by Evie Harper
My heart flickers with excitement, the smallest pulse letting me know it may not be dead after all.
A thought crosses my mind and my body stills. Why hadn’t I thought to ask this before. “Why, Jake? Why did they do that to her?” My voice wobbles.
Jake lies down next to me, and we turn, facing each other. “Are you ready to hear this, Lil? I don’t want you to retreat again.”
I nod. “I need to know, Jake.”
Jake drags his hand through his hair and sighs. “They captured Sasha escaping with another girl. A guard from here was in town getting a few things, and he saw them get out of the trunk. He caught up to Sasha and called in for backup to find the other girl. It was the worst luck they could have had.”
Jake blows out a big breath, his gaze penetrating into mine. The air grows thick. “A doctor has seen Sasha, Lily.” Jake now has my full attention. “He concluded she died from bleeding in the brain from a hard hit to the head.”
My chest clenches hard. “Who was the one who beat her?” I know the answer before Jake speaks.
“Mick,” Jake growls.
“And the other girl?” Jake’s eyes shift away, and suddenly I’m scared to hear his answer.
“She was caught only a few streets away from where Sasha was picked up. She resisted and put up one hell of a fight; but, the guard shot and killed her.”
My hand shoots up to my mouth in shock as a sob erupts. Maria.
“What about Dr Alexa and Beth?”
Jake raises his eyebrow and shakes his head. I see a small smile grace his lips. “I should have known you would get the girls to talk. Even I can’t say no to you. They didn’t stand a chance.”
“They didn’t talk to me. They wrote to me. I found a pencil and begged them to tell me if Sasha was okay, and that’s how the plan started,” I quickly answer, and then ask impatiently, “Well, what about Alexa and Beth?”
“Dr Kingsley, a slave girl, and a guard who escorted them to the grocery store were beaten at the same time as Sasha to find out what happened. They wanted to know how she and the other girl got into the trunk of the car. The guard said he knew nothing. None of the women talked. They told Sasha to tell them who helped her, but she refused to talk.”
I can’t fathom how people can do these things to human beings. “And how are they now?”
“Alexa and Beth will be okay in time. They were severely beaten but are recovering. I’ve seen the tapes from the cameras in the house. Sasha and Maria snuck out and hid in the trunk. There was no one there helping them, so Beth and Alexa will be spared. If it had showed Alexa helping them escape, I think there would have been a war between father and son. Joseph is on his way here now. He’s going to draw blood on the guard who lifted a hand to Alexa. She is off limits just as much as the collection is.”
So Joseph does care for her.
I realise we’re both still naked from our night together. “Can you let me go so I can put some clothes on?”
Jake sweeps his gaze down my body. Nodding, he gets off me, climbing off the bed. I watch as his naked body moves in mighty strides. His build is proudly on display, and I can’t take my eyes off his perfect muscular arse.
I hear a groan and sweep my eyes up his body to his face, his pupils dilated and desire radiating from his body. “Keep looking at me like that, Lil, and I will keep you naked all day, underneath me.”
I’m annoyed he caught me staring, wanting him so badly, again. I start dressing in my silk top and boxers, forgoing my panties as they will get drenched as soon as I put them on after Jake’s words.
I turn to Jake as he walks around the bed to me, dressed in his jeans, black t-shirt and boots. “What’s the deal with Joseph and Alexa? He cares for her, yet she seemed angry with him when I saw them together after my appointment, and she went against him and his father to free a slave girl. Evidently she doesn’t agree with what they are doing here.”
Jake sighs and sits back on the bed. “I don’t know what is going on between them, but Joseph is not who you think he is. He has gone up against his father in the past regarding his business and lost. He’s just as trapped as you are.” Interesting.
“Sasha...” He pauses. “If Sasha had given Alexa and Beth up, she might have been spared the beating.”
I shake my head. “She would never do that. My sister would never do that.” A sob falls from my mouth. “As much as I could live with her doing that, so she could be alive, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.” Sasha was too selfless and brave. “No, this is my fault,” I say, my breathing escalating, my head spinning. “You warned me, and all of this is my fault.”
