Page 28 of Seven Sons (Gypsy Brothers)

m, okay?”

I nod vacantly, chewing on my lip.

“I’m sorry for what happened. Really. My brothers are just like him. They’re animals sometimes.”

I know that.

“Is there anything I can … do for you? Get for you?”

I don’t answer him.

“Samantha?”

I tear my gaze from the floor to meet his pinched eyes. “I want to get out of here,” I say to him. “Just for a few hours. Just to cool off. Do you think you can help me with that?”

I have to get to Elliot before he comes looking for me here. They will kill him if he turns up, I am sure of it.

Jase nods, seemingly relieved that I have broken out of my stupor to respond to him.

“Yeah,” he says, patting my closed fist with his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

When I don’t move, he waves his hand in front of my face. “Earth to Samantha?”

The gentle way he says Samantha makes my heart leap a little.

“How come you don’t call me Sammi?” I ask him as he offers his hand and pulls me up to my feet.

He furrows his eyebrows. “I don’t know. Samantha is classy. It suits you better.”

“Classy,” I repeat. “Pfft. I don’t know where you got that idea from.”

He looks at me with a serious look on his face, still frowning. “What?” I say.

He shrugs. “You don’t really belong here, in a place like this. I thought that from the minute I saw you.”

You have no idea how wrong you are.

“I grew up in a place just like this,” I reply. “It’s just like home.”

He doesn’t answer me, but his

eyes are full of questions. Full of worry. Full of the past.

“Come on,” I say. “Let’s get out of here before your father wakes up.”

Fourteen

I follow Jase down the stairs and through the kitchen. I don’t look into the servery – the last thing I want to see is my mother when I’m leaving, and I don’t know if I’m coming back.

I am scared.

I forgot how crazy Dornan Ross was.

And I can’t get the image of that poor kid’s blood and brain matter out of my mind.

When Jase turns left at the hallway, I hesitate.

“Come on,” he says. “My bike’s this way.”

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