“Where is she?” a deep voice, sounding very much like Nick, growled as the front door slammed closed.
“What the fuck!” Alex yelled, surprise evident in his voice.
“She’s coming with me. Get her now.”
“The hell she is. She’s being delivered tomorrow.”
“I said...get her now!” I swore I could actually hear him growling the words between his teeth and imagined him standing over Alex, threatening him physically without saying another word.
Not a sound was made. The only noise was the tick tock of the clock in the living room. What seemed like minutes passed before I heard something crash, followed by a thunderous thud hitting the floor then the sound of loud footsteps quickly making their way into the living room. Moments later, the closet door was jerked open, the lock undoubtedly broken in the process. The light from the living room spilled inside, illuminating the tiny room, and momentarily blinding me from the brightness.
“Good, you’re dressed.” Nick breathed a sigh of relief.
Nick? It really was him. But why was he here? To take me already? Or maybe they’d decided to auction me off after all? Alex had warned me that, that’s what I was originally brought here for. Maybe whoever was in charge had changed their mind. Squinting up at him, I saw the compassion in his eyes once again and felt my heart breaking piece by piece. I’d never known love, except from my grandparents’. Anyone else had always used me for their gain in whatever way benefited them the most. To me, Nick’s presence was just a reminder of that fact. One I didn’t need when I’d resigned myself to survival and nothing more.
“Listen.” Nick squatted down slowly, his actions careful and precise. “I’m going to take you out of here, away from all this fucked up shit. Okay?”
I felt my eyes widen, but I didn’t trust my voice to speak. He must’ve read the confusion and uncertainty in my eyes because his reply was one I’d never expected and would never forget.
“You’re coming to my place, okay? Not for anything sexual. Nothing like that. You understand? You’re there for safety until we can work something out with my boss. Okay?”
I had no idea what he meant, but his eyes—the tenderness, the understanding—poured into me and filled me with a strength I’d long forgotten. With a tentative nod, I agreed and saw my first smile from the muscular man in front of me. He was absolutely breathtaking.
“Great, let’s get going before they change their mind.” Holding his hand out, he waited for me to contemplate putting mine in his. It was almost as if he understood and allowed me this moment of choosing, this miniscule decision to allow him to help me up.
With fear churning inside, I took a deep breath and placed my hand in his. The sheer size of his palm wrapping around my small hand should’ve scared me. Instead, I felt protected for the first time since I was a child.
Gently pulling me to stand, he let go and motioned for me to follow him. As we neared the front door, I saw what had caused the loud crash earlier. Alex was lying on the coffee table that had once held my body up for inspection. It was now sitting at an angle, the legs broken and strewn to the side with his body following their lead. Although he was knocked out, his lip was bleeding and his chest continued to rise and fall. Unfortunately, his death hadn’t been complete. One day, I’d make sure that would happen.
Jerking my head away from him, I hurried to catch up to Nick who was already opening the front door. I hesitated only a moment as the fresh air rushed over my face, inhaling the warm night breeze I’d missed for so many months. With a quick glance around us, I noticed everything was pitch black. No moon or stars, no streetlights—everything was bathed in darkness. Deciding I could enjoy the freedom to breathe later on, I hurried to keep up with Nick as he led me to a huge black truck that waited at the curb along the side of the road.
Pulling up to my small cabin that was built beside the river, I silently contemplated how this would play out. During the past hour drive, neither one of us spoke more than a few words, but I knew she had to be overflowing with questions by now. I just wasn’t sure how much I should tell her. For now, she was safe. That’s all that mattered to me. We’d have to take it one day at a time from here on out.
When nightfall had come and I knew they’d be delivering her to that sick fuck tomorrow, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had decided, based on the fact that I knew Alex’s home and was completely ignorant about the buyer’s house, I no longer cared if someone saw the break in. Boss may want to avoid the altercation, but I was sacrificing my life to serve him. He could deal with a small inconvenience. It had taken all of five minutes to enter Alex’s house, knock him out, and retrieve the girl. I hadn’t considered the idea that she might be too fearful to leave with me. Not until I’d stood in the doorway of the closet, watching her clutch the nasty old blanket to her chest in confusion. Thankfully, it hadn’t been an issue and she was out of harm’s way for now.
Now, sitting in the dark with only the headlights illuminating her new home, I felt utterly helpless and overcome with guilt. I had no idea what beautiful home those men may have taken her from and could only imagine what a shack she must see this as. Furthermore, her real home, the one she most likely dreamed about every night when she slept, would never be seen again. I could keep her safe and out of sexual predators hands, but I couldn’t work miracles in this evil part of the world.
Turning the ignition off, I turned to find her taking her seatbelt off extremely slow. Looking closer, the fear and trepidation was pouring off her in waves. Nice going asshat, not only do you show up in a firestorm and demand she comes with you, but you explain nothing and expect her to be obedient. Shaking my head at my stupidity, I reached out to help her with the unyielding seatbelt.
