Chapter 2

Kade c***s his head at me silently, the warmth gone from his eyes. It amazes me how quickly his mood changed, going from warm concern to a calculating stare, as if he’s contemplating all the ways I could react to that statement. Thoughts race through my head as my eyes widen, my hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. Instinctively, I start to search for an escape route, panic welling up in my chest. For the first time since I woke up, I take in my surroundings. I’m in a white room- everything is white, even the door to the right of where I’m lying. No windows. One door. Two males thwarting my escape. A curse escapes my mouth. Though I doubt I’ll find anything, I keep looking around the room. An outlet sits on the wall to the left of me, connected to nothing. Directly above me is a very bright light fixture, the first thing I saw when I woke up. The room is very large and completely bare besides the bed I’m lying in and a bucket in the corner, the purpose of which I really don’t want to think about. I look to the floor. Tile that looks like it might’ve been white once but is now stained with what looks like feces. I shiver, only then noticing the smell of the room. I wrinkle my nose in disgust; it smells like sweat and waste. I notice in the back corner of the room a large dark stain that could be anything, even- I shudder to think about it- blood.

I can feel Kade’s stare on me as I take all this in. Finally, he speaks.

“There’s no escape, so there’s no use trying.” For a second, I think he read my mind. I dismiss the thought with a slight shake of my head. Escape was probably written all over my face.

He’s staring at me as if waiting for a response. I don't deign to give him one. He sighs, obviously disappointed in my lack of enthusiasm. His voice is flat as he continues.

“You’ll be getting meals twice a day. There’s a bucket in the corner if you need to do your business.” He points to the bucket. “Don’t ask questions, don’t try to escape, and you should be fine here.” He sounds as if he’s recited this a million different times. He continues. “Once we know you can be trusted not to try to get away, your restraints will be removed and you’ll be moved to a room with windows. Until then, either me or Jack-” He gestures to the other man, “-will be checking on you at least once a day. Do you-” I interrupt him with a slight shake of my head.
“You honestly expect me not to try to get away? I don’t know who you are or what you want from me, but I’m not going to be your little puppet.” I glower at him angrily. He seems surprised at my resistance, but continues as if he hadn’t heard a word I said.

“Do you understand?” I simply glare at him, refusing to speak. He snaps his fingers in my face, startling me. I glare even harder, working against my restraints to snap my teeth inches from his fingers. He seems stunned, but Jack only laughs, saying,

“Ooh, feisty. I think I like this one.” He puts his hand on my leg and moves it under the shift I’m wearing. I struggle against my restraints as anger blazes through me. Immediately, Kade slaps Jack’s hand away, glaring at him with anger-no, not just anger- hate- written all over his face.

“You don’t touch the girls- ever” He growls at Jack. Jack stares back at him and replies through gritted teeth,

“I don’t need a lecture from daddy’s little girl” Kade looks like he’s about to punch him, and I’m quietly hoping he will, when the door suddenly creaks open.

In walks a goddess.

Long, wavy blonde hair framing a heart-shaped face, ice blue eyes with long eyelashes, perfect alabaster skin, and a long legged stride give the girl-the woman- who walks in an air of striking beauty. She comes straight toward us and drapes herself all over Kade, nuzzling her face into his neck with her hand on his thigh. She speaks and her voice is like the chiming of bells.

“Baby, is Jacky messing with you again?” Kade stares straight ahead as his face seems to harden. He doesn’t respond. Jack is staring at the woman’s generous chest as he replies for Kade,

“Of course not, Cherie. We’re just having a little fun.” He looks to Kade. “Right Kade?” Kade still doesn’t answer. Neither of them seem to notice. Jack is still staring at the woman- Cherie’s- chest, and Cherie is still hanging all over Kade. She whispers something in his ear. He stiffens and then shakes her off of him. She looks hurt for only a second, recovering quickly. She seems to notice I’m here for the first time.

“So this is the new girl…. She seems a little…..lacking doesn’t she?” She smirks as she looks me up and down, frowning when she gets to my chest. My face flames in anger and embarrassment. Cherie turns back to Kade.

“What’s her name?”

“We haven’t named her yet.” Kade’s answer is short, clipped, as if he wants her to shut up and go away. Or maybe I’m just projecting my feelings onto him. While I’m thinking this, I almost miss Cherie’s response.

“I think we should name her….Tramp.” Kade doesn't say anything, but Jack laughs.

“Good one, Cher.” I glare at them both. The words are out of my mouth before I have a chance to think.

“Well I think we should name you Prostitute, the way you were hanging all over Kade. If you even know what that means….” I sneer. For a moment after I say this, the room is completely silent. Cherie’s mouth drops open in shock. Jack looks angry. Then, laughter comes from an unexpected place- Kade. Cherie’s cheeks are flame-red, and she looks angry enough to slap me. She looks back at Kade, hurt and fury flashing in her eyes. Kade is laughing so hard he starts to cough, his face getting red.

I can see Cherie getting madder and madder, and a small smirk sets upon my lips. She deserved it.

“Are you just going to let her talk to me that way?!” She screeches, looking between Kade and Jack. Jack looks lost, while Kade is still recovering from his coughing fit.

Kade gets himself together and clears his throat, saying,

“What would you have me do Cherie?” He says her name like it’s a bad taste in his mouth.

“Not laugh!” Cherie shrieks, her hands fisted at her sides. She looks at Jack, obviously hoping for some support, but Jack is openly staring at her chest again. What a creep.

She shrieks in frustration, stomping to the door. She stops at the doorway, looking like she’s about to say something more, but just shakes her head in disgust and slams the door behind her.

A moment of silence passes after she’s gone. Just when it looks like Kade is about to speak, a phone rings somewhere in the room. He sighs and fishes an old flip phone out of his pocket, not even bothering to check the caller ID before taking the call.

“Father. Yes, yes, she’s here.” His eyes flick to me, then to Jack. “No, I don’t think so.” He sighs in obvious frustration. “No, Father, she just got here.” Suddenly his back straightens, his eyes flicking to me once more. He lowers his voice, saying something I can’t make out. Then,

“I understand.” With that, he closes the phone. He turns to Jack and whispers something I can’t hear into his ear. Jack straightens, then nods tightly, his brow furrowed. He leaves the room without another word.

Kade turns back to me, his head cocked to the side, studying me as I studied him. He looks like he’s about to say something, but seems to decide against it, saying only,

“Dinner should be here soon. I will be back to feed you, since you have on your restraints. At the end of the night, I’ll come back to collect you for your testing.” My eyes widen.

“Hey, wait, testing?! What do you mean testing?!”

“Don’t worry,” he replies calmly, his face unreadable. “You won’t remember it in the morning.” He seems satisfied that that’s all that needs to be said, getting up from his place on my bed and walking toward the door. He opens it and flips the light switch, leaving me in the dark.

“Hey! Wait! You can’t just leave me like this! Where am I?! What’s the testing?! What do you mean I won’t remember it in the morning?!” All my questions come out in one breath, calling after him desperately.

He doesn’t even look back once.