“He told me you wouldn’t hurt him. Promised me he would be okay. But almost ten weeks and no word. Pardon me if I don’t trust him.” Elena narrowed her eyes at Adria, saying, “Or you.”
The resemblance was so striking; Adria couldn’t believe that she hadn’t seen it sooner. Her eyes, her facial structure, they looked so similar.
“You’re Bryson’s sister,” Adria blurted and immediately felt like an idiot.
“Are you FUCKING dense?” Elena screamed.
Her tiny fist flew at Adria, and Adria moved to the side easily. Grabbing Elena, her body seemed to have a mind of its own as the pair tumbled to the ground.
Despite being angry and full of fire, Elena’s body was soft and small. Adria bested her easily and, with Eric’s training, had her in a chokehold before Adria even realized she was doing it.
Elena struggled for only a moment before relaxing.
Adria, feeling Elena’s body soften against her, let her grip loosen.
This seemed to be a mistake, because as soon as she relaxed, Elena came to life with renewed vigor. Her limbs seemed to ooze out of Adria’s hold before turning and slapping Adria hard across the face.
Fire roared in Adria’s belly, and she moved to strike, but the girl was lifted into the air by Eric.
She swung wildly, but Eric held onto her middle, and Elena hovered a foot or so off the floor, screaming.
“Stop!” Eric yelled into the room.
Elena stilled, chest heaving.
“Adria,” Eric said. “Tell her.”
Adria stared up at the scene, still on the floor. Bryson’s sister had just attacked her.
“Tell me what?” Elena said, seeming to gain some composure.
Adria stood, a gaping hole forming in her chest as realization seeped in. The boys were not with Elena.
“They are supposed to be with you,” she said, cold sweat breaking out across her body.
“Okay, let’s go over this one more time,” Elena said, pacing around the garden room.
Adria had a sip of tea, the cup rattling slightly as she attempted to set it down.
“You told Francine to alert me I won the auction?” Elena asked.
Adria nodded. “Frances, but yes.”
“A car came and picked them up?”
Adria nodded, her stomach twisting into knots. Three men—her responsibility—gone. Vanished.
“And you haven’t heard from them or Fran since?” Elena asked. Her tone was accusatory, and Adria didn’t like the summation.
“It’s normal not to hear from my sales,” Adria said, trying to sound civil, even though she felt anything but.
Nothing about this was normal. Nothing.
“I need to talk to Fran right now,” Elena said.
“Frances,” Adria corrected automatically, her mind racing through horrific possibilities. Torture. Death. Worse.
Elena just blinked at her.
