Page 102 of Stormhold

“Someone get the girls,” one of the men directed, but we weren’t stopping.

Instead of using the road, I led my sisters into the deep, dark forest. Somehow, that darkness looked a lot less scary. The wet mud and branches pricked our bare feet, and sweat gathered on our skin as we ran for our lives, with the moon as our only light.

The sound of gunfire popped off in the distance. And a scream muffled out of Ella’s lips; she and I both knew who it was for. “No, Daddy,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she didn’t stop running, clutching her injured arm.

I could tell someone was following us, and he would find us soon because Ari still wouldn’t stop screaming. Her eyes were wide. Her scratchy voice was barely audible as she kept screaming.

“Ari,” I called out to her, grabbing her shoulders. “Ari, please listen to me. You need to stop.” My words were deaf to her ears.

My feet halted, and I turned her toward me. “Stop, Ari,” I managed through the fire in my lungs.

“Ari please.” Ella stopped too, crying as she tried to shake Ari out of it.

She wouldn’t. She only went harder. And I could hear their footsteps getting closer. I didn’t know what came over me as I threw my hand back and slapped her hard across the face.

Ari snapped out of it, the scream dying on her lips, her face ashen with terror. And it was only then that tears started to roll down her cheeks.

“Good girl,” I whispered, kissing her cheek. “You’re okay now.”

“We must go,” Ella urged, her eyes scanning the quiet forest. “They’re coming for us.”

I nodded, but my steps died before I could make a run.

“What?” Ella’s panicked eyes reached mine.

Snow.

I totally forgot about her.

My baby sister was still there.

I needed to go back for her.

“Don’t stop running,” I said to Ella, handing a whimpering Ari over to her. My voice never trembled. It held an unnatural, steady tone that I didn’t recognize. “I’m going back for Snow.”

Before she could say another word, I was running back.

Only to be caught by the five men and sold off to the farm.

Never to see Snow again.

CHAPTER 27

ARKANE

Age 20

“Does your father know you’re coming back home?” Karl asked me as he effortlessly swerved his prized golden ’58 Cadillac Eldorado up the hills, the roof open to bask in the bright day.

I shook my head, too unbothered to even open my eyes. I lay on the backseat, my head in my folded hands as the soft sun rays danced on my face, almost lulling me to sleep. Only almost, because my racing thoughts would never allow it. I had self-diagnosed myself as an insomniac at this point.

I knew my moment of peace wouldn’t last long and would be killed the second I returned home. Not just because I wasn’t supposed to be here in the Twins, but also because it was a place where my father held a ruling thumb over me.

I was to be an obedient son and follow his orders to stay put in college and continue my education while he fucked up this city further. We were already on the brink of a war, and I knew without a doubt he would let his weakness win. After all, that was the reason we were here in this situation.

The first thing I did after I turned eighteen was build myself a home on the cliffs. Far, far away from the memories of my childhood. But now I’m needed here. More so than ever, even if Father disagreed.

It was all his fault anyway. Instead of dealing with this mess seventeen years ago, he let dear Uncle Kenny grow in power, so much so that he’d formed his own organization now called the Covent. What a joke! After all the stupid rules my father preached about power and duty, he only let his fucking twin pull one over on him.