Once I’m sure I have everything that matters, I put on my shoes and listen at the door to see what’s happening now. I don’t want to run out into the hall and come face-to-face with her. I don’t even want to know what James has told her since I left the room, but I imagine it’s much worse. God, how can he live with himself? And how can his sons live with themselves, for that matter? Lying the way they did. They know damn well how I ended up with this stupid tattoo, but they’re willing to pretend it was my idea, that I’m obsessed.

The hallway is empty, thank god. I take off running, dashing down the stairs with my backpack slung over one shoulder. At least I get to leave. I don’t know where I’m going, but I have a little bit of money in the bank. I can figure things out once I’m away from here.

But the sight of my two worst enemies standing in the driveway makes me stop short and backpedal a little. Nix is standing at the open driver’s door to the truck while Colt steps forward, closer to me. “Come on.”

“Go to hell,” I fire back. “Like I would go anywhere with the two of you—you fucking liars. You sick fucking liars.”

“Get in the truck,” Colt growls. “Or I’m going to put you in it.”

“You know where you can put your truck? Right up your ass. See how you feel.” I begin to walk around him in a wide arc, but of course, it does me no good. He picks me up and unceremoniously dumps me in the back of the truck before slamming the door. By the time I sit up and reach for the handle, Nix has already engaged the locks.

“This is kidnapping, you assholes. What, do you want to add that to your list of crimes? It wasn’t enough to rape me. Now you have to fucking kidnap me? I bet this is your father’s way of keeping me quiet forever, isn’t it? Are you supposed to take me somewhere, leave me there to rot?”

“Are you finished?” Nix mutters as we drive away from the house. I don’t bother looking back. I’ll never see it again, anyway. Not once they’re finished with me. Considering everything that’s happened, I don’t think the idea of them murdering me at their father’s command is that far outside the realm of possibility.