by Bry Ann
“They said yes?”
My eyes are popping out of my face. No.
“Yes,” he says softly. I can tell he’s getting ready to jump up if I fall apart. I don’t want to do that. Not again. I somehow am able to get myself together.
“Alright, Friday it is, then,” I whisper.
I quickly run to the restroom.
Jamie.
Boss
Friday
“Hey, you look nice.”
I grab Lacey’s arm. She’s pulling at every sleeve and loose piece of clothing available. I glance at her perfectly round stomach. The little ball attached to her body. Lacey looks very pregnant, but due to her small size, her stomach is virtually hidden under her sweatshirt. Lacey’s always been a pretty tiny person, but since training, she’s really become fit. She hasn’t gained a ton of weight, despite what she thinks. She hasn’t stopped training for her whole pregnancy and, even though she jokes, she’s taken eating healthily very seriously. Not to mention taking her vitamins and all that. She doesn’t take sharing a body lightly, not that I would expect anything less of her.
“I look like I always do.” She frowns.
I glance at her navy blue hoodie with silver accents, matching her somewhat form-fitting jeans. A first for her. She’s trying to look nice with what fully covers her and isn’t overtly sexy. See, clothing to Lacey isn’t a form of expression or a way to get people to notice her; it’s quite the opposite. It’s a barrier. A form of protection. She’s trying today, and that makes her the most beautiful person in the world to me.
“Lacey, I noticed you immediately. You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks turn red. “You’re just being nice.”
I glance up at Ricardo, who’s driving us to the house. We’ve already been on a private plane. Her parents’ little farm is a couple of states over.
“Is that like me at all? To say something just to appease someone?”
Lacey gives me a sweet smile. I watch as she places a hand over her stomach.
“You do with me.”
I lean over and kiss her.
“Never.”
She rolls her eyes and turns to look out the window. Her hand is placed protectively over her stomach. She doesn’t look scared anymore. She just looks… sad. I hate it. I’m not going to lie. I definitely smoked a joint before coming here. That is something I rarely do anymore. I had to. I’d lose it. I’d fucking lose it. I don’t know how I am going to look them in the eye, knowing they sold their daughter. It’d be hard enough, knowing Lacey and how incredible she is, but now, with a daughter of my own on the way…
I shake my head and reach across the console to place my hand over Lacey’s stomach, next to hers. She looks at me, eyes soft, giving me a tight-lipped smile. I know we are thinking the same thing. How could anyone sell this for money?
“You okay?” I ask quietly.
“Jamie.”
That’s all she says, and I know to her it’s an answer, so I let it be. Over an hour later, a small blue and white house pulls into view. It looks so small and quaint, it’s hard to believe a girl was sentenced to hell in this place.
“Lacey?”
I’m not even able to look at her as I speak. I just need to know she’s here. I expected fury to be vibrating through me the closer I got. I’m shocked to see that that’s not the case. Not at all. I’m hurt. I’m so damn hurt for her. My heart feels like it’s on fire. This house is a home. I thought I knew the extent of her pain, but now, seeing this... God, she really was just a normal girl who literally got put up for slaughter. Of all the cruel things I’ve seen in my life, this may just be the cruelest. I finally get the balls to look at Lacey. My heart breaks when I see her. Literally breaks in two.
Both of her hands are on the glass, and she’s staring out the window longingly, like everything she’s ever wanted is in that little blue house. She can’t take her eyes off it.
“Lacey,” I say again. Her hands are still on the glass. She’s not hearing me. I look over and see Ricardo looking through the rearview mirror at Lacey. Ricardo is a hardened criminal. Killed lots of people. But the look on his face is one of total and complete pity. This could break even the coldest heart. When the car pulls up to a stop in the driveway, I take my seatbelt off and scoot over to her.
I lean over and pull her into my side, watching as her hands slide off the glass.
“What?” She says in a quiet voice.
I open my mouth to give her a pep talk, tell her I’m here for her, but for some reason, that doesn’t seem right.
“Lacey, I’m sorry.”
