Remington slid into the car, and she looked at the driver.
“Should I sit up front with you?”
“No, Miss, there’s no room. We have a bodyguard who will ride there.”
“Anna, get in here,” Remington growled.
The driver tried to smile. She crawled into the back and sat opposite him and tightly in the corner. She kept her eyes down and stayed as quiet as possible.
“Were you able to get any sleep, Lass?” Remington asked.
Her gaze sprang up and back down to her lap as she shook her head. “No, sir.”
“I really detest talking to the top of a person’s head.”
She raised her head. Thankfully the car had only dim light. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven. Just don’t do it again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll be at the hotel in a few minutes, and then you can rest,” he said.
“What about you?”
“I’ll rest for a bit, but then I have a meeting.”
“What would you like me to do?”
“Take care of my clothes. I’ll be back after dinner.”
Great, another meal she’d go without, or maybe someone thought about her this time, and there would be food in the suite. When they were on the plane, she hadn’t known if she was supposed to eat. When she got nauseous, she finally ate a banana, but that was it. “All right.”
She looked forward to his absence to get a little peace and quiet.
Chapter Three
Remington, his guards, and Aryanna got to the hotel and had their bags delivered. The guards left the room, but she heard at least two would be outside the door.
“Just unpack the small brown one when I’m gone, Lass. I don’t think we’ll spend more than a night or two here. Then go get some more rest.”
She nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
When she woke from her nap a few hours later, he was gone and the suite was dark. The shadows felt cold and menacing, making shivers run down her spine, but she continued to his room instead of running back to hers. She looked for the bag he described in his room and then hung up his clothes. She finished with his clothes and then locked herself in her room.
After a shower, she decided to get into the sleep pants and t-shirt Lucile gave her to sleep in and lay back down because there was nothing else she could do.
An hour later, she heard shuffling outside the door and saw someone turning the knob. For some reason, she didn’t think it was Remington.
A scream tore from her mouth when the door was kicked open, and a man dressed all in black with a stocking cap over his face came at her. He smacked her a few times and then kicked her when she fell to the ground. “You fucking whore. Tell your employer to watch his back because he’s already made an enemy, and it’s all because of you.”
Aryanna cried out. Where were the guards? Did he not leave any for her? Hell, why should he? She was only a maid.
He gripped her hair, lifted her, and threw her on bed, making her scream. “Next time I get ahold of you, I’ll teach you what a real man feels like.”
She was afraid to move when he ran from the room. When she heard the outer door close, she raced into the bathroom and locked the door. It was the only safe place she knew of.
The wall felt cool against her back as she slid down and wrapped her arms around her legs. The tears tore from her, making her body shudder. She’d never been beaten or hit in her life and didn’t know how to deal with the pain and fear rushing through her.