Chapter 2

2.

Mandy's cousin, Lulu Lane, was a mid-tier influencer who lived for drama. She whipped out her phone and started a livestream immediately.

"Hey everyone! Today, we're doing a live takedown of a world-class jerk."

"This man got my cousin pregnant and then made her disappear. My aunt and uncle haven't eaten in three days because of this scumbag!"

Lulu turned the camera toward me, performing a public execution. I could see the comments scrolling wildly across the screen.

"My best friend went through the same thing. Jerks like him belong in the trash."

"He looks like a predator. I bet he does this all the time."

"I feel so bad for the girl. This guy needs to pay."

Lulu's eyes lit up when she saw the viewer count explode to over a hundred thousand.

"Lucian Reed, tell the truth to my audience. Where are you hiding my cousin?"

"Mandy isn't here. I'm warning you, untie me and apologize now, or I'll see your whole family in prison."

Arthur unbuckled his heavy leather belt and whipped it across my chest with a sickening crack.

"You think you can play with my daughter? You're a predator! I'm going to end you today!"

"I don't care how much money you have. I'm not scared of you. Tell me where she is, or I'll do the world a favor and take you out!"

He lashed me repeatedly with the belt. Every time the leather bit into my skin, Mrs. Summers followed up by splashing stinging pepper sauce into the open wounds. The pain was agonizing, reaching deep into my marrow.

I screamed in agony, but the people in the livestream were cheering on the other side of the screen.

"This is so satisfying! Get him, girl!"

"This is how you deal with trash. Make him regret ever touching her."

"I'm a psych major. I can tell by his micro-expressions that he's lying. The girl is definitely in that house!"