Her head whips around. Her grey eyes carry a mix of fragility and steel.
“You don’t apologize.”
“Not if I don’t mean it, but God, Lacey...”
I have to look down at my feet to hide my sadness from her.“Hey.” Her cold hands come under my chin. “Don’t be sad for me. I hate seeing you sad.”
Her voice is so soft and gentle, even in the midst of her pain. I flash back to the time in the bathtub when she was literally catatonic, just getting back from hell on earth and was worried because I cut my hand.
“You’re too good, little dove.”
A sly little smile plays on her lips.
“Maybe I’ll rub off on you a little bit.”
“Already have.”
I touch the corner of her turned up lips.
“Keep this here. No matter what happens in there, you hold your head high, be proud of the incredible woman you are and all you’ve accomplished.” I lift her chin. “You don’t fall apart in there. Don’t give them that.”
“You sound like Cut. I haven’t accomplished anything, Adam.”
Ricardo quietly exits the car, and obediently waits with his hands crossed in front of him.
“You survived hell with the strength of ten men. You got me to fall in love with you,” I smirk. “Your muscles atrophied and you still picked yourself up and learned to fight.”
I slide a hand over her stomach. Her shaky hand meets mine there.
“And you’re a mom.”
“You see the good in me,” she whispers, moving her hand from my hand to cup my cheek.
“That’s all there is to see, Lacey. Come on.” I give her hand a small tug. “Let’s get this over with.”
She lets me pull her out of the car, but she fumbles the entire time. It’s like she’s learning how to use her legs again.
“Ricardo,” I snap when we get out. “Wait by the car.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I turn back to Lacey to see her staring at the house. I let her have her moment. I gently grab her hand and guide her toward the front door. She shoots me a grateful look, like without my lead, she would be frozen with no clue what to do.
When we get halfway there, she pulls away and walks in front of me. It’s clear she’s walked down this path one hundred times. She doesn’t even wait for me to knock on the door. It’s like she’s on autopilot, or she’s taking the "getting this over with" thing very literally.
Not even a minute later, the door is slowly opened, revealing two small figures. The man, her "father," is short and slightly overweight, with thinning, reddish hair. The woman is even shorter, wearing a blue button-up, also overweight, with curly, messy blonde hair that goes to her ears. I don’t see Jamie. Seeing them, the fury I was expecting comes rushing at me like freight train. I ball my hands into fists. How could a man sell his daughter?! God, this is the largest test of my self-control. Looking at Lacey’s pregnant belly and the man in front of her, the man she calls Dad, makes me want to tear him limb from limb.
“Lacey.”
The woman immediately starts sobbing. She grabs Lacey and pulls her into her arms. It’s the first time I’m able to look away from her piece of shit father.
Her "mom" is holding Lacey and crying into her shoulder. Lacey is standing there lifelessly with her hands by her sides. When the older woman is officially done using Lacey as an emotional pi
llow, she pulls away. Lacey is completely gone. There’s no readable emotion written on her face. I know too well that this is what she does when it’s too much. She does it so she doesn’t fall apart.
Her mom’s gaze falls to Lacey’s stomach.
“You’re pregnant?” She gasps. The mom looks to me. I straighten. It takes everything in me to keep a neutral gaze. Her father is just staring with tears rolling down his cheeks.
Lacey’s mom reaches for her stomach, but Lacey quickly twists to the side and covers her belly with both hands. A fierce expression crosses her face before it goes lifeless again. Both her parents’ jaws go slack and her mom’s hand flies over her mouth, but they remain quiet. Smart. Seeing Lacey’s reaction, she slowly moves her arm back down to her side. Where it belongs.
“You two want to come inside?” The mom says, opening the door wider.
The father continues staring. He looks to me. He knows. He knows I want to fucking kill him.
Lacey takes the offer and walks inside. I follow her. The second we are in their quaint living room, Lacey goes to my side and grips my wrist. It’s the only sign that she’s at all present. I know she doesn’t want me to touch her back. She’s grounding herself.
“Where’s Jamie?” Lacey whispers in a robotic voice.
