Page 356 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Not daring to look. Not daring to disobey.

If I’m a good girl, maybe he’ll let me go.

If I behave, maybe he’ll drop his guard long enough for me or Briar to overpower him.

Chances are slim, but it’s all I have.

So up the stairs I go, one foot at a time. By the time I reach the landing, I’m numb with dread anticipation.

There’s a gaping doorway ahead.

My room. It’s still standing. It’s the only thing still standing up here. Some of the wall against the hall has fallen in, but the other three are still there. Blackened, cracked, but still there. Roof’s caved in, but there’s even a window frame left, a few shards of glass poking out of that wood like teeth.

It’s the mattress on the floor, however, that makes me stare.

It’s not mine. Mine was a twin. This one’s gotta be a queen. And it’s completely untouched by the fire, except for a few streaks of soot.

Brand new and bare.

“See?” Marcus says.

I jolt and hurry forward a step, my skin crawling with the realization that he’d been close enough to whisper in my ear.

“Look how nice it looks.”

“Just take the money,” Briar says. We’re standing a few feet apart facing Marcus, who’s taking up the doorway to my old room.

Marcus rolls his eyes. “Quit it about the money, already. I told you. I found my calling.” He steps inside the room and heads for my dresser. It’s pitch black, one leg eaten away by thefire. Marcus takes a phone from his pocket, plays around with it for a second, and then puts it on the slanting surface.

Facing us.

No—facing the mattress.

“Undress her.”

Briar shakes his head. Lifts his hands. “I can get more money. Tons more. Just tell me how much?—”

“Get her naked!” Marcus yells.

I jerk, my hands closing instinctively into fists. Briar’s jaw bunches, but he turns and does as he’s told.

Eyes fixed on my throat, he starts undressing me. Every time his fingers graze my skin, I shudder. By the time he’s done, I’m full of goosebumps and ice-cold everywhere except my face, which is burning up with shame.

“Good,” Marcus says quietly. “Now how about a little foreplay. I’ll leave it up to you, but just make sure it’s good, yeah?”

Briar looks up at the sky. He takes a visible breath, and then slides his hands over my bare shoulders, pulling me close.

Hiding my nakedness from Marcus.

“Nuh-uh,” Marcus says, stepping closer. “I wanna see what you’re doing.”

He has his gun out again. I’m sure if he came close enough to us, Briar could take it from him. But he keeps at least a yard between us, sometimes more.

“Come on, man,” Briar says. “You’ve made your point. Just let her go.” He steps back, lifting up his hands. “You can kill me if you want, but just?—”

“You do it, or I will,” Marcus growls.

Briar’s eyes skip to me, then back again. Oh my god, he’s actually considering letting Marcus touch me?

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