I nodded. I don’t know what I was expecting. That was why most people joined the Demons. They had no other place to go.
“What did you do in your previous life?” he asked.
“I was a waitress,” I said. “And a delivery driver. And a dog walker.” I smiled a little. “I did a little bit of everything. I was trying to save up money to take some night classes at a community college. But I guess that’s not an option now.”
“How long have you been here?”
I shrugged. I had lost count of the days a long time ago. “Maybe a year. It feels like a decade, to be honest. Not that I’m not grateful to Cobra! I know it would be worse if–”
“Eva. You don’t have to pretend with me.” Hudson put his hand over mine. “Cobra kidnapped you. He hurt you. You don’t have to be grateful for shit.”
I felt stunned. He knew I was hurting? He didn’t think I should be happy to be the leader’s girlfriend? A lot of emotions rose inside me and before I could stop myself, I started to cry.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Hudson
When Eva started to cry, I pulled her into my lap and wrapped my arms around her. I rubbed her back as I held her and she cried into my shirt. I felt sick. She was hurting so much. Cobra was a piece of shit and he was hurting her. Eva, who was so sweet and gentle, was getting tortured every day and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Not right now at least. Not without compromising my cover.
But the more time I spent with Eva, the less I cared about that.
Sure, in here, I could have chance encounters with her. I could make her food now and then and I could provide some kindness that she desperately needed. Hell, if Cobra got bored with her, I could ask to keep her for myself instead of her getting tossed in the Pleasure Room. But she wouldn’t be free. And that’s what she really needed.
After several long minutes, she calmed down and stopped crying. She rested her head against my shoulder, looking completely exhausted. Because she didn’t make any move to get off me, I didn’t make any move to let her go. I liked holding her. I wanted to hold her for a long time.
“I’m sorry,” she said after a little bit. “I made a mess of your shirt.”
“Don’t worry about that, baby girl,” I said, rubbing her back. “It looked like you needed to get that out.”
She nodded. “I really did. Thank you, Daddy.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. “My pleasure, baby girl.” Unfortunately, I meant it. This shouldn’t feel good. But I enjoyed comforting her and caring for her. It felt like I was using her, just in a different way than Cobra did.
She wiped her eyes before getting off my lap. “I should clean myself up before Cobra wakes up,” she said. “I don’t want him to see me like this.”
I nodded and stood up. “I should give you some alone time,” I said, turning to the door. I wanted to say something. I wanted to offer her words of comfort or encouragement, but there wasn’t any to give. “I… I hope you have a good night, baby girl,” I said softly, turning to look at her.
She gave me a small smile. “Good night, Daddy. And thank you for the food.”
I gave her a quick smile before leaving. What I wouldn’t give to cook for her every night.
After I left the kitchen, I needed to clear my head. So instead of going to my room, I decided to go out.
Reaper was patrolling the grounds when I left the building. He scowled at me. “Where the hell are you going?”
“I’m getting some booze,” I said. “Better booze than the piss in the kitchen.”
He narrowed his eyes. Reaper was suspicious of me. And he was second-in-command so I really couldn’t piss him off. “Awfully late for a beer run.”
“What are you, my mother?”
His lip curled in a sneer. “At least make yourself useful and grab a girl while you’re out there.”
I rolled my eyes. I would rather stick a fork in my eye. “Tell you what, if I see a solitary woman walking down the street at one in the morning, I’ll nab her, okay. Now get off my back, will you?”
“Watch your mouth around me.”
I held up my hands in mock surrender as I backed up and made my way to the bikes. I hated this place, but I knew I played the part well. The most anyone would think was I was a little arrogant and cocky. Maybe they would think I was stupid enough to steal from the Demons– and that’s exactly what I would say if they caught me doing something shady.