“Jamie!” Her father calls.
“He’s grown so much. Wait ‘til you see him, Lace,” her mother says, rambling nervously.
I look at Lacey. Lifeless. I want to touch her. Hold her. But that’s not what she needs right now, so I just stand and observe. Footsteps echo throughout the tiny house. Thump. Thump. Thump. A small boy runs around the corner. He’s got crazy brown hair and piercing eyes, just like Lacey described. He’s probably seven or eight.
Lacey releases my wrist.
“Jamie,” she whispers.
He looks at her, unsure.
“Lacey? No way!”
Her eyes water, but I watch her. The spark slowly seeps back into her eyes. She’s back. Lacey gives Jamie a small nod and swallows. The second she does, he becomes absolutely giddy. He skips over to her with bright eyes and extends his hand. She crouches down. Tears stream down her cheeks. I glance at her parents, who are looking between the two of them, guilt written all over their faces. I can’t help but glare at them. Who in their right mind wouldn’t, though?
“Gotcha!” I hear a high-pitched little voice say.
I look down to see him tickling Lacey, and her quietly giggling, trying to pull him off.
“I missed you, tyke.”
He pulls on her sweatshirt. “Aren’t you hot?”
Instantly, the room goes quiet. Lacey’s lower lip trembles. I quickly walk over and place my hand on her shoulder in a show of silent support. She lets out a deep breath and places her hand over mine. The little boy looks at me and takes two steps back. I take a risk here, but these people are so far removed from my life, I’m not even worried about it.
“Hi, I’m Adam. You must be Jamie.”
Lacey quickly looks up at me in shock. I smile at her and squeeze her shoulder.
“Thank you,” I hear her sigh. “I’m cold actually,” she laughs, standing up, trying to take the awkwardness out of it. “I’m always cold with this little girl inside me.”
Lacey places a hand over her stomach. Jamie’s eyes go wide.
“You have a baby?” He yells, running over to her and placing his hands there. She guides his hands to where the baby kicks most. She’s smiling. So is he. Hell, so am I.
“Not yet, but I will when she’s born.”
“What’s her name?”
“Rose.” I hear the sadness in her voice. She’s lost so much. More than any person should have to.
“Nice. Mom, did you make potatoes like you promised?”
“Yes, Jamie. I promised, didn’t I?”
I have to look away. I need a moment to regain control of the anger roaring inside me. Potatoes and love for one child, hell for the other.
We all head to the living room. Lacey hasn’t said anything to her parents, but has talked nonstop to Jamie.
“I know you hate me,” her father says to me, while everyone is getting situated at the table.
“Don’t,” I warn.
“You don’t know what it’s like to be broke. To lose your house. To have a young child depending on you.”
My mouth drops. “I don’t really give a fuck! I’d never sell a family member. Do you have any idea…” I shake my head. “Drop it,” I warn.
I will lose it.
I give him a hard glare. He needs to know I’m not fucking kidding here, and I made Lacey a promise. No bloodshed. But my fingers are twitching and red fills my vision. I’m scared I’m gonna lose it, when I feel gentle fingers trace down my arm. I slowly open my eyes, breathing heavy.“I see you,” she whispers.
That’s all she says before going back to the table to talk to Jamie about school. That’s all she needs to say. Three simple words from her, and the red clears and control seeps back into my veins.
“Food’s ready!” Her mom calls from the kitchen.
Lacey sits across from Jamie and gives him a cute smile, but it’s obvious she’s using it to hide the pain. The little boy’s not stupid though. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong, but he knows something is.
“So, Lacey, how did you and… erm, Adam meet?”
There’s a pause before Lacey stabs her fork into her broccoli. Everyone at the table raises an eyebrow.
“Boxing,” I say quickly, side-eyeing Lacey to make sure she’s okay.
“Yeah,” Lacey says quietly. “We train with the same teacher.”
“You box? That’s fantastic, hun. I bet it’s great for your confidence and all.”
“Yeah, it’s been really good for me to get some of my strength back.”
