by J. L. Beck
The water is ice cold, and I immediately shiver when the first spray lands against my skin.
“Start washing yourself with the soap,” Luca yells over the noise of the water splashing against the walls and floor. “Make sure those pussies are all nice and clean for tomorrow. We don’t like getting complaints from customers about smelly pussy, and if you don’t get sold then… well, you don’t want to know what happens to you,” he laughs, spraying us all with a blast of ice cold water.
I grit my teeth, trying to push down the anger and hate growing inside me. I’ve never hated anyone this much in my life. I’ve never thought about killing someone until this day. If I had the chance right now, I would kill Luca, and I’d do it without a second thought.
After a few minutes, the water is turned off and we are left standing shivering in the center of the room. The sound of teeth chattering fills the air, and a minute later, Luca gets some old dirty towels from the corner of the room and tosses one at each of us.
The towels smell like mold, and I nearly barf into the fabric.
“Dry off, and then we’ll be bringing you back to the cells,” he yells.
I gaze down at the piles of wet clothing on the floor in front of each of us.
Are we supposed to stay naked until tomorrow?
“Time’s up,” Luca yells again, and they start hauling girls out of the room one by one. I lift my gaze from the floor and up to Ivan, who is standing in the room, most likely making sure none of us make even an attempt to run. I’m angry, so angry, that I want to slap him, tell him that I hate him, even when I don’t. I could never hate him, not after all he’s done for me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not furious.
“Let’s go.” Luca appears directly in front of me, his hand reaching out, latching onto my arm. A squeak escapes my lips when I lose my footing and slip on the wet concrete floor. I barely get my footing before I slam into Luca’s side.
“Learn how to fucking walk, and you won’t fall.” He laughs, tugging me along, out the door, and down the hall to my cell. He shoves me inside, his eyes roaming over my cold soaked body before he shuts the door, locking me inside.
I backpedal toward the bed, sinking down onto the filthy mattress. I wrap my arms around my middle and start to sob. Coldness seeps deep into my bones, and my teeth chatter together, the sound filling the silent room.
How could he do this? How could he let his men treat women this way? How is he so kind and gentle with me but hateful and mean with them?
I wish like hell he was here right now so that I could scream at him, so I could tell him how angry I am with him for not saving them like he saved me. Parts of me knew my anger was irrational, but I didn’t care, not in this moment, not after watching them hurt that girl. She looked younger than me and frightened beyond belief.
The food flap opens a little while later and something is shoved inside before it’s quickly closed again. I get up on shaky legs and walk over to pick up a thin white cotton shift dress. I pull it on, even though I know it’s not going to provide me with a lot of warmth. At least I won’t be naked anymore. Sitting back down on the mattress, I curl up into a ball and for the first time since Ivan started getting me from my cell, I don’t want to see him.
He’s a reminder of what I have that those other girls here don’t have.
I’m protected and cared for by the dark knight while they get nothing.
I should feel grateful, happy, but all I feel is guilt and shame.
Chapter Fourteen
Ivan
Each step I take toward her cell is forced. I’ve never walked down to get her with such a pit of anguish in my stomach. Today was a fucking nightmare. The only reason I was able to hold back and not rip Luca’s head off was the knowledge of saving her tomorrow. This is the only way, the only chance I have, and I knew there was no way I could let my emotions get involved.
As soon as I open the door to her cell, I know that everything is going to be different now. Things will change between us now that she has seen the darkness inside me. I’ve told her that I was a bad man, but she’s never seen that part of me, never seen how cold and disconnected I can be. Instead of getting up and jumping into my arms, she remains curled up on the mattress, facing away from me.
I sigh and step into the cell, walking across the room. Kneeling down beside her, I gently touch her bare arm and cringe as she pulls away. Where she usually leans into my touch, she fucking pulls away, her body language telling me not to touch her ice-cold skin.
“It had to happen this way, Kitten. It was either protect you or them, and if I have to choose, I’m always going to choose you. You’re my number one priority.” I need her to understand this. Everything changed the day she collided with me. Something inside me broke lose when I saw her big blue eyes full of fright. I was looking for something without even knowing it… something more… and then she found me, she fucking found me.
“Come on, let me take you upstairs. You’re freezing.” I slide my arms underneath her and lift her up. She doesn't wrap her arm around me or hold on to my shirt like she usually does, but at least she isn’t struggling to get away from me. I don’t know what I would do if she was.
As I cradle her to my chest and carry her upstairs, her eyes remain closed, but I know she is not a sleep. Everywhere I touch, her skin is cold, and her body is slightly shaking in my hold.
When I get to my place, I lay her in my bed and cover her up with the comforter. Her eyes open to watch what I am doing, but she won’t look me in the eyes.
“I want to sleep on the floor,” she whispers, her voice raspy from crying.
“What… why?” I’m flabbergasted by her statement.
“I’m not going to be curled up in a warm bed when the other girls are alone and freezing downstairs.” Her voice cracks at the end, and she tries to get off the bed. I touch her shoulders to push her back down, but she pulls away once more.
