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“I paid a fuck ton of money to your mother for your virginity, and I was denied what I bought. Fucking stupid sluts. Always thinking they can rip me off. Fuck that. Glad your momma is dead though, because I would have done it first chance I got if she hadn’t been such a coward and killed herself.”

Chewing my bottom lip, I wonder where we’re going and if he’s seriously going to rape me. I always knew that he would have done that to me at some point, but to have him confirm it gives me chills. How on earth could my mother have done this? Been with this horrible man? Sold me to him…

Did she really hate me that much after my dad died? Talia gives my shoulder a slight nudge and when I look at her, I notice she’s untied herself. Oh my god, she’s free. My eyes widen and I mouth to her to jump out and get help, but she shakes her head no, with a determined expression on her face.

“Did ya know, Delaney, that your daddy died by my hand?” I gasp out in total shock. No, that can’t be true. I saw the police reports. “I wanted your momma since she was ten, but the stupid woman only wanted him.” He sneers. “I waited, bided my time. But then the bitch went and got knocked up and married him. Bitch. Dumb stupid cunt. She was a lousy lay.”

He rolls down his window and spits out of it. Gross.

“I couldn’t let her get away with that shit, so I made sure I finally had the bitch in the end. I made sure your mother knew I did it, too. Made sure she knew why. You, Delaney, are the reason. You should have been my kid, not that motherfuckers. Stupid bastard always thought he was better than me. Well, fuck that. She didn’t want me. Well, she couldn’t have him either. I showed her. Both of them. Now you’re mine.”

I guess that explains why she hated me so much, but then why not just give me up? I don’t get it. Aren’t mothers supposed to love their children? My eyes tear up at the thought. If I ever have children, I’m going to make sure they are loved beyond reason. Treasured, adored. Nothing will make them question my love for them, ever.

“Did you know, Delaney?”

God, why won’t he shut up?

“That your stupid pig boyfriend is a serial killer?” He laughs and coughing so hard the truck veers off the road slightly before he makes it right again. “You ain’t very smart, are ya?”

What’s he going on about now? Is he saying that Pike, my sexy and sweet cop, kills people? As in, he has murdered multiple people? I look at Talia and she avoids my eyes. My stomach drops. Does she know? Is Horace telling the truth?

So many thoughts and emotions work through me. I think I’m going to be sick again.

“Speak up, little bitch!” he yells, his voice echoing in the truck.

“What do you want me to say?” I ask quietly.

“Maybe don’t fucking talk. Damn. If I had known you’d grow up to be so stupid, I would have left you alone. But no, this is about more than just taking what I paid for. This is also about my daughter, Hope. Bitch wants you dead so she can finally have what belongs to her. You stole my baby girl’s man. You’ll pay for that. Wonder how she’ll do it? Will she skin you alive, cut pieces off you one by one? Who knows, but she sure has gotten good at the shit.”

Panic sets in, and I glance at Talia once more, who’s now glaring at the back of Horace’s head. We come to an abandoned-looking farmhouse and I see lights on inside. Two people’s shadows are the only movement I can see. Is Pike here? Is that the second shadow?

Horace parks at the front and jumps out but doesn’t let us out yet.

Talia turns to me, trying to undo the rope around my legs first. “The second he opens the door, Dels. I want you to run. Promise me that. The second it opens, you mother fucking run,” Talia urges to me quickly as Horace comes back out. Only he’s not alone. Behind him is Sam, Pike’s best friend. “That motherfucker!” Talia gasps in shock.

Maybe he is here to help us?

Sam is a cop. He wouldn’t help Horace, would he?

Chapter Twenty-eight

“Start walking,” Sam barks at me.

I’ll play along with their little game for now. I need more information. I don’t give a fuck about Hope, but Sam doing this cuts. He’s supposed to be my best friend. Like a fucking brother to me. Why would he betray me? For Hope? What’s the connection there?

What did I miss?

As I stomp behind Hope with the backstabbing prick following behind me, I run back through everything I know about Horace and this cunt. She’s his daughter, but how does Sam fit into the pieces of the puzzle? Lover? Another relative? Nothing makes sense. Inside the house, Sam shoves me down by the shoulders onto a rickety ass chair that strains under the pressure. Won’t take much to get away from these freaks.

“Stop roughing up, my man.” Hope strokes a finger along my jaw as she scowls at Sam. I need to turn them against each other to get them talking.

“Yeah, Sam. Don’t do something to get yourself hurt. I’d hate for Hope to have to hack off one of your hands.”

Her gaze cuts back to me then to Sam. He’s an idiot if he thinks I can’t turn her against him by using her feelings for me as a weapon. Just because I’m cuffed doesn’t make me weak.

“So, what’s the plan here, Hope? You’ve got me here. I can’t go anywhere. Now what?”

“Now we wait for Daddy to get here with your little girlfriend so I can have some fun.” She smirks at me as she skips around the room wielding her hatchet like a real loon.