“Hi, Johanna. This is Kayla. She’s being Corded as soon as Allen returns.”
“I see.” Johanna ran her eyes up and down me as if to appraise me. I was tired of being seen for only what I was on the outside. I was tired of being seen as nothing but a body.
“Mason wants her looking nice for him.”
“My girls always look nice,” She gave him a hard look. “You can go. Kayla’s fine here.” She put an arm around my shoulder.
“See you later, Kayla.” Jarrett smiled before leaving.
“All right, you can relax now.” She put a hand on each of my shoulders. “I’m sure you’ve been through a hellish experience getting here, but you are safe now.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Your name is Kayla?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. The girls are all sleeping. We’ll have some privacy for a while. How about we start by letting you shower?” Her eyes were kind yet sad. She didn’t want to be here any more than I did.
“That would be nice.”
“It’s right this way. You should find everything you need in there. But let me get you a fresh razor.”
“Thanks.” The mention of a razor reminded me this wasn’t just a shower for my own good. This was to get me ready for Mason. I shuddered.
“You okay, sweetie?” Johanna returned with a pink razor.
“Yes. I’m fine.” I accepted the razor and a thick pink towel.
“We’ll talk clothes when you get out.”
I stepped into the bright white bathroom. The only contrast from the white floor tiles, white walls, a white tub, shower, and toilet, were the pink shower curtain and plush mats. Several towels identical to mine hung from bars, and it provided a reminder of the other girls currently sleeping. What were they like? Why were they Corded to the club?
I turned on the shower, taking a moment to figure out the settings. I was used to our very basic shower at home, but this one had all sorts of different settings. After fooling with the buttons, I made it work. As I stripped off my sweaty, dirty clothes, I was reminded of the dirt my father lay in when he died. The tears I’d so carefully kept in suddenly broke free.
I stepped into the shower, hoping the strong stream of water would mask the sound of my sobs. I needed to get it out. Holding in tears always backfired. They found their way out at the worst possible time.
I found shampoo and washed my hair, following up with conditioner. I scrubbed my body, wanting to get rid of every reminder of the traders and what happened with Bolton. He wasn’t innocent I reminded myself. He only met me because he was working with the traders.
Finally I shaved. I tried to be careful, but I still nicked myself. Watching the red blood flow down the drain once again brought me back to the sacrifices of my father and brother. I leaned against the wall for support.
“Kayla?” Johanna’s voice echoed in the now steamy room.
“Yes. I’ll be right out.”
“Are you okay?” She opened the curtain. I used my arms to cover myself.
She reached over to turn off the water. “No need for modesty here. You’ll get used to it. You cut yourself.” She took a tissue from a box beside the sink and pressed it against my leg. “Oh, you must be cold.” She handed me my towel, and I graciously accepted it. Wrapped up in a towel I felt slightly better.
“We’ll put a bandage on that cut, but it should be fine later.”
It was just a nick. Why was she so bent out of shape? That’s when it hit me. Once again she wasn’t concerned with me, it was whether I was in perfect condition for Mason. Good thing my emotional condition didn’t matter. I was a mess in that department.
She put an adhesive bandage on the cut. “Let’s get your measurements.”
I squeezed out some water from my hair and stepped out of the shower.
Johanna tugged away my towel and proceeded to measure me while I stood there completely naked. Still a little bit damp, I shivered from the cold.
“I’ll go find you something to wear. You’ll find a brush and some moisturizer on the sink. Start getting ready.”
She left the room, and I wrapped the towel around me again. I used the lotion and brushed out my wavy hair. Satisfied I’d done what was asked, I left the bathroom.
“I’m in here,” Johanna called. I followed her voice into a room completely surrounded with clothes.
Johanna handed me some lacy undergarments. “These should fit well.”
Still wearing the towel I slipped into the tiny fabric.
“Let me see.” Johanna adjusted the bra so that a small amount of cleavage spilled from the top of the cups. “Perfect.”
Perfect? What was the point of wearing a bra when it didn’t even cover you fully? I only hoped whatever I wore on top would provide more coverage.
“Mason loves green.” Johanna held a stretchy, sparkly green shirt in her hand.
“Are the pants green too?”
Johanna laughed. She laughed so hard she had to hold onto a rack for support. “You really are from the Rurals. This is a dress, honey.”
“A dress? But it’s tiny.” I examined the teeny bit of fabric.
“That’s the point.” She shook her head. “Now let’s get you into it.”
I swallowed hard. “You really expect me to walk out of here in just that?”
“In a few days every man in the Circle will have seen you naked, honey. Stop worrying so much.”
Circle? I had no idea what that was, but the idea of being personally Corded was starting to sound better. At least I’d only have to deal with one man, and if he helped me free Quinn and Bailey, it was all worth it. I’d find a way to escape the club after they were safe.
“Gorgeous. Just a little bit of makeup and some more work on your hair, and we’ll be set.” Johanna grinned.
I dared to glance in the full length mirror. My heart stopped. All I could see was skin. The pale skin of my legs, my arms, and way more of my chest than needed to be seen.
