Page 14 of Voracious

He shrugs. “Depends. If I need to make you compliant, I have some of those pills left from the weekend.”

I roll my eyes and continue reading. “One of these days, I hope whatever you drug me with kills me. Then I’ll be free of you.”

He rushes forward, grabs my book and launches it out the open window, glaring at me. “I’ll still fuck your corpse.”

Bile rises in my throat. Nora is at the family lodge and Kyle is out, and if I refuse, Chris will make me.

When I get dressed, he smiles at me as I walk down the stairs. It’s strange to think I was at my happiest just over a month ago, riding on a motorbike and laughing and spending time with my ex, just being in the now.

He grabs his car keys from the bowl next to the garage door. But then he presses his hand to my chest to stop me, lifting my chin. “Don’t look so depressed, baby. This will be an educational trip.”

“I’m not your baby.”

“You’ve been my baby since you walked into this house.”

Scoffing, I pull my face away from him. “Yeah. When I was fourteen, you disgusting bastard. I didn’t want you then either.”

He snatches my hair and drags me into the garage. “Get in the fucking car.”

Barry isn’t on shift tonight. It’s some other guy who’s always on his phone. I was watching him out my window earlier, the car tucked away behind trees, where they always sit while I’m at home. He’s older, maybe in his forties, and smokes like a chimney.

When Chris pulls out of the estate, the bodyguard surprisingly realises and trails us, far away and out of sight. However, Chris is acting stranger than usual. His eyes haven’t softened the way they do when I give in to his demands, and he’s speeding.

He never speeds.

My stepbrother firmly settles his hand on my lap, and I jump and push it off. “Don’t touch me.”

He tuts. “The more attitude you give me, the worse this drive will get.”

I cross my arms and stare forward. He has the radio playing heavy metal music as he strums his fingers on my leg. His other hand grips the steering wheel like he’s trying to strangle it. He’s angry, and I’m growing nervous.

My phone vibrates in the back pocket of my jeans. I mentally think of everyone it could be to keep myself sane.

Tobias hasn’t once replied to me or tried to call me back. His phone is turned off. I found out yesterday that he’s been in solitary confinement for weeks. Kade hasn’t reached out, but I expected as much. I can’t try to contact him in case they have his phone. It could be Tylar calling because Luciella told her I couldn’t make the studio tonight.

Either way, my phone stops vibrating, and my heart rate increases as Chris veers left, the streetlights and buildings vanishing as he drives us into a farm road.

Into the darkness where no one can see us.

I glance at the mirror, and I don’t see the car following us.

I gulp, my voice low as I ask, “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he replies.

There’s nothing up here but fields and narrow roads for tractors, so where could he be taking me?

“Calm down and sit back.”

When I don’t, he shoves his hand against my chest and pushes me against the seat.

“I’ve asked this before, but I think I’m done with you refusing to answer. Why did you keep blocking me when you were in America? Who were you with?”

I frown. “I told you. My friend and her family.”

He slows but keeps driving. “Who else?”

I can already tell by his voice that he knows, and if I don’t get out of this car, I’m done for. “Chris—”

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