Chapter Nine
It’s been three days since Detective Martinez came to the hospital and took me back to his house. I assumed he would throw me to the curb once he found out more about Hayley, but I guess something has him holding on to me. Maybe it’s because I still have yet to tell him about her job. How can I tell him her biggest kept secret?
I know her job may have had something to do with her death, but she made me swear I would never tell a soul what was going on. I think she may have been protecting my adoptive parents, but why? They never did anything good for either one of us, but they were her birth parents. That had to carry some weight on her shoulders. Weight that I’m not sure I’ll ever know or feel.
Fuerza.
The word is stuck in my head as if it holds meaning to me. I guess it does, in a way, now that I know my birth father wore it on his finger everyday. I have so many questions for Detective Martinez about them, although I’m not sure he could say much. He told me it brought me closer to finding them, but I’m not entirely sure what he meant by that. Does he know who they are? Can he find them? Will I be able to see them again one day and find out who they are?
Detective Martinez’s house is stunning. My mind went numb as I took in its beautiful walls, light fixtures, and decorations. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Growing up, I was used to living in a tiny, one bedroom apartment with the Sutton’s. They forced Hayley and I to sleep on the floor or outside most nights. I also remember being alone the majority of the time, freezing while I tried to sleep. I always made it a point to be as far away as I could be during the day. The Sutton’s were never home, so that made it easier to stay away.
The truth behind our lives is that the world was never meant to find us. We were meant to live quietly under the radar until I decided to sneak out into the real world. Jason helped me with that the day I met him when he gave me my job at the theater. It’s not exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but it has helped me get by for the most part. It’s definitely helped me stay off the streets.
Hayley never had the chance to get away, though. She was bound to them by blood which meant they always had a hold over her. They would always be able to control her as long as she thought that way. With her gone, I’m terrified they will find me and take me back home, sure I never actually left. But I haven’t been the one doing their bidding. I guess that’s all over now.
Which is why I’m currently frozen as I stare at my phone screen. The name Dickhead scrolls across the screen as my body suddenly goes numb. My dad. Well, my adopted one anyway. I don’t know what he wants, but I can only assume he’s found out about Hayley. It’s taken him this long to realize she was missing, and that speaks for itself.
I slide the button across the screen as I take a deep breath and hold it to my ear. “Hi, dad.”
“Don’t ‘hi, dad’ me,” he growls. “Where is your sister? I’ve been calling her for days, and she hasn’t answered.”
My heart breaks more, he doesn’t even know. Of course he doesn’t. “I haven’t heard from her.” I stretch the truth because it hurts too much to tell him.
“Fuck, she’s going to be in trouble when I find her.” He starts to shuffle around. “Nat, I need you to come home. Without her, I have no other choice but to send you. I’m sure the client will be much happier with you anyway. He has certain tastes that you will fill.”
“Excuse me?” My heart starts to pound heavier. “What are you talking about?”
He sighs loudly. “You’re a virgin, and he loves that. Your sister knows how to fake it really well, but a real virgin might be perfect to land this contract. Why didn’t I think of this before?” I can imagine the grin stretching across his disgusting face.
My world seems to come crashing around me. He’s talking about selling me and my virginity. But how does he know I’m still a virgin? He has given me jobs before, but Hayley always did them for me. Fuck, what do I do without her? “I… I’m n-not,” I stammer.
“You’re a virgin, Natalia. I’ve known the whole time what you and your sister were doing. Did you really think she could be such a whore and not catch her father’s attention somehow? Unluckily for her, I’ve always had other tastes.” I can almost hear the way he licks his lips. “So, you will be filling in for her tonight as her punishment for not answering my call. Looks like it’s your time to shine. I’ll see you in an hour.” The call ends leaving me gasping out as I try to breathe.
He can’t be serious right now, can he?
How much does he actually know?
Everything feels like it’s spinning as I drop my phone to the ground. Tonight is that night I have to lose my virginity because I have no other way out. If I don’t go home, then my father will send his goons after me and drag me to him, which will only make it worse for me. If I go home, I’m royally and truly fucked. I am either way.
The thought crosses my mind to call Detective Martinez, but I decide not to. He’s busy with my sister’s case, so I doubt he has the time to help me solve this problem. It also doesn’t help that I never told him Hayley’s job, which is now coming back to bite me in the ass. If I’d have told him, this might not have even become a problem I need to deal with.
Thankfully, I’m off today, so I can do as my father says very quickly. I don’t want to be late because I’m already in over my head more than I care to admit. I have no idea what my plan or idea is when I get there, but I will do everything I can to not be broken tonight. I won’t let a man touch me when I want nothing to do with his hands.
The thought of Detective Martinez hands on my body comes to mind, and I soften. Imagining the feel of his hands on my body sets fires inside my body that I never knew existed. How would his body feel pressed against mine? I quickly shake my head of the thoughts, bringing me back to the moment.
I jump up from my couch in my small apartment and quickly head to the bathroom. I have to get a shower before I go, per my family’s rules. Hygiene is the one thing they did practice very well, despite all their dirty, and gross behaviors. It makes me wonder what my real parents are like. Would they be putting me through the same pain and trials?
Something tells me they would never do this, but rather burn the world down as they try to protect me. Which leaves me to wonder if they know I’m alive.