A Broken Beautiful Beginning (14 page)

I groan as I lean my forearms on th
e dirty ground and hide my face. My nose hurts really badly although I can feel blood seeping from my nose, I know it’s not broken. At a time like this, I’d appreciate one of Raven’s slaps.

Getting punched by a man double your size hurts like a bitch.
Looking through my fallen hair I see the old man from the corner of my eye bending down next to me, yanking my head back he forces me to look into his hate filled eyes. His smile turns dark and he grabs my breast and squeezes so hard I cry out in pain.

“Best you learn I don’t need permission for shit. I want to touch... I touch. I want to play...” he gives my breast a softer squeeze. “... I play.” He throws my head down and my cheek bone hits the floor. I wheeze in pain, my body aches.

“Take the bitch to the pit!” Dex pulls me up from the floor and I battle to get up at first but I manage to find my balance on my weak legs. I look down to see my white shirt blood soaked from my nose, as if I’m wearing a red bib. I wipe at my nose and keep my head bent back as I try to stop the bleeding. Dex’s grip on my elbow is excruciating but I don’t want any more hurt to come my way so I’m going to be a good girl and allow him to send me to the pit.

Whatever the fuck that i
s…

Shivers run
through me from terror as he leads me through the crowd. My shoulder bumps into someone and their warm hands try to steady me. I shove them off me in a panic and look straight into green eyes.

“Harley
?” He mouths over the loud music. Confusion fills his face, anger replacing it when he sees my blood. He looks to Dex who’s having a conversation with someone at his side. I shake my head hoping it’s not a dream; tears start to fill my eyes with happiness when I realize he’s really here.
He came to my rescue… he will get me out of this horrible place.

My smile drops when I reach out for him and he backs away only to see Avery wrap her
slender arms over his shoulders. I now notice the patch he’s wearing isn’t my fathers but the same patch that all the guys in
this
club wear. The
Stowaways
it says. My face is full of confusion when he doesn’t push her away.

“
Are you coming back to the table baby?” Avery says loud enough for me to hear. I let my head fall and close my eyes. I have no more tears left, especially not for him.

“Coming
…” Caleb replies. Dex now turns his attention to us and Avery finally sees me standing there. She seems sad for a moment then she gives me a blank look.

“You…” Is all she says wide eyed before recovering and calming her stance.

“You know them?” Dex rumbles from behind me, pulling me closer to his chest. His hands firmly hold onto the base of my neck.

I give Caleb one more disgusted look then turn to look up at Dex; I can’t bear to see those two together any longer. “No... Don’t know them at all…”

Dex nods his head and continues to pull me through the crowd. I don’t bother to look back at Caleb, it won’t achieve anything. He can’t help me now, not sure who will be able to help me, and I’m not sure who I can even trust anymore. I don’t cry; I’m too consumed with hate right now. I embrace it and let it fuel me into thinking up some kind of plan. Crying won’t help me get outta here.

We head back the way we came and when we pass the room I was in with Dex I start to panic. When he leads me further down toward a damp mildew smelling dark staircase, I
really
start to panic. I stumble off the last step as he tugs me into his chest. I can barely see him, only a few oil lamps give the basement-like-room a little light. Right behind Dex is a huge metal cage. It’s rusty and the floor is damp and smells like urine. Through the flickering light I see a smile transform on Dex’s face when he sees my fear.

He still holds me tight, both his hands on each arm holding me against his hard chest.

“You shouldn’t have elbowed me sweetness. You should know I like it rough....” he leans in and smells me again. It’s really strange that he keeps doing it; I’m half expecting him to pull out some of my hair and bring it to his nose to savour the smell. Thankfully, he doesn’t do that, instead he grossly runs his tongue up the side of my neck. I push against his chest and it only makes him chuckle. I can feel the rumble of his chest under my hands.

I move my face away from his making sure he understands every word I’m saying.

“My father is going to find me eventually and when he does… Even God won’t be able to save you.” I spit out each and every word.

