Page 48 of Savage Scream

Then I remember how they have a basement full of the weed they grow and sell. Maybe that house is just a grow house, and not their real residence?

“So she found out your real sister is here, and what, she gave you a black eye?”

“Something like that,” he mumbles, and I frown.

“That doesn’t make sense, man. Why would she do that?”

“She thinks I asked Ell to come here. Thinks I’ve been going behind her back and because she’s paranoid as fuck, now she’s got it in her head that I’m working for the cops or something. Fucking crazy bitch.”

“Are you safe with them?”

My question causes him to stop looking around like someone is about to jump out of thin air, and he shrugs.

“Maybe not as safe as I first thought.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, leaning back in my seat and shaking my head. “Don’t go back. Come with me. You can stay at mine. You don’t need to go back.”

Travis shakes his head. “Nah, I can’t leave Cassie.”

“Your foster sister?”

He nods. “She’s beginning to see that things aren’t what they seem, and she started asking questions. My older brother, Adam, has her locked in the house. At this stage, I’m all she’s got. I’m just trying to figure out a way to get her out. Once I do that, then fuck. I think I will have to run with Ell.”

My heart sinks.

No.

I don’t want her to leave.

Don’t think about it now.

“What about Griffin? He said you could join them instead. Can’t you do that? He will protect you.”

Travis chuckles. “He says he’ll protect me, but he won’t. As soon as Ell has her back turned, that fucker will slit my fucking throat.”

I shake my head. “No. Griffin isn’t like that.”

“No offense, Crowley, but what the fuck would you know?”

“I’ve spent some time with Griffin. He doesn’t sound like the monster you’re making him out to be.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t know what he and his brothers are capable of. Or even his cousin. That Devon prick is a fucking psycho.”

I have to agree with that. I’ve met Griffin’s cousin, Devon. He’s one scary motherfucker.

“Look, I gotta go. But do me a favour. Make sure Ell doesn’t come for me. And make sure she leaves, sooner rather than later. She’s in real danger if she stays.”

Travis leaps out of the car then, and before I can even process his words, he’s gone.

What the actual fuck.

This is way more serious than I first thought. I had no idea all of this organised crime was happening under our noses. I knew Trav’s foster family dealt drugs, but I didn’t think they were like big drug lords or anything.

Maybe they are.

Fuck.

Checking the time, I see that Dee only has ten minutes left of her class, so I open up my phone contacts and call Griffin.

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