Page 84 of Filthy Few

I snort. “Like I could even fucking go if I wanted to.”

“What’s coming is going to test you, push and potentially break you. Don’t let it, little witch.”

“Don’t play games with me, Vox,” I grit out.

“That's all I got left, witch. I’ll see you later but just remember I always chose the winning side from the start.” He pulls and stalks off down the corridor. I glare at his retreating back, hating that the tattooed bastard can still turn my own body against me. I’m pulled from my inner turmoil when I’m shoved into the lockers by a group of assholes who all laugh and point at me. I hang my head in shame as I walk away.

By the time I hand the supplies back into the office I am bone tired and just want to go home, curl up into a ball and cry. Every day bleeds into nightfall and along with it a part of me disintegrates, my will to fight lessens daily as Nexus continues to strip away pieces of my self-respect and dignity. I am forced to eat and drink from dog bowls here and at home.Homeisn’t the word I want to use for the place I am forced to sleep at each night. I stop by my locker to grab my bag and it's then that I remember the letter in my pocket. I look around to make sure I am alone before pulling it out. The sight of theTfor the Tempest seal has a knot inside my chest loosening.

Nikoa hasn’t forgotten about me.

I tear it open and pull the letter out.

Nova Scotia

I’m aware of the troubles you face daily and it sickens me!

I am pushing my informant for the information I need so I can get you out of there.

I have a team searching for your mother.

Things are going to take a turn for the worst, I need you to trust me when I tell you that nothing is as it seems and everything has been planned out.

I can’t risk saying more in case this letter is discovered.

N x

I slam my eyes closed and want my emotions to remain in check. I thought I could do this alone but it turns out knowing I have Nikoa trying to help me, and my friends as well as their parents, seems to be the only thing keeping me going. I return the letter to the envelope and shove it inside one of my books that I leave in my locker. I can’t risk carrying that letter with me and Nexus or worse, Thomas discovering it. The sooner Nikoa can get my mom the sooner I can kill both of them. Thomas warned me if I tried to kill him, he has a failsafe in place and the people holding my mom would kill her if they didn't hear from him at a certain time every day.

I push through the doors of the school and come to a stop at the sight of Vivian standing beside Archer’s car. If this was anyother day I would ignore her and walk home but the devastated look on her face is what has me moving toward her.

“He’s gone,” she whispers when I stand before her.

My brows draw in. “Who?”

“Ezekiel. He was supposed to meet us at the diner after school yesterday but he never showed up. We went looking for him today. Arch tracked his car's GPS and it led us to the cemetery.” I suck in a sharp breath as panic begins to bloom inside me.

“What did you find?” My tone is firm.

Tears cloud her eyes as she stares at me. “A note.” She reaches into her pocket and hands me the letter.

4221 sister…

My breaths turn ragged and I begin to sway on my feet as a haze of grief slams into me. I reach out and place my hand on the hood of the car to stop myself from toppling over. Vivian is speaking but I can’t hear a word she says over the blood rushing in my ears. I start to feel faint and then before I know what is happening, my whole world tilts on its axis and I black out.

I gasp and snap my eyes open in a panic. I look around and furrow my brow when I realize I’m in a car. No, not just any car, I’m inhisfucking car and in my driveway! Alarm bells blare inside me, if he brought me back here then Nexus is going to lose his mind. A whimper escapes me as I shove the door open and dart out of the car. I race through the front door and race aroundthe house looking for Nexus so I can explain but I come up short when I hear the sound of Ezekiel’s voice.

I creep down the hallway toward Thomas' office, the door is open and Thomas stands there with… Vox. Both their backs are to me as they stare up at the flat screen TV on the wall. I cover my mouth with my hand to keep the horrid sounds from escaping at the sight of the video playing.

“You don’t have to do this, brother,” Ez pleads on the screen and tears build in my eyes at the sight of him on his knees in the cemetery, with his hands bound behind his back. The look of betrayal and fear in his eyes will haunt me. His face is battered and bruised, I can see a cut above his brow and his cheek is split, blood trickling down the side of his mouth. I don’t understand why Vox is here with Thomas and not out looking for whoever the fuck did this with his friends… unless, did Thomas do this to Ez? Was Nexus a part of this?

“You chose the wrong side.” My jaw unhinges and my eyes widen at the sound of Vox’s voice on the TV. I shake my head, wanting to deny what I heard but I can feel it in the pit of my stomach.

“No, you chose wrong by forgetting who you are and where you came from.” Ezekiel’s tone drips with venom but I hear the hint of fear and see it in his eyes. Tears trek silently down my cheeks as I stare into the eyes of the brother I never knew I had or even wanted. The resignation I see in those gray-blue eyes shreds me internally—Ez knows his best friend is about to kill him and still won’t yield and plead for his life.

“I always win, I will always get what I want,” Vox says as he comes into view of the camera. I expect to see him wearing his mask but he isn’t. I want to announce myself and scream that Vox is the leader of theFilthy Fewand blow Vox’s world apart, but if I do that I risk Hayze and Archer being discovered and I can’t do that.

Ez spits on the ground by Vox’s feet and glares up at him. “That son of a bitch murdered our fathers and forced our sisters to live lives they never should have, and yet you choose to help him, why?”

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