Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Luna
Six months later
“There are particular ways you should and should not behave,” Rita says, eyes narrowing as she watches the six of us. She flicks her black hair out of her face, waiting to see if anyone is going to say anything.
I keep my mouth shut like a good girl, knowing it won’t do any good to respond. Even if it’s telling her I already know how they expect us to act once we’re sold.
When Lark and I woke up six months ago, we found out our lives had gone from bad to worse.
Not only were we kidnapped, but we’re expected to spend the next three years training to be one of Gideon’s dolls—the perfect omegas for him to sell.
Gideon is the man who kidnapped us and who plans to sell us to the highest bidder just before our first heat at twenty-one. It seems I stepped from the frying pan straight into the fire, dragging Lark right along with me.
We’ve been grouped with four other girls our age—Aries, Briar, Lexi, and Silva. There are other girls in the house, but we only catch glimpses of them from time to time.
The betas in charge of us—Beth, Rita, and Viv—have explained that there are three groups of six at any given time: the eighteen-year-olds, the nineteen-year-olds, and the twenty-year-olds.
All omegas who haven’t gone through their first heat because that is what Gideon is selling off—or at least part of it.
I thought for sure I’d be tossed out when they realized I wasn’t a virgin, but apparently, that isn’t a requirement to be a doll.
When Silva’s mouth pops open, I know she’s about to say something to get her in trouble. I reach over and dig my fingers into her arm. When she turns her attention to me, I shake my head.
The six of us have grown close over the last few months, and while it’s clear we’re all holding back secrets, it’s hard not to depend on one another. We’re all we have because these beta bitches sure as hell don’t give a shit about us past the money we’ll make their boss.
I’ve turned into the one who’s always talking the others down, reminding them not to cause waves—no matter how much I wish we could. There’s no escaping this future—at least not yet.
If we want any chance of ever escaping Gideon, we all have to play the game, which is what I’m reminding Silva of.
She sighs but nods before turning her attention back to Rita.
Lark taps her nails against the table, drawing my attention to her, and she gives me a small nod of approval.
We were both raised in dangerous worlds where we were taught how an omega “should” act.
Not that Papa would ever have expected me to act like that, but it was an important part of my education.
Not specifically how an omega should act, since I hadn’t designated as an omega yet, but everyone has their place in the underground's violence.
We learned all the expectations that would come when we designated.
For now, I’ll act demurely and under control, but inside I’m a mess of anger and grief.
I want nothing more than to rage against everything life has thrown my way, but what good will that do me?
“I’m glad you girls are finally learning.” Rita’s voice is snide as she leans against the table opposite ours. “Gideon will be happy to hear you’ve stopped talking back. It was bound to happen, eventually. Now, let’s talk about the expectations of one of Gideon’s dolls.”
I tune her out, letting my mind wander.
I wonder how Matías and Juan Carlos are doing. Has Fabian corrupted my little brothers? Has he turned them into his mini me’s yet?
Do they wonder where I disappeared to? Do they know Fabian killed Christian, or did my older brother let them think the two of us ran off together?
I squeeze my eyes shut at the sharp pain in my chest. I still haven’t grieved for Christian.
How can I when I’m trapped in this hell?
How can I do anything but focus on surviving?
I miss him so damn much. Him, Papa, Mama, and my little brothers.
But maybe one day I’ll be able to see my brothers again. The other three are lost to me.
I’ve lost so damn much. How much more am I expected to lose?
I blink when two hands close over mine. I shoot Lark and Silva grateful smiles, bringing myself back into the present.
All that matters now are these five women.
Tonight’s the night.
After three long years, we’re finally getting away from Gideon.
We spent hours being primed and plucked before being paraded in front of alphas to be sold. I’ll admit the black and gold dress they put me in is gorgeous, but I’ve never been more uncomfortable in my life. I wanted to break more than one hand that wandered—not just on me, but on my sisters too.
Because after this long together, that’s what we are—sisters. While Lark and I are closer because of our childhood, I’d die for any of these women.
I just hope it doesn’t come to that.
Finally, the clock hits midnight. I grab my bag and step into the hallway to find everyone else except Lark.