This seems to do the trick because he throws me on the floor of the dingy cell, locks it and leaves.

I wrap my arms around my knees as I sit on the cold damp floor. After a few hours I fall asleep freezing and hungry. Even though my body shivers from the cold air in the basement, my body is too exhausted to stay awake.

I don’t know how many hours I stay in that little cell; it feels like time has frozen.

I wake up to the sound of tapping on metal. My body is stiff as I attempt to sit up straight.

“Over here…” I hear Dex’s quiet but deep voice. I look behind me to see him kneeling in the shadows, his hand leans out toward me and he has a shiny little chocolate looking wrapper. I back away from him.

“Not going to hurt you Harley, come here and take this.” He whispers.

I’m starving but I’m too afraid to go near him. “You haven’t eaten in over a day. Most of these guys don’t give a shit if you rot down here, but I don’t want that to happen.” I sit in place completely frozen.

I hear him let out a deep sigh, “Please… Harley. You’ll feel better if you eat and drink something. I got you a little water too.” I can’t resist, I’m too hungry and thirsty, my stomach rumbling at the mention of water. I slowly crawl in his direction. He leans through the bars and hands me the chocolate bar. I let out a little moan as the chocolate melts in my dry mouth.

He chuckles.

“You need to eat it all up and give me the wrapper. We can’t have anyone finding out I’m giving you this.” I hand him the wrapper when I’ve finished the chocolate. It doesn’t take me long.

I look at the silver flask he holds firmly in his hand. “Come here Harley.” He says gently, this time sounding as young as he looks.

“How old are you Dex?” I whisper, as I move closer to where he’s hunched over by the metal bars.

He gives me a genuine smile. “Turned eighteen two months ago.” He mumbles, looking rather embarrassed. The boy is really big for his age, but as soon as you see his beautiful dimpled face it’s easy to tell he’s younger than he seems.

“Why are you doing this? Can’t you let me go? We can sneak out Dex. You’re so young… You shouldn’t be here with these people.” A frown appears on his face and I curse myself for opening my stupid mouth.

“This is my life. I grew up surrounded by this. You think I treat all the whores my father locks down here the way I’m treating you? You’re the first baby! Don’t mistake my kindness for the person I really am.” His snarky attitude is back, his voice is rougher and I know I’ve hit a nerve. His words remind me of Jace, I’m pretty sure Jace has uttered those words a time or two to me. At the time I didn’t take the warning, but I sure as hell will this time.

Dex continues but this time he’s softer. “I can’t let you go, if my father finds out I helped you, you don’t understand what he’d do to me.” Fear lurks in his voice. “I don’t have a choice in the fucking matter Harley, just be grateful I’m here right now helping you.”

“I’m sorry Dex.” I say, wanting him to be kind again. I appreciate him helping me and I think if I play this right he may be the one to help me get out of here.

He runs his hands through his perfect hair, messing it up a little. “Tilt your head back.” He uncaps the metal flask.

“I can do that myself Dex.” I reach out for the flask but he yanks it away and glares at me.

“You could, but that’s not what I’m asking you.” He shakes his head, his tone serious. I crawl a little closer, my arms tremble underneath me but I don’t want to make him angrier than he already is. I really need that water.

I tilt my head back as he reaches through the bars and brings the bottle to my lips. I’m so glad that it is water in that metal flask and not something else. I’m so thirsty I probably wouldn’t have cared but I’m thankful either way. He brings the metal to my lips and pours. My lips latch onto it and I drink the water in a frenzy afraid he will pull it away. I close my eyes savouring the liquid flooding my dry throat. I flinch when I feel soft hands gently running up and down the side of my throat stroking softly as I drink. I open my eyes to see Dex looking at me with such affection in his eyes. He’s treating me as if I’m one of his pets locked up in this cage. I don’t understand what game he’s trying to play or if he’s just mentally screwed.

I’m still thirsty after I finish what’s left in the little flask, but he tucks it into his back pocket and moves to stand up.

