Char nodded.“That wasn’t the worst thing, what happened next was much worse.”
“What did she do?”Comanche wanted to know.
“She held an auction.She told me it was a dinner party but she forgot to tell me the men invited were bidding for me.I had to stand on a platform and my clothes were torn from my body.I had men touching me like I was a slave.When I fought back, Victor hit me then he tied my hands behind my back and the men all nodded approvingly.A fat man finally upped his bid and my own grandmother called out ‘sold!’ I hated that woman so much and all she did was smile at me.That fat old man dragged me out of the house and took me home with him.”
“What did you do to him?”Kelly asked softly as she stared at her.
Char grinned.“You remember, don’t you?”
Kelly nodded her head.“I remember.”
“Yeah, well I did what I had to do.I protected myself.”Char’s jaw ticked hard as she looked angry.“You and I used baseball bats to protect ourselves in that neighborhood.But instead of a baseball bat I used a lamp once I got my hands free.He never expected that as he looked so stunned, but I wasn’t going to let him hurt me.He fought back but he still went down.”She paused and her hands began to shake slightly.“He got up one last time and he was going to kill me.I could see it in his eyes.No rape, just me...dead.I decided right then that it was him or me and I chose me.”
“Holy hell,” Kelly whispered.
“Then I got the hell out of Dodge.I grabbed his wallet and took all of his cash.Along with a gold ring he wore when he slugged me.I admit it.I knew stealing was wrong but I already decided to do what I had to do in order to survive.By then the house was a mess anyway and I figured the cops would call it a home invasion.By the time they found him I was long gone.I just ran.I changed everything I could about me, dyed my hair, found new clothes and just kept to myself.I kept my eyes open and my ear to the ground.But I knew I’d go back to try to get Rosie out of that house before they sold her off too.I couldn’t leave her there.I didn’t want her to end up with a husband our grandmother picked for her.Rosie wouldn’t know how to fight back, how to protect herself from men like that.”
“What happened to her?”Chase asked her.
Char went quiet for a moment then she told them in a low, sad tone, “When I was on the run, my dear grandmother and uncle hurried their training.They managed to sell her into servitude when she was barely seventeen and some older man bought her four months ago.He was supposed to marry her but he hasn’t yet.Not only is he a douche...he’s a mean douche.But he’s also rich and thinks he can treat her any way he wants and there’s no one out there who cares what happens to her.But in that he would be wrong,verywrong because I care about Rosie.”Char snarled.
“Who is he and where does he live?”Comanche demanded.
Char turned her head and glared at him.“Ty Regis and he lives right here in San Antonio.That’s why I asked Kelly to meet me here.It took me four months to figure out where she was.I’ve been watching his house.I’ve seen her all beat to hell.I’ve seen her eyes, they are vacant...empty.I have to get her out of there and I won’t stop until I can’t fight him anymore.”
Kelly reached out and took her hand.“Char, you aren’t alone now.I’m here, my guys are here.My man is going to look into your grandmother and your uncle.He will help us to tear down dear old Granny’s empire and set fire to her life.”
Char looked at her and seemed puzzled over this.“And why would he want to help me?”
Kelly smiled at her.“Because I asked him to and he’s got the connections to bring her down.”
Char just stared at her for a long moment then shook her head.“What did I ever do that you would keep your friendship with me?”
“Don’t you remember?I never had a sister and you were good for me.We swore we would always be friends and sisters, no matter what.Well, this is the...no matter what.”
Char smiled as she held up her thumb and showed her the scar she had from back then.
Kelly put her own thumb up and showed her matching scar.
The guys looked back and forth at them in some confusion as to what this meant.
