Page 39 of Make Me, Break Me

“But then she must be lying.”

“Because she means both of us.”

Twin, matching grins met me at too close a range. I shrank back against nothing but air behind me and nearly fell off the harsh wooden box I was seated on. The chains holding my wrists in their shackles jangled against the floor as I struggled to stay upright.

Suddenly that was important. I didn’t want my face near the ground. Once I was down there, I doubted they would let me up and then there was nothing but…

Pain.

An old friend, and one I didn't want to revisit today.

“He’ll come,” I whispered the promise to myself.

Of course, the freaky as fuck twins chimed in.

“Yes he will.”

“Of course he will.”

“That is the point, after all.”

“For him to come, and you to die.”

“For him. So he knows.”

“That he cannot break the rules.”

Rules. That’s what started all of this.. Me and my stupid, fucking rules. Tears flowed along my cheeks as I bowed my head and said a different prayer than anyone I ever hoped I would ever say.

Dex, don’t find me. Nelson, don’t help him. Falcon, forget I exist. Please.

Then they’d all be safe.

A twin brushed my cheek with deathly cold fingers. “Such pretty tracks. More, please,” he whispered, licking the tips of his fingers and touching them to his lips. “Despair tastes sweetest from the source.”

My woeful prayer said to the shadows, my voice a mere rasp, I let my tears run and run and run.

I cracked dry eyes open to find a man sharing my box, holding a condensing glass of water in a proffered, manicured hand. It took me a few blinks, but we got there. Or at least, I did.

“You’re Beau Bennett.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He held the glass steady.

Eventually I took it, realizing that I didn’t shake or jangle any more. And that I could see. The room seemed bigger, and the horrifying twins weren’t present.

But the door was still shut and, I guessed, locked.

Still, I felt safer with this man than the ones before, so that was something.

“What changed?”

“Dex Breaker changed. And Falcon Gianio, and Nelson Milton. Actually, I'll probably have to offer them places in the Kingsman frat after this.” He rubbed at the back of his neck and looked amused.

“They aren’t dead?” I screeched and flung myself out at him, only to find my body held at arm’s length.

“I prefer hygienic females, and since mine is currently a hostage, I thought we should negotiate terms of release,” he said in a soft, respectful tone, considering his words.

“You…are negotiating, with me?” I pushed the rest of his words aside. “Why?”

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