“I figure you’re what, a size 7 shoe?” She pulled down a pair of shoes that looked like a weapon. The only time I’d seen heels like that were in my great-grandmother’s old trunk.
“I’ve never walked in shoes like that.”
Johanna laughed again. “You are going to be so much fun.”
I tried on the black shoes. “I’m going to fall over.”
“It takes practice. Start walking.”
Compared to everything else I was doing, shoes should have been the least of my concerns, but it seemed like too much. Why would he care what I wore on my feet?
“Johanna?” A girl close to my age walked into the room. “Oh hi!” She belatedly noticed me.
“Hi Addison. This is Kayla.”
“Hi.” She said quietly.
“Are the rest of the girls up?” Johanna asked.
“Yeah. I just needed a different dress.”
“Have at it.” Johanna took my arm and towed me toward some sort of sitting room. I struggled to keep up with her as I walked in the uncomfortable shoes. If I wasn’t careful, I would break an ankle. “Girls, this is Kayla. She’ll be joining us.”
Eight pairs of eyes set on me. One or two girls waved a hand in greeting but the others just turned away. I’d never seen so many women in one place, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. So much of this experience was new.
“They’ll warm up to you,” Johanna whispered.
“Do you want me to help with your makeup?” Addison asked, walking into the room dressed in a black dress about the same size as my green one.
“Sure.” I’d never worn makeup nor ever seen it beyond what Quinn made herself.
“Good idea. Addison here is an artist with the stuff.” Johanna patted Addison’s shoulder.
Addison put a hand on my arm. “We can do it in my room.”
I followed her out into a small hallway. We stopped in front of a small room without a door. A small bed was the only real furniture in the room. Covered in
a purple bedspread, it was a nice change of pace from all the pink.
“You can sit down here.” She pulled out a stool.
I watched as she pulled out a whole bunch of bottles, tubes, and brushes.
“Mason prefers the natural look, but we need to do something.”
I sat patiently while she applied a few things to my face, but eventually I had to speak up.
“What is that?” I pointed to the pencil in Addison’s hand.
She laughed. “You’ve never seen eyeliner before?”
“Of course not. She’s from the Rurals,” A girl maybe in her late twenties taunted from the hallway.
“Can we help you, Mora?” Addison put a hand on her hip.
“Just getting a closer look at the new recruit.”
“Ignore her,” Addison said quietly. “And eyeliner is just to make your eyes stand out. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Okay.” I held my breath as she touched my face with it. She was right. It didn’t hurt, but it felt funny.
“Have you warned her about what she’s in for tonight?” Mora walked into the room and sat on Addison’s bed.
I sat there nervously.
Addison smiled reassuringly “Mason can be rough. He’s not the worst, but he likes to make sure you know he’s in charge.”
“Tell her the truth, Addy. Rough is putting it mildly. Some of the guys actually care. Most of them try to make it at least a little bit decent for you, but Mason only cares about himself.”
“Don’t all men just care about themselves when it comes to sex?” I asked. It’s all I’d ever heard at least.
Mora laughed. “I take everything back. You’re all right, kid.”
I smiled and looked away. I wasn’t quite sure why my comment was funny, but if it kept Mora from taunting me, I was all for it.
Chapter 8
I was glad for Addison’s arm as we walked into the lounge. Even after over an hour of practice, I could barely walk in those shoes. Why anyone would willingly wear such footwear baffled me. The other girls seemed comfortable in them. Maybe you just had to get used to them.
All eyes were on us as we moved down the dimly lit hallway lined with closed doors. Groups of men watched us from inside the doorways of dimly lit rooms. I was immediately self-conscious of what I was wearing—or rather what I wasn’t wearing. All of the girls were dressed similarly, but I felt completely exposed. A cool breeze from a vent in the ceiling froze me.
“They do it on purpose.” Addison leaned in. “They want you cold and uncomfortable in the hall so that you’re relieved to enter the lounge.” She laughed, and I realized it was a joke.
“Seems that way.”
“Just keep your head up. Don’t be afraid to make eye contact.” She squeezed my arm. “You can get through this.”
“Will it hurt?” I asked the question I’d pushed off. I had high pain tolerance, but I didn’t often have to anticipate pain.
“Yes, but it fades fast. It’s better if you drink something before and after.”
“Alcohol?” I adjusted the top of my dress when it looked like no one was watching.
“Yeah. The Sray make the best.” She flipped some of her long dark hair behind her ear.
“We didn’t have alcohol in our house, but we did have a tavern in town. I’ve never tried it.”
“Oh. It’s kind of the way of life here.”
I shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out if I like it.”
She smiled. “Way to go, positive attitude.”
We reached the door, and Addison practically pulled me through. I was terrified, but thoughts of Bailey kept me moving forward.