“Where’s Lark?” Briar asks as we head for the exit to the back garden.
“She said to go on without her and get to the meeting point.” Silva’s the one to answer, and my panic only rises.
No, I can’t lose her, too.
I can’t.
I won’t survive it.
“What if she doesn’t make it?” I can’t help asking.
Silva immediately sets out to soothe my worries. “She’s gonna be just fine. She will make it. Come on. We don’t have much time.”
I know she’s right, but I can’t help glancing behind me.
Where are you, Lark?
She should be here with us.
I follow the others, running across the grounds as I pray we’re not caught. As we approach the property line, my eyes catch on Lark, and I let out a sob of relief.
Thank fuck.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any time to yell at her for not warning me. We have a long walk ahead of us.
I’m the only one who knows how Lark procured our new home for us. It’s still crazy to me that she was able to get access to a computer while we were locked away. Anytime she went on a mission, I worried about her until she made it back to her room.
I told her we should just tell the girls about what she did, but when she asked me not to, I agreed.
It’s not like it’s the only secret between us—like who Lark and I really are.
Some secrets are better left buried.
It takes us two days of walking almost non-stop to reach our new home of Widows Peak.
Gideon will look for us—there’s no way he’ll take this lying down—but it’ll take time, and we’re ready for him.
We won’t be going back with him. With some help from Lark and her guy—another secret I can’t share with the others—we have enough to make him leave us alone.
I know the others hope he won’t find us, but Lark and I know better. We’ve been around men like him our entire lives. He won’t give up until we force his hand.
But I won’t destroy that hope in them.
Now, we make this abandoned home ours and wait for him to make his move.
It’s two weeks before Gideon’s men arrive, but they’re quickly dealt with.
After they leave, we all head to our rooms, but I find myself knocking on Lark’s door.
She answers immediately, as if she was just waiting for me. “Come in.”
I’d let her take the lead in dealing with his men, Silva eventually joining her. I played dumb with the others, not wanting to give myself away.
I’m not supposed to know anything about men like Gideon. I should’ve feared him.
So I pretended I was, when I’ve already met men so much worse than him.
Hell, I’m related to one of them.
“It worked?” I ask again, and she snorts.
“Of course it worked. Did you really think it wouldn’t?”
I shake my head. “No. I just needed to ask again.”
We sit on her bed, and I lean my head against her shoulder.
“Are you going to stay?” she asks quietly.
“Of course I am. We already agreed with the others that we’d stay. Besides, where else would I go?” I pause. “Wait. Are you staying?”
Lark nods. “Yes. For now. I’m sure I’ll have to go home eventually, but I’ll stay as long as I can. I thought you might still want to go to Colombia.”
“No. I don’t even know if El Jefe is still in charge. Plus, Fabian would know I was alive. At least here, he won’t know where I am—whether I’m dead or alive.” I sigh. “I think I want to continue my education.”
“You still want to be a lawyer?”
I shrug. “I think it could be helpful. There’s only so much my not quite finished criminology degree can do for us.
I only have a few classes left. I can do those online.
Even law school. They have that omega law school that allows us to take classes online.
I’ll still have to go to campus from time to time, but for the most part I can do it here.
It’ll only help us as we set up Widows Peak. ”
She considers me for a moment. “Aren’t you worried about continuing on the same career path? What if Fabian figures out you’re alive?”
“We’re two thousand miles away. I can take precautions when I leave town.” I knock my shoulder against hers. “Plus, I have a best friend who knows a bit about hacking.”
“A bit?” She scoffs, pretending to be offended before sobering. “It would be helpful, I won’t deny that. If it’s what you want to do, then I’ll do everything I can to help you. Sebastian and I did get those transcripts set up for you. And you’ll finally be the same age as the rest of the students.”
“Don’t remind me.” I wrinkle my nose. “If it wasn’t for Gideon, I might be a lawyer by now.”
“Law school in two years? Of course you’d want to take the accelerated course.” She shakes her head.
I shrug again. “I don’t think I’ll do the accelerated course now. Not when we need to get the town set up. It’ll be hard enough to keep up with the coursework while we do what we have to do here.”
“Well, if there’s anyone who can do it, it’s you, Luna.”