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I’m not a virgin, but I’ve never been with anyone I cared about. What should’ve been intimacy between me and who I chose—it was used as a punishment.
My uncle would have his men rape me repeatedly.
Standing from the table, I follow Cedric away from the table back down the hall we came from, but instead of going to his room, he takes me to what I assume is his office.
“Do you need any help?” I ask meekly. I’ve never done anything in my life work-wise, but the only good thing my father ever did for me was make sure I received an education. Growing up, I was homeschooled with tutors. I ended up finishing high school at seventeen and getting my college degree in accounting by twenty.
“I’ve got it,cuore mio,” he says calmly, kissing my cheek. Letting go of my hand, he strolls to the other side of the room and sits behind a desk.
Sitting on the couch off to the side of the room, I draw my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them protectively. I glance around the room, taking in the way he’s decorated it in very masculine colors of grays and browns. On the wall across from his desk next to the door, Cedric has multiple monitors mounted. Right now, the screens are all off. On the side across from me is a beautiful painting of a mountain landscape. There are bookshelves on either side of it.
Laying my head against the back of the couch, I sit still and close my eyes. Slowly I find myself drifting to sleep once again.
Darkness surrounds me, and the feel of something covering my eyes causes me to panic.
“You’ve been bad, Arwen. You need to learn a lesson for not listening to your elders.” My uncle’s voice hits my ears with his sinister tone.
Someone grips the neckline of the dress I’m wearing and rips it clear down to the hem.
Oh God, no, please don’t do this,” I beg, my breath hitching as I start to sob.
“Now, now, Arwen. You should’ve listened and not tried to run away. This is what happens when you disrespect the family,” Uncle Stefano cackles. “Ciro, take your time with the lashes, and remember use a condom. I don’t need her knocked up.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll make sure she learns,” Ciro says, sounding delighted in being my tormenter.
Soon after, Ciro brings the whip down on my chest and demands I count each time he connects. Tonight is going to be one of the worst I’d suffered thus far, and it’s all because I tried to leave this prison.
Chapter Eight
Cedric
Finding it hard to concentrate on the footage, I keep glancing over at Arwen. I sigh in relief at the fact she’s finally fallen asleep. She still needs her rest after everything she’s been through.
Focusing back on the papers in front of me, I place them down and pull up the computer screen to watch the security footage. I need to find something—anything that would tell me why the waitresses and bartenders are getting pissed with each other. Not that it’s all of them, only a select few are causing trouble, but I don’t wanna fire them if I could fix the issues. Our staff at the club are all good at their jobs.
I run all the background checks myself and go over them with Finley when it comes to hiring anyone who works at Night’s Bliss. We don’t allow anyone else to handle the procedures. If we feel something’s off with an applicant, they’re thrown out of the running, but we also send the info over to one of Jackson’s men from SoCo Security and have them look further into the person. We don’t take chances. Not when it comes to business—on the legal front or not so legal side of things.
Staring at my computer monitor, I keep glancing over to the couch. I swear the woman has me hypnotized. I can’t stop looking at her. If I could, I’d be over there right now, laying her out on the couch and having my wicked way with her. It’s been a long time since I’ve really wanted to touch someone other than to get off.
Earlier at the table, when I held her chin in my hand while we locked gazes—fuck words can’t describe what I felt in that moment.
My mother used to tell me all the time growing up she had never regretted being with my father. No matter him being a complete and utter asshole to her. She’d said he was it for her. She didn’t care that he was married to another woman or about her being his mistress. All my mom had tried to do was make him happy.
She finally moved on from him after what happened to cause my little sister’s death. Now she blames my father, because he could’ve protected Cecilia. Instead, he’d allowed his wife to pull his strings.
Now my mother is engaged to marry a guy I actually approve of. He adores her, and I can see she feels the same with him. The last time I talked to her, she told me I’d find the one person for me, and when I do, I’d know it.
Is this the feeling she’s talking about? I don’t know, but I think I want to find out.
Glancing between the papers and Arwen, I decide to give up on getting any work done right now.
Sliding out from behind my desk, I stride over to where Arwen is sleeping. The closer I get, the more I can hear her quiet whimpers.
Furrowing my brow, I sit and scoop her into my arms. Tears slowly leak down Arwen’s cheeks, breaking my heart. She’s having one hell of a nightmare right now.
I wish I knew what she is dreaming. I’d love to save her from whatever it is.
Sitting back on the couch, I keep one arm wrapped tight around her waist and use my free hand to brush her hair from her face. “Shh, Arwen, it’s okay,” I murmur, trying to soothe her even in her sleep.
