AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Fifteen months ago, Adam had promised to let her go.
If that was even his real name.
With smoky blue-green eyes, a strong jaw with a cleft, and a confident air, he’d radiated wealth, power and hope—to give her a better life.
Now, Reeva huddled at the head of the squeaky bed with a thin, stained mattress, bloody legs drawn up to her chest and her body exhausted and sore.
She’d done what he’d asked—no, demanded.
Finally.
Submitted. Obeyed.
Because he’d promised fifteen months ago he’d let her go if she did.
Glancing down at her belly, all loose skin and flabby, she vowed she’d find a way out, again, if he’d lied. But he’d released Chrissy only two months ago. And Debbie a month before that.
Eve remained though. She’d been here the longest.
High-pitched squalls drew Reeva’s attention to the side of the bed, but she refused to go near it. Didn’t want to see it. Smell it. She covered her head with the lumpy pink pillow, drowning out the sounds and the scent of the baby basement. Cold. Dank. Moldy. Even in summer, Reeva had never been warm enough.
Twice she’d almost made it out of the house.
Twice Adam had caught her and made her pay. Her broken arm hadn’t healed properly—the one with the brand he’d given her that first night, after he’d offered to take her for ice cream. After that lie, he’d bound her hands behind her back and blindfolded her. She had no way to know where she was or how far from Memphis he’d taken her—if they’d even traveled out of Bluff City.
He’d done unspeakable things to her. The branding the very least painful. She’d accepted the searing burn, inhaled the singed flesh through tears. But she’d refused to cry after that first night, and she’d refused to accept the comfort of the other girls in partitioned rooms. False comfort.
“It’ll be okay. Do what he says.”
“He won’t hurt you if you do what he says.”
“It’ll get easier. You’ll get used to it.”
Reeva didn’t want to get used to it. Didn’t want to obey. But after six months and the failed escape attempts, she’d realized she had no hope. No light. No salvation.
She could only trust that when she produced, he’d let her go.
The door to the basement screeched open, pops of light from upstairs blinding her. Down here in the darkness, there were no windows. No sunlight. No dawn of a new day.
Feathered footsteps brushed along the wooden stairs.
Eve.
Eve had access to the whole house. Reeva wasn’t allowed upstairs. Neither were Ann or Polly. Ann had finally produced, but she hadn’t been able to leave yet. Adam had to be sure the child was well and healthy—or Ann would have to produce again.
“Reeva,” Eve whispered and set a tray of soup, crackers and tea on the edge of her bed. “You need to feed her, Reeva. She has to be healthy before you go.” Reeva turned her head, exhausted and weak.
“You know he’s never going to let you leave, Eve. You’re his favorite.”
Eve, only a year or two older than Reeva, sighed. “I don’t mind. He’s good to me. If you wouldn’t fight him, he’d be good to you too.”
Nothing was good about Adam.
Reeva turned to Eve. “He’s done something to your brain. You’re not thinking clearly. You have a home. A family. A life outside the baby basement.” If she could get out into sunshine and away from here, she’d see that.
Eve ignored her pleas to come to her senses. “What will you name her?” Eve asked.
