Page 55 of The Devil's Secret

“I need more time,” I whisper, and his lips still, his breath warmly drifting over my neck. He draws back, those eyes trapping me in the evergreen forest, into a maze full of temptation.

“I’m not the enemy, baby.”

“I know that. But…” I trail off, not wanting to reveal more than I’m ready to.

His hand fastens around the back of my neck, his gaze softening. “It’s okay. Don’t need to explain.”

“I feel like I do.” Emotions grip the back of my throat. “I feel like I need to tell you everything, but there are things holding me back.”

“You tell me when you’re ready because I’m not going anywhere.” A crooked smile lands over his face. “And neither are you, baby girl.”

“Thanks for the constant reminder.” I roll my eyes playfully as he scoots me up and places me on top of him, my cheek against his chest, the hurried beats of his heart pounding underneath me, matching the quickening of my pulse.

“Tell me that being here in my arms isn’t better than wherever you were, and I’ll let you go right now. No questions. But don’t lie to me.”

My breathing hitches, my skin awakening with prickles running down my back.

“I can’t tell you that.”

He lets out a sigh, pushing my body up languidly as his mouth lands to the top of my head, the kiss so beautiful, I burrow further into his chest, not sure when the nightmare turned into a dream.

But Robby, he’s still out there, and I still need to find him.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

JOELLE

The following night,I go to bed alone, missing those arms around me. The chilly comforter feels even colder as I slip under it.

Closing my eyes, I envision the last time I saw Robby, his brilliant blue eyes so vivid you’d think the whole world was within them. Even with all the awful around us, seeing him in those short minutes every month, managed to make my whole world brighter.

I drift off, remembering him, remembering those fleeting moments we managed to smile together, and I never want to forget them. They’re the only pieces of him I have to cling to. The only things that submerge the nightmares that haunt me still.

* * *

I stand before them, naked, body trembling, hands covering my breasts, my knees clasped so hard, my bones ache. Tears drip down my cheeks as they stare at me, their gazes putrid, rotting thoughts filling them.

“This is our new one,” a man says, resting on the black velvet sofa, the sides of his hair peppered with gray as he swipes the side of my bruised cheek with his hardened knuckles. “I broke her in already.”

“Looks like you did more than that.” Another laughs, his face just as old as the one who beat me earlier when I fought back. But he took what he wanted anyway.

I wobble on my bare feet, still coming down from whatever they drugged me with.

“Does she dance?” the third man asks, staring past me at the pole centered in the room. “I’d pay to see that body work.”

“She’ll do whatever the hell we tell her,” the one who harmed me chimes in, his sinister tone like spikes across my flesh.

I swallow through the pain in my throat, where he held me while he threatened to kill me if I didn’t obey. He said his name was Faro, and that I was his now.

I tried to look for Kayla and Elsie when I was first brought into the cage where I’m held, but they’re not there. They would’ve answered when I called out for them, screaming so loud that the other women there told me to shut up. Where could they be? How will I ever find them?

“Dance, girl,” one barks, a snarl turning up his upper lip.

But I don’t. I can’t. My body is numb, shivering, my breathing so rapid, I’m afraid I’ll pass out.

“Is she a mute, Faro?” he continues. “You get us a fucking dummy?”

“Nah.” Faro laughs cruelly. “I think she needs some more encouragement.”

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