Page 24 of Grave Intentions

Before I can respond, Talon leans in closer, his lips a breath away from mine. “I want you by my side, Lena,” he whispers, his voice sending a shiver of anticipation through me.

And with that, he pulls away, leaving me trembling and utterly confused, torn between the life I’ve grown comfortable with and the tantalizing promise of something new, something dangerous...something with Talon.

I stare at Talon, my heart racing as I process his words. Should I leave everything behind? Should I start a new life with him?

But as much as I long for freedom, for a chance to escape the suffocating control of the Wilsons, I can’t just run away. I’m going to MIT. I have my whole future in front of me.

“It depends when you leave,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I force the words out. “I can’t leave everything behind before finishing high school.”

Talon’s eyes flicker with anger. “So even if they kick me out before then, you’ll stay?” he growls. “If you stay here, they’ll only use you.”

“I... I know,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “But I need...I need time to think. To figure out what I want.”

Talon scoffs. “You’re a fool, Lena,” he spits, his words cutting deep. “You think you have a choice in any of this? You think they’ll ever let you be free?”

I swallow hard. “I have to believe that there’s another way. I can find a path that doesn’t involve running away or giving in to their demands.”

Talon stares at me for a long moment, his eyes boring into mine. “Fine,” he says. “Have it your way. But don’t come crying to me when they break you. When you realize the only way out is the one I offered you.”

With that, he strides out of his own room, leaving me alone with my heart aching. I know he’s right on some level. Staying here means subjecting myself to the Wilsons’ control for a future I never wanted.

But I can’t bring myself to take the leap, to abandon everything I’ve worked for. Not yet. Not until I’ve exhausted every other option.

With a heavy sigh, I return to my room, my mind whirling with the implications of Talon’s revelation and the weight of the choice that lies before me.

16

TALON

TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD

Ten months later…

Lena is eighteen now.

I’m close to having enough money to get us out of here; whether she agrees to come with me is another matter, especially since she was not up for it when I suggested it ten months ago.

Another year of saving since we first kissed and a promotion to assistant manager at JJ’s means I’ve accumulated the measly sum of four thousand dollars. It’s enough to strike out on our own, and I’ll find a job quickly wherever we go.

It’s been three days since Lena’s birthday. Thankfully, the Wilsons have gone on vacation out of state to visit family, leaving us alone.

I’m sure Lena’s been thinking about the deal we struck. She’s eighteen now, and it’s hard to stop my mind wandering to all the dirty and depraved things I want to do to my little foster sister.

I watch Lena fidget with the hem of her shirt, her brow furrowed with worry. “Are you still planning to leave?” she asks, her voice small and uncertain.

I lean against the kitchen counter, crossing my arms over my chest. “I told you, I’m saving up enough money from my job at the grocery store. Once I have enough, I’m out of here.”

Lena’s shoulders slump, and she bites her lower lip. “But I thought... I thought you’d stay. For me.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Lena, we’ve been over this. I can’t stay here forever. The Wilsons are toxic, and I need to get away before they destroy me completely.”

I watch Lena shift in her seat, her fingers twisting in her lap. The silence stretches between us, thick with tension.

“About our deal...” she whispers.

My cock twitches at her words. I’ve been waiting for her to bring this up since her birthday three days ago. “What about it?”

“I’m eighteen now.”

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