“Good girl,” Mr. Parker says, and my skin crawls. He walks to Archie and smiles down at his kneeling frame. “So, the Judas tour continues. I assume your twin is the man breaking out my prisoners?”
Archie collapses onto his back, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth.
“There are fifty men going to kill him. He might already be dead. And you…” he points the gun at my head. “You’re going to be skinned alive.”
I say nothing. There’s nothing to say. Mr. Parker’s pupils are huge, his mouth twisted with rage. Whatever he’s going to do, he’ll do it regardless of what I say. But he doesn’t like me being silent. He moves closer, the hunting rifle still pointed at my face. “I think I might fuck you before I kill you. I can’t decide.”
I look at Archie, his eyes are closed but his chest is still moving. He’s still alive.
Mr. Parker taps my chin with the end of the gun. “Do I want to risk a dick infection?”
“You are a dick infection,” I say without thinking, and to my surprise, Mr. Parker laughs.
“Oh January, you sweet little bitch. You have no idea how fucked you are.”
“I have some idea,” I say, my heart pounding. If Bill can get to the guys, if they’re already free…
“I’ve always been lucky,” Parker muses, “But I’ve never been so lucky in all my life as I am tonight. My enemies in chains, Orchard on the brink of development, you twisting and turning at night, torturing yourself over your dead fucking boyfriends…
He spits the word like poison. I flinch.
Mr. Parker laughs. “You know what I think, January? I think the universe wants me to have everything I want. Isn’t that right, sweetness?”
At first, I think he’s talking to me, but pushing her way out of the jungle is Emilia, thinner and paler than ever, her hair hanging in front of her face. I stare at her, my shadow twin, this girl Parker has eaten alive.
“Help,” I mouth.
She stares blankly ahead as though she can’t even see me.
“Don’t bother,” Parker says with a grin. “She’s lost to the world. Now do something useful and take your clothes off.”
I don’t move. Another snapping bang sends shock running through me. I look up and see Mr. Parker shot through his own glass ceiling. I watch the splintering crack grow larger and wonder if the glass is about to come down on all of us.
“Strip,” Mr. Parker says, pointing the gun at my stomach. “Now.”
I think of my baby, the sweet little life growing inside me, and pull the bulletproof vest over my head. He laughs, his disgusting little giggle, but I don’t feel ashamed. With every item of clothing I pull away, I feel more powerful.
I’m beautiful and strong.I can climb trees and grow humans. I can bring men to their knees. It doesn’t matter if I’m naked, but if he comes near me, tries to lay one hand on me, I’m going to tear out his throat with my teeth or die trying.
That knowledge, that line in the sand keeps me steady as I unclasp my bra. I look Mr. Parker right in the eyes as he stares greedily at my breasts. I give him the same look as the dancers at Dreams do when a guy wants a dance but won’t hand over any money.
“Panties off too,” Mr. Parker breathes.
I comply, kicking the material away.
“You’ve grown bold, haven’t you, slut?”
I throw back my hair, straighten my shoulders. “Maybe.”
Mr. Parker’s lips curl with rage and he bares his bleached teeth. “You’re still scared of me, aren’t you? You’re still terrified of what I can do.”
I let my smile do the talking and as he comes for me, I curl my fingers into claws, ready to kick and scratch and bite.
Chapter Fourteen
Elliot Morelli
Bobby needs help.His shoulder, the one still recovering from the bullet wound, was dislocated when Parker’s guys put him in the van. Doc popped it back in as we were brought to Parker’s compound, but he’s in a lot of pain. Adriano has been shot in the side again, but he barely seems to notice.
