Captured (Blood Ties #8)

But I couldn’t move, still on all fours staring at the vacant eyes of the Daughter in front of me…the one who was now missing half her head.

“Hurry,” the redhead snapped. “I want her out in five.”

I shoved against the floor, held onto the chair and slowly pulled myself upright. Stop this…you have to stop this…

The words were slow and distant, leaving me to glance back at the dead woman as though what’d just happened had been some fucked-up dream. But it wasn’t a dream. That was real.

“Okay,” the redhead snapped, glancing at the door as that familiar brunette walked in.

She looked my way, then took hold of the Daughter who had now been made up with deep red lips. “This way,” she said, leading her out of the room.

“You, you’re next.” I watched as another one was selected.

She shook and wept, slumping hard as they forced her into the chair. Hairspray hissed, the sharp scent filling the room before her black hair was swept up and pinned, revealing her long neck. Makeup was next, just enough to make her lips stand out.

Then the brunette was back, glancing my way before she turned to the new made-up Daughter. “You, come.”

I glanced at the door behind her, then slowly scanned the rest of the room, searching for a way out of this hell.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.”

I glanced back at the cruel woman who called the shots. She held my gaze. “You wouldn’t make it, and it would be an absolute waste to have to kill you.” She took a step forward. “Not only that, you don’t want to make me go to the basement and drag your sister up here to take your place, do you?”

My sister…

The words caught my breath. Her face rushed back to me. Young, beautiful…with the most perfect birthmark on the edge of her cheek.

“Ryth,” I whispered.

The bitch turned away, walking to where the next Daughter was in the seat, her hair being straightened this time with a hair iron.

But as I stared at the Daughter’s hair being combed, my memories slowly came back to me. It wasn’t just the truck this time. It was Ryth’s face, and the two men she was with…Tobias and Nick, their names followed. Then another face rushed in to take their place. A man’s face…a man I knew. One who thrashed and screamed, hanging by his hands tied over his head.

That man’s dangerous…

I shook my head.

No.

No, he wasn’t dangerous at all.

My breath caught as the brunette came back, her gaze narrowing in on me. “She’s next.” She commanded, then pointed my way.

I shook my head as they came for me, the redhead and her guard with the gun.

“Now, you’re not going to give us trouble, are you, Helene?”

Helene…

My own name resounded in my head as the redhead grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

“I think your sister was hurt,” she said, searching my eyes for a flicker of recognition. “It looked serious. I guess that’s what happens when you shoot at bulletproof glass. I do hope she gets to a doctor soon.”

My heart hammered at the words.

There was a shake of her head.

“In the chair, Helene…now.”