“You’re in no position to threaten me,” he sneers, as his free hand works to undo his pants. Veronica sobs, tears staining the concrete while his free hand moves to fist his cock.
“Stop it,” I roar, heaving against the unyielding chain like a beast in a trap. Veronica stops fighting. Don't cry. And I think I just died. My heart drops into the deepest pit in my stomach when he begins to pull down her jeans.
Shit… shit…
“Vero,mami, look at me. Focus on me, Trouble.Mirame,carajo.” I scream, my voice breaking into a weak plea, but she doesn’t. Wherever her mind is taking her, I hope it’s far from here. I watch as her grey eyes cloud over. Once bright and full of life, they’re now dull with an overwhelming fear that pierces my heart. The room fills with a deafening silence except for the sickening sound of her stifled whimper. Pain blooms around my wrist and ankles as I continue to fight the chains. Priscilla looks away. “LOOK AT HER!” I shout. “LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE.” She doesn’t look, though. However, I do. I stay locked in the moment, on hands and knees with my eyes fixed on Veronica’s, a silent scream ringing between us.
“Stay with me, Veronica,” I plead. “You are not alone. I'm right here, Ronnie. Right fucking here.”
Chapter Sixteen
Veronica
Your body has a funny way of responding when faced with high-intensity situations or when you’re in danger. Some people spring into action, their bodies fighting to survive. I always thought that would be me. Afighter. Boy was I wrong… I can’t move. My body is fully aware of what’s about to happen, preparing itself for impact, yet I cannotfuckingmove. I remain still, my eyes wide and tears burning. My mind and body work against one another. A contradiction of commands. My mind screams for me to move, while my body remains frozen in place as Priscilla grabs my arms, bringing me to the floor.
The back of my head resting on her shoulder, the scent of flowers overwhelming my senses, I still do not move. Not even as Harry begins to remove my jeans. Or as my stomach turns, making me sick with the urge to vomit. I can hear the threats and curses coming out of Isaac’s mouth. None of his words will stop what’s coming. Won’t stop him from watching another man defile me in front of him.
“Ronnie,” he screams with desperation. “Mami,” he pleads. “Look at me…” I think my gaze falls on him before it tunnels out. My hand reaches out but he’s too far…. Iz.. I want to stay with you. I want to lose myself in it. That never happens. My legs are kicked apart, and the warmth of Harry’s skin brushes against mine. Sending a wave of nausea through my body, settling at the pit of my soul.
I finally break out of my trance, or more so, my soul has left my body. I lift my eyes and find hazel eyes looking at me, full of anger—so much fucking anger and sadness. It’s so strange to me. To see him so angry. I’ve seen him madbefore, but this is different. His face looks unfamiliar to me, wearing an expression I’ve never seen. His teeth bared like a rabid animal, small particles of spit flying everywhere as he continues to thrash against the chains. Crimson flows down his arms. Stop fighting… you’re bleeding,I want to say, but no words come out. All I can do is watch helplessly as he continues to fight like hell, can’t he see… There’s no fighting this. It’s happening. A single tear falls down his face as he whispers, “Stay with me, Ronnie. Stay here with me...”
I nod, or at least I think I do…
I’m here… Iz…
A sound I’ve never heard before slips past my lips when I feel Harry fill me. I bite down on my sobs. I won’t allow him to break me. Everything becomes blurry except him. Iz’s mouth moves; however, I couldn’t make out the words that fell from his lips. I just watch as he thrashes and kicks. Time tapers down like a slow death, an agonizing crawl. Each passing second feels like an eternity, each heartbeat pounds mercilessly against the cage of my ribs. Harry’s movements quicken, and my nails dig into the ground. I barely register the pain, the violation. It all becomes background noise to the silent symphony playing in Isaac’s eyes.
“Stay with me.”
Those words become my life jacket, making it impossible for me to sink. I focus on those three words as my stomach rubs against the cold concrete floor. “Stay with me,” I repeat over and over. As much as I want to close my eyes to him, clinging to that connection desperately while my entire world caves in. Into a void, into nothingness.
Harry’s rough hands wander over me, seeking, claiming. I feel a numbness creeping up on me, encasing me like an icy shield. And I welcome it, fully leaning into it, accepting its cold embrace. The world begins to spin faster and faster around me, and everything becomes hazy and distorted. The body he’s ruining is here, but my soul is elsewhere. Far away from his grasp. In a place where only Isaac exists and no one can ruin me.
