Something sits on the tip of my tongue—maybe words of reassurance. But it doesn’t see the light of day as Sal rounds into the open door with a metal brand in his hands. He flips it over, the bright red numbers illuminated with a glow as he smirks at me.
Luna stands, stepping into my path like my sworn protector. “Can’t this wait, Sal? She just got here.”
He cocks his head. “You know the rules, Moon. Step aside.”
The blonde doesn’t move an inch until I place a hand on her shoulder. She’s trying her hardest to protect everyone without a thought of the mental and physical toll this is taking on her. She feels completely at fault, and that’s so far from the truth…
“It’s okay, Luna,” I whisper.
She glances over her shoulder at me, the expression of someone desperate to save another soul evident on her features. “I can’t let them do this to you…”
I mimic her brave smile despite the inner turmoil I’m feeling. I was once here—lost and broken. I’m no stranger to hopelessness. “That’s not your place,” I remind her gently. “You’re a victim too.”
Her expression crumbles to despair. “Rose…”
“Move, Luna.”
She hesitates before stepping aside and shielding her face from me. She can’t watch as Sal nears me with the hot brand.
“Finally,” he gloats with a wicked smile. “One of you whores has some sense.” He reaches for my shoulder, shoving me until my back faces him. He tears the neckline of my shirt until the top of my right shoulder is bare. I close my eyes, gritting my teeth as heat hovers over my bare skin. “Let’s see if you’re a screamer,” he whispers huskily before the metal touches my skin.
I suck in a breath, whimpering as sharp, hot pain burns into my flesh. I want to scream—to yank out of his grip. But Idon’t. I hold my ground as the feeling of a thousand cigarette butts lights my system with agony. There’s a sickening sizzling sound as my skin bubbles, and he pulls away.
I gasp, tremors wracking my frame as the heat turns to liquid cold. My arms prickle, and I open my eyes.
Sal sucks his teeth in disappointment. “I wanted to hear that pretty voice. I have one of your albums, you know?” He leans over my shoulder, his brows wiggling as if having listened to my music gives him any right to entice my politeness.
I glare back at him, my voice deathly calm. “I’ve felt worse.”
His expression melts away into something predatory. “Oh? Maybe I’ll take you first and change your mind.”
Luna grabs me, pulling me away from him as she frets over my new mark. “Let’s get some ointment on that.”
Her distraction serves to satiate Sal before he whips out of the room, whistling. Once we’re alone, Luna smacks the back of my head. “Don’t challenge him. He seems harmless enough, but he’s sick. They all are…”
“He’s lucky I didn’t spit on him,” I grumble as she drags me into the bathroom. She slathers some thick, white paste onto it, making me hiss.
“Sorry,” She winces before capping the cream. “When I get back, I’ll introduce you to the others.”
My brows furrow. “Where are you going?”
She turns towards the window, her eyes becoming distant at the setting sun. “It’s late. Michael always comes right after work.”
“Who’s Michael?”
She shakes herself out of it, busying herself with arranging the medicine cabinet. “A regular. I need to stop him before he gets to Cara’s room…”
I shouldn’t pry, but I can’t help my morbid curiosity. If I’m here, I should know. “What was Cara saying about—”
“Michael is…rough,” Luna says low as her hands stall. “Please don’t ask, Rose.”
I nod silently, but I want to say something. Even if it’s a shaky reassurance. I want to be her friend in this dark place, but she’s already worlds away. I can see it in the space that stretches between us. She’s distancing herself as she prepares to do something she shouldn’t have to do. No one here should be subjected to this.
Footsteps pad down the hall, and Luna slips into a persona I don’t recognize. Not on the wild, carefree stage presence she carries on tours or the selfless woman I’ve only known for an hour. She’s hollow—lifeless.
She sweeps right out of the room, and I follow only to stop near the bed when a tall, brutal man stalks past. Luna steps right into his path, lifting a hand seductively to the chest of his suit jacket. She buries her fingers into the lapel, but I can see the disgust she harbors for this individual.
“Where are you going, Michael?” She tilts her head, appearing interested.
