disappointment in him. “We would be the best husbands for you. All you had to do was be a good woman!” He slaps me hard across the face. I press my hand to the hot spot left from his hand.
Papa doesn’t chastise him.
“Look at that,” Papa says with pride. “Bitch is pregnant.” He turns the test around and shows it to Mark.
“At least she did one thing right.” Mark scoffs and looks to Elijah.
“What do we do with her now?”
“Well, she’s your wife now,” Papa says. “Elijah, your wife wants to leave with your baby. What do you think you should do?”
“We can’t put her down,” Mark cuts in.
I keep quiet. Tears, fat and hot, roll down my cheeks. I’ve betrayed them. All I was supposed to do was love them. Take care of them. Take them when they gave themselves to me. It wasn’t hard. And I ruined it all.
“Put her away.” Elijah’s hard voice cuts my heart into pieces. “I’ll do it.”
“Mark and I will get rid of this prick. Take your wife to the shed.” Papa motions for Mark.
“I’ll be there later tonight, Nicolette. Think on that while you’re standing there.” Mark spits at me, hitting my hair.
A sob breaks loose; I can’t control it anymore.
Elijah’s hands are on my arms, pulling me to my feet. Words fail me as I stumble to keep up with him. He’s not taking his time; he’s not being tender. He’s not the Elijah I knew. The Elijah I loved.
“Please,” I finally get the word past the regret balled in my throat when we’re at the shed door. He turns his sneer at me, and my breath catches.
He tucks the pistol in his jeans, and with both hands, rips my dress from my body.
“You don’t need this anymore,” he says as he continues to tear it into ribbons, tossing them onto the ground. “Get your ass inside.” He gives a hard jerk of his head.
I step inside, the stench filling my nostrils.
In deafening silence, he snaps the collar around my neck and works my wrists into the cuffs. He leaves no slack. I’ll be on my feet until they come for me.
Until Mark visits me tonight.
Elijah stands in the doorway of the shed staring at me. The gray light from outside casts him into a black figure.
“I’m so sorry. Please. I’m sorry,” I beg him, but my voice is hoarse. The tears are choking me.
“I loved you, Nicolette. I wanted to be a good husband for you. Your betrayal did this. Instead of being our loving wife, you’ll just be our breeding whore.” He shakes his head, and the door slams shut.
“No!” I scream after him. He can’t mean that. He can’t.
The snap of the padlock echoes in my ears, deafening me to Elijah’s steps as he leaves me in the shed.
I cry out, begging for him to come back.
“I’ll be good! I promise! Please!” I yell until my voice gives out.
There’s just enough space between the planks near the doorframe for me to see them. My men. Those I was to obey. Those I have betrayed.
I was loved.
Now, I’m just put away.
To be forgotten.
Because I’m a bad woman.
The porch door slams, and I know they’re inside the house. The tears don’t stop. The pain clenching my chest won’t ease.
This is my lesson. My punishment.
I’ve failed.
Selena is crying in her crib when I walk into my bedroom, my hair still dripping from my shower. I spoil my little girl, not wanting her to scream herself sick when I’m away too long. Mark’s in the back with Papa getting things ready, so Selena stays with me.
“She’s hungry.” Nicolette’s dry voice says from her spot in the corner. I ignore her and pick up my baby girl, cradling her in my arms. “Elijah, she needs to eat.”
I turn toward Nicolette, where she’s sitting on the stool I’ve given her. She’s lucky she gets that much from me. Her hair’s too long now. It covers her tits.
I bring Selena with me as I go to her. After I brush her long locks away from the pumps attached to her breasts, I squeeze each tit. “Almost done,” I say.
“I can feed her, Elijah.” Desperation is there. Stupid girl. She should know better by now.
“I have a bottle ready,” I say, grabbing it from the nightstand.
Nicolette frowns. She’s going to start crying soon again.
“Keep your tears,” I caution her. I don’t fall for her pretend innocence anymore. I should have listened to Mark sooner, but my