Chapter 2 - Aubrey
I stepped out of the shower, still sore from the lack of sleep. This hotel room smelled of Chinese takeout and cigars, but at least Mike wouldn’t know I was here.
I propped myself onto the bed and pulled the towel off my head.
I glanced at myself in the mirror, unable to stop the cringe.
I had lost weight, and my skin had paled over the past month.
I shouldn’t be surprised since I’d been jumping from one hotel to the next.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stayed outside and basked in the sun. I felt like I was becoming a hermit.
I felt my throat go dry thinking about how different my life was just a year ago. I’d been happy and healthy. I had a job I loved and an apartment that was my own. And then I met Mike.
Mike, the guy who destroyed everything.
I turned around and grabbed my brush, running it through my hair. I found myself missing my long hair. I’d chopped it two weeks ago, hoping it would help keep Mike from finding me.
I was at a loss for what to do at this point. I had no family to reach out to. I had no job anymore since Mike fucked me out of it. I had nothing. I was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
I shook my head and tossed the towel aside. I turned and flipped the TV on. I pulled the sheets up and heard a knock at the door. I turned, but before I could even reach it, the door was thrown open.
My entire body stiffened as I stared at Mike. He was a tall, skinny man with deep black hair. He had tattoos that covered most of his body. He had that biker vibe, which had drawn me to him at first. That was all before I knew how deep in debt he was.
He shut the door behind him and tilted his head. “So, this is where you’ve been staying.”
I swallowed. “No, not really.” I glanced toward the door and back at him. “How did you get in here?”
He waved a key, and I scowled. “Isn’t that against the law?”
He gave me a shrug and grabbed a chair, setting it in front of the door. He sat down in it. “Nice hair.”
I crossed my arms, trying to keep myself together. “Mike, just let me go.”
He shook his head. “You don’t get to just run off in the middle of the night. Do you have any idea how hard it was to find you?”
“We broke up.”
“No, you broke up,” he countered.
“I left because you hit me!” I snapped.
He almost winced, but he’d always been good at flipping the script. Each time he’d hit me, he’d apologize. Or, he hit me because I pushed him to react. Mike was good at making you think you were crazy.
“Aubrey, stop fighting this. No one will treat you better than I do. You were a nobody.”
I shook my head. “You need to leave.”
He started to laugh. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
I felt something shift deep in my chest. I’d been running, and I felt like a cat that had been caught. There were no windows I could jump out of, not doors I could slip into. I had no escape.
“Mike, please.”
I couldn’t stop another beating. I couldn’t wake up to him on top of me or to looking at myself in the mirror and seeing all the marks. I ran because I couldn’t take it anymore.
The morning I left, I stared at myself. I had a busted lip and a black eye. I remembered just staring at myself for five minutes. I could hardly recognize myself anymore.
I hated who I’d become. I couldn’t leave the house. I couldn’t work. Mike drank all the time and threw things. His friends were asses that were constantly trying to place their hands on me.
I wet my lips, deciding maybe I could go another direction. “Fine. You want a good girl? I can be a good girl.”
Mike smirked. “As much as I would like that, not tonight.” There was a soft knock at the door, and I felt a shiver roll down my spine. Mike gave me a sympathetic look. “I made a deal, Aubrey, and you’re my ticket.”
He pulled himself up and reached for the door.
I didn’t understand. “What does that mean, Mike?”
He opened the door, and I spotted two guys outside. I took a step back. “Mike?”
“It will be easier if you don’t fight it.”
They stepped into the room, and I felt my stomach drop violently.
I fought, but I lost. A blind fold was tightly wrapped around my head, and my arms were tied together. I tried to break free, but it was no use. I had no muscle to fight back.
I had no idea where I was being taken or what was going on. My mind was everywhere, wondering how the hell I was going to get myself free.
When the blind fold finally came off, I was sitting in a room. There were no windows and only one door. Mike stood in front of the door, his arms crossed as he leaned on the frame.
There was a red fabric sitting next to his feet and some heels. I felt the need to vomit, but my stomach was empty.
“What’s going on, Mike?”
“They want their money, Aubrey. So, I didn’t exactly have a choice.”
I swallowed.
He gave me a sympathetic look. Or as close to one as Mike could give. “This is an auction, and your pretty little face is going to help get me out of debt.”
