Did I do that to her? I was so angry in the club, so full of rage, that my mind is hazy. I remember shoving her away… she fell to the ground. Then Eli took her. Did something else happen?
My stomach sinks as realization sets in. I did this to her. There is no question. Even if I didn’t strike her face or intentionally throw her to the ground, it is still my fault. I’m responsible for her. I took her there. I told Eli to grab her.
Suddenly, I want to laugh. I have killed women, countless women, ones who were mothers, daughters, aunts, it didn’t matter. I ended their lives, but the mere thought of blemishing Amara’s skin has me sinking to my knees.
A cut marks her top lip, and I know if I look at other parts of her body, I will see more bruises.
Gripping my hair, I tear my eyes away from her. I’m feeling conflicted. I have never in my life felt this contradictory. I always know what to do. There is never a doubt in my mind if someone deserves to die if someone deserves pain.
A whimper leaves her lips, and I turn my attention back to her. Before I can even stop myself, I cup her face in my hand gently. She doesn’t wake but leans into my touch in her sleep. She wouldn’t be doing that if she was awake. She’d be turning away.
I wonder if she can be the exception to it all. It’s weak of me to think this way, to want to keep her and do things with her that are not like myself. This is fucked up, and I’m fucked up for thinking that I can be different with her.
For years, I’ve never allowed anyone to get close to me. No one. Not since my mother. Losing her was the nail in my coffin; it closed the door to my heart.
But she has to pay for what she did. Forcing my gaze from her angelic face, I stand. She will have to pay. She has to obey so she can survive in my world.
Turning, I walk out, shut the door, and lock it behind me. As I walk back up the stairs, I find Mack waiting for me.
“Have the doctor come and check her out in the morning,” I say before he gets a word in.
“I actually had him come already. That’s what I was going to tell you,” Mack explains. “While you were dealing with the fallout at the club, Eli called me. Amara got away from him. She ran outside, and Eli had to tackle her to the ground. She hit her head and was loopy after. I called the doc to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion.”
“Thanks…” A word I rarely use, but I do feel gratitude right now.
“I know you’re angry with her, but I also know you don’t want her to die. The doctor said she is fine, by the way. Just some scratches and bruises, nothing serious. He left some ointment.”
I nod, glad Mack has my back as always. I slap his shoulder as I pass, heading to the main staircase, slowly dragging my feet up the steps.
“Make sure she is fed and has clean clothes. Maybe some aspirin too.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
I make my way back to the bedroom and strip out of my clothes. When I fall into my bed, it feels empty without her. I have the urge to go and get her, but I need to go through with her punishment. She has to learn her lesson.
She has to understand that no matter how much she tries to sway me from evil or tells me that I can’t do something, I’m damned and will be this way forever.
12
Amara
I wake up slowly, and all I can think about is going back to sleep. I don’t want to deal with reality. Don’t want to relive what happened last night or the fact that I’m in a cell now. I might have been a prisoner all along, but it hasn’t been like this.
The worst part is being so alone and having nothing to distract myself. All I have are my thoughts, and none of them are good. So far, it’s been easy to tell myself I’m okay. That I’m in no danger, and Lorenzo is not so bad.
Now, there is no such belief. Now, I have to face the truth.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I force myself to go back to sleep since that’s the only escape I have. I feel like kicking and screaming, but I think staying quiet right now is my best bet. I’m hoping I won’t spend another night in here if I just behave like Lorenzo wants me to.
I’m just dozing off when I hear approaching footfalls and the rattling of the keys. In a split second, sleep is the furthest thought from my mind.
Besides the doctor checking me out last night and a maid bringing me a blanket, food, and some painkillers, no one has been here to check on me. Is Enzo finally going to come and face me? If he is, what will he say? Will he be mad at me? Or will he be apologetic?
My pulse is racing, and my breathing is labored as the door swings open, and Eli’s huge body fills the frame of the door.
“Wakey, wakey.” He smirks at me. His eyes roam my body like they did yesterday, and a small groan falls from his lips. I suddenly feel naked and exposed, even though I’m fully dressed. Scooting up on the bed, I pull the blanket up to under my chin.
As he walks in, I notice he is carrying a tray and has a bag stuffed under his arm.
“I hope you had a pleasant night.” He winks.
“Splendid,” I say sarcastically.
“Brought you breakfast, fresh clothes, and some ointment for your face.” He drops the bag next to my bed and sets the tray on the edge of the mattress. “Now get up.”
“Why?” I’m confused.
“Get. Up,” he snaps, his tone telling me there is no room for disobedience. His huge body is looming over me, the light bulb behind his head, only making him seem larger and more powerful.
Hesitantly, I push the blanket off and slowly start to move.
“Faster, or I’ll make you,” he warns.
I scurry off the bed and come to a stand next to him. Wrapping my arms around myself, I tilt my head up to look at him and wait for further instruction.
“Now, take that dress off.” His tongue darts out to lick his lips as his eyes glare at me with expectation.
“W-what… I mean, why?”
“Because I said so. I brought you fresh clothes.” He picks up the bag and turns it over, pouring out its contents on the bed. I look at the pile of clothes dumbfounded. He can’t be serious?
“I’ll change after you leave.”
“No. You change now.”
“I don’t think Enzo will be okay with this,” I say boldly. The truth is, I have no idea if he is or not. He said he won’t share, but I won’t take his word for anything.
“Who do you think sent me down here? Now get undressed before I rip this dress off you and teach you a lesson.”
With shaking hands, I reach back and fumble with the zipper until it’s open. I let the dress fall off my shoulders and to the ground. I’m wearing a pair of lacy panties, but no bra since the dress had one built-in.
I cross my arms in front of my boobs as quickly as I can, but I know he’s seen my breasts now.
Grinning from ear to ear, he pulls out a pair of panties from the pile and holds it in front of my face.
“Here, change into these now,” he orders.
Wanting this to be over as quickly as possible, I hastily pull my panties down my legs and snatch the ones he is holding. As I put the fresh pair back on, Eli’s eyes don’t leave my bare pussy, and his glare burns my skin.
My mind goes back to the time Enzo made me undress in front of him. That time I was scared but also excited. With Eli, I feel disgusted and want to vomit.