17. Chapter 17
The golden light filtering through the massive windows does nothing to warm the ice in Gerald’s eyes.
The kindness and warmth that once seemed to pour from them is gone, leaving me wondering if I ever imagined them in the first place.
My heart slams against my ribs as he prowls towards me, backing me into the corner of the room.
The antique chaise longue digs into the backs of my knees, trapping me.
“The way the system works, Alina,” he rasps, “is that I have complete control.”
His hand curls around my throat, just firm enough to remind me of his strength.
Of my helplessness.
“I have the option to rescind your immigration paperwork at any time.”
No. This can’t be happening.
We were happy, weren’t we?
I search his face for any trace of the man I thought I knew, but there”s nothing familiar in those arctic eyes.
Only hunger.
The thrill of the hunt.
I scrabble at his wrist.
“But that’s not true!”
My nails leave red crescents on his skin. He doesn’t even flinch.
“I really did believe we were meant to be! I trusted your promises. My intentions were good!”
A Cheshire cat grin splits his face. “But they don’t know that.”
His fingers tighten, cutting off my breath.
Spots dance before my eyes.
“And when it comes to immigration, the American citizen has all the power. And you know what I’ve heard happens in immigration prisons, Alina. Especially to young children nearing their teenage years.”
Yara. The thought of my daughter in a place like that—no. I won’t let him take her. I’d kill us both first.
I sag against him, playing the obedient fiancée.
As his grip loosens, I stomp on his instep and elbow him in the solar plexus.
He grunts, stumbling back.
I bolt for the door, my heart in my throat.
If I could just make it outside, get help—but then, he”s right. Where would I go? Immigration will take his side and deport me. Us. Maybe even send us to prison.
I can”t put Yara through that. After everything she”s been through already…
A bruising grip closes around my upper arm, yanking me off my feet.
I crash to the marble floor, pain exploding through my knee and hip.
Gerald looms over me, his eyes glacial, his mouth twisted in a snarl.
“You stupid bitch. I always keep my promises, and if you don’t do exactly as I say, immigration will be here so fast to haul your ass off to prison you won’t know which way is up.”
His boot connects with my ribs, stealing my breath.
“They might even leave your precious daughter with me. For safekeeping.”
Icy terror floods my veins.
There is no escape.
I”m well and truly trapped, just like he planned.
Gerald has won a game that I didn”t even know we were playing.
I struggle to my feet, clutching my bruised side. Every breath sends a stab of pain through my chest.
Gerald watches me with those dead, predatory eyes.
Waiting.
Knowing I have no choice.
I swallow hard against the bile rising in my throat.
For Yara, I would do anything.
”What do you want from me?” The words taste of ash and defeat.
A slow, sinister smile creeps across his face.
”That”s better. I knew you”d come around.”
He straightens his cuffs, the picture of nonchalance.
”You”ll be working for me now. Doing as I say, when I say it. And the first order of business...”
His gaze turns hungry, raking over me in a way that makes my skin crawl.
”You”re going to help me acquire some new...merchandise. Pretty little things, just like yourself… just like Yara.”
Revulsion and horror twist my gut.
He wants me to lure other women into his web, like a spider feasting on flies. Girls, too.
I shake my head in mute denial.
”Don”t shake your head at me. It makes perfect sense. Yara will also be assisting us. Having someone around her age will help us to more effectively lure new meat.”
My stomach seizes and I feel bile rising in my throat.
My sweet Yara, being used to help capture other girls, luring them into a life of sex slavery.
”No, you wouldn”t—”
Gerald tsks. ”Come now, Alina. Did you really think you were that special and I really just wanted you to come here to be my wife?”
His mouth contorts into a cruel sneer.
”You know what”s at stake here. Or shall I call immigration to come collect you and your daughter right now? Those cages I”ve seen on the news look less than comfortable… and the violence and rapes… I wouldn”t wish that on my children. Not when they could be staying in a place like this in exchange for a few small favors.”
He gestures at our sumptuous surroundings.
A different kind of cage.
Bile rises higher in my throat, acid and unstoppable. I turn just in time, retching onto the polished marble floor.
Gerald makes a noise of disgust. ”Clean that up, you messy creature. And then we”ll talk about your new job responsibilities.”
He leaves me here, crumpled on the floor in a pool of my own sick. Broken. Beaten. With no way out and nowhere left to run.
I stay here for a long time, unable to move. Unable to think past the horror of what”s being asked of me.
Finally I drag myself upright, my limbs as heavy as lead.
There are cleaning supplies under the sink in the adjacent bathroom, and I scrub at the floor until no trace of vomit remains.
As if I could erase the memory so easily.
When I”m done, Gerald is waiting in his study.
I hover in the doorway, not wanting to cross the threshold. Not wanting to enter the lair of the evil man who”s managed to trap me because I wanted so badly to believe in something good.
God, I feel stupid now.
He looks up from some papers on his desk, his eyes cold.
”Come in. Sit.” His tone brooks no argument. I perch on the edge of a chair, tense as a bowstring.
”Here is what will happen.”
Gerald leans back, steepling his fingers.
