Page 25 of Sold Blood
The men start talking among themselves, filling the room with laughter. The boy kneels beside my chair, staring down at the floor. I lift his chin with my fingers, forcing him to meet my eyes when no one else in the room is paying attention. "What's your name, boy?"
"Whatever...you...want it to be." He sucks in a breath.
I sigh, shaking my head. "No, what's your name?"
He swallows hard, licking his cracked lips. "Trenton," he whispers.
My chest rises and falls as I inhale and exhale too quickly. Joey was right, he is only just a boy and doesn't belong here. None of them do. I'm not sure how I'll get him out of this room, and I have a feeling I won't see him again after today if I don't think of a way. I'm about to start fabricating different ways in my mind and then the man with the scar answers another guest's question a little too loudly. "Si, all the boys you see here are available for purchase. Consider this a bit of sampling," he says with a chuckle.
I bite back a grunt and stare back at Trenton. "How would you like to come home with me, boy?"
Trenton's eyes water and he stares at the ground again. "If that would make you happy, sir, I would be glad to go home with you," he says with shaky words.
"Is everything okay over there?" the man with the scar asks. "The boy is behaving himself, right?"
I smile, standing up. "Yes, I've just decided I would like to make my first purchase. I think he will fit in my home perfectly."
The man straightens his suit, standing taller. "Wonderful. That one has been trouble since he's gotten here. I think a man like you will be good for him. I sure hope you aren't done with your shopping so soon."
I shake my head, my lips curling up into a smile. "Not even close."
Thirteen
Joey
I scrub my body under the cold water until my skin is raw. I wince every time the shower hits the welts on my back. It doesn't matter how much soap I lather over myself, I can still feel the last man's hands on me. I’m glad neither one had wanted to actually have sex. Maybe it would have been better if the last one did.
The first guy had wanted to watch me get myself off while he came on me and the other man had wanted to rough me up. He never did touch me in a sexual manner and never touched himself either. He’d tied me up and blindfolded me while asking random questions. I’d felt the crop come down hard against my back every time I got the answer wrong. He took joy in each punishment, making sure I never did. He had dragged me back up on my knees, gripping hard at my hair every time I fell forward, grazing a knife over the skin of my neck. When theycame back to the room to collect me, I’d sighed in relief, hoping I wouldn't have to be back in any of those dark, small rooms again.
A knock on the bathroom door has me jolting where I stand. I quickly shut the water off and reach for the towel on the rack nearby. "Hurry up in there, princess. You have somewhere to be soon. We don't like to keep our guests waiting."
I step outside the bathroom with the towel tied around my waist and water drips down my chest. "I was getting clean like you asked me to."
"It doesn't take that long to get clean. This isn't a fucking spa day. I hope you enjoyed that shower, because I don't see you getting many like that in your new future. Mr. Williams from earlier was quite taken by you and is considering not leaving here without you. I think a man like him is exactly what someone like you needs. You won't be the first one he's purchased from us. Won't be the last either. His boys never seem to last more than a few months. I wonder how long it will take to break someone like you. Too bad I can't be there to watch it happen."
He shoves me forward and points to the bed. “Put those on and let's get you delivered to Mr. Masters’ room. Based on earlier events, you won't be the only one keeping him company tonight." My eyes widen and I keep my gaze on the ground while I slip on a clean pair of black panties. After I leave this hell hole, I will burn every pair at home that I own.
I think about Isaiah waiting for me and it helps ease my stomach a little by offering me a small bit of hope. Isaiah is my light at the end of the tunnel, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it to that other side. Whatever it takes to be in his arms again. I wrap my hand around my bare finger, missing the weight of my wedding band, wishing I’d fought harder when they took it from me.
The man with the scar loudly clears his throat from behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. "Times up. I’m not tying yourhands this time so if you do anything stupid, I won’t hesitate to blow your ass to pieces. Go on, walk toward the hallway. We don’t have all damn day.”
He shoves me through the elevator doors so hard I crash hard onto my knees. “Get up, clumsy shit,” he yells, stepping into the elevator behind me. The doors close and he kicks me in the stomach when I remain on the ground too long. I curl into a ball, wrapping my arms around myself. “I said get the fuck up.”
I stare up at him, biting my tongue to keep from saying the wrong thing. I don’t want to give him more of a reason to kick me again, not that it matters. If he wants to kick me, he doesn’t need a reason. The elevator dings when we reach the floor Carlos is staying on and the doors open.
Grunting in annoyance at me taking too long to fully get to my feet, he grabs me by my hair and drags me out causing my feet to lose their grip on the floor. This time when I fall, I catch myself on my hands and knees. I rock back and forth trying to gain my balance. We only eat if the customer we are with decides to feed us and neither one of mine did. My stomach aches more from hunger than the blow I just took. I always had a high tolerance for pain which could be both a good and bad thing in a place like this.
“I guess I’ll have to drag your ass the rest of the way, huh?” He grabs me by my arm and my knees scrape against the carpet. I try my best to keep my face from hitting the ground by extending my neck back as far as I can. They like it when you plead and beg. They get off on your screams and tears, so I try my best to remain quiet, biting back a yelp when he tugs on me harder and throws me against the door. “We’re here, princess. Remember to be on your best behavior. If the customer isn’t happy then I’m not happy and you know what that means for you.”
He knocks on the door and when it pulls open, Carlos is standing in the doorway wearing a familiar suit. He stands tallwith a smile on his face. If I were anyone else, I’d never guess it is forced. He blends well with all the other men in this place, and I have to keep reminding myself he’s a friend. “Got him all nice and clean for you as requested. Will you be needing anything else for the night?”
“No, I think I have everything I need. I would rather not be disturbed for the remainder of the night and would like to have my dinner in my room. Make sure there is plenty of food for my little pet as well. He will need his energy for everything I have planned for him.”
“Of course. We will be having a few drinks by the pool later tonight if you plan on coming out of your room at some point. The owner of this establishment would like to greet his special guests personally. We’d hate for you to miss it.”
“I suppose I could come down for a little bit. It would be rude for me to decline such an invitation.“
“Excellent. We’ll see you then, Mr. Masters. Enjoy your evening and make sure when you come down, to bring this one with you. The owner likes to ensure everyone’s enjoying themselves at the mansion and we’d hate for you not to get your money's worth by missing out on paid time. Also your new purchase from today should be ready for delivery by the time you are ready to end your stay here. We want to make sure he meets your conditions first. We don’t like any unsatisfied customers after all.”
