There’s a kid here, and she’s in on it too.
“Thank you, Sugarplum,” Ma answers, and I could be sick.
Unlike me, Bronwyn doesn’t seem bothered by the people who just kidnapped and beat her up. With her chin no longer dimpled, she turns her gaze slightly to Papa.
“We have money, lots of it,” she says. “Name your price, and we’ll pay anything. Just let us leave.”
Money. Of course. Of fucking course. I want to slap myself for not thinking about it sooner.
Bronwyn’s trust fund and mine are locked until our twenty-fifth birthday. Mom and Dad won’t have a phone or internet for another month to wire the money.
But Easton’s wealthy. We’ll pay him back every cent and more once we’re home.
“Yes, we have—” I start as newfound hope rushes through me.
“Quiet.” Knox turns his head, his voice deadly. “I saidquiet.”
I won’t let the roughness of his touch twist my hate into want.
I won’t.
“That’s right, Son. She ought to keep her mouth shut.” Papa’s snort smothers the spark of hope inside me. “I don’t care to listen to what any of you have to say. Your money means nothing here.”
“Uh, mister, we’re offering a lot. Like, way more than a few hundred dollars.” Bronwyn lifts her chin, fierce despite how small she looks beside Papa. She refuses to yield. “Easton’s family is filthy rich. His dad will give you anything if you let both of us go.”
Her words are a slap to the face. My ears are ringing.
“Both of you?” Jett tilts his head, voicing my disbelief.
“Yeah.” Easton sounds sluggish, his head drooping from the blows he took. “He’ll buy you a new town if you let Bronny and me go.”
“And me.” I can still see Bronwyn from here, so I stare at her, trying to catch her attention. “Me too, right?”
The hateful look she flays me with is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
“No.” Baring her teeth, she leans forward, only held in place by Papa. “Not you. The good twin. The smart twin. Thefuture doctortwin. You’re going to die here.”
Knox growls, taking a menacing step forward.
“Bronwyn.” Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. “You can’t mean that. You’re upset. Tell them. Tell them Easton’s dad will pay them to let the three of us go.”
“Daddy’s girl. Mommy’s pet.” Her insults drip with hate, the sting cutting through me. “Why do you think we brought you on this trip? Hmm?”
What Bronwyn’s saying lands like a kick to the gut. Worse than anything she’s ever done to me, even the day she shoved my face into a toilet at school and laughed while I choked.
“Why?” The word breaks out of me with two hot tears that slip free.
They’re not the kind Knox wrung out of me. These aren’t tears of release, of humiliation tangled with pleasure.
Everything hurts. My heart is bleeding on the Colberts’ floor.
“Going…” Easton drags in a breath. “To…kill you. This was…” Another shudder rattles through him. “Your last supper. Last act of kindness. That’s what I thought. After tonight, we were supposed to murder you.” His gaze flickers to Bronwyn, devotion raw in his eyes. “She’s had enough of you. And me, I’ll do whatever she wants. Anything.”
“Would you look at that? Rich, poor.” Jett cackles, ruffling Easton’s hair. “In the end, we’re all bloodthirsty motherfuckers, aren’t we, Blondie?”
Papa smiles and nods at him.
“I hate you,” Bronwyn hisses.
