Chapter 3 - The Broken Alliance
The doorknob turned slowly.
I dove behind a heavy velvet curtain just as Naomi walked into the room.
She muttered to herself, searching for a box of old documents, completely unaware of the lens watching her.
I held my breath until she finally turned off the light and left.
An hour later, I managed to slip out of the house and drive straight to a quiet coffee shop downtown.
Brianna was already waiting for me at a corner table in the back.
She looked even paler than before, with dark circles under her hollow eyes.
"You shouldn't have met me here, Alyssa," Brianna whispered, glancing nervously around the room.
"If Naomi finds out, she will lock me in the basement for a week."
I reached across the table and covered her trembling hand with mine.
"Brianna, you don't have to live like this anymore," I urged gently.
"Where is Damian?" she asked bitterly.
"Gavin told me your older brother is on a long business trip."
Brianna let out a harsh, joyless laugh.
"Damian never went on a business trip."
"He tried to protect me two years ago, so they had him declared legally unstable."
"He is locked away in a private psychiatric facility on the other side of the state."
My blood ran cold.
"They institutionalized their own son just to keep their abuse a secret?" I gasped.
May you like
Brianna nodded slowly, tears spilling over her lashes.
"And you are next on their list, Alyssa."
