Ggrrrrrggh. His phone was ringing. It couldn’t be mine, I had no phone. Thankfully, he would have to slow down to pick up the call. I was wrong, he didn’t. Annoying as it was, he had an air-pod fixed on his ear. “Hey, I got the package. I thought it was over hyped, but it wasn’t.” He turned to look at me. Wait. Was I what he referred to as a package? “I wouldn’t say I like her yet.” I didn’t like him either. “I came to Atlanta for a break, but thanks to her I had to go to the ugliest place in town when all I needed was a massage.” A pause. “Yeah, she looks like trouble.” He laughed. “You’ve always known how to handle trouble, you like trouble.” He paused before smiling. “Can’t wait to see you too.” I could guess when the call disconnected.The change in him was drastic, I wondered who he was talking to have smiled like that. It didn't sound like a woman. He concentrated back on driving. “Why did you help me?” The words fell out of my mouth without finesse. I had been looki

I stretched my hands forward and picked up the papers. There were like five sheets but one had the writings printed more boldly and it caught my eye.I read it first.“No,” I murmured.“You do not have a choice, Rayna. I told you, I’m going to own you in every way possible. If I need to remind you, I have your father's blessings. Now sign it.”“No.” I voiced more boldly.It was a marriage agreement.I wouldn’t marry like this, not to someone who offered me no respect. He pushed a pen into my hands.“Sign the fucking papers Rayna.”“No.” I just couldn’t.“How about for Bob, I’ll kill the fucking driver if you don’t sign it.”The man had lost a finger because of me, I couldn’t watch him lose his life too.I signed my name with shaky hands.“Take your bath and maybe I’ll be able to recognize you as something more than dirt. I’ll send food up, I’ll eat well if I were you because I’m going to have my wedding night.”As he got to the door, ready to leave, “I wanted to offer to shoot someone

My heart didn’t stop ramming against my ribs as I sat on the bed waiting for it to get dark. I tried to tell myself I was not waiting for Carlos and that I hoped he never came. Lots of scenes had played in my head. In one, he fell from the stairs while coming up and broke his neck. That felt too brutal so I decided it would be better if he broke his legs.I didn’t know how long it usually takes for a full-grown man’s bone to heal after being broken but I began to doubt that one’s leg could break merely from falling down the stairs.I heard the car outside earlier so I pictured another scene in which something happened in his company, maybe a man’s hand got crushed while sharpening one precious stone. I had never been in a refinery or seen stone cutting but it sounded like it was not an easy job or maybe had lots of risk. Then Carlos would have to be a responsible boss and go check on his staff.But that scene had two errors. First, it would be very bad of me to which evil for someone

I felt both hands cup my breast through my dress.“I know you wouldn’t dare forget that tonight belongs to me.” He whispered into my ears.It was at the tip of my tongue to remind him that he had been holding another woman not long ago, but tonight was mine too. I wanted my husband.He had done well in taking my mind off the fact that I would have been raped, sold, or any worse thing that my father and that evil woman had in mind for me. Even though I had tried to hide it, I knew I was scared.I was so scared and I needed his touch to chase that fear away. Only his touch could assure me I was in arms again. I was safe.I was wrong to think I would find safety only with Louis. Safety was here too. And tonight, I wanted to come under his touch.Carlos's surprise must have hit the roof when my hands went to his that were cupping my breasts and urged him to squeeze them.He obeyed only for a few seconds before he stopped.“You don’t tell me what to do with you.” His voice came out as a sn

“What the fuck?” I felt my heart which had been hanging on my throat sink back to my chest and position itself behind my ribs. It was Carlos. I would recognize his voice anywhere.“Preparing to run already?” His voice was angry but I didn’t understand why. Maybe I was not awake.I still didn’t even understand when he pulled my hair. “What’s wrong?” His actions were forceful and my hair had begun to hurt.“Did you think I wouldn’t come back? Where did you plan to run to this time.” As he spoke he pulled my hair harder and I couldn’t stop myself from screaming.I tried to free myself from his hold by untangling his hands from my hair but his grip was strong.I succeeded when he got distracted when the door opened. Coco stood by the other side but didn’t come in as she saw Carlos inside.“I didn’t know you’re back, I heard her scream. What’s wrong?”I immediately understood even before he said it. It was the look in his eyes that gave it away.It was my hair, I looked different. If I cou