by Julia Crane
“Ace, I heard you and your wife are trying to have a baby?”
Ace shot a dirty look at Erik. His laugh was sudden and harsh. “Jesus, man, are you trying to crush what little manhood I have left around this chick?”
Erik sighed. “It came up. Wasn’t a big deal.”
“Whatever.” Ace’s voice sliced through the air as he looked away, his jaw flexed.
“Trouble conceiving?” Lucas asked. Kaitlyn was grateful Lucas spoke up, because she wasn’t sure how to defuse the situation. She couldn’t quite understand why a simple question would cause so much anger.
“I guess if you call trying and failing for seven years trouble, then yeah,” Ace said icily.
“You know Harrington’s company dabbles in fertility issues.”
He shook his head. “We’ve tried everything.”
Lucas tapped his fingers on the table. “Well IFICS is a bit ahead of the game. Of course, everything is still in experimental stages, but if you guys were interested, I’m sure Harrington would agree to at least having a consultation.”
Ace stared at Lucas for a long time. “I hope you’re not shitting me. I can’t get Gracie’s hopes up again. She’s finally coming to terms with the fact that we’ll never have our own child. We’ve been put on a waiting list for adoption. That shit takes years.”
“Well, I can’t promise results, but I can promise you’d have the most cutting edge treatments. I’m not involved with that side of the company, but I do know that Harrington only works with the best doctors in the field.”
Ace sat back in his chair and let out a long breath. “I’ll talk to Gracie about it. Thanks, man. I’m sorry I snapped at you, Kaitlyn. It’s a touchy subject.”
“It’s okay. I can’t have children either.” The words slipped out before she even realized they were on the tip of her tongue.
A pin could have been heard if dropped. The whole diner became silent.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ace said quietly.
“It’s okay. I don’t think I would be a very good mother anyway.” Kaitlyn blinked back the moisture that had pooled in her eyes out of nowhere. The tears were a genuine surprise to her. As well as the empty feeling in the center of her chest.
The waitress placed the food in front of them. They all picked at their food, appetites suddenly lost.
Small talk, she told herself. Just say something. But no words would come to her mouth, which was suddenly very dry.
Kaitlyn took a bite of the moist chocolate cake, and for once, didn’t savor each bite.
As soon as the bedroom door shut, Lucas cupped the back of her head, and pressed her face into the crook of his shoulder. Kaitlyn slid her arms around his waist and squeezed. After several moments of holding each other and not speaking, Lucas pulled away and looked down at her.
“We should talk about this, Kaitlyn.”
“What’s there to say?”
“I didn’t realize you thought about having children.”
“Don’t you?” she asked, bracing herself for his answer.
“No, not really. I guess I haven’t given it much thought. I love you, Kate.”
“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice for loving me.”
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I assure you, I’ve never once felt as though I’ve sacrificed anything to be with you. You’ve given me far more than I could have ever hoped for.”
“I can’t have children, Lucas. Ever.”
“Do you want children?” He studied her face.
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t think I do. But when Erik told me that Ace wanted to have a baby, it made me wonder if you did.”
“You should have told me,” he said gently.
“I meant to, and I would have eventually. I guess it didn’t seem important right now. My focus has been on saving those children and making sure Dasvoik can’t harm anyone else.”
“We’ll come back to this conversation later. But Kaitlyn, I really want you to talk to me about anything that is bothering you. It’s very important to me.”
She pressed her head against his chest. “I will. That was nice of you to offer to help Ace and his wife tonight.”
Lucas shrugged. “What good are all these advances if we can’t help the people we know? Besides, I had to do something, Ace looked like he was about to strangle you.”
“He really doesn’t like me.”
“I think you’re growing on him.”
“Really?”
“Sure. He just needs more time.”
Kaitlyn doubted it, but what did she know when it came to human nature?
CHAPTER 15
Oh how she hurt! Her head throbbed and her back and arms felt as if they were on fire. The pain in her chest was so strong it stole her breath. Cracked ribs? Her eyes fluttered open, and she tentatively touched her ribs. The room was dark, as usual, but light seeped underneath the door.
Raised voices. She realized it was the commotion outside that had awoken her. Feet pounded loudly on the metal floors. The usually quiet ship was in an uproar over something. What was going on? Aaliyah strained to understand the voices, but they were not in English. And certainly not in her native language. She hated the foreign voices. It only made her feel more alien, alone.
Aaliyah winced. It hurt to breathe. Where in the world was she? Not in the cage and thankfully not in the monster’s chamber. Glancing down, she realized she was laid out on a narrow cot. The dingy white blanket that covered her smelled of mildew. Her stomach rolled. She licked her cracked lips with her thick, swollen tongue. She was hungry and probably dehydrated. How’d she get there?
And then, she remembered. Dasvoik had been very upset with her.
Wincing, she attempted to sit up, but the pain was too much. Reluctantly, her head dropped back to the pillow. Seconds later, the door opened and closed with a clang. Heart hammering, Aaliyah closed her eyes and feigned sleep.
