I couldn't find any words to say. I was dumbfounded, and that didn't happen a lot.
“There was another picture of a child. Just the back of her head, it's dark and grainy, so you can't tell much, but I have no fucking clue who it is or whose child it is. I'll send that, too, okay?”
“Okay,” my voice cracked, and then my phone buzzed against my cheek. “Got them.”
“On the back of the picture, there's a word, a name, 'Sarka.' does that mean anything to you?”
I shook my head. “No, pop.” I stood once more and paced around the pool, anger, confusion, grief, and a fuck ton of other emotions swirled inside me like a poisonous cocktail. I couldn't look at the pictures. Didn't want to see them. I tried to remember Amy as I knew her. Not as this bitch who fucked over my best friend.
“Pop, I gotta go, will call soon.” I hung up the phone just as footsteps approached me from behind.
I spun and saw Benny the Brit coming my way.
“Jax, boss man wants to see us both in half-hour, thought I'd best come and find you.”
I nodded by way of thanks.
“You okay, mate? Look like you're about to kick the bucket.”
Clearing my throat, I wiped the horror from my face. “Nah, I'm good, man. Thanks, though.”
He turned and went to walk away but then stopped to look at me again. “Nice work with the Mrs, by the way. Bloody hell, I thought she was a goner.” He lowered his voice, “this place is more fucked up than I thought.”
He left me alone and with one thought only: Ain't it just, Benny, ain't it fucking just.
Ella.
Marnie was wearing that necklace again, her fingers absentmindedly twirling the chunky metal between her fingers.
It had been a long day. I'd woken long after Jax had left and found Marnie in his place, she looked lovely as usual. Chocolate colored hair hanging in soft waves around her face, big pink lips, and the most crystal blue eyes. She wasn't broken like me. Today, I'd found it challenging to keep the jealously at bay.
Tucking the angel-winged necklace into her blue summer dress, she smiled at me. “So, Jax, huh?
I rolled my eyes. “Marnie, don't.”
She grinned even more. “Girl, I don't blame you if you have a little crush; the man looks like a Greek god. And that Benny, when you're all better, just take a look at his arms,” she flexed her dainty ones, “The fucking muscles, girl.”
Okay, I laughed, but it made my chest pulse once more, so I soon stopped. I was grateful for a friend inside of this world, and I knew she was just trying to take my mind off things, but I wanted to know what happened to me. My memory was still fuzzy.
“Jozef hasn't told you anything? Nothing at all?” I pressed.
She shook her head. “Babe, of course, I'd tell you if he had.”
Behind the chair were Marnie sat, and where Jax had been just hours before, the sun had set, and in its place was a full moon and clear sky. The urge to go outside and stretch my legs was potent. God only knew how long I'd be stuck in that room for, Vladimir hadn't even visited me, nor had I heard or seen Marco, which, I suppose, were the only pros to being kept in the infirmary.
“Our dresses for the auction have arrived.” Marnie cut through my thoughts.
I scoffed. “Great. How wonderful.”
“We'll do what we always do, okay? I'll take the busier tables and just holler if you need me.”
My entire body ran cold as I thought of the six girls locked below ground, alone and naked, chained and 'conditioned.' What a cruel world we lived in and yet my best friend was excited because she got to wear a pretty dress. I think it was Marie's way of coping with our world - to pretend things were normal, I, however, could not do that.
Each time a truckload of new girls came through the doors, crying, screaming, begging for their lives, I felt each sob as though it came from my own body. I'd try to make myself scare during such occasions, but being the Queen to a Kingpin meant sometimes my presence was needed. Or Vladimir wanted to torture me some more, knowing how much it affected me.
Queen. What a ridiculous title. He only used it in the presence of other sick perverts. Usually, I was a 'whore.'
“Earth to Ella?” Marnie pressed a hand against my forehead.
Swatting her hand away, I tried to smile. “I'm fine; just sick of being stuck in this room.”
She held up her palms. “Afraid Vladimir said you're to stay here longer. I'd whisk you outside if I could, babe.”
There was a gentle knock at the door, and then it opened.
My breath got stuck in my chest as Jax, dressed in his own clothes, walked into the room.
“Not interrupting, am I?” He asked, his eyes red. Something was wrong. I didn't need to know the man that well to be able to see that.
Marnie got up and kissed my forehead. “Feel better soon, babe. I'll leave you two to it.”
Nodding towards Marnie as she left the room, he then closed the door with a soft click, pulled the chair closer to my bed, and held his head in his hands. I felt awkward, with no idea what to say, and so I said nothing.
“One of my best friends was murdered.” He said, deadpan, not looking up.
My heart fell into my stomach. “Oh, gosh, Jax, I'm so sorry.”
He looked up and gave me a sad smile. “You called me Jax.”
I gulped, looking and feeling guilty.
“I like the way you say my name.” He looked down into his lap, sitting back, long legs stretched out, one knee jumping up and down.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Have you just found out?”
He shook his head. “Nah, she died just before I came here and...” His sentence trailed off, his mind warring as to whether he should carry on. “She was pregnant. With my best buddy's kid.”
A tear fell from my eye, I may not have lost my daughter in the same way, but I recognized the grief. The all-consuming grief that pressed down on my shoulders each day, growing heavier as another twenty-four hours went by.
“Has something else happened?” I asked, as if he needed another reason to be upset, there was a part of me that instinctively knew he had more to say.
“I.. Erm..” He sniffed and rubbed one hand along his jaw. “My father and I spoke earlier. He'd received some photos.” He paused, taking a gulping breath and then blowing out. “Turns out she was having an affair with...”
I sat up, showing him I was listening and that he could speak to me. I'd never been needed before, not really, and I'm ashamed to admit that feeling was nice, although I do wish it had been for something.
“With who?” I prompted, my voice low and soft.
He growled and stood, turning his back to me to press a forearm against the window. “Vladimir.”
My whole world turned and flipped. My stomach churned, threatening to bring up the chicken soup I'd eaten earlier, and I stopped breathing.
I didn't care that he slept with other women. I knew this; it was the whole situation that had my mouth agape and heart racing.
My gut screamed at me, telling me to prepare for a storm, but Jax hadn't finished with his announcements.
“There's something else, something I need your help with, Ella” He came to me, his dark, brooding eyes pleading with me. “But you must promise me not to say a damn word, okay?”