“Wait!” I call out reaching for his hand. He looks down at my hand and then grabs it with his other hand. He returns to a kneeling position in front of me on the outside of the cage I’m in. He strokes my hand delicately in his.

“You said you don’t help the… the other girls your father locks up in here? Why are you helping me?” I ask softly. His dark eyebrows twitch, he’s quiet for a few moments bef
ore a smirk forms on his face.

“I know full well what your father is capable of Harley. I’m hoping that once you’re out of here, you’ll mention to your father that I was the one that kept you alive and I was the one that kept my brothers from raping you. When your father does eventually take out mine, I’ll be
Prez of this club.” He lifts my hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss to my skin before standing up fully and walking toward the stairwell.

“Wait! Your father? Your father is the president?” I move to the other side of the cell closer to him. I rest my head between the metal bars, hands wrapped around them.

He turns to look back at me but where he stands is rather dark and I can only make out his shadow. “Not for long…” Is all he says before I see his shadow disappearing back up the dark staircase. I curl up in a ball in the middle of the cage and close my eyes hoping that when I wake up it’ll all be over.

My throat is so dry it hurts to swallow. I feel degraded and treated like an animal when I can no longer hold my pee in and end up bending over in the corner of the small cell to take one. It’s humiliating but I’m thankful that I’m alone in this dark room. After what feels like another day, the darkness starts to get to me and the nightmares I have whenever I close my eyes haunt me. I dream of never seeing Willow again. The worst dream though is where I watch Avery and Caleb bringing my daughter up together, me forgotten.

Now I refuse to fall asleep, afraid of having those nightmares. I hunch in the corner of the cell where the light reaches and stay away from the dark. My stomach continuously rumbles and when it starts to cramp I wrap my arms around myself hoping Dex pays me another of his visits soon. The loneliness and silence down here is really starting to make me crazy.

As if he heard my prayers Dex comes down once a day two more times, but the fruit bar and chocolates he brings those times as well as the little flask of water is not enough to full me. He doesn’t allow me to feed myself. Just like he did with the water the first time, he breaks pieces of the fruit bar and I have to eat it from his hands whilst he watches me intently. He always gets this peculiar loving smile on his face as if he enjoys having someone depending on him, as if he feeds off knowing that the only reason I’m safe in this cell is because of him. He makes sure to tell me that too before he leaves every day.

By day four my body is weak. As I lay on the floor, I stir from my daze at the sound of the metal door being swung open slowly. I only fully stir when I feel my legs being spread. I feel fingers on the buttons of my shorts, I attempt to push them away but I don’t have the strength. I can see an old wrinkly face and a heavy body as it overpowers me.

He’s lying on top of me.
One of his hands grabs both of mine; his weight holding me down on the floor as his other hand starts pulling down my pants.

“Stop! Get off me!” I scream through a hoarse voice. One that doesn’t even sound like my own. I’m not beneath begging at this point. I’ll do anything to stop what he’s about to do.

“I’ve waited three fucking days to touch you. I thought my useless son was fucking you, that’s why he was telling the boys to stay away, but no…. he wasn’t doing that, was he?” I don’t respond as I continue to shove and push but the old man’s too heavy.

“Did he?” he screams, I feel his spit touch my cheek as I shake my head frantically.

“Well he’s going to fuck you once we’re done here, whether he wants to or not. He forgets who makes the rules. I do!” He screams and I start crying. “When I’m done with him, he’s going to wish he was never born.” He sneers as he starts pulling and tearing at my shirt.

“Don’t! Please don’t...” I’m not sure whether I’m begging for him not to hurt me or if I’m pleading for Dex.

This causes him to throw his head back, only to laugh harder. “I’m rather enjoying you’re begging girl. Carry on if you like. It only turns me on...” He cackles in my ear. He manages to get my pants and underwear down to my knees, but my struggling forces him to leave them there. My bare ass touches the damp cold cement beneath me, my screams grow louder and my throat feels raw but I don’t stop calling out for help even when I know there’s no one coming.