My stomach dropped. While I’d only ever seen Kansas and Constantine, we knew there were others down there with us. Some were older, some younger, but all in the same situation. Trapped, starved, tortured, and inevitably abused and forced into child sexual slavery.
“Do you know why I was taken?” I asked.
“No. But I know why Kansas was. And so does he.”
I couldn’t breathe.“Why?”
“Did Kansas ever tell you he discovered his last name? That documentary crew aren’t the only ones that can dig up old records.”
I shook my head and frowned. Why hadn’t Kansas told me? If he had found out his last name, he should have told me. What other secrets was he hiding since he left for school?
“What is it? His last name.”
“Foxworth.”
Rule 35 - Constantine
Always accept the party invite.
Istared intently at her, watching the blood drain from her face and her brown eyes grow wide.
“Foxworth as in… like a cousin?”
“As in a brother. Kansas and Spencer are half-brothers. Or, were.” I snickered and returned to my plate of food.
“Stop,” Eisley said. “They were brothers?”
“Good ol’ Teddy Foxworth had a side piece. He got her pregnant only months after he did the same to his wife. Spencer and Kansas were only a few months apart from each other.”
“So, what, you think Mr. Foxworth gave Kansas to the Minister?”
“More like sold. Kansas was visiting with his dad and was handed off like he was grabbing a dime bag from his dealer.”
“And no one knew about a missing boy? How did his mom not say anything?”
“Because she went with him. She was one of the Mothers.”The gasp and sudden silence undersold the weight of my words. Yes, Kansas’s biological mother had been an active member and participant in my father’s church. She allowed her son to be abused.
Eisley ran her hands through her hair. “I don’t understand. How could a real mother do that? What was the point?” She stopped pacing and glared at me. “Which one was it?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t recognize her from the pictures. She died at some point. And you know my dad, he’d just replace them.”
“No, she had to have gone with Kansas to try to save him.” She nodded, formulating a theory in her head. “That’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s correct.”
Her plump lips trembled. “Poor Kansas. His own family. And he knows?”
I nodded solemnly.
She reached for her phone. “I have to call him.”
My facial muscles twitched. She dialed and held the phone to her ear, but it rang and rang. He never picked up. Eventually, she hung up and sighed.
“It’s getting late.” She picked up her plate and took it to the trash without eating anything.
“Is that your way of kicking me out?” I teased, finishing my dinner and standing.
“Would you be offended?” She smiled softly.
