Page 23 of Neverland

I stared up at him and although I was trembling, I wasn’t going to allow anything to be pinned on us. “I have a lot to get back at you for, but I’m not a part of anything and neither is Blaze.”

“Do you see?” Dominic laughed. He seemed humored as he addressed Anton. “Do you see the level of disrespect and ungratefulness?”

“It’s written all over their guilty faces,” he agreed.

Pig.

“And let’s not forget where you came from, darling Lucy.” Dominic’s tone was not unusually spiteful. “Or should I remind you of everything I’ve done for you over the years? Of how I pulled you from the depths of your own personal hell and gave you a chance at life.”

He couldn’t be serious.

I couldn’t hide my dismay. “You pulled me from one hell and dropped me into another, Dominic. You didn’t save me.”

His neck turned a bright red. “I gave you life! I put you on top.”

He was very serious.

“You think this is life? You think I’m better off than when you found me? This…” I seethed, my emotions out of control, “… this is my own personal hell, and you love every minute of my pain.”

He smiled victoriously, like my words were music to his ears. And then he made a promise I knew he’d fulfill. “You ain’t seen nothing yet, babe. I’m only just getting warmed up.”

He released me in the same fashion he did Blaze, sending me sprawling onto the plastic. Her hands were sweaty when she took mine, helping me to my knees. And then she froze, the sound of a safety latch unclicking. Wide-eyed, I could see her terror as clear as I could see the Glock being held against her temple. The tears slipping down her cheeks were nothing compared to how devastated we were for each other.

“I like my bitches on their knees but only when their mouth is attending to my cock. What I don’t like are two lying fucking bitches on their knees feigning innocence. So I’m only going to ask you this once and if I don’t get the truth, one of you will wear the other’s blood.”

He waved the Glock between us and we flinched with each turn. Blaze broke down sobbing hard, snot running from her nose. I gripped her hands with a reassurance I struggled to muster.

“Whatever has happened, you have the wrong girls,” I said to Dominic, hoping he could see some sense. “We’ve been working all night. We swear.”

His eyes flicked to Anton and moments later a fist I didn’t see coming smashed against my cheek. The pain wasn’t unfamiliar, but the force was hard enough to turn my world momentarily black, and as I lay dazed on the cold plastic, blood trickled down my cheek until I could taste it on my lip.

A boot nudged its way under my ribs, forcing me to roll onto my back. When the darkness faded, the chandelier above started to take form. The crystals glistened and glowed so pretty, like the stuck-on stars on the Neverland treehouse ceiling.

“One day, Lucy, there’ll be a star with your name on it, and it will be the most beautiful.”

Romeo, where are you? I need you… I need you so much.

Reminiscing of the boy I once loved, tears slipped down my temples stinging my open wound. I missed the boy who promised to always protect me from the evil world. The boy I hadn’t seen since I was torn away from the only home I knew.

The beautiful stars disappeared, a dark silhouette taking its place.

“Remember where you are, Lucy,” he cooed.

I blinked, still trying to gather my wits. Dominic smiled down at me, a leg either side, his boots digging into my ribs.

Tilting his head to the side, he considering me a long moment. “You always look so beautiful when you’re the most vulnerable. Almost angelic.” Dominic leaned down, his sadistic features taking shape. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “This is why I jerk off while watching you sleep.”

Blaze sobbed, a sliver of the relationship Dominic and I shared now revealed. From somewhere in the room, Anton laughed. I swallowed the need to be sick. He watched me every night and I could do nothing about it because Dominic Salvatore came with consequences. Every time I destroyed the cameras, a new one would be installed the next day. As punishment for interfering with his voyeurism, furniture, including the bed would be stripped from the apartment. Once, I’d been so angry over his control, I continued to destroy the newly installed cameras until there was no hot water, no towels, no bed, pillows, or comforter. When I used the small amount of clothing I had to make a soft base, the next day every single item was gone. Only the bare-bones of an apartment remained. When I finally broke down on the bedroom floor, trembling from the cold in the heart of winter, knowing Dominic was watching, did I beg and plead. When I finally returned to work, everything had been restored to how it was.

He’d taught me a lesson. He’d made a point of showing me how he could continue to break me down even outside of the club’s cruel behavior. He possessed ultimate control and if I fought against it, or didn’t acknowledge it, I’d soon learn the punishment of my insubordination.

And now he was proving another point—that he could give us ‘life’ and take it away in a heartbeat.

Dominic’s fingers raked through my hair, hands fisting until he pulled at my scalp. His tone changed from taunts to something more sinister.

“You’re not above being taken from this world, my dear Lucy. You may be my favorite of all my whores, but I will snap your neck in a heartbeat if I’ve found you’ve betrayed me.” Releasing me, he grabbed the duffle off his desk. “This…” Dominic announced, dropping it between us. It was unzipped and opened on impact, revealing at least two dozen men’s wallets, “… was found in your locker, Lucy. So tell me, which one of you money-hungry bitches is responsible for thieving from my valued customers?”

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