“No!” Jake growls. He moves to me and grabs my shoulders, pinning me with an intense stare. "Keep your eyes on me, Lily. I want you to see how serious I am when I say this,” he demands, my eyes obey. “You did what anyone would have done for their family. You tried to save her. You tried to protect her. THIS. IS. NOT. your fault.”
I know to some extent what Jake is saying is right, but I was so stubborn. All I could think about was getting Sasha home. Not what would happen if she were caught. I felt boxed into a corner and took the first opportunity offered to me. A sob rips from my chest. How could I have not thought of everything?
Jake pulls me into his warm embrace. “You have to pull it together, Lily. If you don’t, Marco will decide not to keep you in the collection.”
I look at Jake shocked and livid at his words. “That’s all you care about, keeping Marco happy and still getting what you want,” I hiss, pushing Jake away from me and putting my back to him for a second. With rage fuelling my thoughts I turn my body and sear Jake with a pissed off stare, “I should tell Marco you touched me, see how you like it when you lose something you badly want.”
Jake heads toward me at lightning speed. He grasps my arms in a tight hold.
“Fuck, baby, I know you’re angry at the world right now, but you do that and we will both be sorry, and I don’t mean just dealing with Marco’s consequences.”
I laugh. It’s high pitched and crazy sounding. “More cryptic words, Jake. How original of you.”
“There is more at stake than what you can see in front of you, Lil,” he pleads.
“All I see, Jake, is my dead sister in my arms,” I hiss.
“Then fight to get out, for her, to make sure justice gets served for her death.” His voice is close to shouting but he controls himself. “Survive, thrive and get the fuck out of this nightmare, and have your justice.”
“You’re asking me to fight, but to do nothing. You’re asking me to thrive, but I am trapped. I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND!”
Jake moves his hands from my arms and cups my cheeks. “I know, Lil. This is where you need to trust me.”
I do trust Jake with my life. It’s a feeling I have that I can’t grasp yet, or don’t want to acknowledge. But, I still want him to pay for being a part of this place, and that means making him work for my trust even if I do want to give it to him on a silver platter. I need him to earn it.
I take a step back from him. “You’re right. Trusting you is impossible,” I lie. Jake’s eyes clench closed. “But,” his eyelids fly up, “I have no other choice, but to trust you to get me out of here.”
“Thank you.” He pulls me to him. I relax into his body. He calms me so easily; however, I’m not stupid enough to think this connection we have will go anywhere. I know in the end, there’s too much for us to overcome. And if Jake still wants to take over this empire, then I will run to the ends of the Earth to escape him. God will have given me a man I may one day love, but could never be with.
“This trust starts today, Lily. Marco is going to be here today to see you and find out what happened. Marco will be heartless. He will only care about losing money out of Sasha. I need you to ignore his comments and be strong. He is a loose cannon. There is no telling what he will do, and I’m worried he will assume you helped Sasha.”
I want to tell Marco I helped her. Have him know
I got my sister outside his beautiful cage. But I’m through playing by his rules. I have a lifeline, Jake, and I will do everything I can to stay alive and get away.
“Today will be a big day, Lily. It could go either way. Marco will punish someone, and if he goes for you, I won’t be able to stop myself from protecting you, and then we will both be in a world of pain.”
My body tenses. The thought of Jake in pain or losing him like I lost Sasha is unbearable. “Don’t do that, Jake. Don’t risk yourself for me.”
“I would never be able to stop myself,” he says, staring into my eyes. “My chest has burned since the first day I met you, Lil. The only time I get any rest from the ache is when you’re in my arms and I know you’re safe.”
I stare at him stunned for a moment, before walking over to the window. I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to admit anything to myself or Jake. I’m nowhere near ready to feel anything but hatred for this place and everyone in it, so I change the subject.
“When does Marco get here?”