She flinched the moment my hand came near her, reminding me how delicate a creature she was, and how much more sensitive I needed to be. “Fuck. Sorry ‘bout that. Just wanted to help.”
Her eyes flashed to mine, surprise overflowing into gratitude. That was something I couldn’t handle. I deserved none of her misplaced appreciation. A real man would’ve gone back for her weeks ago. Not bargained for what amounted to a half-life for her.
“We’ll go inside and I’ll show you ‘round. Okay?” I hurried to open my door and rushed around to her side to open hers. A lame attempt at being a gentleman, but at least I tried.
Allowing her plenty of space to get out on her own without feeling cornered in, I waited a few steps back until she closed the door. With silence once again filling the space between us, I led the way across the small wooden bridge that crossed a tiny creek and over the stone walkway someone had patiently installed many years before. Coming to a stop before the front door, I turned to find her only a step behind me and was curious why she hadn’t tried to run at the first chance. I was even more surprised that I was so caught up in my own head that I hadn’t considered that possibility until now.
Realizing she was standing there barefoot, waiting to see what I’d do next, I turned and opened the door. I was completely out of my element and had no clue how to handle the situation. The only thing I knew for sure was that she couldn’t leave here without me. Somehow, I had to convince her of the importance of that rule without appearing just as evil and controlling as Alex had.
I waited on the doorstep for him to turn a light on inside. I didn’t understand any of this. His demeanor was one of compassion and caring, but his body was stiff and on edge at all times. I wished, for the hundredth time, that I had the courage to ask the endless questions racing through my mind. But everything seemed too good to be true, and I wanted to enjoy the delusion a little while longer.
As the lamp inside flicked on, the room was illuminated with warm, beautiful hues. Tentatively stepping inside, I was awed by the amount of decor decorating the walls. It must have been his hunting or fishing cabin. Stuffed fish, deer antlers, and endless wildlife pictures dotted every open space in the room.
“It’s not much, but it’s clean and has
food,” he called out, hurrying to turn on every light throughout the house. “It’s your home now, too.”
My home? Somehow, I doubted that very much. Sooner or later I would be put into my place, and the beautiful delusion would be shattered.
“Hungry?” I turned from admiring the huge stone fireplace and found Nick holding a bag of chicken nuggets in one hand and frozen French fries in the other. I couldn’t hold back the chuckle that came out and instantly slapped a hand over my mouth.
“Don’t do that.” He looked angry and quickly sat the bags on the small oak dining room table and hurried over to me. Stopping a few steps in front of me, he ducked down just enough so he could look me in the eye. Without thinking, I did as I was taught, lowering my eyes to the floor and putting my hands behind my back.
“No,” he whispered agonizingly. “Please look at me?” he asked instead of demanding, catching me off guard once again.
Slowly lifting my eyes, I feared what I might find. But instead of the fury I’d grown accustomed to, there was understanding and patience reflected back at me. “I’m sorry, M...uh, sir,” I whispered, stuttering over what to call him.
With a deep sigh, he stood up and looked around the room. It seemed like he was looking for the same answers I was, and I wondered if he knew how to find them. “Okay,” he announced suddenly. “I’m gonna go throw some food in the oven, and while it’s cooking we’ll discuss everything that’s happened. Sound fair?”
I nodded, afraid my voice or words would fail me once again.
“I mean, I’m not a chef or anything, but I make some mean cheesy fries.” He smiled and winked at me before hurrying into the kitchen to do as he’d said.
I found myself quietly chuckling to myself and the reaction felt foreign inside. Lifting my hand to my stomach, I repeated the action a few more times, just to feel my muscles contract and expand in response. The smile it brought to my face was the first truly happy smile I’d had in over half a year.
“By the way…” Nick peeked around the corner, catching me smiling to myself. The slow grin that overtook his face was like watching the sun rise over the lake in the morning. The tiny spark slowly building, creating a prism of alluring colors and emotions until it was at its full strength and took your breath away. No man should be that beautiful. I was speechless. “My name’s Nick.” He nodded once and removed his body from the doorframe before I could respond.
Pleased that I actually knew something before he’d told me, I finally allowed myself to relax some and decided to look around this place he’d referred to as my new home. Not knowing exactly what that meant, or if this would be an improvement or decline in my previous residence, I knew I needed to take in every inch that I could for future reference.
I was delaying the inevitable. I knew it, and I was certain she did as well. But how did you tell someone you rescued them only to confine them all over again? I didn’t have the answer to that; instead, I insisted she take a bath or shower, whatever she liked. When she looked like a deer trapped in headlights, I realized she must have suffered more unthinkable abuses where bathrooms were concerned. My initial response to hit something was quickly overcome when I saw the fear grow exponentially in her eyes, and I knew I wouldn’t able to hide my anger and disgust as much as I’d thought.
After convincing her I wasn’t upset with her, I showed her how to use both locks in the bathroom. One was in the doorknob and one was a little higher with a small latch. I’d grabbed a couple towels from the hallway closet and sat them on the sink, showed her where the shampoo and soap was, and removed myself from the room as quickly as possible. Her look of wonder, followed quickly by the brightest smile I’d ever seen, almost brought me to my knees. But when she uttered the words, “Thank you,” and meant them with every ounce of her being, I knew I’d never be the same again.
