends are listening in, waiting for the dumb, crazy conspiracy lover to fall for your shit so they can upload it to YouTube and laugh about it. Nice, Tatum. Real nice.”

My throat felt scratchy all of a sudden, and my eyes began to water. “Please believe me. It’s not a prank. I never went to Europe. My parents sold me and they lied to you about everything.”

“Then call the police,” she said. “Oh, wait, you can’t, because you’re full of shit.”

“I’m not. But I can’t call them. It’s not safe. They’re in the society’s pocket.”

“Sure.”

“Please!” I begged. “Just tell me what I can say to make you believe me.”

“How about nothing?”

“I need you, Greer,” I said, my voice cracking. Tears leaked out of my eyes, wetting my cheeks in hot rivulets.

She seemed to register my emotional state, because her voice softened slightly. “What’s really going on? You don’t need to make up some big story to get my attention. Just tell me. You get dumped or something?”

“I didn’t make anything up,” I said. I sniffed back a fresh set of tears. “It’s all true. Remember when we were talking about all the missing women around New Marwick? You said yourself that it was weird. You were right. It’s because a lot of high-level Crown and Dagger members live around there. They see girls they want and they either buy them or straight-up take them, depending on their families.”

Greer’s tone was weary now. “Right.”

“I’m not the only one they took this year. Remember Priyanka Rahman? They took her too.”

“For god’s sake, at least try to make your stupid little story believable,” Greer replied. “Everyone knows she dropped out and went back to New Zealand.”

“No. The Dean lied when he said that. The truth is Pri’s family sold her to the society. She’s been there the whole time, in the same place they kept me.”

Greer snorted derisively. “Wow, so Dean Davenport is magically in on this huge conspiracy too?”

I ignored her sarcasm. “Yes. He’s one of the highest-level Crown and Dagger guys. Mellie knows that, and she’s helping him. She was only ever friends with me to keep an eye on me while they waited for the right time to kidnap me, and she dropped out to work at the Lodge as soon as they did.”

“Cool story. Intrigue, horror, betrayal. You gonna sell the rights to Hollywood?”

“Greer, please. This is real, and I need you. You’re the only one who can help me,” I said. “You were right all along. All those conspiracy theories you used to love talking about… they’re all true. There really is a bunch of shady shit happening in the elite levels of society. Don’t you want a chance to expose it to the world? Don’t you want to help all these women?”

“Okay, this was kinda funny at first, but it’s just pathetic now. Nice to hear from you, Tatum.”

“Wait! Before you hang up, just do one little thing for me. Please. I’m literally begging you.”

She let out a deep sigh. “What?”

“Try and get in contact with Pri’s friends back in New Zealand. You should be able to find them on Facebook or Instagram. Ask them when they last heard from her. I’m gonna call back in a few hours and see how you feel about this whole thing then.”

“Whatever. Bye.”

The line went dead. I put my head in my hands and sobbed. Elias must’ve heard me, because he came in and slipped an arm around me, pulling me tight against his broad chest. “It’s okay,” he muttered. “You’re gonna be fine.”

“She didn’t believe me. She really hates me,” I said in a choked voice.

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