A Hurt So Sweet Volume Two (Elite of Eden Falls Prep 2)

“What do I have to do in exchange?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he says. “Nothing at all.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, that’s not my problem,” he sighs. “Look, you want it or not? I can set up the call to your sister’s phone now. You’ll have ten minutes.”

“Dex, I…”

“Yes or no, toy?”

“Yes,” I whisper brokenly.

“Alright. Hang on. I’ll speak to you soon.”

A robot voice tells me my call is being reconnected. I collapse on my back, my h

eart hammering so fast I’m convinced I’m going to pass out from it. Am I really about to hear my sister’s voice again? Is Dexter for real or is this another one of his sick, twisted games?

“Hello?”

My heart nearly stops when I hear my sister’s voice.

“Hello, anyone there?”

“I…” I swallow thickly. “It’s me, Andie.”

“What?” I can picture her knitting her brows together, the sharp intake of breath coming next as she realizes it really is me. “Pandora?”

“Yeah,” I laugh nervously, the intensity of my emotions choking me up. “It’s me.”

“Oh my god,” she breathes, struggling to speak herself. “I can’t believe it, I just can’t…”

“We don’t have a lot of time,” I hurry up to say. “I think only ten minutes.”

“Where are you?” she demands. “Are you safe, are you okay? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

My thoughts flash back to my first night back. To Brazen beating me under our father’s instructions. Andie seems to sense my hesitation, but I try to cover it up.

“Sorry, the call is breaking up – yeah. I’m fine. Everything’s okay.”

“Okay,” she says, sounding unsure. “Can I see you?”

“Not yet,” I say ruefully. “I am trying to arrange it, but… You know where I am, don’t you?”

“With your family,” she says, her voice breaking over the words. “Your real family, I guess…”

“They’re not my real family,” I’m quick to tell her. “You are. And you’ll always be my sister.”

“Thank you,” she chokes out. “Everyone misses you. Milo, Estella…”

My mouth forms a thin line at the mention of my former friends. Milo, Crispin, Natan and Finn… The Lords of Wildwood. The reason I ended up in the fucked-up town of Eden Falls.

“How are you, Andie?” I ask her softly. “How are things at Wildwood?”

She started at school there three years ago. I’m eager to know how she’s doing, though I have a feeling she won’t reveal too much. Andromeda has always been a special girl, a bit of an outsider. I imagine this means things aren’t easy for her.

“I made a friend,” she says. “Tinsley. She’s at college now. I mostly hang out with Finn…”