“Please don’t touch me.” Just like that, she rips my heart from my chest. I let her get up, but I keep her pinned between me and the bed. She leans away from me and all I want to do is hold her.
“I won’t touch you, and I’ll sleep on the couch if you sleep in the bed.”
She nods and sits back down on the bed. When I step away, she lifts her legs and rolls onto her
side. She doesn't get under the comforter, but at least I got her to lay in the bed. There’s no way I could’ve handled having her sleep on the floor. It was enough having to put her back in that cell every day.
“Goodnight, Kitten,” I murmur before leaving the room and closing the door halfway. I keep the door open so I can hear her if she starts crying, because if she does, I’m going in there to hold her, whether she likes it or not. I sit on the couch and listen for a long time, but she doesn't make a sound… at least nothing I can hear from this distance.
When I walk back into the bedroom as quietly as I can, I find her sleeping. Her face is relaxed, all the worry gone from her features and her breathing is slow and even. I pull the blanket over her barely dressed body before I return to the couch and try to get some sleep myself.
Unfortunately, everytime I close my eyes, images of today remain in my head. Violet having to strip in front of everyone, the other men’s eyes and hands on her. Them seeing her, seeing what is mine, then getting tased. I can still hear her pained cry in my ears, and I don’t think I will forget that sound… not ever.
***
“Please, Kitten, do what I told you. I know you want to help the others, but we just can’t.” I keep my voice low, so no one from the hallway can hear. Her cell door is wide open, and Luca is already bringing some of the girls out. The last thing I need is for him to hear my plan.
She nods but doesn't say a single word to me. She hasn’t talked to me since last night; hell, she’s hardly even looked at me. It’s killing me to see her like this but it’s okay, or at least that’s what I tell myself. I don’t have a choice but to do the things I’m doing.
“Give me your arm,” I coax, and she holds her arm out to me without objection. I stick the needle into her skin, injecting her with the drug. I let the drug spread through her veins before I help her up to her feet. I take out some cable ties and tie her hands behind her back. When I spin her around to look at me, our eyes finally meet. I know the drug is already affecting her as she blinks at me in confusion, her baby blues going in and out of focus. Her creamy white cheeks are pink, and her lips are absolutely kissable. Fuck, do I wish we didn't’ have to do this right now.
“Ivan… I feel… funny.” Her words come out slow, and even though I don’t want to hear her speech slurred, I’m just glad to hear her fucking voice.
“I know, Kitten, you’ll be fine though. Just relax and do what you are told. Soon, this will be all over, and you’ll be free.” I gently grab hold of her upper arm and start leading her out. I hear her naked feet slapping against the cold concrete, and I have to fight the urge to pick her up and carry her.
I walk her all the way outside to the van and guide her into the back where two other girls are already tied up and waiting to leave. They both look up at me with fear in their eyes. I hate that they have to see me the way they do, and that now Violet sees me the same.
I go back inside and get the last girl from her cell, passing Luca and Gabe, who have the other two with them. When I get back to the van, I help the last girl inside.
I sigh, closing up the back door. I hope after everything, Violet sees how much I’ve given up for her and how much I’ve cared for her through all of this.
“Gabe, you drive the van. I’ll ride with you in case anything goes down.” I point to Luca, who is waiting for me to give him an order. “Luca, you take the SUV and let me know if anything looks suspicious. We’ll meet at the club.”
Luca gives me a curt nod and then walks toward the blacked-out SUV. Everyone takes their spots at my orders, and we head out.
It takes us only an hour to get to Vegas, and when we pull into the club’s parking lot, I damn near sag against the seat. Everything comes down to this. It’s still early and the parking lot is mostly empty, thankfully. We drive up to the back door and get out of the van. One of the guards is waiting out back as usual and opens the door for us. Luca pulls up behind us just as I open the back of the van. Gabe takes one girl on each arm, while I take Violet and another. Luca exits the SUV and grabs the last two girls. I want to assure Violet one last time before everything goes down but there isn’t any way to do so right now.
We walk the girls into the dressing room, where women with brushes and makeup are on hand waiting to get them ready for tonight. I sit Violet down on one of the chairs in front of the vanity mirror. Our eyes meet for a moment, and I see sadness and worry but also longing. She misses me, she wants me, and that’s enough to keep me going. I blink and return my gaze to the floor before I turn around and walk through the dressing room toward Benny’s office.
Benny’s crooked smile greets me as soon as I walk into his office without knocking. “Ivan, good to see you, old friend.”
“Everything set for tonight?” I’m not going to pretend that I like him or call him my friend. We are not, nor will we ever be, friends.
“Everything is set. I’ve got a replacement girl coming in. She’ll be waiting outside in a car and you can switch her out with your girl right before the auction.” This is the part Violet can never find out about. Benny found a replacement for Violet’s spot; there was no other way around it. We promised them six girls and that means six girls need to be auctioned off tonight.
I remember Benny telling me it was some homeless girl he’d found on the Strip. She didn’t really have a good life anyway, but that wouldn’t matter to Violet if she found out. She would hate me and hate herself if she ever discovered the truth. But I will do whatever I have to, hurt anyone I need to in order for her to be free.
