Chapter One
Sierra was curled up on the bed, shivering. She couldn’t stand another day of this. James was torturing her. He was beating her, prodding her, and burning her, for his own pleasure. She wondered how many other girls he had brought into the house, locked up, and used for his own pleasure and abuse. Sierra never imagined that James would do something like this—something so disgusting and unbelievable.
She knew that she had to find a way to get out and get to Chad. She wondered what had happened to her and where she had gone so wrong, so utterly and completely wrong. She let her emotions and her fear get in the way of everything she held dear and important. She had to get out of here, somehow.
The first thing she needed to do was tell James what he wanted to hear. Then, she hoped that he would let her out of this place. However, she wasn’t sure what he wanted to hear since he never said much, only taking pleasure in the torture he inflicted on her.
The door unlocked, and he entered. “Get on your knees.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Sierra asked.
“You are my wife,” James responded.
“Aren’t people wondering where I am? We have a public face.”
He paused and then replied, “I can come up with lies for weeks.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to tell the truth though?”
“Maybe for you.”
“I don’t hold anything against you, you know. There is no reason to keep me locked up in here.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Because I’m your wife. We promised each other that we would support each other in all business dealings. These are the business dealings we have to confront. This is just another situation, nothing to get wound up over.” She stood up, wrapping a sheet around her in an attempt to look slightly more dignified. “If you really think I would hold something over you, you are greatly mistaken. I was just shocked when you told me. I don’t think you can find my reaction that surprising, honestly.” She looked down. “I was close to him.”
He crossed his arms, looking at her critically. “So, what exactly are you proposing?”
“Let me out of here. Let me fulfill the promise I made to you about what we are and who we are going to be.”
He tapped his fingers against his chin. “What about all of this?”
“Do you think I will tell anyone? Your fate and secrets are irrevocably bound up in mine. I’m just as invested in making sure both of our reputations stay spotless.” She stared at him, unblinking. “However, if you put me back in a place like this again, I will make sure the entire world knows everything you have ever done to me or any other girl.”
He smiled. “I knew there was something in you that I liked.”
“I’m glad we are in agreement.”
He stepped away from the door and opened it for her.
Trying to suppress her shaking, she walked by him. “Also I don’t think I will be sleeping in your room anymore. This house has enough spare bedrooms. I’m sure there is some other place I can sleep.”
He frowned and said, “That’s fair I suppose.”
“It most definitely is,” Sierra said, as she stepped over the threshold and let herself breathe a sigh of relief.
She couldn’t help but think, I did it. I got out of that room. Now, I just have to find Chad and fix this. All of it.
***
The next day, after James left, Sierra called Chad. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say or how she was going to say it. She had ignored him for four months, and she didn’t think she could just fall back into his arms like nothing had happened. She thought that maybe he would be understanding though when he saw everything she lost, and she wondered what he had lost, as well.
The call went straight to voicemail. Sierra knew that she couldn’t expect him to answer her call or care about what she had to say. There was no reason for
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