Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,281

a bag of trash in my hand. It’s full to the brim and heavy. I have to lift it with all my weight to make sure it doesn’t drag on the asphalt and tear open.

I step out into the back alley, my skin pricking from the cool air sweeping through the area, goosebumps rising up on my flesh. A ray of moonlight shines down through the crack between the buildings, illuminating the walkway. I need to clean up back here; pieces of newspaper and some rotten food are strewn about, and the smell from the nearby dumpsters assaults my nose as I make my way down the small steps onto the cold concrete path. My car is parked around the side of the building, and it’s just a short walk through the alley to reach it. But I need to dump the trash bag first.

I’m in the process of closing it when suddenly, rough and firm hands grab me from behind, clamping down on my mouth to stifle my cry.

My heart pounds as panic overtakes me, and I struggle against my captor, but whoever it is is too strong. Subduing my attempts to escape, I hear a grunt as I’m picked up off my feet and pressed up against the stone wall, feeling a rock hard body press into me from behind.

“Be a good girl,” a familiar voice growls into my ear.

“Danny,” I gasp with surprise, my heart hammering wildly as a hundred different dreadful thoughts run through my mind. I don’t understand what’s going on. “What are you doing here?” I cry.

Danny doesn’t immediately respond, keeping me pressed up against the wall for several more moments, his breath hot on my neck. All the while, fear runs through me. He’s never done anything like this before, and I can smell whiskey on his breath. He’s taking joy out of keeping me guessing on his intentions while increasing the pressure on my back.

“Danny, please,” I whimper as the pain grows, my eyes darting to the back entrance of the shelter. “Sir, please.” I don’t know what’s going on. This isn’t him.

Finally, he lets me go.

I gasp as I come free, turning around to face him, my chest heaving from my ragged breaths.

Danny’s scowling at me, his hazel eyes blazing with anger. He looks out of place in this trashy alley with his expensive dress pants and shirt, his hair slicked to the side. I can even smell his vintage cologne over the filthy aroma of garbage.

“I’ve come to remind you how ungrateful you are,” he growls. His words sting with a pain so raw, I can hardly stand up straight.

“Danny-” I pause and swallow the lump growing in my throat. I’m grateful. I am. I truly am.

“Don’t you remember?” he asks me, gesturing around the grimy alley. “This is the same fucking alleyway I found you in. Before you went to the bridge. You were poor, broke, hungry and homeless. And I was the only one who was stupid enough to have pity for you.”

I shake my head, unable to understand how differently Danny’s treating me. He’s never been this cruel and hateful with me before. “Danny, please. It’s not like that.” My eyes dart from him to the door. There's a single light shining above it, and everything in me is pleading with me to run. But it’s Danny. He saved me. He won’t hurt me. “Why are you so angry with-”

“Did you once try to call me since taking your collar?” he demands, cutting me off. “Did you once try to beg me to take you back?”

“But you said I was going up for auction-” I try to reason with him. I don’t know what to do. I’m so lost.

“I fed you, you ungrateful bitch!” Danny snarls, spittle flying from his mouth. “Helped you when no one else would. And look at you, ready to run from me the first chance you get.”

I gape at him with shock.

“I saved you!” He continues his rant. “You were nothing but a drunk degenerate when I found you. And if it weren’t for me, you’d be fucking dead!” His words cut through me, because they’re true.

Tears burn my eyes as I gaze into his rage-filled face.

“Danny please,” I beg, a huge lump choking my throat as I reach my hands out to him imploringly. “Please calm down and just listen to me…”

“No,” Danny fumes. “I’m sick of listening to your pathetic whining.”

“But-”

Danny rushes forward, grabbing me by the neck, and slams