“Too late,” I say, turning to face Haidyn.
“Why are you being a little bitch?” he barks at me. Then he sighs. “Look, when I left here, I went to Las Vegas.”
I nod, already knowing that. When he finally decided to come around, he told Saint and me that.
“I ran into Hooke at the Airport, and he asked me to help him.”
I give a rough laugh. “Let me guess, you can’t tell me what it was about.” He looks away, and I roll my eyes. “Thought so.”
“Kash—”
“It’s fine, Haidyn.” I know where I stand with him. At the fucking bottom. There was a time that we both thought Saint was dead and Adam was gone. It was just the two of us left, caged here in this hell with that crazy bitch. We only had one another. There were nights I thought that he was dead too, thinking that I was the only Spade brother left, and it was fucking terrifying. Not because of what that meant regarding the Lords but because it meant I was left in this world alone. Now I realize that’s exactly what I am. Alone.
I shoulder past him out of my room and pull the hat on, heading back to the elevator to the garage. I need to go for a ride.
EVERETT
Twenty years old
I roll over and open my eyes to a set of dark ones staring at me. “Fuck,” I hiss, jumping out of bed. “What the fuck, Evan?” I push my wild hair from my face. “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he lies back in my bed, placing his hands under his head to prop it up. “Leave,” I order, yanking a T-shirt off a chair and sliding it on. I shouldn’t be sleeping naked. “Get the fuck out of my house.”
He laughs. “Your house?”
“Yes. It’s my fucking house. Get the fuck out.” I rush to the bedroom door, but he jumps out of bed and moves to stand in front of it to block my exit.
I step back.
“Bill bought this house. I’m sure he used Mom’s money for it.” He places his hands on the doorframe. “So technically…it’s our house.”
I swallow nervously. No. No. “I didn’t know…”
“That I’m your brother?” He tilts his head to the side. “Come on, sis. It just makes this better, don’t you think?” He laughs at my silence. “I knew Bill would tell you. Dear ole dad. Can’t help but be a savior.” He looks me up and down, and I wish the shirt was longer. “It was pathetic how much he loved her.” Evan steps forward, and I take a step back. “He couldn’t save Mom, but he was going to do everything he could for you.”
“Leave. Right fucking now,” I demand through gritted teeth. “I won’t tell you again.”
He gives me a smile, showing off his teeth like a monster in the night that’s going to rip my throat out. “You’ve always been a feisty bitch. You definitely didn’t get that from Mother.”
“Stop talking about her,” I growl. I hate that I didn’t get to know her. Probably for the best. She’d be so disappointed in me. Who I am. I’m going to make sure I become a woman she’d be proud of. Someone who stands up for women who are forced into silence. Bill gave me a chance, and I’m not going to waste it. “Get out.” I point to the door. “Get the fuck out.” I shove his chest, screaming at the top of my lungs, making my throat burn.
He grabs my neck and picks me up, slamming me onto the bed. He straddles my hips and pins me down, choking me while I kick and buck under him. “He might have saved you from Dollhouse, but don’t forget who fucking trained you,” he spits at me, and I close my eyes, trying to turn my face from his, but there’s nowhere for me to go.
Pain explodes in my head, and my eyes pop open when I’m yanked from the bed and shoved into the nearest wall. I fall to the floor, unable to keep myself upright. My shaking hands go to my face, and I cry into them when I see blood.
“Same ole pathetic little dolly,” he taunts, kicking my side, and I begin tocrawl away from him as fast as I can. “You can pretend to play house, to not need me, but you’ll come back around, Eve. It’s the only life you’ve ever had. You need to be used and abused. It’s how you feel love.” He kicks me again, the blow so hard it flips me onto my back, and I cry out, covering my face. “See you soon, sis.”
That was my first night in this house. Evan wanted to make sure I understood that no matter what, I wouldn’t escape him. It didn’t matter where I went, he’d find me.
I left shortly after for Las Vegas. If he followed me there, he didn’t make it known. He knew I’d be back. That this is where I’d call home.
He doesn’t stop by often. Maybe once every six months. For the most part, he stays away. I think deep down he’s afraid of Bill. He’s got way more pull than Evan will ever have. And Bill mentioned some kind of deal. I still need to find out what that is.
Evan might slum it with evil, but Bill is on the Lords’ good side. Evan can’t compete with that. Plus, now that Isabella is a prisoner at Carnage, he has no one on his side. Isabella let him run the show, but now it’s over.
I thought that night on theIsabellawas going to change my life, but nothing could have prepared me for how much.
“Angel, I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you that night on the yacht. And if you think I’m going to just let you walk away from me, well…I’ll prove to you that’s not an option.”
