Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
My head was actually spinning, but the disorientation I’d thought might follow didn’t happen. Everything was just… soft. God only knew how much the bastard had hit me with to get this effect. Good news was, my face didn’t hurt where he’d hit me anymore.
It wasn’t long before the door opened again. Just like I knew it would. They never waited long between injections before they came in with people to look at me. Men. Women. Mostly men, though. It wasn’t hard to put together they were there to inspect goods. Which meant, I was being sold to the highest bidder. Or something.
“The side of her face is swollen.” This guy sounded different than the others who’d come to look at me. Less refined. I thought I smelled gasoline. Kind of like when I’d been brought here. The dizziness combined with the bright light in my face made it impossible to see him clearly, but one thing was for sure. He was a big motherfucker if the unfamiliar blurry double shadow I was seeing was the guy speaking.
“Bitch shoulda laid still.”
“Where else’s she hurt?”
“Dunno, man. Don’t fuckin’ care either. Do you wanna make a bid on the bitch or not?”
There was a small pop. Nothing big, more like a snap firecracker. Then two more. I heard more voices, then hands grabbed at me, tugging at me. I screamed and kicked out as hard as I could, panic driving away the lingering effects of the drug I’d been given.
“It’s all right. It’s all right. You’re safe, Pippa. I’m here to get you out.” The words did nothing to calm me down. Especially when something was shoved over my head.
“NO! NO! Bastard!” I fought. Hard. But I’d been starved and drugged, not to mention taking beatings any time I fought back. I didn’t have a chance against this guy. Then my head was free and my arms soon followed. That’s when I realized he’d put a shirt on me, covering my body in soft material.
“I know, honey. But I promise I’ll be better.” He sounded like he was only half paying attention to me even as he slipped my feet into some loose, soft pants.
“Be better?” I know it was a stupid conversation and probably not one we had time for, but the question slipped out before I could even think of censoring it.
“At not being a bastard.” He put socks on my feet before slipping shoes on.
“I’m, uh, not really sure I can walk. I haven’t been on my feet much since they brought me here.” I took in a shuddering breath as flashes of the early hours of my captivity flew through my mind. I heard myself whimper. “I’m not… I c-couldn’t e-even go to the b-bathroom…” My thought trailed off, and I shuddered again, barely biting back a sob of despair and humiliation.
“Didn’t figure you could walk out, and I don’t plan on you having to. I just believe in being prepared. Besides, the socks and shoes might help get your feet warm.” He continued to move around the tiny space with efficient movements. “I know you’re hurting and scared. But I’ll keep you safe. On my life.”
I looked up at him and knew I was going to cry. No tears came, but I could feel great sobs inside me wanting to break free. “I don’t think I’ll ever be warm or clean again.”
“Christ.” The man pulled me into his arms and held me for long moments before wrapping an arm around my waist to pick me up and carry me outside. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms and legs around him and hung on tight. “When I get you to safety, I may well kill Knuckles for this fuckin’ stunt.”
“Knuckles?”
“Yeah, honey.”
“Why would you kill him? Did he do this to me?” My heart started pounding again and I knew a panic attack was imminent. I pushed away but the man only held me tighter, wrapping his other arm around my back to hold me more securely as he continued walking. “My mom s-said h-he wasn’t a good m-man, but…”
“He is, honey. He’s the reason I’m here to get you. He sent me to get you because he knew you were in trouble.”
“Y-you had other th-things to do. I’m so s-sorry!” I sobbed out a cry, unable to stop myself.
“Stop it!” He snarled at me, and I flinched. He climbed into the back of a big Humvee with me still in his arms. Instead of sitting me beside him, he simply thumped on the seat in front of him with the side of his fist. “Move out.”
The vehicle jerked into motion and his arms tightened around me. “Just hold on, honey. I’ve got you now. You’re safe.” His words and tone were kind, but I doubted he wanted to be in the situation he found himself in. He held me with one arm while he fished around in a pack with the other hand. Moments later, he pulled out a bottle of water.