The Mute Girl

Chapter 8

**Zander's Pov**

Dani pulls me into my room and forces me onto the bed. She sends a quick text before turning her full attention to me.

"You're going to tell me everything that is wrong," she says, sitting next to me. "You've been acting strange for a while and I don't like you keeping stuff in. That's what's causing you to have so much anger."

I look away.

"Start from the beginning," she says, taking my hand between hers and lightly kissing my knuckles.

I sigh and bring her hand to my lips.

"Dani, it's difficult," I tell her. "There's been more outbreaks of violence. Their kids are targeting Bells. It's getting harder to stay positive and protect her. I'm struggling with keeping my cool." I clench and unclench my fists in my lap. "It's just been getting worse. I'm afraid that they're going to catch her and kill her one of these days. I know there are a lot of us in our family, but they are going after her. I thought, if anything, they'd go after someone else."

Tears pool up under my eyes, blurring my vision. She's the mute one, our mute sister. She can't verbally tell someone no. They won't understand. She's so innocent...

"Z, honey, she's gonna be ok," I hear Dani say. I feel her cool hands on my cheeks, brushing away the tears. "If you want, I can keep her at my place. She'll be safe there and no one would look there. My parents would understand."

"It doesn't matter where she goes, she's gonna get tracked. She's wanted by someone for some reason. And I'm gonna find out," I say, determination in my voice.

"Zander, if you use your sister as bait, I might just kill you," she tells me.

I stare deep into her eyes. "I would never, ever, use my baby sister as bait," I tell her coldly.

"Good."

I run my hand through my hair. "I just need to get information. All I need is that damn information from them on what the hell they need my sister for."

Dani sits on my lap and kisses me, distracting me for the moment. I rest my hands on her hips, moving my lips in sync with hers. She lightly bites my lip and I growl playfully in response. She giggles and climbs off my lap.

"Hey, while we're on this subject, where's Clare?" I ask, watching Dani.

She glances at me. "I told her to go to a friend's house. I figured if you got angry and lashed out, you wouldn't want her to hear you."

I bolt off my bed and grab her by the shoulders. "DANIELLE!! THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MIGHT HURT HER!!"

Dani flinches. "Zander, calm down, honey," she says, setting her hands on my face.

I jerk away and run my hands through my hair. "Damnit all to hell," I growl, grabbing my phone. I turn on the GPS signal to find where exactly my little sister is.

I see that she's about 15 minutes away, at the subway station. I growl, angry that she wouldn't go to Mom's school or to where Dad works, since both are close to here.

As I watch my phone, her signal begins to move, further away from home. I panic.

"Dani, get into my car." When she doesn't move, I yell, "NOW!"

She runs down stairs and I follow her close behind. We get into the car and she grabs my hand.

"Zander, I'm sure she's ok," she says, kissing my knuckles.

"I don't know about that. Neither do you," I say.

I peel away from the curb, speeding down the street towards my sister.