“Don’t ever say that word to me again.”
I nod, blinking back tears. I won’t cry in front of him. No way.
We arrive back at the house but my body is too heavy to move. I have to get out of this situation, but how? I know that guy from the club could help me. I sensed it. He was so tough and intimidating, walking through the club like he owned the place. But how would I ever find him again? All I know is his name, and Carnage doesn’t exactly sound like a government name. Besides, Leon monitors my every move.
Maybe if I can get us to go back to Redlight, Carnage will show up there again. It’s a long shot, but it’s the only one I’vegot. I’ll just have to be on my best behavior and charm Leon into going out again.
“Take a shower,” Leon says, practically yanking me from the car. “I’ll be up later after I take care of some business.”
I nod, choosing quiet compliance after seeing his anger explode. I want to shower anyway so I can wash away his touch and that gross club as much as I can, even though he’ll be in the bed later, rubbing his erection against my ass while I pretend to sleep, then jacking off loudly beside me. It happens most nights if he doesn’t bring someone else home to fuck. I prefer it when he’s occupied with someone else.
I hate his scent.
I hate his voice and the grunts he makes when he gets off.
I hate the feeling of his body rubbing against me even through my pajamas.
I hate his hot alcohol-and-cigarettes breath on my neck.
I hate him and everything about him.
And I’m going to get away from him. I have to.
Three days later, I’m sitting in the den reading my book, aware of the steady stream of men entering the house and disappearing down the hall. I guess Leon is having a meeting about something, and I really hope it’s not birthday prep. I need more time.
After the house quiets down, I slip my phone from my back pocket and open the web browser. The chances of finding someone online named Carnage are pretty fucking low but I need to start somewhere, and this is the first time I’ve been completely alone in days so I could try.
I type the name in and the first hit is a simple definition. Extreme destruction and chaos, violent slaughter or butchery. Well, that’s comforting. What kind of man calls himself that? My instinct that he was dangerous was probably right, but I also saw something else in his eyes. Maybe it was attraction, but it felt like more. Like he would help me if he could.
Scrolling a bit more, I look for any sign of a man named Carnage but come up empty. Then I search organized crime in Mistone, but the articles are vague. After a few more minutes, I give up and clear my browser history, then type in something innocuous: shoe stores in Mistone. That way, when Leon checks my phone later, I have something to say if anyone notices I was on my phone and reports back to him about it.
Not long after that, No Neck enters the room. What now?
“Go upstairs and change clothes,” he says. “Leon picked something out.”
“Are we going out?”
No Neck shrugs before turning and leaving the room. Great. With a heavy sigh, I close my book and make my way to the bedroom, where there is indeed an outfit lying on the bed. It appears to be a jumpsuit, navy blue with gold zippers on it. It’s cute enough I guess, but not my style at all. There are some nice black shoes with it though. They look like fancy loafers with a pointed toe.
I change into the outfit then go into the bathroom to check my hair and freshen my face. Fortunately, Leon didn’t leave a bruise when he smacked me, but the spot over my cheekbone is still a bit tender. I put a little mascara on so my eyelashes are visible and slick my lips with gloss. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do enhance what nature gave me.
Then I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for instructions, hoping we’ll go somewhere my path will cross with Carnage’sagain. The chances of that happening are astronomically low, but at this point I’ve got nothing else to cling to.
We’ve been holed up in the house since the night we went to Redlight, and I’m desperate to get out again. Every time I’m around other people, hope blooms, however slight, that I’ll manage to ditch Leon and get away.
About ten minutes later the bedroom door opens and No Neck is there again. He looks me up and down, his eyes showing more interest than they have before, and my stomach twists with anxiety. I never want that man to touch me. I’ll have to peel my skin off if that ever happens.
“Let’s go.”
Rising, I walk slowly toward him, doing my best to stamp down my fear of what the night may hold. This is no way to live. I spend hours a day wondering how I’m going to be violated, if today is the day he finally rapes me, or if it’s just another exercise in poor decisions and humiliation.
The word bounces around my head, turning my stomach.
Rape.
That’s the only appropriate term for it, but somehow, I always try to minimize it in my mind. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism.
Leon and others are waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me. He’s laughing, which is a good sign that he’ll be decent to me tonight. When he looks up at me, he actually smiles.
