Page 111 of Unspoken Truths

“It’s why we’ve been gone so long. There was a really big auction we were providing people to,” Mom says with a ‘what can you do’ shrug.

“You’re selling people,” I whisper as Mom gets closer. “How could you do that?”

“Easily,” she says, stabbing me in the neck with the needle. “It’s just business, darling. Those girls have no family, no prospects. They’ll cater to the fucked up needs of the men who will buy them in Dubai until one of them kills them. It’s a much better and more profitable death.”

“They suck cock so well too,” Dad murmurs, watching as my eyes start to droop. “Don’t fight the sedative. It’s the best way to travel, son.”

Who the fuck are these people?

That’s the last thought I have before my body sags and darkness floods my vision.

CHAPTER20

THEO

“Has anyone heard from Elijah yet?” I ask. It’s been almost a week since any of us have, and I’m beginning to get worried.

“No,” Jared grunts as the others shake their heads. “I even went over today, but no one opened up. It didn’t look as if anyone was home, either.”

“Fuck,” I mutter. “I don’t like this. Do you think they took him on some kind of trip?”

“It’s possible. His parents just got back from an overseas trip for work, and they’ve been emphasizing that he needs to get more involved,” Nacio says with a grimace. “I don’t know what it would mean for that to happen, though.”

“They have their own plane. Can we check any kind of report to see if he’s on it?” Jared asks. “In the case that they did decide to take him with them for some reason.”

Blowing out a breath, I pull out my laptop. I swear, it’s an extension of me. I can’t go anywhere without it. I don’t know if his parents would be dumb enough to kidnap their own son and put him on the roster while they do it. I don’t have any evidence that this is what happened, but he wouldn’t disappear like this, especially without his phone.

The four of us are attached at the hip, not only because we are Kings, but because we’re best friends as well. We are definitely going to notice if he goes missing. One thing I know for sure is that his parents came home, and a few well placed clicks takes me to the international roster that shows they did come home.

They left again on their private plane mere hours later, but Elijah’s name is not on the roster.

“His name isn’t on the flight manifest, but he’s a minor. The Fletchers know how to get around the rules. They left town a few hours after they arrived. It would be safe to say that he’s with them,” I explain.

“Where?” Nacio asks. “Where did they take him?”

“Dubai,” I sigh, finding the final destination for the flight. “They do a lot of business in that part of the world. His mother speaks several languages quite fluently the last time I checked. Over the years when they are home and I’ve been over, I’ve noticed that she’s typically not speaking English on her calls.”

“They have to come back,” Jared mutters. “School isn’t over, his parents can’t kidnap him forever.”

“Just because he wasn’t able to tell us about the trip, doesn’t mean it’s kidnapping,” I say, wincing as I hear how ridiculous the words are.

We tell each other just about everything. If we didn’t know about something as big as him leaving the country, then he probably didn’t go willingly.

“I need something else to focus on,” Jared says, looking worried. “I want to pretend that he’ll be home as soon as possible.”

“You need a plan,” Nacio says, understanding. Jared is someone that looks to the future, and likes to know what’s coming next.

“We need to fuck with the little mouse,” I grit out. “Isn’t her birthday coming up?”

I know for a fact that her birthday is June 29th. I need to give my friends something else to focus on, and I’m willing to throw her under the bus to do it.

“You know it is,” Jared says. “Is Lili planning anything for it?”

“Not that I’ve heard,” Nacio says. “I’m sure she is. They’ve been hot and heavy since exams ended. I haven’t seen her much since the little mouse has been staying with Lili.”

“They’ve had enough time to fuck each other’s brains out,” I say. “Is there anyone else who wonders about how that works?”

Nacio smirks as he shakes his head, leading me to shrug indignantly.

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