After a few minutes, there’s no more thrashing, no more kicking. Only stillness. Not the peaceful kind but the kind that chills you to your core. He’s now just as frozen as I am. I'm sorry, baby.I want to reach out and comfort him. To shield him from watching this, even though it’s too late. The damage is already done. A single tear slides down his beautiful face. I can hear the sounds now. His deep grunts. I can feel him too. His movements are more frenzied as he chases his release. His hand snakes up my abdomen and under my bra. I feel the numbness spread further. My body is nothing but an empty shell. I'm certain that I’m dying.
I have to be.
What else could describe the feeling of complete emptiness? How else could I describe being a passenger in my own body? How else could I escape the warmth that spreads through my insides as he spills into me? I fix my gaze on Isaac, his eyes wide with horror and helplessness, the cold reality reflected in his golden orbs. The final shudders of Harry’s satisfaction echo through my numbed senses, and I almost vomit right there.
“Iz,” I whisper, or at least, I think I do, but no sound comes. My heart races, not from the physical exertion, but from the sheer terror and revulsion.
Everything disappears. The weight of Harry behind me, the biting cold at my stomach—none of it reaches me. All that remains is nothingness. I’m flying, or maybe falling, but none of it matters. Shame and disgust blend into their own flavor as I curl into a ball, dreading the echo that remains between my legs. I make the mistake of looking in his direction only to find him broken. Iz's head hangs low, his forehead pressing against the ground as he sobs. Each sound reverberating through his body causes him to shake from the intensity. Don’t cry… I want to say, but I close my eyes before opening them again only when the room grows quiet. I could have sworn he wasn't breathing. And I could have sworn I wasn’t either. Yet, my traitorous lungs expand with a burning breath reminding me… that I’m alive. And this is my painful reality. With time suspended, I float in the abyss.
Chapter Seventeen
Isaac
Iwatch as she falls asleep, her breathing picking up when she begins to thrash around—another nightmare. My jaw clenches each time she moves. At my sides, I open and close my fist, watching as Ronnie fights him even in her sleep. That motherfucker will pay. I promise, it could be tomorrow, a month, a fucking year, but I will kill him for hurting her. My stomach sinks at the memory. I have to get her out of here… My eyes grow heavy, burning from the need to sleep. I try to push through it, using my hands to rub the sleep from my eyes. It’s getting harder to stay awake, but I needed to try. I need to protect her, especially while she’s vulnerable.
Eventually, I succumb to the pull of sleep, only to be awakened by footsteps and the blinding stream of light that alerts me to their presence. I jolt awake as the basement door creaks open, and Priscilla enters behind her husband, wearing a robe, her chestnut hair falling to her shoulders. Morning time already. They are creatures of habit. Both walk in with a tray that holds a banana, a boiled egg, and water.
My lips curl in disgust. I can tell by the end of this. I will never touch another egg or banana. Water is tricky, we need it to survive, but I know the memory of this place will linger with each swallow. As if she can sense the predators in the room, Ronnie springs awake, inching away from them, her eyes wide with fear.
“It’s your turn.” Harry points at me with a beady finger. The words ring through the silence, chilling my blood and stirring a primal rage I’ve never known. I couldn’t help but glare dagger into him. “I lost my temper yesterday,” Harrysighs, running a hand down his face. “I’m a man with flaws. God didn’t make me perfect, but I’m a fair man who believes in an eye for an eye. Seeing you threatening my wife made me react.”
Priscilla places the food and water on the floor beside Veronica. Her gaze never leaves Ronnie. “Eat,” she says, her voice devoid of any emotion. Ronnie’s eyes flicker from the food to Priscilla and then to me. She looks like she’s about to tell her off, thankfully, she focuses back on me. I give her a nod, encouraging her to eat. She needs to be strong to survive this place, but I can see the fear in her eyes. I wish I could take it all away. For now, all I can do is make sure we maintain our strength for whatever comes next. Ronnie reluctantly bites into the banana while my gaze shifts back to Priscilla and her husband.
Now that I have water, I lick my lips, moistening the chapped flesh. “Why don’t you let us try?” I motion to Ronnie, who stops mid bite, her mouth hanging slightly. I ignore it, of course. What else can I do to protect her? “I can knock her up… I always wanted to fuck her anyway.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, a vile truth to protect the woman I love from further violation. I only hope she understands. The look on her face tells me that she does. It’s a resignation. Not lust nor desire. From the corner of my vision, I see Priscilla’s eyes burn holes into me, a repulsed grimace twisting her beautiful features.
