Chapter Nine
Kirsty
"Time to meet the boss," the woman I have come to know as Karen, says.
I stand, feeling the dirty carpet beneath my bare feet. I step towards her, but she holds up her hand for me to stop.
"He'll be here in a minute, get down on your knees."
Lowering to my knees, I try to control the trembling wracking my body. It's been the same for the past two days since I arrived, it doesn't seem to want to stop. How do I know it's been two days? I've watched the sun rise and set through the tiny window of my new room. I grip the bottom of my nightgown nervously. A raspy, booming voice from the doorway captures my attention immediately.
"Ah, there's my new little pie." I glance up to see him rubbing his hands together as he steps closer. His voice sends chills down my spine and I close my eyes, hoping for the millionth time since I arrived that this is only a nightmare and I'll wake up soon.
"Eyes up!"
Snapping my head up, I study the man in front of me. Balding head, pudgy, short man who looks about fifty years old.
"Little pie, get to your feet. I want to see what I own now."
I want to fight him and tell him to fuck off, but when I did that to Karen last night, it didn't end well for me. So, I climb to my feet and try to bring the trembling under control.
"That's better, now I can get a good look at you." He reaches out to touch my face and shrink away from him. His nose flares and I whimper when he grips my hair and yanks my head back, forcing me to look at his face.
"I own you, remember that," he growls into my face and his foul breath wafts over me.
I struggle not to throw up as I nod. I'm revolted when his hand pushes up my nightgown and whimper as he cups me between the legs.
He releases me and orders, "strip." He steps back giving me room to remove the nightgown. With hands shaking uncontrollably, I grip the bottom of the gown and slowly start to lift it over my head.
"Hurry the fuck up," he spits at me.
Tears well in my eyes, wanting to escape. I take a deep breath and strip before turning my face away. I don't want to see him looking at me. Gripping my hair, he wrenches my head around, forcing me to look into his leering eyes. I watch as they darken when his free hand lowers and touches me.
My stomach turns over, overwhelming nausea bubbles up and I taste the bile in my throat. I breath rapidly to prevent the bile from erupting all over the man and fight against the powerful urge to push him away.
Something in my eyes must tell him I'm struggling not to fight and he gives me a knowing smile before leaning forward, swiping his tongue over my face and moving his lips to my ear to whisper.
"Don't worry, little pie, you're going to enjoy this." He licks the side of my face again until his mouth is almost on mine. "Fight all you want, it turns me on. You're going to love every minute of me and I'll make sure you can still feel me until the next time we meet."
I can no longer stop the tears from falling and he laughs loudly before his mouth hits my breast. His teeth latch on, his head turns, twisting my captured nipple. Pain shoots through me and I scream.
***
"Aaarrrggghhh," I scramble up the bed clutching the sheet close to my chest. The nightmare causes tears to stream from my eyes. It was all so vivid, so real, as if it was happening all over again. The pain so real, it woke me from a deep sleep.
"Sugar."
I jump at the deep voice and my eyes dart around the dim room. Sergio stands from where he'd been sitting in an armchair in the corner.
"It's okay, no-one will ever hurt you again."
Drawing my knees into my chest, I wrap the sheet around me tighter, like a security blanket. Sergio approaches the bed slowly and carefully, aware of my fear. I shrink back a little. I'm still not sure how I should feel about him, but as he comes closer, I see the pain in his eyes and it pulls at something inside me.
"Can I sit?" He points to the bed and I give permission by nodding.
Dropping down, he rests his elbows on his knees and rests his head in his hands. I watch as he breathes hard, struggling with himself, and my heart softens a little. I'm worried he's getting ready to tell me something I don't want to hear.
"Is everything okay?" I whisper.
He shakes his head. I study him closer and see the small blood spatters on his hands. I don't know what urges me to do it, but I lean forward and touch his hand. The bolt of electricity I felt earlier, zaps through me again. I don't have to ask if he felt it too, he stiffens before relaxing again and I have the answer to my unasked question.
"Are you hurt?" I whisper.
"No, sugar."
Slowly, oh so slowly and gently, he wraps his hand around mine. I feel his warmth travel through me and struggle to concentrate on something else besides what he is making me feel.
"Sugar, I need to take you somewhere safer."
"I thought you said I was safe here?" I begin trembling and Sergio rubs my hand to soothe me, but it's like my body has a mind of its own.
"You are, but not safe enough now we know who is involved. I need to take you to one of our safe houses. It's not far from here and Brooklyn can still visit."
Thoughts war in my head, am I safe with this man? Is this all a trick? Brooklyn's words about trusting them replay through my mind and I nod. "If you think it's best, I'll go with you. I trust you."
He tilts his head to the side and stares at me. "You trust me?"
Did I really say I trusted him? I haven't come close to trusting anyone in years. I close my eyes and send out a silent prayer hoping I won't regret it. But, yeah. I think I really do trust him. What the hell is going on with me? I've known this man less than twenty-four hours and I genuinely trust him. Maybe it's because he's shown me nothing but kindness and asked for nothing in return. I gaze back into those midnight eyes and a feeling so strong shoots through me. I open my mouth knowing there is only one answer to his question.
"Yes, I trust you."
Bringing my hand to his mouth, with eyes still on mine, he grazes his lips over the skin. Small goosebumps break out over me and I shiver. What the fuck was that?
"Grazie, Sugar."
I slide my hand from his and my stomach twists at the loss.
"Brooklyn will come up and help you get dressed and then we'll head off."
"Okay."
"I'll be back soon." He nods, pushes to his feet and gazes down at me before heading to the door. "Thank you, Sergio."
"Always, mio tesoro."