Page 303 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“Stay.” He kissed my neck and shut the car door, hurrying into the valley house like a man on a mission.

I watched him walk, hating myself for needing him so much.

There was a knock at the car door, and I opened it. Rachel stood there smiling up at me. “Hey,” she said. “You looked sad. You okay?”

My eyes welled with tears against my will. I nodded and tried to say there was nothing wrong, but she didn’t believe it. I told her the truth.

“Pete found another girl.”

Chapter 64

When I came back, Aliceand Rachel were sitting in the back seat of the SUV, talking quietly with the door open to let in the cool brisk morning air. I didn’t want to interrupt them, but I didn’t want to eavesdrop either, so I stood off to the side and stayed silent. I heard Alice say, “part of me hates him for giving up on me. How fucked up is that?”

I paused, waiting to hear Rachel’s response.

“When my first Mast–owner, sold me, I felt betrayed... It felt like I failed him. He raped me, he beat me, and he tied my wrists to the bed every night so I wouldn’t run away, so tightly that now I have nerve damage. But I still felt hurt and betrayed when he sold me, because I felt like I wasn’t enough for him. Even though all he wanted was to abuse me... I wasn’t even good enough to take abuse.

“But I learned from Miss Becca... it’s not about me. There was nothing I could give him that would fill the emptiness inside him. He used me to try to do that, to make him happy, and you can’t use another person to fill the emptiness inside you. Because even if you love them... you’re still using them. Only fixing yourself can make that emptiness go away... Right, sir?”

Busted. I approached the open car door and handed Alice the cup I’d brought her. She glared at it, but sipped it anyway, and then looked at me in surprise at the taste.

“I added some juice. To make it easier on your tummy.”

She stared up at me with her glassy tearstained eyes. For just a moment, I saw that look on her face that I dreamed about. Just a hint of it. That deep respect and appreciation I craved to see in her eyes.

It was there for a moment and then it was gone. She looked down at her hands as she sipped.

“I snapped at Alex, and lost control.” Awkwardly, I put my hands in my pockets. “She was right. If she catches him playing with her, even consensually, and either witnesses, hears, or sees the evidence of his tendencies, it will help all those other testimonies hold up in court better. Believe it or not, you can’t legally consent to some kinds of play, so if they do anything more than a little light impact, it’s likely he’ll be arrested for assault.

“As much as I don’t like it, Alex has been through this enough times that I know she’s right. She knows how totechnicallyentrap someone withoutlegallyentrapping them. She knows how to get the evidence she needs to convict someone. And... if she can get him arrested, I hear she’s damn good at getting confessions. This will all be over soon, sweet girls.”

Rachel smiled at me. “Thank you, Mister Weston.” She climbed out of the car. “And... thank you for bringing me here. It’s been... um...” She bit her lip and looked back at the house. “Really good. Are you guys staying?” She looked back at us.

“I’m going to let Alice decide how she feels. If not, we’ll see you soon. Maybe we’ll come for dinner sometime this week.”

“Okay.” She reached towards Alice and clasped one of her hands, squeezing it. “See you soon.” Then she dipped her head and walked back into the house.

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