this damn world that I live in.
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just cramps; sometimes they’re really bad.” She sits back down while holding a hand to her stomach. “It should be better tomorrow. Usually the first and second day are the worst for me and today is my second.”
“Where is that medicine I gave you?” My eyes scan the mattress, but I don’t see the bottle. She reaches between the wall and the mattress and hands it to me. I open the bottle and let one pill fall into my hand.
“Take it,” I order and hold it out to her.
“I really don’t want to. I’ll be fine, I swear. I have this every month, you know.” Of course, I know she is right. This is nothing. She and every other woman on the planet deal with this every month. The problem is, none of my thoughts concerning her are rational.
“Take it and I stay until you go to sleep. Don’t take it and I leave now.”
She only thinks about it for two seconds before she takes the pill and washes it down with some water. I sit down next to her. She immediately scoots over to press her body against mine and leans her head against my arm. In a perfect world, someone like her would never look at someone like me to protect them, to save them.
“Why me?” she whispers. “Why did you have them kidnap me from that club?”
“I didn’t. I don’t know why they took you. I don’t usually deal with this part of the business. The girls who get selected have nothing to do with me.”
I don’t know why I tell her this. I know I shouldn’t. It doesn’t change anything.
“They called you boss.”
“I’m their boss... not the boss.” I crack my knuckles, needing to do something with my hands before I run them through her silky hair.
She doesn’t ask any more questions after that, and I’m so fucking glad that she doesn’t. Silence settles over us and the room seems so quiet. I look at the four white walls. There is no sunlight or saving grace to this room. Everything about it makes me want to pick her up and carry her upstairs to my bedroom. She belongs in a bed. My bed.
No. The thought is irrational. She is not mine, and she never will be. There an internal battle taking place inside me and for once in my damn life, I want to do the right thing.
I couldn’t save her... but I can save the tiny woman leaning against me. I listen, waiting for her breathing to even out and once it does, I listen a little longer before I get up very slowly, leaving her on the mattress. I walk to the door and unlock it. It creaks loudly when I open it, and I half expect her to wake back up at the noise, since it’s so fucking loud. When she doesn’t, I remember what she said to me before. If she takes the pills then someone could come into her cell and take advantage of her, and she wouldn’t be able to defend herself.
The thought makes me furious. Jesus fucking Christ, I feel like it’s a losing battle no matter what. I slam the door shut loudly while I’m still in the room and watch her closely.
Fucking great. Nothing. She doesn't even stir at the loud noise vibrating off the walls of her cell. I told the guys not to come near her again but what if one of my men is stupid enough to go against my orders? It wouldn’t be the first fucking time. Every worst-case scenario possible pops into my head. What if someone comes in here, and she can’t do anything? What if they steal from her the only thing she has left to give?
The only reason she got away last time is because she fought them, I remember Luca’s face. He looked like a feral cat scratched his face… or a kitten. I look down at her motionless form. This time, with the pain pills in her system, there wouldn't be any fighting. She won’t know what’s happened until it’s too late, and I won’t be fucking responsible for that shit. I’ve got enough dark shit hanging over my head.
A surge of anger overcomes me, and I have to let it out. I’m so angry, furious. I need to break something but there is nothing in this fucking room, and that infuriates me even more. My hands