Trista gagged and bound next to me. He knows that he doesn’t have to gag me, or bind me, he never did. I have never fought my father, never even said a cross word to him.
The only time I’ve ever actually defied him was when I ran away for five years. It was the best time of my life. I starved, I was homeless, I did a lot of things that I knew I shouldn’t have, but I had a taste of what freedom could be and I loved every nasty second of it.
“Your contract is waiting, but he will have to wait until I get rid of that thing inside of you,” my father grunts.
Trista whimpers next to me, but I ignore her, instead reaching out to wrap my fingers around her thigh and squeeze gently in a sign of support. I am going to get her out of here, if it’s the last thing that I do, she will be free.
“Most of my men don’t care for full-grown women like your friend there. However, there is a particular set of men that I know will salivate at the sight of her and the knowledge of who she actually is.”
Pressing my lips together, I bite the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep from screaming at the asshole.
“Who?” I grind out.
“Let’s just say, we’re headed to California. It’ll be a fun little road trip, as long as you both keep your fucking mouths shut,” he growls.
I don’t bother arguing, it would be futile. My father wouldn’t accept my insolence and he would have no issue punishing me. Since I’ve never done anything quite like this before, I’m afraid his form of punishment could be dangerous for my baby—my little girl.
When I ran away, I wasn’t even back for forty-eight hours before the Savage Beasts came in and took me away. The only thing my father could do in that time was tell me that he was selling me for marriage to a brutal man, a man that is probably still going to take me and abuse me.
I close my eyes for a moment and try not to think of that. Inhaling a deep breath, I exhale it with a sigh and shift my gaze to Trista. She is wiggling around, trying to get out of her bindings, but it doesn’t matter. We’re in a moving car, in the middle of the desert. Even if we got out, we wouldn’t even be able to live long enough to get help.
We have to think strategically.
Watching as the afternoon turns to evening and then to night, I try not to think about how hungry I am, about how Trista is still bound. Thankfully, she’s fallen asleep on my shoulder. I don’t mind, I’m happy to be her pillow since I’m the reason she’s in this mess.
“I would pull over to sleep, but I can’t trust you cunts,” my father states.
I don’t respond. There is no point. All I do is watch the blackness of the night from the window and wonder where Wilder is and if he’s on his way home to me yet. If he’s going to be upset that I’m gone or relieved.
Then I think about Taz and Trista. That is a man who is going to be devastated that his woman is gone. She won’t be for long though. I will die trying to get her to safety. Trying to get her home to him, to her family, to the people who love her.
The sun slowly rises and dawns on a new day. I’m not sure what that means for us, except for another day to hopefully plan some kind of escape. I’m not sure what the future will bring or where this car is taking us.
My father doesn’t stop though, he doesn’t slow down. No food, no drinks, not even coffee—nothing. I have no clue what is in California for Trista, or who rather. All I know is that anyone who would be in dealings with my father is not any decent member of society.
“Almost there,” he announces, almost excitedly. He is fucking excited for what’s about to happen and that makes me really, really nervous.
A sign appears that we’re entering a new city. Santa Rosa. Trista makes a noise next to me. I look over and her eyes are wide and scared. She shakes her head, mumbling behind her gag.
“Oh, she’s figured it out. I knew that she would. This is going to be so