That makes both parents pale. Lacey didn’t mean it out of spite, but both of her parents live in this fucking delusional world where Lacey was in a cell for a few days, then was released, met me, fell in love, and got pregnant. This is the first glimpse they’re getting into what she went through.
But God, I wish their version of things is what actually happened. Maybe I wouldn’t go to bed hating myself every night. Maybe Lacey would have fewer scars and wouldn’t be in love with the man who sold her off to a pack of psychopaths.
“I can see that, Lace,” her father says. Of the two, he seems the least delusional.
Another awkward silence ensues. Lacey goes back to whispering with Jamie. I can tell she is trying to perk the two of them up. I feel the chair next to me shift. I look around the table for the source of the movement, and I smirk when I find it. Lacey and Jamie are totally kicking each other under the table. I smile and shake my head.
“Adam, what is it that you do?” Her father asks me.
“I’m in sales,” I say easily.
Lacey chokes on a piece of food and turns to me with a mischievous smile. My lips curl up, seeing her eyes light up. I give her a wink and turn back to her father.
“Must be good money in sales.”
“Very.”
Lacey looks on the verge of full-on giggles. I reach over and squeeze her thigh. She smiles and squeezes mine right back. She’s loosening up, which is good.
“So… um…” Both parents glance at each other. “Look, Lacey, sweetheart, we want to be able to move forward. We all missed you so, so much.”
“Oh, um...” I glance at Lacey. She’s trying so hard to stay strong. “I…” Her gaze flickers over to me, panicked. I nod. She takes a deep breath.
“This isn’t a conversation we should have with Jamie here.”
“Why not?!” Jamie squeals indignantly. “I’m seven now. Seven, not five!” “Jamie!” Her father scolds. “Be respectful.” “I am. I’m just saying…”
“Tyke, it’s heavy adult talk. Boring stuff.”
“I like boring stuff.”
Lacey laughs, but it’s sad.
“Jamie, can you go to your room fo
r just a few minutes?” Her father says in a no-nonsense tone.
Jamie looks at Lacey with his mouth open.
“She just got here! We still have to play. I have to show her my new games and—”
Lacey’s looking at Jamie with such love.
“It really will be just a few minutes, Jamie.”
“Fine, Dad,” Jamie grumbles. “I’ll see you a little bit, Lacey. I’ll get the games ready!”
“Okay, Jamie,” Lacey says with a forced smile. I see Lacey let out a deep breath through her teeth.
“So,” her mom says quietly once he’s gone. “What do you think, Lace? Can we still be a part of your life? Your father and I are so sorry. We never wanted…” Tears slip down her mother’s face. I have to look down at my lap so I don’t give in to my anger.
“I don’t know,” Lacey says quietly. “You sold me.”
“We did ask you, sweetheart.”
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
“I’d never say no to you,” Lacey says quietly, “and you knew that.”
“You’re saying no now,” her mother says desperately.
“I’m not saying no. I’m just saying… Mom, they hurt me. Over and over. And you just let them.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through.” Lacey’s gaze immediately goes to her lap. I move to touch her, but she pulls away.
“Excuse me one moment. I need to go to the bathroom. Whatever you want, Mom, just discuss it with Adam.”
With that, Lacey bolts out of the room. I watch her leave, then turn back to the parents, gaze hard. Both of her parents are looking down at their laps now, shame written all over their faces. Not so easy now that they have to face me, and don’t have Lacey to manipulate. They have no idea! No fucking idea what they did. What they sentenced her to. Maybe I hate them so much because I did the exact same thing. But at least I fucking own up to it and try my damndest to make it right however I can. “If you hurt her again, you will have to deal with me. And I promise, I’m not someone you want to mess with.”
“You didn’t meet through boxing, did you?”
I smirk. “We box. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I stand abruptly, sending my chair flying back. Both parents jump, but say nothing. I’m no better than them, but at least I’m not naive about what I’ve done! I know Lacey didn’t go to the restroom. Her parents don’t understand how good she is at getting in and out of places she does or doesn’t want to be.
