Page 39 of Siccitas

“Take me to her. We’re leaving.”

“What about Daddy?” he asks.

“We’ll... meet him later,” I lie. I nudge him. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Keep up,” he says, jogging in front of me. He skips a little, and I get frustrated.

“Richter, we need to hurry up. Where’s Skylar?”

“Through this bush,” he calls, hopping through it.

I frown and step over the bush.

Before I can even react, the bear trap closes around my leg and digs into my flesh.

I cry out and collapse to the floor. “Richter!”

“I have to protect Skylar,” he says. “That’s what Daddy says.”

“Daddy will hurt Skylar,” I grit out, grimacing. “Help me out and we can go be a family together. A proper family.”

“I have a family,” he says. “Daddy is my family.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Itry to pry the beartrap open, but it slams shut again, digging in deeper.

I wince and look around for something to pry it open with.

I hear footsteps and for just a split-second, I’m filled with hope.

“Richter, come help me quick.”

“He’s gone to play with Skylar,” Luke grunts. He’s bleeding from his head.

I look up at him fearfully. “Luke Greene, stay away from me.”

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