“Can I enlist your services at a later date if I ask nicely?” Soren says. I’m seriously considering beating the shit out of him in front of her so she doesn’t feel the need to punish him on her own, but to my surprise, she laughs.
“Sure thing, you come on over for target practice anytime.”
While they both think it’s funny, I’m nauseous. What the fuck happened to my best friend? “That won’t be necessary,” I say. I’m keeping this asshole alive whether he wants it or not.
“Higher than a kite, that one. Better be careful, baby,” Loretta says to her daughter.
“I will,” she says, kissing her mom on the cheek like she’s not holding a shotgun and then walking toward the door to leave with us like I didn’t just try to choke her into compliance.What the fuck is going on with this family?
“You’re really not going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask.
“I really don’t know the address.”
We’re almost out the door when something catches my eye.
“Wait a minute,” I say, finding a familiar face on the wall with his arm around Nina. “Why the fuck do you have a picture with Sable’s dad on the wall?” I ask.
Nina smiles, and her mom looks like she’s about to spit on the floor again. “That really isn’t any of your business, is it?” Nina says. “Worry about finding your girlfriend.”
She heads out the door ahead of us, leaving the three of us alone, and somehow her mother is even more intimidating without the buffer. Grabbing Soren by his collar, I drag him out of the house to make sure he can’t say anything else stupid. Nina is already sitting in the car in the passenger’s seat. It makes more sense since she’s directing me and Soren is useless, but I’m still irritated that she made the assumption.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Soren grunts as I push him along. “You should be glad I’m willing to take myself out of the equation. If we find Sable, me being around isn’t going to make things easier.”
“What the fuck is yours?” I demand, smacking the back of his head, before I open the back door and shove him inside. “I swear to God I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you’re really starting to scare me,” I tell his back before I slam the door on him.What the fuck is happening?Climbing into the driver’s seat, I start the engine and wait for her to give me some direction.
“Start by pulling out of the driveway,” she says in a dry, bitchy tone. I do what she says, wondering how exactly the tables turned so quickly, and strapping myself in for a very long ride.
“We could still kill you, you know,” I warn, not wanting her to get too comfortable with making me miserable.
“I have a feeling that would work out very poorly for you.”
CHAPTER 14
SABLE
When my eyes open,I know enough time has passed, but I have no clue how much. I don’t think I fell asleep after what he did to my chest, but rather passed out from the blood loss and exhaustion. The hand holding the shoe never relaxed, and my knuckles stretched white around my only lifeline.It’s not going to be enough. I admit to myself as my arms shake, and my muscles promise to fail.
From my desperation, a simple plan forms. He’s made what he wants from me very clear, and men are weak when their pants are down. He’ll be back soon if he isn’t already here and just being quiet. My feet are unsteady as I walk back to the bathroom. He left me makeup when he first dropped me off, but I’ve refused to wear it. The seals crinkle loudly enough to raise the hair on my arms as I remove them. My eyes are red and swollen, my lips too. The deep cuts on my chest are yellow and crusted, likely already getting infected. That should be fine for this plan. I’m sure he’s proud of his handiwork.
Soft, quiet sobs shake my chest as I paint myself, preparing emotionally to be convincing. I imagine myself kicking him in the balls, gouging out his eyes, and breaking his nose—whatever it takes to get myself the hell out of here before he actually rapesme. Flashes of the vacations we spent here pass through my mind. Usually, thoughts of the past just hurt, but right now, I’m soothed by my memories. This terrain is mine, not his, and if one of us is going to get over on the other out here, his chances are a lot worse than mine.
I still don’t understand how he even found the address. My mother was always very careful with who she allowed in, always reminding us that this was our haven. My father never came here with us, and now that I think of it, I’m not sure heeverhad. Uncle Carl wasn’t close enough to be invited. These thoughts and many more run through my head as I paint my face to convince my uncle I’m his willing whore. When I finish, I change into a dress that isn’t bloodstained, and while it doesn’t fit, he’s already carved what he thinks of me into my chest, so my tits hanging out shouldn’t upset him.
A bang from downstairs tells meCarl is back.
Grabbing my shoe, I run back to the bed. I sit on top of my hand, the heel digging into my soft flesh. The pain means nothing, though, if I can get out of this. If I thought he’d come quickly and let me off the hook, I was wrong. So much time passes as I wait that my head eventually relaxes against the headboard. The sun sets between the gaps in the wooden planks nailed over my windows. My unwavering stare pins the door. Silent tears run down my cheeks, but I shove them away.
His voice moves around the house too often to guess what he’s doing. Each time he seems near, I shake with anticipation. A series of bangs tells me he’s nailing something else shut. My trembling grip on the shoes tightens, and I jump each time the hammer lands. Even if I lose him in the woods, will I manage to make it to safety before succumbing to the elements? My survival is not guaranteed, but there’s no point in thinking about that now. I would rather die cold out there than here with himin agony. Shaking myself off, I decide to keep loyal to my plan. I have to at least try.
The sun falls to dusk, and he still hasn’t come. The moon rises until it’s high in the sky, and I’m starting to doubt my ability to find my way at night when he approaches.Goddamn him for complicating this even further.This time, he doesn’t turn around. His determined steps echo toward me. The knob slowly turns, and my eyes whip to the motion. He’s made what he wants very clear, and now I just have to pull off the very best acting of my life. My body shifts, instinctively posing myself in the most alluring manner. This may be vomit-inducing, but arching my back just right catches him off guard.
My legs slide apart, hopefully revealing nothing more than my panties, but excitement and evil light his gaze as his eyes find me there. I say nothing, sure that my voice would break the illusion. Rather than my uncle standing there, I try to see one of the guys I left behind and exude the appeal I might have for one of them. He approaches me quickly, his eyes wide with a nasty sort of hope.
“You learned your lesson last time, I see.” There’s no question in his statement, but his smile slides into a sort of pride.
I nod, again not trusting my ability to blow my cover. He hasn’t noticed the shoe beneath me, but my arm is starting to go numb from being beneath me.
He stands at the edge of the bed, eyes roving over me like he can’t get enough of what he sees. “You fixed yourself up for me.” He reaches out, touching the overly pink lipstick he chose for me. All girly colors, all things I might have chosen as a teen. The choice doesn’t escape my notice.
