Blade (RBMC: Dallas, TX #4)

Chapter Nine

“HateMeToo”—FromAshesToNew

Seventeen years old…

S age’s mom either had the tiniest kernel of humanity, or Luis bided his time. Maybe both. Then again, it could have been a way to drive up the price too. Whatever the reason, Sage’s bitch ass mom sold her to Luis when she turned sixteen.

The night before her sixteenth birthday, she asked me to take her virginity. Fuck, it was awful.

“Tomorrow, my mom is giving me to Luis,” she mumbled as we sat there fat as ticks from scarfing down the entire cake I’d gotten her for her birthday.

My blood ran cold. “What?” I asked her as a deadly calm followed the chill that skated over my skin. I knew goddamn good and well, she was giving Sage to Luis. She’d sold her like a prized hog—I’d bet every penny I’d saved up on it.

The fact that I couldn’t save her was making me feel out of control. Sweat broke out over my brow and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I failed her.

It was my job to protect her.

And I’d failed.

Then she told me she wished it could be me and I almost choked. Actually, as I said her name, I kinda did.

Holy shit, did she actually have feelings for me that weren’t like my feelings for her? Did she have a crush on me? The horror of that thought almost made me nauseous. We were like siblings… only not.

“Sage—I can’t…” was all I got out before she slapped a hand over my mouth.

“Finley, I know you won’t hurt me. Please,” she pleaded and whispered.

Fury burned the ice in my veins away. “He’s hurt you?”

She refused to actually answer the question, but that in itself was an answer. There was very little I could deny her, but this was pushing it. At her tearful pleading, I caved and though it was without finesse, the deed was done.

The next day she was gone.