Page 21 of Savage

“Then you’ll enjoy your time with her,” Daddy tells him with a smile. “I appreciate the deposit you transferred. Now all I need is the outstanding amount to clear in my bank account. I’m sure you’ll find her worth the money you’re spending. When will the final payment be settled?”

His question has my chest tightening. Surely, my father can’t mean this man is buying me. That can’t be right. I know Daddy isn’t a good man, but I’ve always believed he loves me. I’m his daughter.

“Daddy? What’s happening?” Even as I ask the question, I know the answer because it’s in my father’s eyes. He looks at me with such disdain as if I’m stupid for failing to fully comprehend the situation.

Maybe I am an idiot. I thought Daddy intended to keep me until I was old enough to move out on my own. I’ve promised to make sure no one knows what he’s doing to me, and in return, he’s allowed me to go to school and hasn’t stopped me living a normal life. But perhaps selling me has always been a part of his plan.

“I’ll have it sent to you right away,” the stranger says, and a chuckle vibrates in his chest as he looks me over once more and shakes his head. “Don’t worry, darling,” he says to me. “You’re only coming to stay with me for a week. You’ll have a nice room, and there’s nothing more for you to worry about. And if you’re a good girl, we might make this a regular treat for you.”

“No,” I shout out as panic sets in. I’m not being sold, but this man is paying for some time with me. He’s renting me. My palms start to sweat as I try to turn around and race out of the room. But my father’s hand shoots out and grips my upper arm so tightly it causes me to cry out in agony, “You’re hurting me!”

A harsh swat comes from the stranger, and my face stings with a searing pain. Tears burn my eyes as I look up at Daddy, hoping he’ll save me from this man. But when he shakes his head at me, I realize I’m doomed.

Sixteen years old, and I’m being rented out.

“Be good now,” Daddy admonishes me as the tears I’ve been fighting finally drip down my cheeks. “You know tears only make things worse for you. Grow up. You’re a big girl now, and you know what to do. There’s no reason for you to cause yourself pain.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” the old man says. “I enjoy inflicting a bit of pain. I’ll enjoy training her to stop mouthing off. I don’t mind a bit of fight, but her sassy mouth will need to learn when to be quiet. Pretty little girls should be seen and played with, not heard.”

“Unless they’re begging for mercy,” Daddy adds with a dark chuckle.

It makes me recall one particular night when my father was drunk —I couldn’t go to school for three weeks afterward. He told my teachers I had the mumps or something, and I was excused from attending classes. All my homework was sent to me via email.

“Please, don’t do this,” I beg my father once more, hoping he’ll find some love in his heart. “I’ll do anything.”

“You will,” the stranger says as the front door opens and two large men in suits walk in.

They grab hold of me, and I try to fight them, but I‘m not strong enough. There’s no way I can escape.

“Thank you, Bane,” I hear Daddy say. The monster has a name.

I’m screaming as I’m carried out of the house, but the neighbors won’t bother doing anything, because they’re friends of my father. They probably already know what’s happening. Maybe everyone knows, and I’m the only idiot, believing I was safe.

I’m thrown into the back of a limo, and the door is shut behind me. I quickly scoot across to the passenger door on the other side, but I can’t open it from the inside. It’s secured with a child lock. I bang on the darkened windows, but I know it’s not going to make any difference.

Nothing can save me now.

The man who’s just rented me from my father gets into the car and settles in the back seat. My crying doesn’t bother him. He’s unperturbed by me, and as much as I want to beg him to release me, I know it won’t help.

I don’t want to talk to him, so instead, I curl up in the opposite corner of the seat to him and wrap my arms around my legs. I already know he’s going to hurt me. I don’t need to ask him if he will, I can feel it oozing from him.

The man who’s just paid for my time is far from good. My father might be bad, but this man, he’s evil. It’s as if he wears it like a cologne. And I’ve a feeling my reaction to him has made him even more excited to spend time with me.

Bane likes my tears, he enjoys my fear, and I know he’ll love my screams.

When trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to get back. Rebuilding something so fragile doesn’t happen easily if at all. I’ve experienced the worst life has to offer. At least, I thought I had until I met Rayne and Dante. We’ve all been exposed to horrors in our younger years that no one should ever have to witness or experience.

The pain inflicted on me started with the one person who should have cared for me the most. My father should have been there to protect me from the monsters that hide in plain sight, not just under the bed. Instead, he rented me out to Bane and continued to abuse me.

I begged for mercy, but it wasn’t something my father was capable of offering. During those times I spent with Bane, I learned to endure. I longed for a reprieve, but I never entertained any thoughts of my survival. There were times when the darkness would engulf me, and I’d pray for death.

It never came.

I used to wonder how and why I managed to live through the violence and pain. Every day, I would question the deities, but none of them answered. In the end, I found the courage to run away and go in search of my sister. Maybe the fates knew I would survive and go on to wreak vengeance on those who tortured me.

Maybe it’s my calling.

As the plane touches down in Paris, I wonder what we’ll find here.

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