”You will go to clubs, bars, anywhere you can find lonely young women. Chat them up, get friendly. Then invite them back here under some pretext.”
His lips curl.
”You can be quite charming when you put your mind to it.”
I frown as pain sears through my head. It”s like the gravity of what he”s asking me to do is hitting me full force. He doesn”t even have to touch me to have a physical impact on me.
I don”t want to ask questions, but I also have an almost perverse need to know where I would be leading these women if I do what he”s asking me.
”And what happens then… to them, I mean—”
He waves his hand at me as if impatient at my question. ”Once they”re here, we dose them with a sedative we”ve acquired. When they wake, they”ll find themselves...indisposed. Ready to be sold to the highest bidder.”
He shrugs.
”Simple as that. If you do your job well, your daughter stays safe and untouched. If not...”
He leaves the threat hanging.
I stare at him, unable to form words around the horror choking me. He wants me to lure unsuspecting women to their doom. To a fate worse than death.
And if I don”t, Yara…
Bile rises in my throat again, but this time I swallow hard and manage to keep it down. For now.
Outwardly I remain motionless, frozen.
Inwardly my mind races, searching for an escape from this nightmare.
There has to be a way out.
There has to be. I must find it, or die trying.
Gerald stands, smoothing his jacket. ”You have your orders. Now get to work. And be warned, I have no patience for subpar results.”
He exits the room, leaving me alone with the devil”s bargain he”s forced upon me.
I remain motionless for a long time after he leaves, trying to process the depravity of his demands.
Lure innocent women to their doom or watch my daughter suffer and possibly die.
There is no choice at all, and we both know it.
When I can finally move again, I go to Yara”s room and gather her in my arms, clinging to her as she babbles about her day. The thought of anything happening to her makes me feel physically ill, a cold knot of terror taking up residence in my stomach.
I would do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means becoming a monster myself.
Later that night
I dress up in a slinky red dress and too-high heels, hating myself more with every step as I venture out to prowl the clubs for Gerald”s next victims.
My stomach churns the entire time, but I force on a flirty smile and strike up conversations, trying to seem casual and as if I”m out for a night of uninhibited fun and revelry just like everyone else.
But it”s no use. I feel awkward and nauseous, and anyone paying attention probably notices I seem a bit off. Nobody bites. But I know I can”t keep putting this off.
If I fail at this, if I can”t bring myself to lure these women to their doom, Yara will die. I need to find another way to protect her, even if it means sacrificing myself.
As closing time approaches with no success, relief and worry both flood me.
I”ve failed my first test, but for now I haven”t lured any other innocent people into Gerald”s evil trap, and Yara and I are both still alive.
He can”t expect results on my first day. I need a little more time to figure a way out of this nightmare.
There has to be someone who can help us. Someone I can tell the truth without them thinking I”m insane. The key is finding them before Gerald realizes his new toy is broken beyond repair.
I pray for the chance to keep searching as I make my way home, dreading facing Gerald and the punishment my failure might bring. But Yara”s life is worth any cost. I would endure anything to ensure her safety.
Absolutely anything.
I walk through the front door of the mansion with leaden steps, my heart pounding. Gerald will be waiting to hear about my success, eager to start the ”training” he has planned for his new recruits.
How will he react when I tell him I failed? I”m really taking a punt that he won”t come down too hard given this is my first time trying.
The foyer is empty, but I hear voices coming from the study down the hall. Gerald”s smooth, cultured tones, and a woman”s laughter in response.
My stomach drops as I realized he”s succeeded where I failed, and already brought a victim into our home.
Summoning my courage, I walk to the study and find Gerald casually draped across the leather sofa, a glass of brandy in one hand. A stunning brunette sits beside him, gazing at him with smitten eyes.
My entrance catches her attention, and she frowns at my presence, her territorial instincts flaring to life.
Gerald glances up with a shark”s smile, noting my pale face and trembling hands. ”Alina, darling, you”re just in time. Our guest was wondering where you were. I was about to send a car for you.”
His meaning is clear: he knows I failed, and is punishing me by making me witness his conquest.
The nameless woman”s frown deepens at the obvious intimacy in his tone. She shifts away from him, regarding me with unveiled suspicion.
Gerald chuckles and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close once more. ”No need to be jealous, sweetheart. Alina is part of the package.”
Revulsion rises in my throat like bile at his words. I force it down and summon an answering smile. ”Of course. My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Gerald”s eyes gleam, seeing my capitulation. ”There, you see? All is well. Now, we were just discussing how we might entertain our guest this evening.”
His fingers trail down the woman”s arm in a possessive caress.
”Any suggestions, darling?”
I swallow hard, wrestling with the urge to scream. To attack him and try to destroy the monster he”s just revealed himself to be.
But one wrong move would mean Yara”s death. I have to play his game, at least for now.
There has to be a way out of this, if I”m patient, if I can endure his cruelty. I will find it, no matter the cost.
”I”m sure we can think of something,” I say softly. ”After all, we aim to please.”
Gerald”s laughter echoes through the room, a dark promise of what”s to come.