Page 31 of Wicked Rush

“I wasn’t with anyone,” she lied. “I…I went to the beach. I always go to the beach.”

“You’re lying,” he accused her, kicking the dead cat across the room. “You’ve got a goddamned beach in front of your house.”

Her reddened eyes looked at Benny’s lifeless body in horror. She shuddered inwardly, but resisted the urge to react.

“It was high tide. You know I do research at night. I went to the strand. Pleuroncodes planipes.”

“What the fuck? Stop with the mumbo jumbo. Speak English,” he demanded.

“Red tuna crabs. They’ve been washing in recently. I miss it. The field work.” Braelynn summoned her courage, straightening her spine and defiantly challenging her uncle. “How can you expect me to stay in the office all day? I must maintain my connection with nature if I’m to continue in this field. Ever since I arrived at Bart-Aqua, I haven’t been permitted to leave.”

“Who gives a shit about the damn crabs?” Shane interjected.

“El Niño. They’ve been washing up the past couple of years. I wanted to observe the latest wave.” Braelynn knew full well she could have seen them in the daylight, but it was the first excuse that popped into her mind. “There is a whole nocturnal ecosystem that occurs on the beaches.”

“Clean yourself up and get to the office.” Her uncle brushed the sleeves of his fine Italian suit and avoided eye contact with her. “I need you to review the Mead report that’s going out on Monday. It’s a big contract. Jeannette said you weren’t in today. You can imagine my concern when we couldn’t locate you.”

“I…I fell asleep.” Braelynn’s eyes went to Benny, who lay lifeless on her white tiled floor. Fresh tears emerged and she choked back a sob. “On the beach. When I woke up, I ate breakfast in Coronado and checked out a few shops.”

“If I find out you’re lying to me…” He paused, wrapping his fingers around the brass door handle. The threat lingered, his cold eyes drilling into her. “If I find out you’re fucking Elliott, you’re done, little Braelynn Sadie.”

“Don’t say her name!” Braelynn cried at the mention of her mother.

“My sister was a bitch. You’re living under my control now, niece. You do what I say when I say it. I don’t tolerate lies.”

“I didn’t lie,” she protested.

“You work for me now. Your mother’s dead. Your father…is missing. You wouldn’t want to go missing too, now would you?” Her uncle approached her slowly. Shane sidled next to her but didn’t move to stop him when he grabbed her chin. “You will not disgrace me. My work here is important. Confidential. If you go blabbing those little lips of yours,” he smudged his stubby fingers over her mouth, smearing blood over her swollen cheeks. With a firm push, he shoved her onto her side, “you could go missing too. Do we understand each other?”

Braelynn nodded, shocked at the sight of him tasting her blood. A monster. He glared at her as he opened and walked out the front door.

As Shane went to leave, he turned to address her. “Don’t forget to lock your doors.” The tone in his voice sounded sincere but anger burned in his chestnut eyes.

Braelynn shuddered as a loud slam echoed throughout the house. Her uncle’s threats were nothing new, but it was the first time he’d hit her. A devastating cry tore from her throat.

“Benny.” His name trembled off her lips as she crept slowly towards his body. She brushed a bloody hand across her cheek, sobbing, before crumpling onto the floor next to him.