Opening up the card, it reads:
“Bastard.”
KASHTON
I pull up to Sin and Elli’s house at ten o’clock on the dot. I take a gulp of myRed Bull before getting out. After meeting with Adam this morning, I managed to get about three hours of sleep.
Eve is heavy on my mind. What she’s been through. What she’s seen. Why does she hate Haidyn, Saint, and me so much? Is it because she hates all men? She mentioned the Spade brothers specifically, but she likes Adam.
Why him? Is it because he helped her escape to Vegas?
The front door opens, and I jump out of the Cadillac Escalade V and rush to the passenger door for Elli. She mumbles athank youand slides into the seat.
I’m not sure if Sin is here, but he sent me the information I needed earlier this morning. I’m driving her an hour out of town for an appointment.
She remains silent, and I don’t try to talk to her. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable by asking the wrong questions.
An hour later, I’m pulling into a parking lot and then helping her out of the SUV. I hold her elbow as we make our way up a set of steps and into a brick building. I am not taking my chances with Sin’s wife. The fact that he trusts me with her means a lot to me.
There’s an empty waiting room. She signs her name on a clipboard and then sits in a chair.
I plop down next to her, looking around. I still have no clue where we’re at or who she’s here to see. It’s obviously not for the baby. She sees Gavin and Devin for that, and she just had an appointment at Carnage yesterday.
“Mrs. Sinnett?” a woman calls out from a door.
I stand, helping Elli to her feet, and then rub my hands on my jeans. “Do you want me…?”
“I’ll be an hour,” she informs me.
“Okay.” I nod. She’s telling me to sit the fuck down and wait.
Falling back into my seat, I rest my head on the back of the chair and close my eyes, thinking about Eve and Dollhouse. I’m not sure what to do.
The Lords are after her. That was evident when the body showed up at the cemetery. But why? What does she know that they want to bury her for? She needs to tell me everything. That’s the only way I can protect her. I won’t fail like I did in the past.
Twelve years old
I find myself down in the basement at Carnage. I’ve been hiding down here for the past week. We’re on summer break, so I’m able to spend more time with her.
Coming up to the cell, I sit down and look through the bars. It’s darker than usual. The single light bulb she has is broken, and pieces of glass litter theconcrete floor. “What happened?” I ask, pushing my face to the bars. “Are you okay?”
“You shouldn’t be down here,” she whispers brokenly, but I don’t see her.
“But…I always come visit you.” I blink, trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness and huff when it doesn’t work.
“You need to stop, Kashton.”
“No.” I move to my knees and try to squeeze through the bars, even though I know it’s impossible. “I brought you a brownie.” I dig into my pocket and pull it out. “Sorry, it’s a little smashed, but I bet it will still taste good.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I place it between the bars right by the door. I don’t want it covered in glass.
“Please?” I beg her, and she sighs before I hear movement.
The light from the hallway shines into the front of the cell, and I watch as she crawls closer to the door on all fours with her head down. “You’re bleeding,” I say when I catch sight of the blood on her hands and knees.
“I’m fine,” she lies.
Why? She’s never lied to me before. “I’ll go get you some Band-Aids.” I jump to my feet.
