Chapter 7
Francesca
I wanted to scream. But I was too freaking scared to do anything. Even breathe.
He wanted to auction me off. And my—virginity.
And he'd be back in twenty-four hours to collect me.
Because there was no way in hell my father would have the money by then.
I stared at my father. “Please tell me you have enough money put away for him,” I barely had enough breath left in my lungs to say.
My heart pounded so hard I could feel it inside my head.
And if my father gave me the answer I thought he was going to give me—I was fairly certain my head would explode right here in the living room.
My father's face crumpled as he slid back against the wall until he sat on the floor.
He pulled his knees up. “It's been tough lately, Franny.
You know that. It's hard out there.” He jerked his hand toward the door.
“And you girls ain't helpin' like you should.” His voice cracked, and he shook his head.
“I've been telling you and telling you.” His head fell forward.
“I needed you to chip in. Work harder. But neither of you two fuckin' listen!” he yelled, lifting his arms.
And then my head really freaking did explode. I'd had it with him.
And I'd had it with my sister.
“You're blaming me for this?” I shouted at my father. “Me? I'm the only one with a job! All you do is sit around and drink all day and night. While I'm out there.” I pointed toward the door. “Working my ass off carrying boxes that weigh more than I do.”
My father lifted his head long enough to say, “It ain't enough. You shoulda done more. I told ya, Franny. I fuckin' told ya. And now—” He crossed his arms and laid his head on his knees. “And now you're gonna have to pay the price.”
My stomach twisted, and I felt like I was going to faint. “I'm not paying anything. I've paid enough.” I walked to the stairs and grabbed onto the handrail. “You can pay that slimy piece of crap. Or,” I turned to look at my father, “you can deal with the consequences. I'm leaving.”
I hurried upstairs while my father shouted weakly, “You can't run. They're watching.”
While my father's words echoed inside my head, I got dressed. Then I scrambled around my room, quickly grabbing what I absolutely had to take with me. I'd come back for the rest—never.
The realization that I'd never come back here again flowed through me. It would be too dangerous. After this, I'd have to cut off all communication between me and my family. My dad had done some shady crap in the past, but this was on a whole new level of stupid.
Auction me off?
His debtor wanted to sell my virginity to the highest bidder?
No, thanks.
That was all kinds of messed up.
I'd never slept with anyone. And I wasn't about to let my first time be with some disgusting, greasy loser. Not for all the money in the world.
I rushed to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush and a bottle of shampoo I'd just bought. I stuffed the last of my essentials into my bag and zipped it up.
I thought about leaving a note for Felicia.
But there was no time for that. Our father could explain why I'd left in the night. She was out at her boyfriend’s.
Or more like the guy she was trying unsuccessfully to squeeze money out of.
And it wasn't like I was going to sit around and wait for her to come home.
I had to leave.
Now.
I ran to the stairs and bounded down them.
“They'll find you, Franny. Don't try to leave. It'll be worse if you try to leave,” my father cried out, his body shaking in fear. Or with the DT's. I couldn't tell which.
“I'll go out the back,” I said, grabbing my sweater from the hook on the wall. I'd hopped the back fence many times in my life. It wouldn't be hard to do. Even in the dead of night.
My father's head swayed from side to side. “No, no. Don't do it. They'll see you. They always see.”
His words more than freaked me out. To say the least. Even so, I still knew what I had to do.
Leave.
“I'm fast. They won't see me.” I walked right by my dad, not even stopping to say goodbye.
He'd never protected me.
Not once in my life had he gone out of his way to do anything for me. Why I kept coming back was a damn mystery.
I got to the kitchen and thought about taking one last look at him. Because I knew—I just knew I'd never see him again.
But—I was too angry.
He'd put me in harm’s way.
Again.
When all I'd ever done was go out of my way to help him. To make his and my sister's lives easier.
And look what it had gotten me?
On the auction block.
I turned off the kitchen light and waited for a minute. Back pressed against the wall. The only sound I could hear were my father's soft, pathetic sobs coming from the living room.
Instead of making me feel sorry for him, it only fueled my anger and disgust.
I was so done with him.
Done with this whole scene.
I should never have come back here. What had I been thinking?
I reached out and set my hand on the doorknob and turned it. Then I slowly slipped out the door, closing it behind me. I stood still for a moment, listening in the dark for any faint noise or movement.
But there was nothing.
Phew.
The coast was clear.
Just like I'd thought.
I took off like my life depended on it. Because it did. I reached the fence and tossed my bag over. Then I started to heft myself over the top when—
“Not so fast, girlie,” someone said behind me. Big, warm hands grabbed onto my waist and dragged me down. I fell with a crash to the ground below.
I struggled and turned, forcing him to lose his hold on me. He wasn't going to win. I was getting away tonight. If I didn't leave tonight, I'd be stuck here. Forever.
Just as I scrambled across the yard to the side fence, those big hands tightened around my legs and yanked me down.
“You're going the wrong way,” the man whispered into my ear.