Page 26 of Ramshackle
“We’ve been looking for her this entire time. We’re not leaving her behind again, and shewillbe coming back here. If you would just tell us where—”
“Why?” she asks, her voice pained. “What about the deal? Does she mean more to you than me?”
“I never agreed to that deal! That was a bullshit deal, and you know it! If you cared a single fuck about me, you would stay whether Raegan was here or not. She didn’t mean to hurt you, and you’re here now. She was just trying tosave me. Why were you letting them experiment on me so much, huh, Vera? Would you kill me for them?”
“Of course not!” she exclaims. “I love you, Dane! I’ve missed you so much, and I just want to have my brother again. Please. Don’t do this!”
I close the distance between us and grab her arms. “You can have me, Ver. Right here. Don’t go just because Raegan is here.”
“It’s not that simple!”
“Then explain it to me. What hold does GE have on you? If your goal is helping others, then you can do that without them.”
Vera pushes at my chest and spins her back to me, breaking my hold. “It’s too late,” she whispers, almost like she’s saying it to herself.
Frowning, I reach for her shoulder. “What’s too late?”
“To get what either of us wants.” Vera gives me an almost pitying look over her shoulder. “All I wanted was my brother back. I wanted to spend time with you. Tease you. Laugh with you. I miss having you in my corner. I could do anything, because I knew that no matter what, you’d have my back. I could count on you.” She draws a long breath. “But you’re not even really here with me. Because you won’t stop thinking abouther.”
Guilt sits on my chest, and I know I’m giving it away.
She nods at what she sees there and continues, her voice soft. “Would you let her go if I told you the truth about her and Gordon?”
My breathing slows.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice a breathless whisper.
She rolls and bites her lip, sliding her gaze away from mine like she can’t look me in the eye for what comes next. My heart pounds louder in my chest. “She’s not who you think she is. After she killed me, Gordon took her in as hispet. He trained her to kill for him. To…service him as his personal whore. She did anything he asked of her...until he took her virginity and she destroyed the island. But under the condition of her deal with Gordon this time, I’m sure he’s already remade her into his obedient pet by now. She won’t be the girl you remember.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut as my brain stumbles over everything she’s revealed.
The mansion falling apart. The ground shaking and cracking. We thought it had been an earthquake.
And it was because…and we just left her there...
My stomach clenches as the revelations and signs race through my mind.
Her reaction to Gordon at the Guild.
My unwillingness to see it for what it really was.
And she gave herself back to that. Tohim.
For me.
Vera tucks her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, Dane. I don’t think you’ll get her back even if you do find her. It’s safer for you to keep your distance from her now.”
I swallow the sharp acidity back down, gripping her shoulder harder and forcing her to turn around to face me. “Where is she?! Which island? I know you know where Gordon goes. Where would he take her?”
She shakes her head and presses her lips together.
“Tell me!”
“I won’t! You need to stay away from her!”
“How can you say that? She was like a sister to you on the island. Don’t you care about what she’s been through at all?”
“Whatshe’sbeen through?!” Vera rips her shoulder from my grip. “What about what I’ve been through, Dane? She ruinedmylife. I hate her. She’s taking you from me and lied to you about GE being bad! There is no future with us living in this firehouse like our past didn’t happen. Like we aren’t as special as we are. If you want to be together again, come with me to GE and we can use our gifts forgood.”
