Free Belonging by K.L. Kreig Page B

a suspicious eyebrow but didn’t pry. “I have some business to attend to. We’ll catch up later.”
    “That’s fine. I need to check on Analise anyway.”
    As Rom left, he threw over his shoulder, “You never could have taken me, by the way. You were foolish to even consider it.”
    “Perhaps not. But I would do anything for her.” There was no perhaps about it. Damian would have been dead in seconds.
    He watched Rom leave without another word, but couldn’t shake the air of melancholy he’d felt from his friend.
    Huh? Who would have thought?

 
    C hapter 14
     
    Analise
     
    She hid just outside the living room, straining to hear. She could only pick up a word here or there, but Ms. Fuergusen being here wasn’t good. She didn’t know what Ms. Fuergusen did exactly, but whenever she showed up, Analise was taken away. To another home. To another family that didn’t seem to want her. To someone who might hurt her.
    This family had wanted her; at least she’d thought they did. This was her sixth foster home in ten years and she’d been here for two. The longest time she’d ever been with a single family. She was finally beginning to relax, to let them in. To love them.
    And then Jana, her foster mom, got sick. Analise was still reeling from her death just a few short weeks ago. She’d loved her. Jana was nice. She’d let her watch cartoons and help set the table. She’d taught her how to husk sweet corn and make rhubarb crisp. She didn’t like rhubarb crisp, but she liked helping. She had a school backpack for the first time in her life. Disney princesses. And she had a room of her very own. It was painted cotton candy pink. Her bedspread had Disney princesses all over it. She loved pink. Jana read to her every night and helped her practice reading and math. Analise didn’t like math, but Jana said it was important to learn it.
    Jack, Jana’s husband, was nice too, but not as nice as Jana. At least he didn’t hurt her like some of the others. He hadn’t paid her much attention since Jana died, but that was okay. She was used to taking care of herself. She would take care of him instead.
    The click of heels echoed on the linoleum floor, heading in her direction. She scrambled to her bedroom and hid in the closet. She knew something bad was coming, and if she could hide, maybe they’d just go away and forget about her. And she could stay here. They told her they were a family. She’d take care of Jack. He wouldn’t have to do anything for her. She would be good, do all the cooking. Be quiet as a church mouse.
    “Analise? Honey, where are you?”
    She hid further in the corner of the closet, closing her eyes. She was a big girl. Ten years old. She knew closing her eyes wouldn’t make her disappear; she just wished it would.
    The closet door opened, light spilling in from the bedroom.
    “Here you are. Come on, sweetie. Come on out,” Ms. Fuergusen cajoled. Analise shook her head, waterfalls cascading down her face.
    Ten minutes later, they were pulling away from the only house she’d ever called home. From the only person that ever loved her. Correction. The only person that loved her was buried under the dirt, worms eating her decaying flesh. Anyone who loved her would never send her to what would later become worse than a living hell.
    At the tender age of ten, Analise vowed to never let anyone that close to her again. Love led to lies, hurt and betrayal.
    For the second time in the last several hours, she awoke to a gentle touch on her cheek. She was completely disoriented and blinked her eyes open, trying to shake off her dream. She hadn’t dreamt of her past in a very long time. Staring down at her with affection— and desire —was Damian.
    “Hello, kitten. How are you feeling?” His voice was silky soft, like feathers gliding over her sensitive skin.
    “Is it morning yet?”
    “No, it’s still the middle of the night. I just wanted to check on you. How does your head