My eyes widened. “What? Are you insane?”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll find you and bring you back. It’s only for a little while, Aubrey. I would never actually let anyone hurt you. You’re mine after all.”
He took a step closer, and I took one back.
“You should put this on and look a little happy.”
“Mike.”
“I’m sorry,” he added. “It’s just for right now.”
I felt tears building up, but I knew better than to let them drop. I couldn’t cry in front of him. I couldn’t waste the time when I needed to be planning.
Mike stepped out of the room, and I walked toward the door and tugged on it, but it was locked. I tugged harder, feeling a few tears breaking free this time. I felt a sob build up, and I quickly covered my mouth, stopping myself from sobbing.
I shook my head and dropped to the ground. I looked over at the fabric and found it was a small red dress. It wasn’t even my size. It was tight-fitting, and I knew exactly how I would look in it. What curves I did have would show, and it would hardly cover my ass.
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself somewhere else. On a beach, far, far away from here.
I sat there for a few minutes before I finally put the damn outfit on.
I knew if I didn’t, something would happen.
I was just putting the heels on when the door opened.
A man I didn’t recognize stood there. He was built like a train, and I knew better than to try anything.
He couldn’t easily break a bone without having to try.
I knew if I didn’t act up, I would get more leeway on things. And it gave me room to plan, room to figure out my next steps. I just needed to find an open door or an empty hallway.
He took me down a narrow hallway, and I looked for extra doors, but there were none. He paused in front of a large curtain. I chewed on my cheek as I scanned the space. There was nothing I could throw, no objects I could use to protect myself.
He shoved me from behind, and I stumbled into the curtain and right through it. I caught myself as a bright light hit me like a train. I winced under the lights, unable to see correctly. I pulled a hand up to block the light.
I took a couple more steps forward, tugging on the dress to make sure it was still covering my ass. I scanned the space, and my eyes landed on a door straight ahead. The exit sign was a deep red, and my heart stopped beating. It was my way out.
But my eyes started to adjust to all the light, and I took in the crowd. There had to be almost a hundred people sitting in front of me. I could see it was packed, and the room smelled of cigar and sex.
I would never make it past that many people. I wouldn’t make it off the stage before someone would have their hands on me. My heart sank, and I felt tears form. I could taste blood in my mouth as I bit hard on my cheek
“Five hundred dollars.”
“One thousand dollars.”
“Five thousand dollars.”
I couldn’t breathe. My lungs felt like they were spasming, and I felt panic starting to take over.
“Twenty thousand.” A voice spoke up, and my eyes snapped toward it. I couldn’t make out what he looked like, but he was tall. He was wearing casual clothes and had wild-looking hair. The light was blinding, and I blinked, and he was gone.
“Sold.”
My mind stopped working as I stood there. My heart didn’t even seem to be beating.
“Come claim your prize.”
I was yanked from behind. Someone grabbed my arm, pulling me to the side. I stumbled, losing a heel as I was pulled off the stage. I couldn’t even process what was going on. I spotted Mike standing a few feet away, a smile on his face.
“Here.” A couple of guys stood together as I was pulled toward them. The man with his casual clothes held up a check, his eyes zoned in on me. He tossed the check toward the guys, and I watched his eyes scan me over.
“I’d be careful with this one,” a guy chuckled. “I hear she’s a fireball.”
Remain calm, Aubrey. Breathe in. Focus.
I swallowed as I stepped closer to the man. He was tall and muscular. He reminded me of a bodybuilder, the way he was built. He had jet-black hair and matching black eyes. He gave little emotion on his face as I stepped closer to him.
“Is that all?” he asked, his gaze going past me. I continued to stare, unable to stop myself. I was stunned because he was handsome, too. He had a defined chin and thin lips. He had dark eyes, but they were beautiful. He was the type of man who made women turn on the street.
“She’s all yours.”
I looked over my shoulder at the group. But my eyes didn’t land on them. They landed on Mike, who stood a distance away from them. I felt a shiver roll down my spine as I’d stepped into a cold freezer.
“Come on.” The man grabbed my shoulder, tugging me closer to him. We walked past the crowd of people and through a door. We headed down a hallway where he pulled me to a stop.
“Here,” he shrugged his jacket off, not looking at me now. “Put this on. It’s chilly out.”
I pulled my sleeves into the jacket, and it pooled around me, but I was grateful. I was freezing my ass off in this dress, and at least the jacket covered my skin.