The room was large, almost endless, and it was surrounded by mirrored walls. A large bar dominated the center, while couches and upholstered chairs dotted the room. Bright lights in various colors lit the room creating a superficial effect unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
There were already at least a hundred men inside, all of whom turned to watch us, and I knew most of them were watching me, trying to figure out who I was. I wondered if they’d already heard about me. I turned back to the doorway, but it was already full of the men we’d seen in the hallway.
“We’re going to have to separate now,” Addison whispered. “Mason’s going to come get you, and I have to go mingle with the Circle.”
The Circle. There was that term again. “Ok. Thanks for everything.”
“Of course. Stay strong. It will be morning before you know it.”
Addison dropped my arm, and I was left standing in the center of the room with absolutely no idea what to do. Hungry eyes watched me, and all I wanted to do was hide under an oversized sweater.
“I have no words for how stunning you are,” Mason crept up from behind. He placed a hand on my hip, making me jump.
“Thank you.” I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to stay calm.
He pulled me back against him. “You are going to make life so much more interesting.”
I said nothing. I was hyper aware we were being watched.
“Do you prefer your drinks straight from the bottle or do you want it sweet?” His teeth grazed my ear.
“I don’t know. Whatever.”
“Do you like things sweet?” His hand brushed against my backside.
“Sure.”
“I figured that.” He moved his arms so that we could walk.
I tried to steady my breathing as he led me over to the bar.
“Get me a shot of whiskey. She’ll have a Moonglow.”
He pressed a cold glass of a shimmering milky white substance into my hand. “Drink up, you’ll need this.”
I would have resisted, but I was afraid of angering him. Addison’s warning about staying on his good side rang through my head.
I touched the glass to my lips. Some of my lip gloss transferred to the glass as I took a tentative sip. Sweet as sugar, the beverage went down easily.
“You do like sweet.” His hand knotted in my hair and he pulled my head back. “As do I. But not in my drinks.” He ran his lips over my neck.
I said nothing. Instead I waited for him to release my neck and proceeded to drain the whole glass. I finished and handed Mason the empty glass.
“I guess you’re in as much a hurry as I am.” He finished his drink and set both down on the bar. “Shall we?”
“Yeah.” The sooner we got the Cording over with, the sooner I could concentrate on finding Quinn.
Mason motioned to Jarrett who leaned against the wall watching us. He walked right over. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Watch her. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Gotcha.” Jarrett winked at me as Mason walked away. “You clean up well.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. Something about Jarrett put me at ease. “Where’s Mason going?”
“Missing him already?” Jarrett raised an eyebrow.
“I was just wondering.”
“He’s just taking care of some business.”
“How long does it take?”
“Depends how long winded Mason is. He likes to get a little theatrical sometimes.” He took a seat on a bar stool and gestured for me to do the same. “Between you and me, he enjoys the spotlight.”
I jumped up onto the stool, trying my best not to give the entire room more of a show then they were already getting.
“In all seriousness, you look real nice tonight.”
“I feel ridiculous.” I wrapped my arms over my chest.
“Why?”
“Because I’m barely wearing anything.”
He grinned. “You say it like that’s a bad thing.”
I rolled my eyes. “It is. My father would have a heart attack if he saw me.” My chest clenched. He was gone.
“Yeah well, he would be proud of you too I bet. Not many girls could make the kind of trip you made. And all to help your sister. That’s pretty crazy.”
“I’d do anything for her.”
“How much younger is she? Yo
u are only barely of age yourself.”
“She’s older by eighteen months.”
“And you have the same mother?”
“Uh huh.”
“Crazy. I wonder what’s in the water out in the Rurals.” He took a sip of a brown liquid in his glass.
“If only it was as simple as the water.”
He didn’t reply. He didn’t have to.
Talking to Jarrett was easy; it didn’t take any effort. I decided to take a chance and ask a question. It was always better to understand a place. “What’s the Circle?”
“The elite. There’s ten of us.”
“So you’re on it?”
He smiled. “Yeah. Five of us always have a spot, and the other five spots rotate.”
“What makes it so special?”
“You girls.” He nodded toward where Mora talked with a man.
“What do you mean?”
“The Circle gets what they want when they want it. Do I need to spell it out?” He raised an eyebrow again.
“And everyone else?”
“Lottery and reward system.”
“Oh.”
“Your friend Ethan there is gunning for a spot on the Circle. He may have earned it by bringing you in.”
“But he didn’t bring me in. And Mason wasn’t happy about that.” I couldn’t worry about Ethan. I had enough to worry about already.
“Why’d you show up here? Why didn’t you go to another club?”
“You’re right.” I glanced around the room, looking for Ethan.
“He’s playing cards in one of the back rooms.”
“Oh.”
“He’s pretty good at it. He’s also good at helping us move the whiskey. Business and cards involve the same skills. That’s how he’s risen so fast.”
“He used to play cards back home.” I had spent hours watching him. I loved watching him do anything. I shook away the memory.
“I can’t believe he’d leave a girl like you.” Jarrett took another sip of his drink.
“Me neither,” I said it quietly, not sure I wanted Jarrett to hear.
“Why did he?”
The Corded Saga Page 6