Chapter 8
Callie
I have less than a month until I'm supposed to marry Damien. I thought I'd find a way out of this mess, but both my father and Damien seem to be one step ahead of me no matter what I try.
It’s been a few days since the burn, and I've been trying to manage it the best I can. It's started to heal but still hurts like a bitch. The pain meds the nurse is giving me definitely helps. I'll never understand how my father is able to be so cruel to me. Does he not have even one ounce of love inside him? How can he be so callous towards his own flesh and blood?
Now that I know the truth about Rogue and what my father involves himself in, my father 'gave me the privilege' of sitting in on one of his council meetings that is just wrapping up. I don’t want to be here, and I can’t find it in me to even focus on any of what they’re saying. Instead I’m just floating through all the thoughts in my head.
It came as a surprise to find out the entirety of the council knows about what my father and Damien are up to. Every single one of the men on this compound are just as ruthless as its precious leader and second-in-command .
Secrets and blackmail, for what? Power? Control? Influence? I thought Rogue was corrupt, sure, but I never imagined it was this bad. My father is always up to something and as much as I hate to admit it, it all makes sense now. I need to get my hands on that notebook and find a way to get the hell out of here.
"We have one more item to discuss." My father states and gestures over to Damien pulling me from my thoughts.
Damien stands and looks over to give me a sadistic smile before addressing the room. "As you are aware, our wedding is approaching. Guests will start pouring in and it is your duty to house some of them. Most will bring their campers to park in the field but there are a few who will require housing. Gabriel's house will be off limits as we want to ensure Callie's safety."
I glance around seeing all heads nodding in agreement.
"What about Elizabeth and Martin Stone's old house? Can we have guests stay there? I know we've kept it empty since they died in the fire to honor the memory of their founding line, but it could come in handy." One of the council members says.
"That will not be an option," my father interrupts. "The Stone residence is empty for a reason and while it is a bit of a waste of space, we must honor them by continuing to keep it vacant. Callie will be moving in with Damien after their nuptials as well, so his house will also be unavailable. As Damien said most of the community will have campers. This is for a select few.”
Nobody fights him on this, they all just accept it, like perfect robots. They think I'm going to actually move in with Damien and live with him like husband and wife. I'll bring a knife to my throat before I ever let that happen.
Mumbles fill the room for a few minutes, allowing me time to retreat into my thoughts. I need to find a way to get out of here. There is no way I’m moving into that house with Damien and absolutely no way I’m marrying him.
"Callie!" My father yells.
"Sorry, father. I was lost in thought." I say to try and placate him. Fuck, here we go.
"You see, gentlemen. This is a prime example of why it is imperative to have Damien aid her once she becomes the leader. Women get caught in their own thoughts way too often."
The men in the room all laugh and it takes everything in me to not react. I ball my fists, digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands.
Damien walks over and reaches his hand out in front of me. "Let's go." He grits, confusing me. When I don't react, he leans in and grabs my hand to pull me up. "Your father excused you while you were off in la la land."
My eyes land on my father and I take in the scowl on his face. I embarrassed him and he will find a way to make me pay for it. Another lesson will likely be in my immediate future. Damien pulls me out of the room before dragging me across the compound from the main building in the center toward my father's house.
I try to pull my hand out of his but again, his fingers dig in. "I can fucking walk, Damien. "
He stops and shoves me against a nearby tree, knocking the wind out of me. There are people around, so he leans in to whisper in my ear, trying to make it seem like we were being intimate to the wandering eye.
"The first thing I’ll be correcting once we’re married is your smart-ass mouth. Every time you speak out of turn, I'll shove my cock so far down your throat you can't breathe. It's the only real use for a mouth like yours anyway." His nose runs along the length of my neck, and it turns my stomach.
"Get off of me." I huff in disgust.
“Breaking you is going to be so much fun.” He sneers.
A few members of the guard walk past us and Damien leans in to press a chaste kiss to my cheek before looking over and nodding at them. With that little display, he grabs my hand again pulling me to the house. I’m guided directly into my father’s office where Damien shoves me into a chair and we wait in silence for my father to make his appearance.
"You embarrassed both of us today." My father says as he enters the room a few minutes later. "Imagine me telling the council that I'm giving my daughter a chance to be involved in the society she is to run, only for her to zone out, paying no mind to what's being said in the meeting."
My eyes meet his but I keep my mouth shut. Anything I say at this point will only make things worse. He already has plans for me; I can tell by the smug look on his face. He takes a seat behind his desk, calmer than he should be.
"Two days." He says, and immediately I 'm confused. "You will be married in two days."
"No." I breathe out, feeling panic creep in. "There's still a few weeks. You said three months."
A guttural laugh erupts from him. "You never had three months. We told you that to placate you. We couldn't have you making a scene or getting away right before the wedding like last time."
I'm too stunned to speak. Two days isn't enough time to come up with a plan. I can’t let this happen. I’ll have to just fight my way out. Wait. The compound is about to be swarming with people. Maybe they will distract the guard enough that I will find a way to slip away.
"Guests begin arriving at the compound tonight. Damien will take you to the basement where you will stay until it’s time for the ceremony. We will bring you upstairs with enough time for you to get ready to walk down the aisle, don't worry."
