Page 3 of Finding Secrets

I whisper, “No. They don’t treat me very well. But they aren’t the worst foster parents I have stayed with.”

I’m scared my foster mom might hear me and make him leave. I don’t know why I am telling him this. I just met him.

“Can I take you away from here?” he asks, holding my cheek with one hand.

My heart booms again.

Does he actually mean that?

“W-Where?”

“Far away from here. Just say you want to come with me, and I’ll tell my parents. You’ll be all mine.” His thumb brushes my cheek, and my eyes water.

“We can be a family? You would want me to be part of your family?”

“I want you to be part of my own little Eden.”

I don’t know what he means. All I know is he wants me to be a part of his world. He wants to take me away from this place and be a family.

“I like the sound of that...my little Eden. Do you want to come with me, little Eden?”

He looks like he is holding his breath.

I jump up from the mattress and wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes, please,” I cry into his shoulder.

His arms wrap around me, holding me protectively, “Then, you’re mine.”

* * *

“Why are you out of your room!?” My foster mom stomps toward me.

Samuel steps in front of me. “Room?” He laughs.

I pull closer to him, scared she is going to grab me.

“You call what I found her in a room?”

My foster mom’s mouth falls open. “She is not available to pick.”

The man comes in. “Surely, we can come to an agreement.”

He is tall, with blonde hair just like Samuel’s, but his eyes are different. They are a green but look just as intense as he stares at my foster mom. “I would think what we offer would be worth it. And not spilling the secrets of this house is just a bonus for you.” Is he talking about the way they keep me in the closet for my foster dad? “My son came to pick, and he picked.”

“But—”

I tuck closer to Samuel, pulling my face into his shirt. I don’t want her to keep me.

“But she isn’t available. Mr. Swanson won’t like th—”

“My son picked,” he says as Samuel puts me on his hip. “It’s done. Now name your price.”

I don’t know what he means by that, but I don’t care.

Samuel walks us to the door. My foster mom is yelling, but Samuel pushes my head to his chest. “Shhh. It’s okay. You’re not staying here any longer. You’re coming with me.”

I squeeze him tighter as he takes me to the car and takes me away from here.

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