I was an evil bastard, a murderer for hire, a law unto myself. Yet, she was thanking me. I turned and hurried away before she saw just how weak her words made me. While listening to the sound of water running echoing through the quiet cabin, I’d taken up residence on the leather sofa in front of the fireplace and waited patiently for her to come out. It had been over half an hour, but I wasn’t afraid that she’d escape. All the windows on the ground floor had bars on them to keep wildlife or any wandering hikers out, but would also keep her in. No, that wasn’t my concern. I feared she might slip and fall, hit her head, or even drown. I knew I was being ridiculous, but I had to check to be sure.
As soon as I knocked on the door, she opened it a crack and peered up at me. Her huge eyes were filled with an innocence that had seen far too much.
“I was just checkin’ to see if you were all right...”
“I didn’t know how you wanted me dressed...”
We both spoke at the same time, making it difficult to understand one another, but not so much that I missed her unasked question. The talk could wait no more. Whatever happened afterward, whatever she thought of me, I’d accept. I didn’t want her living in fear another minute.
“You can put the same clothes on or I have some shorts and a T-shirt if you’d prefer,” I offered, hoping she’d smile again and light my world on fire.
She didn’t. But she did look truly surprised. “I’d like that,” she replied softly, her voice slightly trembling with each word.
Damn, how I’d like to go back and kill Alex, dissect him piece by piece after I make him suffer the way he’d done to her. That wasn’t an option now. I knew it. He knew it. And Boss definitely knew it by making him part of his official crew. But if the opportunity ever came to do so, I wouldn’t hesitate. He wouldn’t be the first person that I truly enjoyed watching take their last agonizing breath.
Hurrying to my room, I grabbed the clothing, choosing the smallest shorts I could find, and hurried back to her. The door was already closed, so I sat them on the floor and moved back to the living room. Once I was around the corner, I called out and told her where they were so she could retrieve them without me nearby.
I’d never known myself to be so aware of someone’s needs before. But something about her, something in me from long ago, brought out a side of me I’d never known existed. I would do anything I possibly could to help her get past what had happened to her. Even if that mean sacrificing myself in the process.
A lock on a door. A private bath. He had no idea what a gift he’d just given me. I wished there was some way I could repay him. But I had nothing, not even words that seemed sufficient to express my gratitude.
Walking into the living room, I found him stretched out on the sofa, his arm flung over his eyes, and his mouth slightly open with the sound of light snoring rhythmically pouring out. I couldn’t blame him. I’d probably taken an entire hour enjoying my first taste of true privacy again. But I didn’t know if I should wake him or let him sleep. It had to be the middle of the night by now. He must’ve been exhausted.
Coming to stand beside the sofa, I glanced around the room again, my eyes landing on the front door. It seemed so easy to leave, escape, and find a way home again. Too easy. I had no idea where I was. No phone to call for help. Not even a pair of shoes to help me run away.
Returning my gaze back to the man who now owned me, I was surprised to see him awake, his eyes knowing and watching me. “I...I wasn’t...I...thank you for the bath,” I stammered, unsure of what to say when I knew he was fully aware of my thoughts.
“We should talk.” He stretched as he sat up, revealing rows of muscles tightly corded along his abdomen. Pulling my eyes upward, I found a welcoming grin instead of the condemnation I expected. “Here”—he patted the seat beside him, then moved back enough to give me space— “sit down.”
Apprehensively, I did as he said. It was time for the delusion to come to an end. I was fine with that, though. I’d already enjoyed far more than I ever thought possible again.
“So, here’s the deal. You may not like it, but it’s the best I can offer.” He raised his eyebrows, waiting for
me to acknowledge him.
My heart was hammering, dread building until I felt sick to my stomach. “Okay,” I said softly, lowering my eyes to where my hands fidgeted nervously in my lap.
“I wish I could take you back to wherever you came from, but I can’t. Not only would my boss kill me for doing so, he’d hunt you down and eliminate you as well. I’m pretty sure mine would be fast. Yours? Not so much.” He paused and waited for me to look up at him. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I had learned to bite my tongue and be patient. “So, for now, this is our home. Technically, I paid off what that sick fuck was going to pay for you, plus some. But you don’t belong to me. You are your own person and one day, I’ll make sure you have your own life again. I just need you to be patient while I work things out. All right?”
I didn’t belong to him? Yet, I did. I was free. Yet, I wasn’t. None of it made sense. “What am I expected to do?” I didn’t want to ask, but it would be much easier and less painful in the future if I found out now and did as I was told.
“Well, you can do anything you want here. Just let me know and I’ll get whatever you need.”
“No, I mean for you. What do you expect of me…as in, service?”
“Oh, no!” He shook his head in denial. “Never. You aren’t here for that. You never have to do that again. If anyone ever tries to touch you again, just let me know. They won’t see another sunrise after I finish with them. You understand?”
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