"You can't do that!"
They're going to lock me up until the wedding. No, no, no, no. This can't be happening. I stand, walking toward the door on impulse but a hand grabs my upper arm stopping me.
"Where do you think you're going?" Damien asks.
"Take her and secure her in the room we talked about. Soren will be down later this evening to place the tracker."
"Tracker?"
"Yes. I can't have you getting away from me."
Tears well up in my eyes as I look over at my father, silently willing him to have even the tiniest bit of remorse. "Please don't make me do this."
"I've told you before that emotions are a weakness. Enjoy the time to yourself."
He looks down at the paperwork on his desk and waves a dismissive hand in our direction. I try to fight Damien’s hold, but it's useless. Ultimately, I surrender letting him drag me down the stairs. He throws me in the room they use as a cell, slamming the door in my face.
I glance around after letting my eyes adjust for a few minutes due to the lack of light. There is a cot in the corner with a pillow and a blanket I decide to walk over and sit on. Next to the cot is a gallon of water and a bucket. The rest of the room is completely empty. They expect me to use the bucket as a toilet which doesn’t surprise me.
I sigh and lay back on the bed, letting myself feel the loss of my freedom. One way or another, when I leave this basement, my life will be over. Tears stream down my face as I grieve the end of everything I know.
I let my mind wander to prevent the panic from rising in my chest. At least when the Monroe brothers kept me in a cell, they gave me books to read. I was happy with them. Barrett, Kyler, and even Sebastian all found a way to make me feel taken care of, protected. Where the hell are they and why haven’t they come for me ?
I don't know how much time passes before I hear footsteps approaching the room. I stand up, making my way to the door before gripping the bars in the small widow to peer out. A figure of what looks like a man with long hair appears. He looks vaguely familiar. I've definitely seen him around the compound, but I don’t remember ever speaking to him.
"Callie, I’m Soren." He states.
I don't respond but I catch sight of the small package he’s holding. He unzips the pouch and pulls out a needle.
"Can you put your arm up, so I don't have to call the guard or Damien to assist?"
I scoff. "It's not happening. Call whoever you want." I go to walk away but hear him whisper something just loud enough that only I can hear.
"Stan died, they will too."
I stop and turn to face him. "What did you just say?" Stan was Barrett's stepfather's name. The one that he killed in the fire as a child.
"I said we have to do this before the wedding. Don't make me disturb your father."
I watch his eyes shoot over to the right like he's trying to tell me something without actually speaking. I step closer and he reaches into the window to grab my arm.
"Play along." He whispers.
"I just want to be left alone." I say loudly for anyone who may be listening. "If I let you do this, will you just leave?"
"It will only take a few minutes." He says.
"Fine. Get it over with." I shove my arm out of the window, trusting in a person I probably shouldn't. Him saying Stan is dead is too much of a coincidence. There is something else going on here, I decide to go with my instincts, and they tell me to give him a chance.
He pulls something out of a bag but leans in to whisper while he's doing whatever he's doing. It's hard to really see everything from my vantage point. Something touches my skin and I go to pull my arm back.
"Don't." He whispers. "There's nothing except saline in it. I have to keep up pretenses. We only have a few moments."
"What's going on?"
"I'm working with the Monroe brothers to get you out of here. Barrett told me to start by saying Kyler is alive."
He shoves the needle into my arm making me cry out. I hate needles. The pinch is brief, and I can feel the cool liquid that he pushed into my skin.
"Was that really necessary?"
"I waited two months to get a few minutes with you. Stop talking and let me explain. I made this for you. It's a hair clip with a tracker in it." He slides me something through the window and I bring my free hand up to casually grab it.
"I thought you said you weren't putting the tracker on me."
"They expect to be able to track you and this was the only workaround I could find. At least with this, it's removable. You won't have it stuck in your skin. I don't know if I'll have another chance to talk to you alone again. You need to be ready at all times for us to get you out. We are going to use the wedding as a distraction and hopefully get you out before the ceremony. I don't have all the specific details."
"I'll be ready."
"Good because they made it pretty clear that if anything goes wrong, my neck is on the line. You have all three of these guys wrapped around your finger."
Hearing the guys have been pushing so hard to get me out of here warms my heart. I can't believe I ever let myself doubt their love. He said all three of them, which means even Seb must be trying to get me back. It gives me the last little surge of hope I need to survive down here alone until this bullshit wedding.
"I have to go. I already stayed too long. Don't remove that hair clip until we get you out. I'm as good as dead if you do, and you'll have nobody on the inside to help you then."
"I can't marry him." I tell Soren before he goes.
"I’ll do my best to get you out before that happens but there is always a possibility I can't. Just trust we are doing everything we can. Be smart."
That's the last thing he says before I'm left alone in the darkness again. I slide the hair clip into my hair. I hate that I have to have it on at all but I’m thankful he didn’t insert something into my skin like my father wanted him to.
I flop down on the pathetic excuse of a bed to fantasize over how I'm going to destroy this place once I'm out of here. I won't let Rogue, my father, or Damien affect any more lives. I will decimate this place as though it never existed. My father's legacy will be nothing but ash.