Page 102 of Quinlan

Do the others like me? I think so.

So, it’s just Rex they hate.

I wish they’d tell me what happened. I’m really starting to get pissed. To hate Rex without really knowing why.

Knives and forks clink on plates downstairs, the noise dulling out yet another one of my frustrated growl.

You little fu—

There it is. My proof that Damien isn’t lying. Rex recognized his name.

The more I repeat Rex’s words—the tone he used when he said them—the angrier I get.

Sure, I could’ve demanded answers earlier. Could’ve opened the door when Liam knocked before dinner. When Rome shouted from the other side that I had to join them.

Damien started opening up when we were together in the bathroom. I didn’t understand him, not fully. I was overwhelmed by the pain, by the orgasm. By his kindness.

He stopped there, though. I could tell Rome and Liam wouldn’t say anything without his permission. They were tight, the three of them. So I stayed here. Shouted back at Rome to fuck off. Shouted it at the three of them.

Water runs in what must be the kitchen sink on the first floor. The sound is faint. Hardly audible.

Dinner is over.

My window of opportunity has closed. My chance to join them, to pretend nothing’s happened and start asking questions is over.

The cozy atmosphere of afamilydinner has ended. They won’t pass me the salad or offer me a second helping of ragu Damien talked about.

The three of them will go to their separate rooms. Back to being assholes.

Sigh.

Frustration and curiosity war within me.

Frustration for being weak. I’ve given in to them too many times. Ibeggedfor Damien today. I got off on the pain. No more of that. They could be psychos who’ll keep me here indefinitely. They could ignore my tantrums.

They could. I, on the other hand, can’t ignore my curiosity.

Rex isn’t innocent, and Damien wasn’t lying. He recognized him. I can’t stand by and pretend no crime was committed against him. It’s impossible for me to pretend everything’s fine when it isn’t.

I believe the three men, even if they haven’t asked me to. I don’t even hate them, as harsh and unhinged as they are.

He isn’t a good man. A monster. Damien said that.

My skin crawls with each passing second.

Words like child molester come to mind. A pedophile. He could’ve beaten them so badly that they passed out. Rex is a big man. He has a temper.

And he’d warned me about people.

If someone says they’re a friend of your parents or mine, tell them to talk to us. Not you. Never you, you hear?

I heard him. Loud and fucking clear. As a child, I watched his face redden while he drilled those lessons into me. He looked horrified at the thought of someone taking me from him.

Was he that intense because he was that person? Because he knew firsthand the damage he’d caused other children as a foster dad?

Bile rises in my throat. My entire body breaks into shivers.

You little fu—

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