Maybe she is my biggest flaw, my biggest weakness, but she might also be my only chance of salvation.
“Great. As soon as I have them switched and her out of here, I’ll send you the rest of the payment.”
Benny gives me a nod, and that’s the end of our conversation.
I walk out of the office and take my position at the entrance of the dressing room. We are not supposed to leave until their security is fully staffed and in place, which I’m hoping is soon. I want to get Violet out of here without a trace of evidence being left behind.
As soon as Rossi finds out what I’m doing tonight, he’ll send someone out to kill us both. Plus, I need a head start to outrun him... because he will hunt us, and he won’t stop.
Killing Yulie will be the least of my worries after I take Violet.
Minutes tick by, and I grow more and more impatient. The club is starting to fill up and the club’s security is still understaffed. What the fuck!
When I notice how close we are to the time of the auction occurring, I walk back through the dressing room and into Benny’s office. I only get a quick look at Violet as I race through the dressing room, but it’s enough to piss me off. They put some skanky underwear on her and dolled her up while she is sitting in the chair looking lost as fuck.
I get to the office and there’s a woman straddling his lap… but I don’t give a fuck what I’m interrupting. “Benny, where the fuck is the rest of your security? Everyone is arriving and my men aren’t on your payroll, so fucking get someone out here.”
“Oh, shit, yeah…” He shoves the woman off his lap and reaches for his phone.
I roll my eyes, completely annoyed and fed up.
“We have three guys out; there was a fight a couple nights ago,” Benny starts, his beady eyes bleeding into mine.
“I don’t give a fuck what happened to them. Get someone out there. Otherwise, shit is going to get bad,” I growl and turn on my heels. I head back to the door and wait for someone else to come and take my place. Thank fuck it doesn’t take long for Benny to get someone out here. The guy smirks as he approaches me.
“Am I replacing you?”
I clench my jaw. “Yeah, you are. Guard this door like it’s got a million fucking dollars inside of it. Do you understand me?” I grip him by the lapels of his jacket. His face pales, the smile slipping from his lips. He nods his head, and I release him with a shove.
I find Gabe and Luca talking to some assholes in the hallway leading outside. I exhale, trying my best to keep my composure. “You guys can go ahead and take the van back now. I’ll talk to Benny one more time and then drive the SUV back to the compound. Good job, boys,” I force out, praying that neither of them can tell something is off.
“Sure thing, boss.” Luca hands me the keys to the SUV without thought and I watch them leave. I wait a few more minutes before I look out the back door, making sure the van is gone. When I find the spot empty, I march back inside, going straight into the dressing room.
Nervous anxiety courses through my veins. I need to get in and out as fast as I can.
But I stop dead in my tracks when I enter the dressing room and find Violet on the floor, palming her cheeks as if someone has just hit her. My blood turns to ice, and I clench my fist, ready to put it through some fucker’s teeth. I watch the guy standing in front of her as he grabs her roughly by the arms, jerking her up into a standing position
My lips curl into a snarl, and I’m across the room in an instant. Before the guy even sees me coming, my fist is flying into his face. I feel bone crack underneath my knuckles and watch his head snap back before he staggers backward, landing against the vanity.
My gaze drops to Violet, who is looking around the room with complete confusion, as if she has no idea where she is or what just happened.
“You’re fucking lucky,” I spit at him and gently pull Violet into my arms. She stands unsteadily on her feet, her hands clutching onto my shirt. The guy gives me a d
irty look, wiping at the blood trickling down his nose. I want to stay here to kick this fucker’s ass but getting Violet out of here is more important.
“Time to go, Kitten.” I loop one arm around her and usher her out of the dressing room. Benny meets me in the hall, ready to bring the other girl in from the parking lot.
“Go ahead, Ivan. I’ll get the replacement,” Benny tells me while looking at some chick who’s heading down the hall. I try to pull Violet to the back door, but she tries to pull away, attempting to walk in the opposite direction we need to go. Not having time to deal with her confusion, I just pick her up, tossing her over my shoulder before walking out the door.
Once outside, I head for the SUV. I unlock it and deposit Violet on the passenger seat and buckle her up. Her eyes are wide, and she looks like she’s just seen a ghost. I hurry to the driver’s seat and get inside, starting the damn thing. I squeal tires out of the parking lot and head toward the interstate.
Violet is sitting next to me in silence, which is not surprising, considering the drug she is on. She grabs my hand and squeezes it as if she wants to get my attention. I think she wants to tell me something but can’t get the words out.
“Give it some time, Kitten. The drug will wear off, and you’ll be back to normal. Close your eyes for a little bit and rest. You are safe now.”
I glance over at her. She still looks frustrated and helpless, but she listens to me and closes her eyes. I keep her hand in mine and when I feel her grip loosen and see her head rest on her shoulder, I know she is asleep.
I don't let go of her hand the entire drive and when she wakes up about an hour later, we are almost at the safehouse. She straightens up in her seat and looks around with wide eyes like she is trying to figure out where she is.
“You are fine, Kitten, everything is fine.”
She looks over at me and then back outside the window and into the night sky.