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That night, when he entered the hotel room, I knew something was going to happen before he even opened his mouth.
“Come here, Ashley.”
No hello. No asking how I was.
He’d sat through the doctor pulling out shards of glass that had been embedded in my body, tending to my bruises, and all he’d done was sit stoically as it happened.
No words.
No encouragement.
Just sat silently.
I’d hated every second of it.
Still did.
I had fallen for this man, and yet, I didn’t recognize him. No smirk. No smile. He was dead inside. His eyes gave it all away. There was nothing there.
“Earl, what’s going on?”
“Come here.”
No room to talk. An order. A strict instruction. The desire to deny him was so strong, but I knew he wasn’t ready for that. This was serious.
Getting to my feet, I walked closer to him.
I held myself perfectly still as he stroked his knuckles down my cheek. “This is for your own good.”
The next thing I felt was a sting, and I glanced down to see he held a syringe.
Instantly, my body got heavy. I felt sick. The world began spinning.
He spoke the words again.
“This is for your own good.”
Everything went black.
****
Everything felt heavy. My body wasn’t my own. My arms were full of lead to lift up and wipe at my eyes. Even my eyes felt sore. My lips were numb.
“Ashley,” Earl said.
Opening my eyes, I kept them open.
No blinding light. Darkness. It was night.
I tilted my head up and saw I was in a car, slumped in a seat but with the belt on. Slowly, my body began to work. I could move my arms but not quickly.
Everything around me seemed to be moving fast.
I reached up and rubbed at my eyes, looking out the car window. I knew this place. We were in the front yard of the Monsters’ main house. This was where we stayed when they were hunting the fathers.
Why were we back here?
“Good. You’re awake. I thought I’d given you too much of the sedative.”
I turned my head to look at Earl. He sat in the back with me. I noticed his driver didn’t turn to look.
“What is going on?” I asked.
“Simple. This is the end of the road. Our time together is finished. Your bags are already inside. Here is your passport and your purse.”
With each word he said, I grew more alert. Panic seized me.
“What?”
“I told you our time would come to an end, and now it has. Your friends are expecting you.”
I looked toward the door to see it open. Emily with her four men, and I turned back to Earl.
“You’re getting rid of me?”
“I told you this day would come. I’ve had my fun. You’re no longer a virgin. You hold no appeal, and to be honest, you’re boring me. You’re more trouble than you are worth.”
His words cut me to the core. Each word tearing a layer of confidence, crushing my heart.
I’d known it all along, but there had always been a shard of hope. A glimmer of promise.
“You don’t mean that.”
“Ashley, please don’t be a stupid woman now. I’ve enjoyed playing the hero and fucking you. You’re nice and tight, but like so many times before, I’m bored. I’ve grown tired of you, and I don’t intend to settle for one cunt. I’m not a one-woman man.”
“Is this because of what happened? None of that is your fault.”
“I knew I should have let you handle this, Ford,” Earl said.
“Would you like me to remove her from the vehicle?”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Ashley, you were good while you were what I wanted, but you’re just so…”
“Flawed? Wrong? Irritating? Bad for you?”
“Whichever one you need to pick to help you get through this. I don’t care, but I do need you to leave. I have work to do.” He pulled out his cell phone, and as easily as that, I was dismissed.
He was done with me, no longer wanted me.
I wasn’t surprised. This was a feeling I was so used to.
My mom did it. I’d felt it all my life.
A means to an end, and Earl had found the end of his use with me.
Pain shattered my heart. Tears filled my eyes, and a sob escaped.
“Don’t be so dramatic. In time, many men will use your cunt and take what they want. It’s the way of the world.”
I tuned him out. I didn’t want to hear him. I took my purse from him, as well as my passport. Gripping the handle of the door, I climbed out.
My body still hurt from the beating it took weeks ago. Ignoring the pain, I went to Emily. My best friend waited for me. She must have seen the despair in my face because she came out to me.
I’d known it would end like this.
Earl had never pretended to be a good man. He’d always been open, telling me right from the start what he’d wanted, and like a fool, I had thought I could make him want differently.
