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Arlo’s lip curls. “You thought that I was just going to let you sell her?”
My stomach twists violently as I remember the way Councilor Soren looked at me like I was a prize to be won rather than a scared girl. How he bid on me but not Sable.
Claudia had taken pity on us luckily. She’d outbid him, even when Mr. Crawly told her that was enough. I’d been grateful for it for years, but I never understood why Mr. Crawly allowed her to bid so hard against him.
“Soren left Purgatory.” Crawly’s hand tightens on the leather strap. “Over a year ago.”
“Don’t be so naive, Crawly. How many times did he come digging around here looking to take her off your hands, huh? How many offers? You think he just changed his mind? That he just walked away?” Arlo taunts, a lopsided grin taking over his face.
“What is he talking about?” Claudia’s snaps. Her eyes fly to her husband. “Thomas Crawly, did you let that horrid man on our land?”
Crawly doesn’t look at her. His gaze stays locked on Arlo, hatred burning hot enough to melt steel. “Go inside, Claudia.”
Arlo doesn’t blink. Doesn’t flinch. Not even when Mr. Crawly stalks toward him. His belt falls to the ground as he moves to the shed doors, and he grabs one of the horse whips.
“What did you do?” he demands.
Arlo’s eyes go to me. “What I had to,” he answers, not taking his eyes from mine.
Mr. Crawly peers back at me while I’m still trying to figure out what they are talking about.
Crawly motions to Gerald. “Put her in the barn until I’m done here,” he orders, and Gerald marches over.
I fight, kick, and scratch, but Gerald is a monster of a man, and he tosses me over his shoulder with little effort.
“You fucking bastard, Crawly. You fucking bastard!” I screech as I am hauled away.
I don’t see him strike, but I hear the crack of the whip and Marian’s scream. Gerald shoves the barn door open and tosses me off his shoulder. I bound back up to my feet and make a break for the door, but he blocks my path.
“You go out there, and he’s going to run his mouth some more and get himself killed. Is that what you want?” Gerald snarls.
“What was Arlo talking about just now?”
He pauses and looks back, then shakes his head and moves to lock me in.
“Where is Councilor Soren?”
“Dead!” His expression darkens, and he lets the barn door slam shut again. “Soren came looking for you about a year ago, tried to cut a deal with Crawly, but Arlo overheard. The bastard wanted you for a wife. Crawly said no, but that was Claudia answering for him. Soren went behind her back and offered a ridiculous amount for your contract, and you know Crawly.”
My stomach drops.
“I couldn’t stop Arlo. I was too late by the time I realized he went after him.” He shakes his head sadly. “He was a good boy before you showed up, but you are poison to him.”
I stagger back a few steps and land on the hay bed, trying to understand what he’s telling me.
“But I . . . Did he—”
“Stay here,” Gerald snaps. “Nothing you do or say is going to help him right now.” Then he storms out of the barn without another word, locking the door behind him.
CHAPTER 12
• Alessia •
MY HANDS SHAKE as I clutch my ears, trying to drown out Arlo’s whimpers and moans.
It feels like forever before quiet falls over the barn. After a few minutes, Mr. Taylor’s truck engine rumbles to life. Marian is screaming over the hum, and Arlo has fallen silent.
As the sound of the truck fades, footsteps grow louder outside the barn, and I get up from my makeshift bed just as Mr. Crawly enters. He’s covered in sweat from the beating, and drops of Arlo’s blood are splattered across his clothes. I glare at him with every ounce of hate I can muster. How could he be so cruel?
