and was dragged from their home by three soldiers. She was led away as well, and no one saw them after that. Their home still sat empty to this day.
Stella shuddered at the thought. Their home wasn't the most opulent or finely furnished like some, but it was decent and warm, and she knew it was better than anything in the other parts of town. She'd never been in the ghettos herself, it was strictly forbidden. Her father would freak if she ever did such a thing. She'd seen the ghettos through the fences that separated them though. Most of the buildings were nothing but rubble. She couldn't imagine rats living in such conditions, never mind humans.
Walking into the family room, her mother and sister already sat there waiting, wearing their finest dresses. Mara looked beautiful in a deep navy and silver gown. Stella's thoughts drifted to Mr. Samson’s nephew, who she hadn't seen now in a long time. Against her best intentions, she'd looked for him at the last meeting but never spotted him, not that she ever did during those things. She kept waiting since to see if he'd visit, but nothing.
Would he be there tonight? Looking at her sister? Part of her hoped not. If he saw them both, he’d most certainly go for her sister over her. Mara just had that confidence that men noticed, and she was by far the prettiest girl. With a sigh, Stella sat beside her mother and waited for their father to come down so they could leave. Her legs bounced and her hands fidgeted, her anticipation high.
There was something in the air tonight; that intangible feeling that sometimes permeated an event and told you tonight would be different, special. Stella didn't know why or what she thought would happen, but her gut told her that something big was going to happen.
Something that would change her life forever. Again, the image of the gorgeous, blonde boy came to mind, heating her cheeks.
Whatever happened this evening, she was ready.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next fight had begun, the crowd growing rowdier as the night wore on. It all felt like a distance hum in the background as Phoenix tried to organize her thoughts into some sort of plan. Missy and Garrett looked concerned as they spoke with their heads tilted close to one another, clearly worried about where Pixie had been taken.
She wasn't sure if Tyler had witnessed the whole thing too or not, but he seemed as stoic as usual standing over with the other male fighters. Trent had been returned to that area as well, further down the line from where Tyler stood. Their eyes met across the room. She couldn't read the emotion in his eyes from here, and doubted he could see the fear in hers.
Or maybe he could, she thought, the way his body stood tense as though he fought the urge to cross the room once more. Unfortunately they'd shackled him again, otherwise she was sure he would have. Like a chicken, she'd been avoiding looking in Bastian's direction, too afraid that he was still watching her with that hawk-like gaze, seeing every thought and emotion running through her mind. She felt naked and open beneath his stare.
Bastian was what she considered an old soul. There was something in his blue gaze that gave the impression he knew things before they even happened. Funny enough, Pixie had that same sort of look. Maybe that was something that drew them to each other? Maybe they just enjoyed mentally sparring with someone on the same level as them?
Whatever it was, Phoenix needed to talk to Pixie and get the whole story. Gathering her courage, she chanced a look at him and saw that he'd left the man and woman he'd been speaking with when Pixie had gone AWOL, and was now in what appeared to be an intense conversation with some of his men.
Damn, she wished she could hear what they were saying. Or maybe not, she thought as they broke apart at that moment. Two came toward her, while one guy went over to Missy and Garrett, and three walked toward Trent.
Holy shit.
They were in so much
Stella shuddered at the thought. Their home wasn't the most opulent or finely furnished like some, but it was decent and warm, and she knew it was better than anything in the other parts of town. She'd never been in the ghettos herself, it was strictly forbidden. Her father would freak if she ever did such a thing. She'd seen the ghettos through the fences that separated them though. Most of the buildings were nothing but rubble. She couldn't imagine rats living in such conditions, never mind humans.
Walking into the family room, her mother and sister already sat there waiting, wearing their finest dresses. Mara looked beautiful in a deep navy and silver gown. Stella's thoughts drifted to Mr. Samson’s nephew, who she hadn't seen now in a long time. Against her best intentions, she'd looked for him at the last meeting but never spotted him, not that she ever did during those things. She kept waiting since to see if he'd visit, but nothing.
Would he be there tonight? Looking at her sister? Part of her hoped not. If he saw them both, he’d most certainly go for her sister over her. Mara just had that confidence that men noticed, and she was by far the prettiest girl. With a sigh, Stella sat beside her mother and waited for their father to come down so they could leave. Her legs bounced and her hands fidgeted, her anticipation high.
There was something in the air tonight; that intangible feeling that sometimes permeated an event and told you tonight would be different, special. Stella didn't know why or what she thought would happen, but her gut told her that something big was going to happen.
Something that would change her life forever. Again, the image of the gorgeous, blonde boy came to mind, heating her cheeks.
Whatever happened this evening, she was ready.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next fight had begun, the crowd growing rowdier as the night wore on. It all felt like a distance hum in the background as Phoenix tried to organize her thoughts into some sort of plan. Missy and Garrett looked concerned as they spoke with their heads tilted close to one another, clearly worried about where Pixie had been taken.
She wasn't sure if Tyler had witnessed the whole thing too or not, but he seemed as stoic as usual standing over with the other male fighters. Trent had been returned to that area as well, further down the line from where Tyler stood. Their eyes met across the room. She couldn't read the emotion in his eyes from here, and doubted he could see the fear in hers.
Or maybe he could, she thought, the way his body stood tense as though he fought the urge to cross the room once more. Unfortunately they'd shackled him again, otherwise she was sure he would have. Like a chicken, she'd been avoiding looking in Bastian's direction, too afraid that he was still watching her with that hawk-like gaze, seeing every thought and emotion running through her mind. She felt naked and open beneath his stare.
Bastian was what she considered an old soul. There was something in his blue gaze that gave the impression he knew things before they even happened. Funny enough, Pixie had that same sort of look. Maybe that was something that drew them to each other? Maybe they just enjoyed mentally sparring with someone on the same level as them?
Whatever it was, Phoenix needed to talk to Pixie and get the whole story. Gathering her courage, she chanced a look at him and saw that he'd left the man and woman he'd been speaking with when Pixie had gone AWOL, and was now in what appeared to be an intense conversation with some of his men.
Damn, she wished she could hear what they were saying. Or maybe not, she thought as they broke apart at that moment. Two came toward her, while one guy went over to Missy and Garrett, and three walked toward Trent.
Holy shit.
They were in so much
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