Make A Wish (Dandelion #1) by Jenna Lynn Hodge

looking at the clock only confirmed that I hadn’t forgotten something.
    Who’d come here at this time of night?
    I climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the peephole of my apartment door, a familiar face coming into view. Not thinking beforehand, I swung the wooden door open and faced the figure of a man who I’d been sure I’d never see again. Someone I’d only met once before.
    “Yes? You’re the lab tech from the hospital, right? Do you need something?”
    Though I wasn’t being impolite, my voice was stern. It was late, I was tired and my morning sickness was going full force at all hours of the day; all I wanted to do was go to bed.
    “Actually I do. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that, when your blood sample was analyzed, I noticed something a little peculiar about your blood and DNA.”
    My first thought went to my baby. I hoped that he or she wasn’t being affected by whatever was wrong with me. There wasn’t anything I could do about it at that moment, so I made a quick mental note in my head to go to the doctor the next day and have it checked out.
    “Dr. Reinhart felt like it wasn’t something important to tell you, but my opinion was different. I thought you would like to know.”
    “Well, thank you,” I said, stepping back so that I could close the door on him. Miles’ hand caught it quickly and pushed it open, allowing a few extra inches of space for him to gain access to the confines of my apartment without permission.
    Instant panic spread throughout every inch of me, and for a brief time, I returned to a place that I promised myself I’d never revisit.
     
    “Let me go, Max,” I struggled to say through the large hand muffling my mouth. I looked up into the black eyes of the large—almost adult—boy who held my tiny body pinned to the mattress.
    “The more you struggle, the harder this will be,” he hissed into my ear.
    I stopped struggling under the weight of his body shadowing over mine.
    I was only a little girl. Even if I tried, I wouldn’t win. I’d never win in a fight against him. He’d make up some excuse and I’d get sent away to a new home... Again.
    I shook my head in resignation, my foster brother finally releasing his hand from my mouth. But it didn’t stop. His hand trailed down my stomach and dipped even lower, pulling down my pink panties with one swift movement.
    Somehow the buckle on his pants found their way open, and before I could register what was happening, he had them completely down around his ankles, his manhood revealed.
    My eyes widened as I took in everything before me. I was scared and frightened but I trusted him. He wouldn’t hurt me. He loved me. I was so sure. I shook my head and whispered that I wouldn’t tell anyone, that I’m not supposed to see his private parts, and to please, just let me go.
    I didn’t want whatever was going to happen, to happen. But he wouldn’t stop. I turned my head away. I didn’t want to see it.
    “It’s okay, this won’t hurt. In fact, it will be the most pleasant experience you’ve ever had. You really should be thanking me.”
    He turned my head to look him in the eyes, leaning forward just enough to smash his lips ferociously onto mine, shoving his tongue inside of me. I didn’t know what to do, so I just lay there.
    I thought about biting down on his tongue, hurting him so that I could getaway, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t even if I did have the courage.
    Max won and he always would.
    I let the tears silently fall as I suppressed the screams and wails of pain. I had trusted Max, so sure that he was the closest thing I would ever have to an actual brother.
    I was wrong.
    All fight within me had disappeared, only fear and pain taking its place as one of the only constants in my life. Forever changed.
     
    Miles grasped me tightly around my arm, pulling me from my nightmarish memories. I couldn’t contain the shudder that crawled up my spine as I was being yanked in the direction of the front