Page 67 of Ethereally Tainted

Even though no one knows that I killed the head of that drug ring, Emilio Ricci’s photos–taken several hours after I left–remain on display. He looks at me in a way that makes me feel like he is taking in every detail of my actions, as if he can read my thoughts and get a sense of what I’m feeling.

“Whose crime?” he asks, but I know he knows it was me, and that makes me even more unsettled.

No one is supposed to know about that.

“I don’t know.” I’m not going to give away the truth because I know he can use it against me and have me locked up in a prison forever. He has me exactly where he wants me, and I am an insect caught in a spider’s web, waiting to die in its claws.

“Whose crime?”

The way he says it is accusatory, and I grit my teeth, trying to control my temper, but it feels useless. He repeats the question when I don’t say anything, but I just stare at him, refusing to say another word.

“Okay, if that’s how you want it. But I know you did that.” Again, that evil look in his eyes appears as he observes me intensely.

“Then why ask if you already fucking know?”

“Manners,” he retorts, and I lower a glare at him. “This picture was sent to us by someone who prefers to remain anonymous, but I see no point in keeping it a secret.” He checks his papers before his gaze lifts to mine again. “Ah, his name is Cody Madden. Is the name familiar?”

My entire world stops.

The thoughts spin around in my head while the truth slowly creeps forward, taking root in my head and sinking its claws inside me until there is no chance of escaping.

Of fucking course.

The betrayal tastes bitter on my tongue, the emotions overwhelming me as the entire world comes crashing down.

My own brother ratted me out; he was the only one who knew about me killing that drug leader and came back to take pictures as proof. The sound of my heart thumping in my chest fills my ears, and I am unsure of what to do while Mr. Ricci has a blissful smile on his face.

“I want to go to my room,” I say as I stare at him.

My face is emotionless, showing no sign of weakness, but my emotions on the inside are wreaking havoc. Emilio Ricci only nods before he stands up, leads me to the door, and unlocks the handcuffs before quickly closing the door behind me.

He’s a coward who doesn’t dare meet me without my handcuffs.

My brother betrayed me.

And suddenly, it makes sense why he was so fast to escape the crime scene after murdering our parents. My legs carry me outside the corridor, but I don’t have control of my movements.

The guards are outside waiting at the reception, leading a girl with auburn hair, who I know Naya has been hanging out with, inside.

To make these feelings go away, I need to collect my thoughts, and being around anyone right now will only lead to problems.

My own brother fucking betrayed me after everything I have done for him.

Chapter 25

Naya

Grey was nowhere tobe found the following day. The fact that I haven’t seen him since yesterday when I angrily exited his room, has left me feeling uneasy. I don’t know what happened to him after I left his room. Neither Calvin nor Aubrey knows anything, and neither of them has contacted Grey.

Days pass in a blur, and I spend meals with Aubrey and Calvin. Jaqueline is sick, and Grey is still missing. I have gone to his room and knocked on the door multiple times, but he has never replied to me, which infuriates me.

It looks like either something is terribly wrong, or he is purposely staying away from me.

One thing I know for sure is that I cannot let him get in the way of escaping, for I will escape one way or another. I quickly grab the paper and crayon from where I’ve stuffed it under the backpack in my wardrobe and scribble down the tiny plan I have formed in my mind.

Fence by lake - forest - escape? - supplies, food, blanket - survival.

However, the question remains whether I will do it alone or bring Grey with me. I’ve been so accustomed to making decisions by myself that it’s hard to include someone else in my thoughts. But I know he’s always on my mind, even when I don’t want him to be.

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