“Too late, I saw your eyes open,” a rough voice said, barely above a whisper. Involuntarily, she attempted to push herself back, trying to make herself smaller. It surprised her he was speaking English. “I brought you something to drink. Wet your whistle. I will try to bring you something to eat later.”
A cup touched her lips and she swallowed greedily. The cold water felt incredible sliding down her aching throat.
“Slow down.” He pulled the cup back. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Flopping her head to the side, she got a better look at the old man. He was plump and had a kind, weathered face with tufts of grey hair above his ears. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but his eyes were pale. Probably blue.
“The boss man really did a number on you. You’ve been out for days.” He stood up and dunked something into a bucket and came back with a cloth to wipe her forehead. “You’re too damaged to leave with the others.”
Suddenly, she was wide-awake. Panic filled her. Her baby brother. “Leave where?” Her voice was hoarse from the lack of use.
The man shrugged and continued to gently clean her face with the cloth. “They had to dump the cargo early. Seems someone had the bead on the boss. No concern for you.”
“What do you mean dumped?” Her heart hammered in her chest. “It concerns me a great deal. My little brother is on this ship.”
He paused, his hand in the air still holding the cloth and nodded. “Ah, I understand my dear. I wish I could help you, but I have no idea where they went. I just know they were transferred from this ship to another. The boss must really have taken a liking to you, or else you would be dead right now. Swimming with the sharks.”
She tried to process the information. If they knew what the evil man was up to, did that mean she had a chance of being rescued? Probably not.
Where was her brother? Did this delay give her brother an opportunity or was he handed off to a worse fate? Of course, without her, it was worse. She had to find him. She struggled to sit up, but the pain cut through her. “Please, I h
ave to find out where he went so I can save him.”
The old man’s voice was sad. “I’m afraid there will be no saving for either of you. If your injuries were not so grave, you would have been on the boat with them. You have to heal and then you will be sold off with the next wave. Unless, the boss decides to keep you for himself. He’s never done that before.” After a brief pause, he continued.” I’m not sure I would wish that on anyone.”
Desperately, Aaliyah clung to the man’s forearm. “It’s still loud out there. Have they transferred everyone?”
“That’s what they’re doing now.”
“Please. I beg of you. I don’t care how you have to do it. Get me on the ship. I cannot leave my brother.”
“I’m afraid you cannot go anywhere. Your ribs are broken. One of your lungs is collapsed and I am too old to carry you. Here take another sip of water. You need to regain your strength.”
With much effort, she lifted her head to meet the cup. He was right, she had to find the strength and the courage she would need. If it was the last thing she did, she was going to kill that monster. A deep seeded rage bubbled inside of her.
Just the thought of little Darrius being all alone, shuffled from one boat to another, tore at her heart. “Where the hell are they taking him?” her voice was near manic.
The man just shrugged.
All of the sudden, Aaliyah became suspicious. No one had been nice to her since the day she had been abducted. They all treated her like an object not a person. “Why are you helping me?”
He sighed and continued to dab the towel on her face. “Because I have a daughter myself.”
From nowhere, a lightness came over her along with a wave of hope. “It’s you.”
She’d been praying for this for so long it was hard to believe that her prayers had been answered. She’d almost given up.
“My guardian angel.” Aaliyah’s voice shook. Her breath caught in a silent sob. “You finally came.”
The man looked startled. “I wouldn’t go that far. All I did was bring you water.”
“Please, you must get the name or the number off the ship that they are transferring the children to.”
She could see the indecision in his eyes and her heart leapt when he sighed and nodded his head. “It won’t do you any good, but I will find out for you.” He patted her head and stood up. His back stooped as he shuffled his way towards the door.
Aaliyah closed her eyes. The old man had been right. She needed to rest. Needed to heal so she could seek revenge. A plan was starting to form in her mind. If pretending to enjoy the madman was what it took to get her brother back, she would endure it. And she would take great pleasure when she sliced the monsters throat in his sleep. Her guardian would find her a weapon. He had to.
She knew she was not strong enough to take him while he was awake.
Perhaps during sex? She had to make sure he wanted her again. Which meant she had to heal. He would not want her if her face were bruised and ugly. He didn’t seem to mind the scars on her body.
Four days passed since she’d awakened in the empty room. The old man snuck her food in when he could. Mainly soup and bread. The soup was a luxury. What she most appreciated was the conversations. It had been so long since anyone had talked to her like she was a person with feelings. He told her about his children and his wife who’d passed away years ago. Aaliyah told him about her life in South Africa. For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to talk about Detroit.
He really was her guardian angel, even if he didn’t believe it himself. She knew he was putting himself at great risk.
Aaliyah was certain God had sent him to help her. She wept at the thought. How could she have doubted her faith? I’m so sorry. I’ll never doubt you again.
Since awakening, she’d spent as many hours in prayer as she did plotting her revenge.
“How do I look?” Aaliyah asked, pushing herself up to sitting. She swallowed the antibiotics he handed her. The ship’s doctor had not been to see her since she had awoken, but he had left her with antibiotics to fight off the possibility of an infection due to her collapsed lung. For that, she was grateful.
