Page 90 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

I don’t know what they’re talking about because I’m not listening. I’m too busy trying to figure out when the show will begin—that will be my time to shine.

If he’ll have me, that is.

An hour passes until we’ve finished our meal. Duran and Linda had finished twenty minutes before me and were patient, for the most part, while I filled myself with as much of food as I could.

It must be damn obvious that I’m not used to eating this well, because Duran suggests dessert next. It makes me smile.The last time I had dessert was before Mother left, and she had served the most amazing warm apple crumble with two scopes of vanilla ice cream on the side.

It’s strange, the small things that one can remember to help hide the stains of all of the bad.

After he’s served us both and sits back down, I feel their eyes on me again. The first scoop of ice cream and I feel like I’m intruding on a special night, but I won’t be so easily removed.

Not when I still haven’t gotten what I came here for.

Chapter

Seven

We’re sitting in the living room now, and my blood is burning like fire in my veins. Linda is sitting on Duran’s lap, and the way her hands explore his body is enough to make my core begin to pulse.

But she stops, resting her hand on his bulge and smirks at me.

“George?”

“Yes?” I ask, fighting the urge to slip my fingers under my robe.

“How old are you? Because this is going to turn into a big kid’s party in a few minutes, and I don’t know if this is something you should see,” she quips with a smirk.

I blink a few times.

She’s attempting to sting me with her words, and in an odd way, it works. I feel tears forming, threatening to spill over, and I have to do my best to keep them at bay.

“Sixteen,” I reply softly.

Duran looks at me with disbelief in his eyes as Linda chuckles. “Run home, sweetie. This isn’t for your eyes,” she instructs smugly.

When I make no attempt to speak or get to my feet, she lets out her breath impatiently. “You do realize we’re here for Duran’s birthday, right? He’s turning thirty-eight when the clock strikes midnight, and I’m sure you’ll understand why this isn’t for you.”

I look down at my hands for a moment.

I have only one option that I can honestly pick right now and leaving isn’t it.

“Be nice,” he chides her quietly.

He wants me here.

I get to my feet and walk into the kitchen. Because we went from dessert straight into the living room, I see what I need to hurry this night along. Using the back of my hand, I wipe the tears away before they have a chance to fall over, then take my festivities starter back with me into the living room.

Linda is kissing Duran again.

His hands are sliding up her skirt.

I walk over to where they’re sitting on the couch, grab her roughly by the hair, and pull her away from him.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I tell her softly as I press the blade of the large butcher’s knife across her throat and begin sawing at her flesh.

And this time I know I’ve done it right, because only moments ago, he showed me how to properly cut through a pig.

Chapter

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