Page 39 of Half Truths (Secret Society 1)
I twisted the cap back on it and set it down. A slow, tingling feeling traveled through my body. I swayed on my feet, stumbling backward, my sight crossing as the room began to spin. And then I fell. I couldn’t say how long I was just lying there before I heard footsteps. The door opened slowly, and I opened my eyes a little, just enough to see two cloaked figures walk inside. They didn’t even bother to close it behind them. They knew I wouldn’t be able to move. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell them to go fuck themselves, but my voice wouldn’t cooperate. They crouched in front of me, and I tried to make out their faces beyond the large hood on their heads, but couldn’t. My head lulled to one side and my eyes shut despite my trying to keep them open.
“What do you want?” I asked. Or tried to ask.
“Your brother was one of our best. And then he broke the code,” one of them said, a male voice.
“He paid the price for it,” the other added.
I reached out. If I could grab one of them by the neck, I would choke him. They laughed, seemingly understanding my motive. My arm dropped with a thump beside me. There was a crash. A pound. Both of their heads turned toward it at the same time. I lifted my arm again and tried to swing, but my arm fell before I could hit either of them.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” the voice shouted. Logan. Logan?
“Aw, are you already getting attached to your new pet?” one responded.
“Get the fuck away from her,” Logan roared. “Now.”
The two figures in front of me skittered back quickly. It must have been my state of intoxication, but they looked like ants scurrying off. I tried to get up, to ask if it was Logan, but in my attempt, I passed out.
Chapter Sixteen
My brother broke the code. What code? My mind was spiraling as I thought about everything—the darkness, the code, the money, the agreement, the cold concrete beneath my hands, the clean smell, the pounding. What the hell was the pounding?
I awoke with a start, and I was in my bed.
My bed.
In my apartment. Miles away from the Gorges. I sat up in bed and leaned back on my headboard and patted myself down to make sure I was intact. What the fuck? How the fuck? The last thing I remembered was screaming at the top of my lungs in that dungeon-looking basement. I closed my eyes to think. Had they opened the door? Had they . . . I whimpered at the thought, my hand cupping between my legs, but no. I didn’t feel anything there. My neck was sore though, as if I’d slept in an awkward position. How had they carried me out of there without me knowing? How had they gotten into my apartment? A shiver spread through me. Was it the same ones who brought the boxes in here previously? Were they still here? I brought a hand to my mouth to keep from whimpering aloud, and when my phone vibrated on my nightstand, I jolted. They’d even placed my phone there and plugged into the charger. Who were these people? I stared at Travis’s picture kissing my cheek on the screen of the phone for a beat, then two, before deciding to answer it.
“Hello?” My voice was hoarse.
“What the fuck, Mae? I’ve been calling. Did you make it back home?”
“Um . . . yes. Yeah, I’m home.”
“What happened? Why were you in the middle of nowhere last night?”
“I got an invitation to a party,” I said, licking my lips.
My lips were so dry. My voice was so hoarse and I felt so groggy. They drugged me. They were spouting about loyalty, yet they’d drugged me. I glanced down at myself again. I was still wearing the same clothes I had on last night and aside from looking disheveled, nothing was torn. I knew they hadn’t raped me. I just knew. But still. What if they’d touched me? What if they felt me up while I was unconscious, or looked at me naked, or taken pictures? My lip quivered, my eyes instantly pooling with the thought of that.
“Mae?” Travis sounded impatient.
“I’m sorry.” I licked my lips again. “Yeah, I’m fine. I should’ve been more clear last night.”
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Nothing.” I climbed out of bed and started walking toward the living room. I had to stay on the phone with him while I searched the apartment and made sure I was alone. “What’s going on with you?”
“I’m worried about you,” he said. “I was worried sick last night. I almost called the cops and sent them your location but I wanted to wait until this morning just in case.”