If she had been unconscious for a couple of days and awake for four days, the bruising must be improving. It still hurt to breathe; she felt as if someone was crushing her chest. As painful as it was, she had forced herself to take deep breaths. She remembered seeing on television that a collapsed lung could sometimes heal itself with rest. And there wasn’t much that could be done for cracked ribs. The old man had bound her chest with a cut up sheet. It was the best they could do.
“You look like someone beat the shit out of you,” the old man said truthfully.
“Damn. I need to get better. Has the bruising gone down at all?” She wished for the luxury of a mirror, but that was not going to happen. She was lucky to have a pail to go to the bathroom in. She reached up and touched her face. It didn’t feel quite as swollen. “Are you sure it’s not better?”
With gentle fingers, he turned her head from side to side, studying her. “The bruising has gone down. It’s mostly yellow now instead of purple. But your eyes…”
Alarmed, Aaliyah reached up touching around her eyes. “What about my eyes?” She knew they were the feature that had drawn the madman to her. If they had been ruined, he would probably not want her any longer. And then her plan would not work. “Tell me. What is wrong with my eyes?”
“They have turned cold. You have aged greatly over the short time you have been aboard this ship. I saw you when you first arrived. Everyone noticed you. A rare exotic beauty like yourself, it’s hard not to notice. You looked fragile and meek. Now, you look determined. I’m sure it will not escape the boss.”
“Has he asked about me? Does he know you check on me?”
“Yes, I’m afraid he is anxious to see you. You’re the only woman left on the ship.”
“That’s good, very good,” Aaliyah said, almost to herself.
The old man’s eyes widened in alarm. “What do you mean good? Has that nut job managed to taint your mind? I was hoping you were stronger than the rest.”
Oh, he’s very much tainted my mind, she thought with disgust. “I’m just glad there are no other girls on here that he can hurt.”
A look of relief crossed his face, accepting that answer. It was partially the truth.
“I worry about you. I worry that you are going to get yourself killed. You cannot outsmart a man like Vance Dasvoik.”
“His name is Vance?” She let the name bounce around her head. It didn’t seem to fit. She preferred monster.
“I shouldn’t have told you that,” the old man said, while rubbing his face.
“Don’t worry. I will not repeat it.” Aaliyah tilted her head. “I just realized I don’t even know your name.”
“Henry, my name is Henry.” He wobbled to his feet and headed towards the doorway.
“Henry.”
He turned.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I wish I could do more.” He slipped out the door.
Aaliyah hung her legs over the bed and used the wall to steady herself as she rose to her feet. Pain radiated throughout her body, but it seemed to have dampened slightly. With a hesitant step, she could feel her strength was returning. She didn’t know how long she had till they reached port.
She did know she had to see the man who did this to her before then. Had to make him want to keep her as his own. As much as the thought repulsed her, she knew it was necessary. The only way… No one was going to save her. She had to save herself.
Slowly, she crossed the small room back and forth several times until her breathing was strained and her legs wobbled.
Cursing under her breath, she sank back onto the cot. She’d only made it two more passes than yesterday. It wasn’t enough. She could feel the time slipping away.
Tomorrow, she would ask to see her owner. The words sickened her. Mentally, she prepared herself to tak
e over the role she must play. Dasvoik wanted a willing servant, and that’s what he would get. She was no longer worried about her soul. She was tainted. But she might be able to save her brother. She had to think about Darrius’s impish smile and contagious laugh. For him, she would do anything. Even sell her soul to the devil.
CHAPTER 16
Aaliyah heard the footsteps before the door opened. She knew it wasn’t Henry, since she’d become accustomed to the shuffle of his shoes in the hallway. No, this was sure, determined footsteps echoing down the hall. Sounds were amplified on the ship; she could also hear the slight jingle of keys.
She pushed herself up in the bed and waited for the door to open. The key turned and the door pushed open. Consciously, she had to keep from smiling to herself. The moment she had been waiting for had finally come. It occurred to her how different she felt now that she had a different mindset. Before she had been terrified. Worried about her honor. Now she saw sex as a weapon. He wanted her? Who was she to disappoint him?
Submissively, she cast her eyes to the blanket and refused to look up to see who was standing in the doorway. Henry’s words held their weight in gold. She knew she could not let anyone see the changes in her.
A firm grip yanked her off the bed, pulling her to the middle of the small room. She kept her eyes cast at the floor. She steeled herself for what she knew would come next. By the shadow cast on the floor, she knew it was one of the monster’s large thugs. True to form, she felt a large hand roughly roam her body. Walking around her in a circle, he pinched her breast and slapped her behind. His hands lingered making her grind her teeth. She could endure it. She had to. For Darrius.
She couldn’t understand what he said, but from his tone of his voice, she could tell he was pleased.
Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her arms behind her back, pushing her forward. The fear crept back in. No! She was not helpless. She was in control. As long as she was in control, she would make it. She was just playing a part. Like an actress in a movie. She could do this.
