Page 47 of Regressive

Trust.

I’d asked her to trust me, and I made her bleed and fucked her with a knife, yet here she is, pleading with me to let her in. Let her close.

I nod, but it’s without conviction. There’s no room for Imogene in my life. There is me, my faith and Anex.

Nothing else.

20

Rex

It’s beena week since I’ve seen my father, and it’s not a surprise when I’m called to his rooms. I’d like to say there was some consistency, planned little meetings where my father checks in on the progress I’m making with the business or you know, just to check in on his son.

But no. Consistency isn’t what makes Serendee tick. Not really. It looks like a well-oiled machine on the outside but under the surface, like the drugs and money, and sex and gluttony, is well-designed chaos.

It’s how I’ve managed to keep Imogene so spun-out, so conflicted and confused. So willing to wear lace panties and go on birth control, to beg me to be in her bed at night. I’ve got her right where I want her and have no intention of stopping any time soon.

I step into the cool entryway of the Main House and start for the stairs.

“Rex.”

Elon is standing right off the front hall.

“Hey,” I say. “Going up to see, Anex.”

He jerks his chin, indicating I should follow him. Huh. Curiously gets the best of me and when I get to the hallway he’s nowhere around, but I stop, counting the wooden panels that make up the wall. I glance around, making sure no one is watching and tap on the top corner of one. It pushes back, revealing a small room.

“Wow,” I say, looking around the cramped space. “It’s been a while since we’ve been in here.”

When my father built this house, he added in several secret rooms and passages, ‘just in case.’ No one in Serendee knows about them other than the closest of the inner circle. The guys and I used to use them for elaborate games of hide and seek or a spot to duck into when Anex was looking for us. Now, I look at my best friend and ask, “What’s going on?”

“I don’t even know where to start,” he says, annoyance flickering across his face. “I got caught up in some bad shit yesterday making a delivery. Anex has us dealing with some shady people involved in even shadier shit.”

I look at Elon closer. He’s rattled. “What kind of shady shit?”

His lips purse together. “Imogene was with me, and the dirty old bastard tried to buy her from me.”

Heat licks up my spine. “Jesus, Elon! Why the hell was she even with you?”

“Because I was taking her to run an errand for you.” His finger jabs in my chest. He’s a second from snapping but I don’t give a shit. I am, too. “I thought it was a basic drop with some hippies or something. They were pissed Anex screwed him on the last drop off and wanted payment—in flesh.”

“Son of a bitch.” I rub my forehead, trying to wrap my head around everything he’s saying. The fucked-up drug deal, I can get. Some of Anex’s new recruits are sloppy and the business is growing too fast. But offering to buy my woman? Fuck no. “How did you leave it?”

“Without anyone getting killed, that’s how. But it was fucking close.”

“Why the hell would he presume Imogene was for sale?” I ask, trying to keep my anger in check. I know Elon would never knowingly put Imogene in harm’s way, but every day living and working for my father is a dangerous pursuit.

“Yeah, that was my question, too. It was heavily implied that Serendee had expanded its services beyond selling weed. Apparently, he was under the impression we’re trafficking women now.”

Sex trafficking. I’ve spent enough time in the secular world to know we bend a lot of conventions in Serendee, but even that one doesn’t sit well with me. Elon and I share a look, one that doesn’t need to be spoken. There’s no doubt who my father is using to build this trade, the ones he’s already broken: The Fallen.

My chest is tight, caught up in the sheer insanity of what Elon is describing. I force myself to exhale, an attempt to control my rage. “She’s okay?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell her about the old guy trying to buy her, and she didn’t see much of the altercation.” His eyebrow rises. “She didn’t tell you any of this?”

I shake my head. “No.”

I’d come to bed last night as promised and passed out—hard. She was already out of the bed when I got up this morning.

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