Instead, I listened closely.

“You sold Lucia pretty quickly.” The way he said it, I imagined Armando smirking. It made my skin crawl. I had to pretend I had no idea what he was talking about, even though my worst fears were being confirmed.

“I would’ve snapped her neck, if I didn’t. She never shut up. Bitch would wail nonstop. I had her gagged and I could still hear her whimpering.”

“Ah, that’s how this one was, but a couple of lashings and a few goes with my men and it broke her pretty quickly,” Luis snickered. He fucking snickered like they were talking about training dogs. I was reminded of every time Enrico called me pet. Perhaps in his mind, that’s exactly what I was. I knew this, but somehow I was starting to think that maybe his obsession with me was more than that, like I was valued, but this conversation was telling me how expendable I was.

Most of the dinner was spent talking about production. I assumed it was drugs because every now and then, they would talk about fields. Before the men finished, the conversation had shifted once again.

“How did it go with Hades?” Luis asked.

“Good, they’ll pay what I want. Those stupid Scars will pay up too. They’ll be gone before they even know they were double crossed,” Enrico started laughing and the other men joined in. The cackle was sinister and would be a sound that haunted me for nights to come.

We left the restaurant, but my mind was so preoccupied with what I’d heard Enrico talking about that I wasn’t really on my game. They’d said Hades and Scars. I wondered if Scars was Gunner. I couldn't remember what Gunner’s vest read, but my gut told me that part of the conversation had everything to do with him. I hated that he had anything to do with Enrico. It was another reminder that I had no idea what kind of man he’d become. Obviously, he had business dealings with Enrico and that didn't bode well for me. The thought had crossed my mind more than once, I wondered if that was one of the reasons why Enrico targeted me. I usually convinced myself that I was just a shiny toy that Enrico saw and wanted to add to his collection, but what if I wasn't? Those thoughts plagued my mind, so I didn’t hear Enrico when he told me to take his cock out and suck.

“Now, Pet! When I say drop, you drop to your fucking knees. I just rewarded you with a meal, and this is how you repay me?” I was stunned when a smack landed across my face, splitting my lip. The bitter reality that I was in the back of Enrico’s SUV stung as much as my face. I immediately did as he said and dropped to my knees. He was forceful and unkind, often cutting off my airway. I prayed it would end. When we got back to his home, everything changed, just not in a good way.

Chapter Fifteen Charlie

Enrico grabbed me tightly by the arm, angry that blood from my split lip had gotten on his black dress pants. Once inside, he threw me to the ground. “You stupid bitch, maybe I’ll sell you too.”

“No, please don’t!” I pleaded. As his eyes grew dark, I realized my mistake. He spoke to me in Spanish and I responded. It was careless. My mind was still on all that I had learned tonight and I wasn’t being as careful as I should’ve been.

“You can understand me? You lying whore! All this time, you’ve been playing me.” I was forcefully yanked by the hair.

“No, I’m sorry. I’ll do anything. I’m sorry,” I begged. I still had the idea that I needed to hang on for Gun. I couldn't let him kill me or sell me. I was so afraid that if he sold me, I’d end up somewhere even worse. What’s the saying? Better the devil you know… Yeah well, at least I was learning what to expect from Enrico.

“You think I care about your pleas? You begging only makes me hard, you lying piece of shit.”

“I’m sorry,” I cried with tears streaming down my face. I don’t know why I thought it could stop the devil. No. Not him.

I was met with a hit to the face, only this time it wasn't a smack. This time, his fist connected with my flesh. His gold ring he wore with a lion’s head protruding from it came at me violently, breaking my skin. I tried to curl into myself the pain was so fierce.

He wouldn't let me. He delivered a kick to my ribs, and then with a fist in my hair, he began dragging me. I cried out. My legs barely worked as I tried to scramble to keep up with him, so that all of my dark hair wasn't ripped from my head.

I stumbled and fell as he led me down the basement steps to the dungeon. Every part of my body screamed in agony. He opened the door to a room I hadn't seen before. If I had thought my room was a dungeon, I was wrong. This was a dungeon. I was thrown to the ground. My hands dug into a cold damp floor. Small rocks and dirt surrounded me. One of my eyes had already begun to swell shut. I could vaguely make out a wall, and then I was being hauled upwards. Enrico was putting something on my wrists. Next thing I knew, my face pressed against a cold wall and my wrists were secured over head.

“I’ll teach you to lie to me. You’ll never do it again. This is it. Your only chance, and if I ever find you keeping something from me again, I’ll destroy you. I will find your son and peel his skin from his body while you watch, but first I’ll make him watch as I fuck your asshole ‘til it bleeds. Then, I’ll sell you to some friends of mine whose idea of play makes me look like a saint.”

Tears poured down my face and I knew better than to open my mouth. I was silent. I’d learned to be a mouse in the past. I’d never make a sound again. A part of me hoped to die now before I did anything to jeopardize my son. He was my everything. I’d never comprehend how I ended up in the clutches of such a monster, but I’d do whatever I could to make sure this evil didn't touch him.

My dress was ripped from my body, the tearing sound and our deep breathing were the only sounds in the dark cell. I stayed silent as Enrico’s belt lashed out and dug deep into my back. I stayed silent as he raped me. I was silent as he left me with my arms above my head.

Even then, I wouldn't make a sound. I wouldn't do it. My idea of escape had vanished. Now, my time here became about playing my part to keep my son safe. I prayed for death. I prayed over and over again. My prayers weren’t answered.

Time seemed like it went on forever. My arms were long since numb. My body had ached so much, that consciousness was limited. I’d wake with nightmares of Enrico and his friend’s laughing as my son was torn in two. I wanted nothing more than death, and as my body grew weaker and weaker, I knew it was coming for me. I closed my eyes, barely hanging on, and thought about Gunner and Gun. I thought about how he protected me from anyone who seemed to want to do me harm. I thought about all the ways I’d hoped Gun would be like him. I wanted Gun to have a good life one day. I wanted Gun to have his first girlfriend, his first kiss, his first motorcycle, and his own babies. I thought about how maybe one day, he’d reunite with his dad, and they could grow old being friends. These thoughts were the only peace I had while I hung from the wall, slowly bleeding out my life. These thoughts were the last ones I had before I drifted off for good.