Page 9 of Stains of Desire
"I highly suggest you think before you react. The next time you do something like this, I'll make good on my promise. You're valuable to me, but not irreplaceable. And I'll make sure you're a witness to your daughter's demise before I watch you breathe your last breath."
I crumple. "Please. Give me my daughter back."
He releases my hand. "I'm giving you five minutes to get over this. If you don't come out of this room, ready to play your role, there will be no further discussion." The door slams as he leaves, and I do everything in my power to do whatever he wants so Millie lives.
In the morning, when the debauchery of the night is over and few guests remain, Santiago lets me return to my room.
All of Millie's things are gone, and it's as if she were never here. And grief like I've never known hits me.
Halfway through the day, the man comes in. I don't even hear him because I'm sobbing into my pillow.
"If you don't stop crying, Santiago will make good on his promise. You have an important event tonight. If your makeup is off, or eyes are swollen, you will be taken to your daughter to watch her slow death. Do you understand?"
I don't respond but sit up.
He leaves, and I spend the remainder of the day teaching myself how to hold in my emotions so I don't look anything except perfect for whatever it is Santiago expects me to do.
But the bleeding of my heart doesn't stop. And I wonder where they took Millie and how I'm ever going to get her back.
