Stepping away from the computer I hold my hands up in surrender. I was done anyway, but I’ll admit I was hoping not to have to face the consequences of my actions head-on.
“What do you think you’re doing?” my father asks, eyes moving around the room to the files I tossed when they proved useless to me.
“Looking for something,” I answer with a shrug, like this isn’t a big deal. I’m just an errant, intruding child. He shouldn’t take me seriously, just like always.
“And what do you think you’re going to find in my study? And you?” His eyes move to Parker. “I think a call to your father is in order, Hollow.”
Parker’s cheeks redden at the threat, but he doesn’t beg him not to. He knows better than to think he’ll find any benevolence here.
“Have you seen the Offering? Do you know anything about where she might be?” I ask.
He laughs harder than I’ve heard in a long time. “I’m sorry, son, but are you really stupid enough to break into my office because you can’t find your whore?”
“That’s not why,” I lie, trying to hold whatever cards I have.
“You let him do this?” he accuses Parker. “Don’t tell me you’re as stupid as my son.”
My fists tighten, and I’m not sure if he’s baiting me or just being honest about his feelings.
“There wasn’t any stopping him, but I thought I might control the damage, sir.” I want to punch him in his fucking face for turning on me, but I guess I understand why he wants to control the situation.
“I don’t intrude on Bellthorn business, Orion. I make enough donations and do my part as one of the four families. I have hadnothingto do with the selection of an Offering in a long time, and I certainly don’t care about eliminating some girl whose most threatening skill is sucking five cocks.”
“Don’t talk about her like that.” My face turns red at the insult, and I wish he weren’t my father so I could really do something.
He nods as if all of this suddenly makes sense to him. “You won’t bring this up to me again. Do you understand? You won’t ever come into my study again.”
I don’t think, just react, closing the distance between us and brushing my chest against his. “Or what, Dad?”
The clipped words lay between us. My knuckles whiten because my fists are clenched so tightly, and for the first time, I wonder if I have what it takes to punch my father. The thought has occurred to me before, but I’ve never come close to actually doing it. Then again, my brother is usually here to hold me back.
“Or you’ll regret questioning me,” he says, refusing to back down and not showing an ounce of fear.
“Stop it right now,” Parker says, taking Soren’s usual position. “We need to leave.”
“Listen to your friend, Orion,” my father says, looking at me like I’m less than nothing. How can he hate me so much when I wear the same face as his precious son? I don’t want to back down. Everything inside me is screaming to push this into a fight that would probably ruin my life long-term. I almost do it.
“Fine,” I say, not knowing what else to do but follow my friend and leave my father alone in his office.
CHAPTER 7
SOREN
THREE WEEKS WITHOUT SABLE
Unknown number: Come on, Soren. I know you miss me.
The phone sits on the bed beside me, the message still lighting the screen. I’ve blocked every number Arabella uses to contact me, and she still doesn’t stop. Every inch of my body writhes in disgust. The fine mattress, the sheets, my own cock sticking to the side of my leg, everything touching me triggers my fight or flight. Instead of doing anything, my body freezes. The phone eventually goes dim after a few minutes, and there’s a sense of relief, but it isn’t complete.
I didn’t even lock the phone. I let it all happen to me, just like I did when she fucking raped me.
The walls of my dorm room surround me, but I can’t see them through the images filling my mind. Pictures of Sable’s smiling face that I’ll never see again. Arabella in positions I never asked her to be in. Myself fucked up and stumbling,helpless. At least I’m choosing that last part for myself this time. Being sober isn’t really for me anymore. My phone dings twice more.
Unknown number: You’re never going to fucking see her again so you might as well get over it.
Unknown number: At least I’m stupid enough to love you. Where is Sable Briarwick now?
My hands shake,but I manage to block the number. It won’t last long. Arabella will figure it out and generate a new one soon enough. I would change my number entirely if it weren’t for the fact I’m desperately hoping someone else will contact me. That hope nearly kills me every time my phone goes off. What if she’s right? What if Sable ran away and I never see her again? It occurs to me that, suddenly, Arabella’s words sound like a threat as much as a taunt. No one has seen Sable in three weeks. What if I never see her again because she’s already dead?
