Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“I’m going to pick you up. We’re going to go out of that door, and then I’m going to take you back to my home, okay?”
“I want to go back to my home.”
“You will. I promise, but you need to be taken care of, okay? A shower, a doctor to make sure you’re not hurt.”
“You can’t pick me up,” she said. “I’m too heavy.”
Dwayne didn’t bother to debate this with her. Sliding his hands underneath her body, he picked her up with ease, holding her against his chest.
She stank of piss, but he didn’t release her or let her go. Holding her against him, he stared at the door as she tensed in his arms.
He wondered how long they’d been playing that game with her.
Stepping over the bodies, avoiding the blood, he walked out the door, and he heard her sigh of relief. She gripped his jacket, tucking her head against his chest, and began to sob.
Now, as he left the bar, there was a chance someone else would be waiting. He’d deal with that when it happened. Making sure she couldn’t see the other man that he’d killed, he left the bar.
No one stopped him.
No one put up a fight.
No one even acknowledged that he had a beaten-up girl in his arms.
Walking out of the bar, he placed her in the passenger side of his car and rounded toward the front. Firing up his car, he took off back to his own place.
He hated coming here, dealing business. Each time, he always had to take a long, hot shower to wipe the dirt away.
Charity stared back at the bar, and he wondered what she was thinking.
“I couldn’t ever leave.”
“You’re out now. You’re safe.”
Unlike most girls and women that didn’t get home, Charity was going home, and glancing over at her, he saw the news still hadn’t sunk in.
According to the pictures her parents sent, her hair was blonde, really light in color and soft. Right now, it had dirt in it, and he couldn’t make out her hair color at all. It was going to be a long fucking night.
****
The man who’d saved her had a really nice apartment. Charity wrapped her arms around herself, wincing at the pain shooting through her entire body. Stepping a few feet into the apartment, she was aware of her smell. She’d been curled up in a ball begging for the men to leave her alone, but they’d only found it more amusing to piss on her.
She’d never been so dirty before in her life.
The man, whose name she didn’t know, closed and locked his door. He placed a hand at her back. “Come on, you must be thirsty and hungry.”
“I, erm, could I take a shower?” she asked, hating how nervous she sounded.
He urged her to sit down, and she felt really nervous.
Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
This wasn’t her.
She didn’t get nervous or scared.
Most of the people who knew her would describe her as outgoing, fun. Right now, she felt anything but.
“I need to ask you a couple of questions first.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she hated them. Hated feeling this way. Open, insecure, broken. It made her sick.
She was away from those men, and she wasn’t a fool. This man, whoever he was, had killed them. She’d not seen how he’d done it, only that the men were on the floor and no longer hurting her.
“I smell,” she said.
“I know.”
“They … they pissed on me.”
She saw his jaw clench, and she found it fascinating that he was angry. Was it for her? Because of her?
Being taken and held against her will had hurt, and it had really messed with her head.
“Did they do anything else?”
“They beat me.”
“Did they rape you?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“They didn’t?”
Charity didn’t like the surprise in his voice. “They, they found out that I was a virgin, and then they decided I’d be worth more. Can I please wash now?”
“Yes. I’m going to call a doctor.”
“Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say.
He got to his feet, and she followed him. He made his way past several doors before opening one at the end of the hallway. The light flickered on, and she blinked rapidly. The rest of his apartment wasn’t as bright. The lights were dimmed or something.
“If you need any help just give me a shout.”
She stepped into the room, and as he walked away, she panicked. “Wait.”
He stopped and turned toward her.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Dwayne. The name’s Dwayne. You’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He nodded at her, and she couldn’t help the panic from rising up.
Get a grip.
Don’t be that needy girl that everyone hates.
She switched on the shower and refused to look at her reflection. It didn’t take a genius to realize that she looked a mess.
Pulling her clothes off, or what remained of them, she quickly climbed into the shower, gasping at the warmth of the water. Turning it up to scalding, she bowed her head, eyes closed, allowing it to wash off the filth that covered her body.