Page 1 of Brutal Boxer

1

Aspen

How many people woke up handcuffed to the bed as I did? With their wrist on fire, cold metal rubbing a raw trench in their skin? Arm numb after staying in the same position all night because they were too terrified to move and risk waking the sleeping sadist?

I couldn’t imagine anyone ever dreaming such evil and maliciousness existed. I certainly never did. Until then.

Stay still. Don’t breathe, or you might get a tickle in your nose and sneeze.

I’d say my dreams were typical for most of my life. Fall in love, get married, buy a home, have a baby. In that exact order. A little cliché. Basic bitch style. The sort of life a simple girl like me expected. My middle-class friends wanted the same. We’d drone on at every sleepover party dreaming up this perfect life.

I hoped they woke up this morning happy, safe, and free.

Not once had I thought my lot in life would be as a possession. But here I was anchored to my bed like a dog to a tree.

I stared at the wall of windows dressed in sheer white coverings, wishing the sun would shine to fill my day with something pleasant. A bit of beauty and hope in my dreadful, depraved life.

Alas, just another overcast, gloomy Seattle morning. The sun hid behind the clouds, as if laughing at my degraded circumstances.You-get-what-you-deserve for trifling with evil.

As if I had known evil dwelled in him. I would’ve given anything to go back to the day we met and tell myself who he really was. Then, perhaps, I wouldn’t be a prisoner in the Devil’s playground.

Like every other morning, he shifted and snuffled. My breathing hitched at once. My heart arrhythmiastarted on cue, trepidation setting in.

He’d wake soon.

There was no foretelling his mood or expectations… ever. The most unpredictable person. A perverse man who intentionally messed with the minds of naïve souls.

To drive them crazy.

Break them.

He got off on striking fear into everyone, then coercing them into submission.

Of course, his beauty and charm blinded most—including me—to the evil dwelling beneath his dazzling smile and Prada suit.

I hated him for seducing me until he had me right where he wanted… Shackled to the iron headboard.

Aching to change positions, I held in a moan. If I attempted to shift my body, he would wake prematurely and likely place demands on me as punishment for his disturbed sleep.

I held still as a stone statue with my arm strained, the cold metal biting into my small wrist like a wolf gnawing on a bone. I’d endure the attack, never screaming in pain or asking for help. I wasn’t weak. Nor would I give him the pleasure of thinking I needed anything from him.

I was forced to remain on my left side, my right arm free. If I needed the trashcan on the nightstand for my morning ritual, I could easily reach for it. Because you know, throwing up on myself would be disgusting and uncouth.

I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping and praying Casso didn’t touch me. His patience had lessened over the last month. Only a matter of time before he ordered me to spread my legs so he could fuck me.

Maybe he wouldn’t if he had someone else servicing him.

If only…

Since Casso moved me into his home two years ago, I’d bet my life he’d been faithful. Miracle of all miracles, considering he didn’t have a loyal bone in his body. For whatever reason, he’d claimed undying love for me. Stupidly, I’d seen it as a gift instead of the curse it was.

Sickening, given my current state of imprisonment.

Casso had hoards of women at his beck and call before we got together. That little detail should’ve had me running in the opposite direction.

Stupid, stupid girl.

Instead, like the unsuspecting woman I’d been, I saw Casso’s harem as a challenge to win his affections. After years of feeling unwanted, my foolish determination to find self-worth in a man had deceived me. I’d only paid attention to his wealth, prestige, and the glamorous life that might be mine if I’d won him over.

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