Page 74 of Pretty Broken Things

Poppy strolls in with a make-up case, and an outfit slung over her arm. I think I hate her the most. For another woman to help men do this, she’s the worst kind of person, and I vow if I do somehow make it out of here, I will make sure she dies.

“It’s time to get ready for the party,” she says in a singsong voice. Yup, she’s definitely going to die if I ever get the chance.

I sit like a zombie while she uses a super strong concealer to cover all the bruises that would be visible in the slutty outfit she chose for me to wear. My body stopped feeling like mine three days ago, so it doesn’t really matter to me what I wear. Very little matters to me now.

The party is in full swing by the time she’s satisfied with how I look, meaning I don’t look like I’ve been used as a punching bag. Before we descend the stairs she pulls me close. “I’m going to be watching you. Don’t even try to give them a heads-up.”

“Or you won’t let us go,” I finish.

She laughs. “They’re never going to let you go. You’re making Jesse way too much money on your back. You should figure out a way to accept it.”

Little does she know that she just gave me all the motivation I need to take whatever steps I have to. This is going to be messy, and it all depends on Ford seeing me one more time. Something he hasn’t done for years now. If he doesn’t it sounds like Sin can be deadly if triggered. If none of that works, they’re going to have to kill me, because I am not going back in that room.

Tracy is locked in the room with Lydia to keep stragglers from finding them. I don’t know yet how I’ll get them out of here, but one way or another this ends tonight.

Poppy has a death grip on my arm on our way down the stairs. The moment people see us she morphs from a psycho bitch to a slutty party girl. She gives me a little push, and I see Jesse talking to Sin and Raven just before he grabs my arm and thrusts me straight into the drama.

“The party is just getting started,” he says to them. I try not to shudder. He’s used that phrase every day he’s brought guests over to use me.

“Hey, Sin,” I shout. I’m trying to catch his eyes in hopes that he can tell something is wrong. Of course he doesn’t notice. Ford’s version of our relationship has colored everyone’s opinion of me. Unfortunately, I don’t see Shane anywhere. He might be my only hope, because he’s the only one that knows me, even a little bit.

“Looks like you found a new group of friends,” he says to me.

“I didn’t really have a choice.” I try and emphasize that as much as I can. I can feel Poppy’s eyes boring holes into me as she moves closer. “Everyone dropped me after the weekend at the cabin,” I add to keep her from lashing out.

She gets closer, and grabs my arm. To them it probably looks like we’re the best of friends. They have no idea she’s squeezing one of my newest bruises to remind me how much they can and will hurt me if I step out of line. The joke’s on her, I know they’re going to do it either way. I literally have nothing to lose.

“Poppy, this is Sin,” I say through clenched teeth. “He’s a friend of Ford’s.”

She glares at me. I don’t know what she expected. I told her I don’t hold any kind of sway with these people. This was a dumb fucking plan from the beginning. My only hope is that Raven is as big of a badass that Shane gave her credit for, because I need to get Jesse and Kyle occupied while I try and figure out a way to find Shane or someone who will help me get Tracy and Lydia out of here.

Poppy tries to flirt with Sin, which I know isn’t going to get her anywhere. She does love to play with her prey. She’s as big of a predator as Jesse and Kyle are.

Poppy manages to get in between Sin and Raven long enough for Jesse and Kyle to drag her away. They’re taking her to the basement, which I know is where the worst things in this house happen. I make sure to add her to my list if the guys don’t manage to get her out. The adrenaline pumping through my veins is making me feel superhuman.

While they’re all distracted I try to slip through the crowd to find someone. I don’t know who. I don’t really want to bet on Shane. He’s let me down every time he’s promised to help me. Ford is even worse, but they’re my only options. Most of the other guys here are leering at me, probably remembering one of the private parties Jesse likes to treat his inner circle to.

Before I make it far, Sin grabs my arm and yanks me into the kitchen. I’m sure he doesn’t realize he’s squeezing a fresh bruise, but he doesn’t seem like the type to have any empathy. I’m not sure it’s the pain making me cringe away from him anyway. Being touched by a man is sending a new wave of panic through me. I can’t believe I thought any of them could help me, they’re all the same.

“Where the fuck did they take her? Was this your plan? Distract me so they could get her alone?”

I lift my chin so he doesn’t see the tears welling up in my eyes, and cross my arms to keep them from grabbing on to my abused flesh again. “I don’t owe you anything.”

I don’t mean to be defiant. I want to ask for their help, but something inside of me is far too broken to trust them. Suddenly, I can’t see a difference between Jesse, Kyle, Sin, and Ford. All of them have used me for their own purposes. None of them give a shit about the damage they’ve done to me.

Ford steps up and says, “Sin, let me handle this.”

He roughly grabs my chin, and the last whole piece of me crumbles to dust. I let everything go, most of all the last of my sanity.

“Don’t fuck with me right now, Tess. You know what Jesse is capable of. Where did they take her?”

A short hysterical laugh slips out of my mouth. God, do I know what Jesse is capable of. Do they care? No, because I’m disposable to him. She’s not though. She never committed the sin of trying to protect him at the sake of her own happiness.

“You’re supposed to be on my side. We’re family.” I don’t know why those words are the ones that my mouth picks out of my brain. Inside I’m begging him,See me, please for fuck’s sake see me again.

“I’m not here for your bullshit. Where the fuck did they take her?”

Over Ford’s shoulder I see one of Jesse’s goons glare at me. I know what I’m supposed to say, but the words taste bitter in my mouth. I only hope one of them can see through the bullshit about to spew from my mouth to figure out there is more wrong here than they know.

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