Jake exhales loudly, but doesn’t call me on it. He answers my question. “I’m about to go find out. I’ll be back soon to let you know. Pick something nice from the closet, something a collection piece would wear. The way to win Marco over is to look like you will make him money.” Jake wraps me in his arms and kisses my temple long and hard. “I won’t be long,” he says into my hair. Letting me go, he leaves the room.
As soon as the door closes, the room grows quiet, cold, and I instantly feel crippled by the pain of remembering my sister is no longer in this world with me. I tell myself I have things to do. I need to keep busy, so I go to the closet and begin choosing a dress that will say, ‘please buy me and spend a lot of money on me.’ Awesome.
As much as I want to fall back into bed and hide away from the world, I’m not going to give Marco or anyone else the power to destroy me. It’s my time to be brave. I might still cry and I might still fall, but at the end of all of this, I will be free and I will bring them all to their knees.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Karma is my bitch.
I find a black lace dress, perfect for my mood. It’s one shouldered with a thick lace strap that goes over my right shoulder. I shower and blow out my hair in the bathroom. In the process, I discover the cut on my neck from the whip; I hadn’t even remembered I was hit until I looked in the mirror. A swollen red line goes from the bottom of my hairline to my shoulder blades. Sasha, a sharp pain pierces my heart. No, keep moving, keep focused.
Finished with my hair, I put it up in a tight bun, the only classy hair style I know how to do. The dress falls straight down, stopping tight at my thighs, close fitting to my chest, waist, and butt. Just like all the others: skin tight but beautiful and classy, no jewellery, natural makeup, and a pair of black stilettos.
The thick shoulder strap hides my cut. I don’t want to show it off. I won’t let them think they hurt me.
Jake isn’t gone long. I hear the door open and turn to see him rushing in, but he stops dead when he sees me. His eyes sweep up and down my body, and his gaze telling me he wants me. I shiver and goose bumps rise on my skin. I can see the fight he’s having with himself not to pick me up and rip the dress off my body. I smirk at the thought. I’m surprised I have any happy facial expressions left in me.
Jake walks over to me and softly kisses my temple. “Beautiful as always, Lil.”
Argh, I turn away frustrated. I asked him not to call me that and he keeps doing it.
Jake takes my hand and turns me back to him. “I’m sorry, Lily. Calling you that is as natural to me as breathing.” Damn him and his sweet words. Can’t he see I want to hate him? That I need to hate him?
I say nothing and just stare at him. Jake looks at me, but he soon gives up on an answer from me and says, “Marco is almost here. We need to go down to the office and await his arrival. He isn’t staying long. He’s having trouble with people following one of the collection pieces.”
I gasp, “Who? Which woman is it?”
“I don’t know, Lily. Until we’re at Marco’s home, all of the collections’ business is kept secret.” Jake changes the topic. “How do you think it will go if Mick is present at the meeting?”
Not well at all, I know that much. “First I will need to find a knife, then some ropes. Do you think they have any ropes in the kitchen?” I ask Jake, not even looking at him, too busy thinking of how many different ways I can kill and torture the bastard who took my sister from me.
“Lily,” Jake says tenderly, standing right behind me. “As much as I want to let you at him, I can’t, not yet anyway. However, I promise you, he will pay for what he has done. But today is about surviving this meeting with Marco. Focus on that.” I stay silent because I can’t promise if I see Mick, I won’t try to tear him to shreds. “Even Mick has to try and survive it. Marco is incredibly unpredictable. If I were Mick, I would be saying my goodbyes today.”
“You think Marco would kill Mick?” I ask with hope and confusion. Why would Marco kill one of his guards?
“He marked you with a whip, and I’ve learned to expect anything with Marco. I won’t ever underestimate him. We need to get down there. Are you ready?” Jake asks.
I nod and we walk downstairs to the meeting. Jake was right. As soon as we make it to the office, Mick is there, and as soon as my eyes land on him untouchable rage surges through me. I attack.
Sprinting toward him, I swing my fists out, connecting with his head. Pain radiates up my arms, but I don’t care. I need more. I need to draw blood.
