Page 39 of Free

“As I said. Step out of line, and there are consequences.” Fucking asshole. I should have known better when we came here the other night. He’s nothing but shit.

“Edward will escort you to your rooms, where you will bathe and change into something a little less … whore like.” He nods toward the man who punched me, and he motions for everyone to follow him. I don’t move. I can’t. Does Free know about this? No, he can’t know. Or did he do this? Did he get rid of me? No. Those men came out of nowhere. He was trying to protect me.

“Free will never let you do this,” I snarl through gritted teeth as the others walk in a line following Edward. Not me. I stand my ground in the garage and eye Jamie from across the room.

“You think you’re special because my brother brought you here. Do you know why he brought you, though?” I shake my head. I don’t know why he’d bring me to this place.

“He brought you so you could get an idea of what you were getting into, Addison. Free doesn’t keep the girls he buys. He sets them free, or they come here. I offered him a large amount of money for you. Much more than he paid.” No way would Free do that. He told me I could go. He gave me the chance to run. Oh god. Is that why he gave me the chance to run? So that I wouldn’t have to be sold to Jamie?

“He wouldn’t do this,” I deny, trying to keep my voice steady when all I feel is sick to my stomach. Why wouldn’t he do this? Jamie’s right. He doesn’t keep girls around. He never has before me, so what makes me think I’m special to him?

“He would do this. It’s what he does, how he makes money. We all play a part in this life, Addison, and soon you will too.”

“You can’t force me to do anything,” I snap at him. He walks closer, reaching up to stroke my cheek before grabbing my jaw roughly between his fingers.

“The drugs will do the work for me. You won’t be able to stop what you need,” he coos his tone, making my stomach recoil.

“I’ll never do it.”

“Didn’t you do it for him? Wasn’t he the one getting you off? Never say never, Addison.”

“You’re sick,” I manage to say through the pain in my jaw.

“And you’re just another whore. Bought and paid for.” With that, he releases his grip, and another man steps forward. “Now, are you going to walk to your new room, or shall I have Richard carry you?” He steps toward me, a menacing look on his face, but when he reaches for me, I slap his hand away and walk toward the door myself. Jamie chuckles as I follow behind this Richard asshole.

We walk through the kitchen; the same kitchen Free fucked me in and through the main room as well. Then we head up a flight of stairs and down a long hallway, where he stops at the last door and motions for me to go inside. My stomach cramps at the thought of being a prisoner in this room, but I step in and sigh when I see Bunny sitting on one of the beds.

“What happened?” she asks, jumping off the bed and rushing toward me. She pulls me into her arms and hugs me tightly.

“He was just threatening me. Did you know he’s Free’s brother?”

“I’ve seen him a few times at the club, but I never put two and two together. Free kept most of his business with his brother away from the club. I’ve heard rumors, though,” she replies as I nod my head.

“Basically, he runs a sex club here. He drugs the girls and makes them perform.”

“That’s … no. I’m not doing that.”

“I’m not either. I just don’t know how we’re going to fight it,” I tell her.

“We’ve both taken the drugs. Do you think you can fight it? I don’t know if I can.”

“Me either. Free’s shit is strong, powerful.”

“This is so fucked up,” she sighs before sitting back on the edge of the bed. I walk over and sit next to her, grabbing her hand in mine.

“Do you think they’ll come for us, really?”

“They did last time.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I was taken before. They came that time.”

“You were taken before this? What the hell, Bunny?”

“It’s all part of the lifestyle, Addison. That’s why I told you it isn’t all family love around there. Not all the time, anyway. It can be dangerous to be associated with the club.” That doesn’t change my mind if that’s what she’s trying to do.

“They’ll come,” I repeat her words back to her.

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