Page 18 of Tied

“Riley!” I holler, taking a step forward. “You stop this nonsense now—or I’ll give them permission to do whatever is necessary to keep you in place.”

All three of them freeze, but Riley is the only one looking back at me over her shoulder. Fear and humiliation now dominate the expression on her face, underlined with a heavy layer of reproach. She’s trembling, fighting back another surge of tears, while her captors calmly wait for my order.

“But w—”

“Shut up and do as you’re told,” I reprimand her, stepping closer with my index finger raised as a warning. “You’ll regret it if you don’t. Trust me.”

Understanding flashes in her eyes. She doesn’t say a word, but lowers her head in defeat when she turns away from me, Kyle’s and Jack’s fists still tightly wrapped around her upper arm.

“Go.”

As soon as the word leaves my lips, the boys start moving again, tugging Riley with them.

Her feeble sob is the last thing I hear before the door closes behind them.

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