Page 2 of 4 Corinthians

“She’s in the back?” Robert asked.

“Yes,” Ruben answered with a nod. “We tied her up because she was fighting.”

“Fighting who exactly?” Robert asked. His voice was calm, but I knew better than to think he was anything but. His body was tense, shoulders square, eyes locked on Ruben.

“Your brother,” Ruben answered. “He came to see her, wanted to see her injuries, and when he walked into her cage, she attacked him.”

“Logan?”

“Yes,” Ruben nodded. “He came like you said he would after her match.”

“Take me to her,” Robert demanded.

Ruben’s eyes narrowed as he stared Robert down. “Let’s have a discussion before we walk in that room,” he said. “My daughter, my rules. Yes, I appreciate you finding interest in her, but she is not yours yet. Our deal can be revoked.”

“My payment has started,” Robert countered. “She is mine. If you try to renege on the agreement, then we can call a meeting. I’m telling you now, though, they won't side with you. Your status does not trump mine.”

“I read the contract,” Ruben replied. “I know the terms. The payment hasn’t been accepted; until then, she belongs to me.”

“I will have it rectified by the end of the day; until then, take me to see my pet,” Robert replied. His brain was spinning with thoughts. No one had ever challenged him that way. Robert, along with his brothers, was used to being in complete control. No one dared go against the Strongs, yet here Ruben was, standing eye to eye with one and not stepping back.

Ruben chuckled as he shook his head. It looked like he wanted to say morebut didn’t. Instead, he turned and led us through another set of doors. The first thing I noticed was that the floor was wet, and I knew that whatever Logan had decided to do to her was going to leave her limping for days afterward. We rounded a corner, and my heart slammed against my chest at the sight in front of me.

“Say you will listen!” Logan yelled as he stepped around the girl from earlier. She was strapped to the wall, her hands tied above her head and her legs spread under her. Her clothes were soaked, and her neat bun was long gone. Her head was down, hair covering her face, but I could see her chest rising and falling. “Say it!”

“How long has he been at this?” Robert asked.

“Since the match,” Ruben answered. “She won't say anything.”

“Because she was taught not to,” Robert chuckled. He handed Ruben my leash, then unbuttoned his jacket, took it off, and handed it to him as well. “I have trained my pet to never respond to anyone.” He held up his hand at Logan to have him step back. “She knows that your punishment is nothing compared to mine.” He stopped directly in front of the girl, chuckled, then took her chin in his hands and lifted her head. “You will behave.” His thumb gently stroked her chin. “Won't you?” He lifted his brow. “Because if you don’t, what will happen, Pet? Who will I touch?”

“Bug,” she answered. Her voice was soft, innocent yet strong. Robert wasn’t going to break her. I could see the fight in her eyes from here. He was going to lose to her. “If I don’t listen, you will touch Bug.”

“Good girl,” he said, nodding. He stepped back and looked at Logan. “Let her down now. She will behave.”

“Are you sure?” Logan asked, and Robert nodded. “Alright.” Logan set the hose down and approached the girl. She stared at him, and even though I wanted to laugh, I didn’t. Logan wanted to be strong, but this little girl scared him. He quickly unlocked her feet, then her arms.

“Pet?” Robert said, coming to stand in front of her. He wiped the water from her face, then chuckled. “Look at me.” She did what he asked, which made him smile. “We are going to have a long and beautiful relationship. I want you to meet my son.” He turned around, put his arm around her, and guided her to me. “Uri, this is Corinthians. Corinthians, this is Uri.”

Corinthians tilted her head to the side and slowly blinked. Seeing her up close felt different than seeing her from a distance. She was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen.

“You’re introducing a monster and a savage,” Logan chuckled. “Lock them both down before they cause you sleepless nights.”

“I’m not worried.” Robert chuckled.

Corinthians DeCorte

“Ssshhhhh.” I held my sister close to me and rocked. She was having another nightmare. They’d started coming over more over the last few weeks. When we first started going to the warehouse, it was fun. We got to play, run around with other kids, and relax. Then, one day it changed. The fun times were over. Daddy introduced us to a man named Robert. I didn’t like him; when he looked at me, it made goosebumps rise on my arms. My heart started beating fast, and my palms got sweaty. I tried to hide behind my daddy’s leg, but he pushed me from behind him. He made me stand in front of him, between him and Robert, as they talked. Robert kept touching me; his hands went to my face, my arms, my shoulder, and my hair. No matter how many times I moved, he would find me and touch me.

“Sissy.” Bug held on to me tight; her body shook, and she was sweating so much that her nightshirt was wet. She sniffed, and I realized she was crying in her sleep. That was new, and it made me sad. She was my baby sister, just five years old and about to start kindergarten. She shouldn’t have to deal with this. Neither of us should have.

“It’s okay, Bug,” I said, continuing to rock her. “It’s okay. I’m here.” I lay down, holding her, humming her favorite song softly in her ear. I fought, closing my eyes as long as I could, just in case Bug needed me while she slept.

When I opened my eyes again, it was because I felt something wet and warm on my legs. I shot up from the bed and looked down to see that Bug had peed herself again.

“Oh no,” I said, then looked around the room. The sun was coming up, but the birds hadn’t started chirping yet, which meant my daddy wasn’t on his way up. “Bug,” I whispered and gently patted her arms. “Bug, wake up.”

“Cori?” She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. “Cori, what’s wrong?” Bug was the only person I let shorten my name. I made everyone else call me by my full name. She was the same way when it came to me. I never called her "Psalms" like everyone else; to me, she was "Bug" because of her love of flowers and dirt. “What’s wrong?”