Liam’s laughter is dark as he steps toward me. “She already likes fucking one brother. Why not all three?”
“Fuck you both!” I shout. They’re not going to rape me. Fuck them. I’ll claw, bite, and fight them with my last breath first.
“I told you to shut the fuck up.”
I know the punch is coming, and I try not to tense before his fist connects with my face. Pain explodes behind my cheek and left eye. Dazed, I feel my neck crack as my head snaps to the right. I suck in a breath. Then try not to move because this is agony.
I’m going to have a black eye. I’m sure of it. I have to fight the urge to fall asleep. It’s a struggle to remain conscious.
“Funny how she’s going to die just like Gage’s mom,” Liam observes.
I freeze. What?
“That bitch got what was coming to her,” Theo agrees.
“What are you talking about?” I demand. Gage’s mom died when he was nine. The cops said it was a robbery gone wrong.
“Dad ordered the hit on her. She was asking too many questions.”
Oh, God. I hope Gage never learns about this.
“There’s a video.”
I look at Liam in horror. “What video?”
“Her rape before she was shot.”
I want to throw up.
“But we’ve got a better plan. You’re going to burn with your mother. There won’t be enough left of you to determine if you had sex before you died.”
“You’re sick,” I blurt. “Both of you.”
“This is about revenge,” Liam snarls.
“An eye for an eye. Gage took our father from us. Now, we’re going to take you from him.”
“But we’re going to play with you first while the fire gets closer,” Liam adds.
He looks like a shark that scents blood in the water. His eyes are so dark they’re almost black. Dead looking. Void of emotion. He looks ready to attack his prey.
This house is huge and old. Built sturdier than houses now. I know the fire is spreading because I can smell the smoke, but it hasn’t reached us yet. We still only have minutes before it’s going to engulf us.
Liam and Theo are psychotic.
The side of my face is throbbing with pain, and my head aches. My eyes keep closing despite the threats and danger. If I pass out, I’m going to die. I know it, but I can’t seem to muster the strength to fight as I need to.
Mom screams as her eyes pop open. She realizes we’re both tied to chairs, smells the smoke, and blinks at Liam and Theo. “Why? I tried to help you both.”
“You’re a fucking liar,” Theo roars. “You set us up. It’s your testimony that sent the feds after Dad.”
What?
I knew Mom cut a deal, and that’s how we ended up in witness protection, but I didn’t think anything happened with the case because Mifflin died.
“All Dad’s assets were seized. We’re left with nothing!” Liam screams.
I don’t know how the neighbors aren’t hearing what’s happening or calling 9-1-1 because of the smoke. We’re not super close to the next house, but close enough for a fire to threaten everyone on the street. Fires like this can destroy neighborhoods fast.
