Chapter 88
Harlow
The rope was digging into my skin as I struggled in the back seat. Every bump caused my head to hit the door, but my captor didn’t seem to care. They had one thing on their mind. I needed to get free. I needed to get out of here and escape. Why did they take me? Where were we going?
They hit the brake, and I went flying into the front seat, landing awkwardly on the floorboard. My nightgown rose up my thighs as the door flew open. I squeezed my thighs closed, but they grabbed my shin. Their touch should not feel this exhilarating or exciting, especially in this situation.
They pulled me out and as they went to get more rope for my legs, I took off.
It was dark other than the light from the headlights, but we were in the woods on a secluded path.
The rocky terrain hurt my bare feet, but I kept running.
A rock—more so a boulder—tripped me, and I went tumbling down to the ground.
I was like a turtle stuck on its back as a predator came to eat me alive.
“You can’t run, piccola colomba. I’ll always catch you.”
The voice.
Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was grabbed and pulled over her shoulder and brought back to the car—only she didn’t put me in the back seat or even the trunk. She laid me out on the hood, sliding my nightgown up my legs.
“Mmm, looks like I’ll have a fun night,” she cooed.
“Please…” I whimpered through the gag.
“Please? Hmm. Already begging to be fucked like a needy little whore, huh?” Tears streamed down my face as her lithe fingers trailed up my thighs.
I screamed when her tongue swiped at my pussy. “Ahh, look at that,” she cooed. “Maybe you’ll have a fun night, too. Now be good and enjoy.”
When she was done using me, she crawled up my body and captured my lips in a scorching kiss. Her face started to morph before Caterina’s came into view. “Good girl, mia vita. Such a filthy little whore.”
I gasped, my breathing erratic and my thighs clenching. Caterina grabbed me instantly, thinking I had a nightmare. It was a nightmare, but it wasn’t, at the same time. I couldn’t explain what it was.
“Hey, mia vita, it’s okay. Breathe, baby.”
I looked up at her and kissed her. “I’m okay. Thank you. It was just a dream.”
“How are you feeling after last night?” she asked.
“I’m okay. Are you okay?”
She tucked my hair behind my ear, her hand caressing my cheek. “I am. I have you, and it’s all I need.”
“Talk to Serena. Regardless of you saying you’re okay, I know you’re not. I know you’re hurt and feel betrayed. Showing emotion or even crying over his death won’t hurt me like you think it will.”
She frowned. “He hurt you.”
“A lot of men hurt me. You killed the man who hurt me, but you can mourn the friendship you lost. I love you, Caterina, and I don’t want to see this hurt you, too.”
“I’ll talk to her. I need to see my father first. I’ll pick up Serenity and bring her home.”
I nodded. “I’m gonna talk to Serena, and then I want to do something tonight.”
I walked into Serena’s office, giving her a soft smile. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Harlow. How are you?”
“Better, but I am having dreams. At first they started off as faceless ones where I am taken, but last night the person who took me morphed into Caterina after she went down on me.”
“Do you fight in the dreams?”
I nodded, feeling embarrassment hit my cheeks. “Yes, but I’m turned on. I’m mortified, but my body betrays me. Lizzy and I talked about this a while ago, but I never thought I would want to do it, especially now.”
“CNC is a way for survivors to get their power back. With your trauma, you didn’t have control. With the second kidnapping and assault, your mind is trying to process what happened to you, even months later. I’m not surprised with the new development, but don’t let it scare you.”
“Lizzy said it was normal for survivors to want to do CNC. Vincenzo took my control, and I want it back. I guess I’m not as okay as I was trying to be.”
“Have you talked to Cat about it?”
“Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first. I don’t know why I want this, especially after I was taken again. The thought alone should terrify me, but I want to do it.”
“If you’re comfortable, what happens in these dreams? What did you think caused them?”
My dream was different than what happened to me when we were taken, but something Vincenzo did before.
“When I was in his bed once, I was sleeping and he forced my face into a pillow as he bound me and blindfolded me. That’s how the dream starts.
I’m taken from my bed and thrown into the back of his car.
Apparently, someone paid him money for me, but they wanted me a certain way and away from the club.
It was at a lake house,” I explained. “In my dream, when I’m taken out of the car, I’m bent over the hood and given oral, but it’s not any of the men that hurt me. It’s Caterina.”
“Then what happened?”
“She forced me to the house, telling me everything she would do to me before throwing me to the bed. I’m still tied and gagged, so I’m screaming. She threatens me before touching me, and then she drowns me in praise as she takes me.”
There was a blush creeping on my cheeks. “Don’t be embarrassed. I think you should talk to Caterina about this and then you can plan it out correctly. CNC involves a lot of communication. Caterina knows how to read you, so if you’re uncomfortable, even bound and gagged, she will stop.”
“I’m going to talk to her about it. I want to do it, but I want her to plan it. I give you permission to tell her what we talk about related to the scene. I want to be scared and surprised, but I know I’ll be safe. I told her to come and talk to you.”
Serena straightened. “Caterina doesn’t do therapy as much as we’d like her to. Is everything okay?”
I sighed. “One of the men who hurt me before was her friend. We met him at his restaurant last night.”
“Mario?” I nodded, and she sighed. “I’m sorry for bringing his name into your safe space. Caterina called her father and said she killed him but didn’t give much of an explanation.”
“I am pretty sure she is still processing it herself. When she does talk to you, I give you permission to tell her about my dream and what I want done. I’m going to set my rules and we have our safe word, but I want it to be a surprise.”
“I will talk to her.”
It was finally time to take the reins of my life back. I might not be able to control a lot of things, but I had control of this, and I was the dictator of my own life, not a ghost.