Chapter 18: Fagua

No fucking way!

The deal was thirty days, not to fuck the whole damn family. No, they said they wanted me to stay, and now they had me under pressure. Husk, I couldn’t stand him. The guy was so damn creepy. The way he talked and demanded everything, not like he owned the casino, but the whole damn world. As for Sky, we hadn’t exchanged more than pass me the salt at the dinner table, and even then, Husk had made me go to my room.

The only one out of the three who’d showed me any kindness from the moment I had been told to stay was Winter. This was why we mated, and why I want him and him alone. I shook my head at the idea of mating all three of them.

“No, no and no!” I said to myself once I got into my room and looked for shoes and clothing, so I could get out of here. Not just the rooftop, but I felt the need to get as far away from the casino as possible.

At some point when I’d been with Winter, the staff had washed and put away all the new clothes and shoes into one of my closets. I found some brand new sneakers. After dressing in a pair of shorts and a blouse that hugged my breasts, and I put the shoes on too. I smoothed my hair down and reached the door. Winter stood there, looking at me.

“I need to be alone.” I crossed my arms.

“I can see.” He moved out of the way.

I felt bad for him. His brother was dying, and I seemed to be the answer. The crazy thought which popped into my head once, reappeared again. This wasn’t a coincidence. I hadn’t been sold; they had brought me here for this reason.

“Tell me one thing.” I lifted my chin as I stared into Winter’s sapphire eyes and dared him to lie to me. “Did Keith really owe you guys money, or you just wanted me here?”

He cleared his throat as if he thought about his response.

“Both. He owed us money, and we wanted you here.”

Before we’d mated, Winter had smelled like an old man, approaching death. Now, it seemed he was young again. Has being with me changed him?

“So, all this was some sort of trap.” I threw my hands into the air and stomped forward, pressing a finger into his chest. “You used me. Am I some sort of healing machine or something? You needed me to live. Is all I am to you?”

He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t a trap. You’re free to go. It’s just not simple. I don’t even know how to explain it all to you. And the mood you’re in, I can tell you’re not willing to listen. Look, I need to go see Sky.”

Then his gaze shifted to the carpet, and he walked away. He wouldn’t stop me, but then he also didn’t answer my questions.

What did this all mean?

Did it mean Keith had lured me here and this was the reason why I had to mate with them?

Shit, of course.

I couldn’t trust them.

Once again, I’d been deceived. It was as if everyone I’d ever met wanted to deceive me. I couldn’t believe I’d been so dumb to fall for all of this, which was probably why I only graduated high school and never furthered my education. I was too dumb to study or do anything with my life.

I didn’t know who I hated more.

Winter for using me, or Keith for selling me to them like some piece of trash. They lived in a penthouse, had money at their feet, and yet they did nothing to enjoy it.

I turned around, facing the empty suite. As much as I wanted to leave, I had no money. I couldn’t go back home. Everything about my life felt like one big lie. I couldn’t trust anyone, no one at all. The question would be if I would come back. Right now I didn’t feel like it. I’d been used and there was nothing worse than this feeling pressing in on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I shoved whatever I could find in my case and headed out. I checked my purse. I had a hundred dollars and not a lot on my credit card. I couldn’t get far on the little money I had, but I had to leave.

I couldn’t stay here. Everything about me was changing, I’d gone from being able to move a small, silver vase in SmallHeath to moving objects in a room. The whole thing was crazy. This place wasn’t good for my health. It felt toxic.

I headed down the empty hallway. I stopped in my tracks as Lourdes smiled at me, then carried on putting broken objects in the bin.

I wanted to ask her if I’d done that?

I couldn’t speak as I’d decided to leave. Nothing and no one could stop me, including the triplets. I snorted at my own joke as the three brothers couldn’t be more different.

My heart squeezed as I thought about Winter losing his brother. I should at least say good-bye. I shook my head. He should have told me the truth. He had plenty of time, but he chose not to.

He’d taken my virginity and made me feel special. Tears formed in my eyes as reality weighed heavy on my heart. I thought I meant something to him. But he’d used me. I guess, everyone uses everyone. I’d used Keith to leave SmallHeath, and he’d used me to pay his debts.

No matter how it felt as if my heart was breaking, I had to leave. There was no turning back now. The elevator doors opened. I raised my head high and entered. Did the elevator have a sensor or something? I didn’t remember pressing the button. The last time I tried to leave, Husk told me I needed a key. Now with the doors wide open, I walked in and the button for the ground floor flashed. I looked up at Winter standing outside the elevator.

I avoided his stare, but I couldn’t get the elevator doors to close. He just stood watching me, as if he couldn’t take his eyes off me, but he couldn’t tell me to stay either.