Page 72 of These Jagged Edges

Aunt Joe waves a hand dismissively. "No, I quit listening after Evie promised Allison that Maddox didn't run her life, and she could talk to whoever she wanted."

I think back to the night Evie insisted on Allison getting a refresher in self-defense.She needs this Maddox.

"But I know she got picked up for solicitation. Maybe he bailed her out." Aunt Joe shrugs.

Henry gives her a nod and steps outside, leaving me and the old crow to silently glare at one another until the hostility becomes too much to bear. I want to ring her damn neck. "Why aren’t your cameras working?"

"Didn't seem necessary." Aunt Joe crosses her arms over her chest being ever the hard ass. Fuck it, I might end up ringing her neck.

"Aunt Joe, come on now." I laugh darkly. "You didn’t think itnecessary to fix the cameras where a bunch of vulnerable ass woman work? You must be losing all common sense in your old fucking age.”

"Watch your mouth, Maddox Cole." Her tone heeds warning that I better tread lightly, but this isn’t the time for formalities, manners, and being a good ol’ boy. My grip on the chair tightens and I can feel the anger bubbling up ready to spill over.

“I don’t have to watch shit. You better hope we find her, or my mouth will be the least of your worries.”

Aunt Joe pushes her chair back and stands, the scrape of the chair on the floor snaps my last thread of rationality. My Aunt Joe is the only person in my whole life who’s never shied away from my temper, she stands toe to toe with me even when I dwarf her in size.

“Boy, don’t write checks your ass can’t cash.” She leans over and pokes me in the chest. Something about that little poke pushes me over the edge. As if it is telling me I failed Evie, that it’s my fault she’s missing just like it’s my fault Livvy died. With a feral scream I pick the chair up in front of me and hurl it at the wall, just barely missing Aunt Joe. Wood splinters everywhere and Aunt Joe never even flinches.

“Maddox! What the fuck are you doing?!” My brother looks wildly between the old crow and myself. Neither of us say anything, pretending to ignore the fact I just whipped a chair at her head like a lion tamer at a three-ring fucking circus.

Henry blows out an exasperated breath. “Both of you get your shit together. Cece just called back, Allison’s bail was posted about a year ago,” he swallows hard meeting me with a look that makes my chest tighten, “by Trent Edwards.”

I feel all the blood drain from my face and just like that my world shatters all over again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

EVIE

I awake groggy and disoriented.What the hell did that maniac inject me with? My eyes flutter open, struggling to focus. A cool draft chills my skin, and it dawns on me that I'm naked. Not only that, but I'm suspended from the ceiling. My arms throb, and my fingers are numb, indicating I've been hanging here for some time. The place he's brought me to is shrouded in darkness, with only a faint floodlight outside casting just enough light to make out vague shapes—or perhaps that's just the lingering effects of the drug.

Panic surges through me as I struggle to focus, the weight of my own body pulling at my wrists. I try to shift, but a sharp pain in my shoulders stops me. The rough rope bites into my skin, and I can feel the slow trickle of blood where it's rubbed me raw.

The air is thick, carrying a faint scent of mildew and something metallic, like rust. My ears strain to catch any sound, but there's nothing—just an oppressive silence. My breath comes in ragged gasps, each one echoing in the space around me.

I fight the haze clouding my mind, trying to remember how Igot here. The last thing I recall is the cold touch of a needle, the sight of his eyes, and then darkness. Fear knots in my stomach, but I force it down, focusing instead on the need to survive.

I strain against the restraints, but it's no use. The bonds are too tight, the pain too intense. Desperation claws at me, but I know I need to stay calm. Panic will only waste precious energy. I close my eyes, trying to think, to plan. There has to be a way out of this.

A faint whimper reaches my ears from the left. "Allison?" I croak out into the darkness, my voice rough and barely audible.

"I was so worried." She sniffles, the unspoken fear that I might have been dead lingers between us. Unfortunately, this devil isn’t that merciful, and the thought of what he has planned sends a chill through me. We need to escape—and soon.

“I’m okay,” I tell her, trying to sound stronger than I feel. A dim yellow light suddenly floods the room, halting all thoughts of escape and shifting my focus to survival. The light reveals the outline of a door, partially ajar, and the shadow of a figure approaching. My heart pounds in my chest as I struggle to prepare for whatever comes next.

As Trent steps closer I see his cold calculating expression as his eyes sweep over us and a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Good," he says, his voice low and menacing. "You're awake." He steps closer, the light glinting off something metallic in his hand. I brace myself, every muscle tensing in fear and anticipation.

"We're going to have some fun," he continues, his tone chillingly casual. "But first, let's make sure you know the rules." He turns his attention to Allison, who is trembling like a leaf. "No screaming, and no trying to fight back. If you behave, maybe this won't be as bad as you think."

I grit my teeth, my mind racing for a way to protect us both. One look at Allison’s trembling body and I know I can’t let him touch her. “Hey asshole, how about no?”

I knew he'd lash out for that, but the anticipation doesn’t lessen the impact of the stinging blow he lands on my ear, makingit ring like a bell. Trent's hand shoots out, gripping my face viciously, his fingers digging into my skin. The pain is sharp and immediate, but I force myself to meet his gaze, refusing to show fear.

"You're feistier than you used to be," he sneers, before licking up the side of my face, a gesture that makes my stomach churn. "It'll make breaking you so much sweeter." His words drip with malice, and I can't suppress the shudder of revulsion that runs through me. The violation is deliberate, a twisted show of dominance, and I know he's savoring every moment of my discomfort.

“Not if I break you first,” I tell him.

He suddenly shoves his phone in my face and my heart stops completely at what I see. Charlie and Bash playing with Mellon outside.

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