Chapter 4 Living with the Monster

I never thought the room I slept in belonged to him.

After that man kicked me out of his office, he told me to go back to the room and "fix" the things his men brought in. I didn't know what that meant until I walked in and saw paper bags on the floor. Full of women's clothes and expensive makeup I didn't even know how to use.

For a second, a small spark of happiness lit up inside me. It was gone just as quickly when I remembered what he told me earlier. What he wanted me for.

I found the closet in the room, on the far right wall. When I opened it, I almost stepped back. It was huge. Bigger than our living room back in San Francisco. And this was just a closet. Just a damn closet for one of his rooms.

I went to one of the sections and opened the door... and froze.

Men's clothes.

His.

I remembered what that other man said in the office. "Some are already in your room." Was that what he meant? Was I... sharing this room with him?

NO!

So I couldn't even hide at night now?

I closed his section of the closet immediately and looked for an empty space. It was almost like someone had prepared it all ahead of time. A few racks were empty, like they were waiting just for me. I placed the new clothes there, still stunned at how delicate the nightwear was.

Thin. Barely there. Lingerie, really.

I don't wear things like that. Pajamas were enough for me. But now... being nothing more than his toy, I knew it wouldn't matter what I liked.

When I was done, I stepped out of the closet and searched for the bathroom. I was sure there'd be one in a place this big. I was right. On the right side of the room was a glass door, and when I opened it, I was hit with more disbelief.

The bathroom was the size of my aunt Wilma's entire bedroom.

Actually, the whole room I was in was about the same size as our entire house back home.

I started placing the toiletries where they belonged, but my hands were shaky the whole time. When I finished, I went back to the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

I looked around.

It was beautiful. Big. Luxurious. Everything in this room probably cost more than my entire life.

Any other girl would probably cry tears of joy to live here.

But I wasn't just any girl.

I was a prisoner. A girl dragged here against her will, thrown into the arms of a man with dead eyes and a voice that made my skin crawl.

He owned this place. He owned me.

And now, I had to live in this room. Sleep in this bed. Share a closet with him. Wake up every day in the same space as the man who murdered someone in front of me.

And I'd do it.

Because I had no choice.

Because of Clyde.

He was the only reason I hadn't thrown myself out a window yet. I would do anything to keep my brother safe. Anything.

Even this.

Even if it meant letting that monster treat me like I was nothing more than something he could use when he felt like it.

I glanced at the old bag I had brought. There were still some clothes in there, probably the ones from Aunt Wilma's house. I opened it up and dumped everything out. The only thing worth saving was my phone. I threw everything else in the trash.

I didn't need them anymore.

I already knew what he would say if he saw me trying to wear my old clothes. He'd just give me that cold stare and say something like...

"You belong to me now. You'll wear what I tell you to wear. Speak when I say. Sleep when I say. And open your legs when I say."

I could already hear it. And I hated that I didn't have the strength to fight it. I hated that this was my life now.

I sat back down on the edge of the bed and checked my phone. No missed calls. Just one message. It was from my best friend.

I didn't think twice. I called her.

She answered almost instantly. "Girl, where the hell did those men take you?! I've been losing my mind!" I couldn't help but smile a little despite everything.

"I don't really know... but I'm okay. I promise." I didn't want her spiraling or imagining the worst.

Polly had been my best friend since we were taken in by my aunt. We were neighbors. Her family didn't have much, just like us, but they were kind. Her dad worked so hard to keep her in school. She was in her first year of college now. Meanwhile, I hadn't stepped inside a classroom since we moved in with Aunt Wilma. They said they couldn't afford to send me. As if there weren't dozens of public schools in the area. They just didn't care.

Only when it came to Clyde did they soften, probably because he was younger and easier to manipulate. But I wasn't stupid. I knew our rights. I just didn't have the power to fight back.

"I'm glad you're okay," Polly said. "But your brother... he was crying like crazy. He came over, shaking, said you were gone. That your uncle told him they sold you. I swear, my heart broke seeing him like that."

Wait. What?

That's not what that monster told me. He said Clyde was with them. That they had him. That if I didn't obey, he'd hurt him.

"Polly, are you sure he was crying? What exactly did he say?"

"What else? That you were gone, and your uncle said you were sold off. So I told him that your bastard uncle wouldn't dare. Who'd clean their house and cook for them if they sold you? That shut him up for a while."

"Where is he now?"

"He went home. Said he'll wait for you there."

I felt my blood boil. So it was all a lie. That bastard tricked me! Used my brother to scare me into submission. I clenched the phone tightly.

"Nevaeh, are you still there?"

"I'm here. I'll call you back later. Thanks for taking care of Clyde, and please keep an eye on him for me."

"Of course. Take care, okay? Call me whenever you can. I mean it."

"I will. Bye." I ended the call.

I shot up from the bed and stormed out of the room. I needed to see him!

I didn't care how dangerous he was. I didn't care if he had guards posted in every hallway. I was done playing his puppet.

When I reached his office, I didn't even knock. I pushed the door open, breathing heavily, fire in my chest.

And there he was.

The bastard.

His pants were down. A woman was bent over his desk, moaning, while he pounded into her from behind. He turned his head at the sound of the door and locked eyes with me.

The woman gasped, her face flushed. But he didn't stop.