Page 312 of Lessons in Cruelty

They didn’t just take my flower.

They ripped it out of the soil and took turns plucking off the petals, one by one. And I fucking loved watching them fight over who got to destroy me.

Keys, Haven.

Stop daydreaming and find your fucking keys.

Bastian’s nightstand drawer rolls open silently when I tug it.

I stare into its dark depths, my eyes taking a moment to focus on the objects inside.

My mouth goes dry.

The keys jingle as I slowly lift them out.

The gun doesn’t make a sound.

Freedom in the palm of my hand.

And absolute power in the other.

For the first time—possibly ever—I have a fucking choice.

Run like a scared little girl…or get revenge.

I wrap my fingers around the collar, pulling it away so I can take in a long, calming breath.

This is insane. I need to get the hell out of this house, the hell away from Kai and Bastian and everything else that keeps wanting to pull me under.

But that brief flicker of sanity evaporates at a vivid memory. Then another. Another.

The clatter of metal on metal.

A padlock snapped closed.

The clatter of metal on metal.

A belt drawn free.

The clatter of metal on metal.

A gun landing on the hood of a car.

Chapter 22

Haven

“Find ‘em?” Kai yells from the kitchen.

My body jerks, the gun falling back into the drawer with a thud. “Yes! Here!” I bleat, swallowing hard as I jangle the bunch of keys.

Kai is speaking to Bastian, but too low for me to make out. Or maybe it’s the low whine in my ears as I stare down at the gun, I don’t know.

When I enter the living area again, Kai still has Bastian at his mercy. I get close enough to see a thin line of blood on his neck where the blade must have cut him.

Bastian’s eyes flicker to me, then my hand. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asks. Fucking calm as can be, when I’m shaking so hard my collar’s chain is rattling.

Kai gives me a double take. “What the fuck are you doing?”