Mick grunts and covers his face with his hands trying to avoid my nails scraping his cheeks and neck. I scream a war cry. To me, this is war, and this is a fight to the death. Only, I’m soon pulled back into a hard chest.
I glare with every ounce of hate in my body. I spear him with my loathing and wish for God to strike him down.
Jake turns his back to Mick and places me on my feet, still holding me from behind with my arms caged to my front by his iron hold. My chest is burning from my heavy breaths.
Jake softly growls into my ear, “Pull it together.”
He walks me to the opposite side of the room. Before turning me around, he asks, “You good?” I nod. However, I’m not good. I will never be good around that man.
Jake turns us, lets me go, and stands to my side but still in my space, ready to grab me at any moment.
I try to calm and take in Mick’s appearance. Shoulders hunched, his hands are shaking. He’s shit scared of this meeting with Marco. I smile, loving the fact that I may see him suffer today.
Marco walks into the room with two guards I saw at the party. Everyone freezes. Marco comes straight for me and places his hands on my face. I tense and Jake flinches. Marco’s eyes dart to Jake, and my heart drops at him seeing Jake’s reaction.
Marco's eyes come back to me, and he looks into my eyes while rubbing his thumb gently over my chin. I feel repulsed by his touch. I stay silent. There are a storm of emotions swirling violently inside of me at seeing this man, the one man who created all of this evil.
Marco drops his hand from my face and speaks. “Jake tells me you were hit with a whip. Show me,” he demands.
I turn slightly to my right and pull the lace strap down just enough for him to see the swollen cut.
Marco hisses through his teeth.
“I see you still have fire in your actions. Any other woman would wear it for show, looking for guilt, for apologies. Instead, you choose to hide it, as if it’s not even there.” His tone is one of respect. “Something at least,” Marco mutters.
He stays standing in front of me, looking into my eyes. “Your sister made a mistake trying to escape from me.” I still at his words. “I see you have taken her death badly. You look like death yourself. Your eyes have dark circles, and your appearance seems messy.” This guy is un-fucking-believable.
Marco shakes his finger in the air as if just coming up with an idea. “I will fix this for you.”
Marco turns to Mick and walks over to him. Marco and Mick are clearly the same size and height, but Marco exudes danger and power. Mick oozes nothing but weakness, a sheep who follows in the footsteps of people he only wishes he could be. Mick is a coward, and it’s written all over his face.
Mick starts stuttering. “I- I- didn’t mean to kill her. She was on- only supposed to get hurt enough to give up who helped her get in and out of the trunk.”
Still looking at Mick, Marco speaks, “Jake, please tell Mick what you told me yesterday.”
Jake begins as if already knowing Marco would ask this of him, his voice matter of fact. “After looking over the video, Sasha and one slave girl got into the trunk on their own. And it is easily seen they do not lock it down. The two girls would have held it down with their hands all the way to town and then opened it on their own when they thought it was clear for escape.”
Marco begins speaking, “So Mick, if you had watched the fucking tapes, like you should have, you would have seen for yourself no one else fucking helped them. Now I have my doctor, one slave girl, and a guard out of action till God knows when because you are fucking incompetent. I’m surprised my son hasn’t killed you yet.”
Mick stares at Jake then back to Marco, apparently realising his epic mistake.
Marco’s hands clench and unclench, and suddenly Marco grabs Mick by the back of his neck, pushing him to me, his face inches from mine. “Look what you have done to my collection piece.” He shakes Mick’s head hard, to look at me. “Look at her eyes. They are dead. No fire. I would rather you have broken her arms than break her spirit. A woman with injured arms can still open her legs. A damaged woman with dead eyes holds no want from any man.” Fear takes hold of my whole body at hearing for myself just how sadistic Marco is.
He pulls Mick back and throws him to the ground. “What do you think will happen when she is standing on my stage, with no spark in her eyes,” he ends on a roar. “They will bid lower for her. That’s what will happen,” Marco says, breathing heavily.
