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A chuckle escapes my throat. “You’re right about that. I live in a mansion in Vegas. I've never been to a place like this before and never will again after today.”
I loosen my grip on her, waiting to see what she’ll do. She doesn't move. I make the decision to step away from her. Give her the space she needs to take in everything I'm saying.
“Shelby, I don't have the wrong person. Youaremine, and it's time to go.”
“Do I have any choice in this?”
She turns around to face me. I can see the tears in her eyes. For all the bravado and tough talk, and despite the obviously shitty life she has, she is an innocent. Maybe this will work. I take a few steps backward.
“No, you don't. There’s a lot more going on here than you realize. But I'm not prepared to go into all of that yet. All you need to know is you’re mine, and I'm not leaving here without you.”
I pause for a minute. She looks like she's about to pass out. I can only imagine the thoughts going through her head. I don't ever act impulsively, but I have tonight.
“Look at where you’re standing, Shelby. This bears no comparison to where I'm taking you. I've already told you I live in a mansion in Vegas. That alone should have you wanting to come with me. You won't have to work, fight for food, or watch your mother have sex with men to get her next fix.” She looks toward the door where she and I both know her mother is selling her body. “Your life can be so much more.”
“But I don't know you or anything about you.” She looks down at her feet and then back at me, straight in the eye. “Will you hurt me? You say I'm yours? What does that mean?”
I shut my eyes and compose myself. “No one will touch you but me. As for hurting you, that will depend on how you behave. Spit at me or try to knee me in the groin again, and you will be punished as you have seen.”
A single tear drops down her cheek.
“Let me get a couple of things.”
I nod my agreement and reluctantly let her go inside, knowing what she will see. The walls of the trailer are so thin I can already hear the fake moaning of her mother as her client fucks her. A few moments later, Shelby returns. She has nothing with her but a couple of books. They appear to be about animals. I motion toward them with a flick of my head.
“If my life had been different, I would’ve liked to have been a vet,” she explains. “I can still dream about that. It will keep me sane in this new life you’re gonna give me.”
I nod my head to indicate she can bring the books, then I gesture toward my car. Defeated, she slowly walks toward it before stopping and turning back to me.
“I'm a virgin.” she announces as I open the car door for her.
“I know. I've made sure of that through the years,” I reply as she gets in the front passenger side.
I slam the door shut and walk around to the other side of the car, quickly pulling out my phone from my pocket. I send a message to my friend Max.
Stand down. She's coming freely.
He replies instantly.
She really must be desperate.
I type out my response.
That’s why my father put her here.
3
SHELBY
Iknow I should fight against what’s happening to me. I should scream and shout and have the police take this freak away and lock him up where he belongs. But when he slammed me into the trailer, I realized I had no say in what was happening. I was going with him whether I liked it or not. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he’s offering me a better life than the one I’m used to. It couldn’t be any worse.
“Will you tell my mom where I’ve gone?” I question as he drives us away from the trailer.
“She will be informed,” he replies looking forward, concentrating on the road.
“Will she be looked after?” I shut my eyes, worrying what will become of my mother now. What if she overdoses and isn’t found for a long time.
“Do you want her to be looked after?” Eaton still doesn’t take his eyes off the road. His words sound cruel and cold.
