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  “If you insist on sleeping on the floor like a dog, I’m going to treat you like one. Now get up and clean up. Dinner is ready.” She threw the bottle at me and stormed off. I sat up and looked down to see that my white shirt was now see-through. I stood and dried myself off before grabbing another shirt and putting it on. Holding my head up high, I walked with Jason down the hall and to the dinner table.

  “Rice and chicken,” I mumbled when I saw what was for dinner. It turns out they hadn’t changed at all. My stomach growled thinking about all the food I had after I’d left. I missed Aggie’s biscuits. I mentally shook myself away from that thought. No tears.

  “Sit, Monera. Our guest should be arriving any minute,” she said properly. I wondered who this man was to have them acting out of sorts. I sat down where she pointed at and realized it was next to the open seat. Yuck, I was going to have to sit next to this creep. I didn’t have to wait too long before the doorbell rang, and my stepfather rushed to the door.

  “There he is; it’s good to see you. How’s the business doing?” He paused while I heard the mumbling lower voice of someone else. I felt unease in the pit of my stomach, and tried to calm it down with a sip of water. However, when my eyes took in who had walked around the corner with my stepfather, I wished for death.

  “Monera, you remember my nephew, Zeyn?” I couldn’t answer him if I wanted to; my body had frozen over with panic. It couldn’t be, my life really couldn’t be this bad.

  “I see how shocked you are to see how handsome this young man is now, huh?” Bile rose up in my throat, but I swallowed it down. He was a little taller, and his thick black hair was slicked back with gel. But his brown eyes were the same as they took me in. He gave off possessive vibes, and I could tell by the way his gaze roamed over me that he was remembering my body back when I was his plaything. When his eyes finally made it back to mine, I prayed for death even more. He was looking at me like a present he couldn’t wait to unwrap.

  They were all staring at me, and when I caught Mother’s evil glare, I spoke up.

  “Hi.” There, it was something. I wasn’t going to lie and say I was happy to see him. If I had opened my mouth anymore, it would have been to tell him I wished he been thrown in prison and been butt fucked by a big man. Then eaten by a crocodile. But that wouldn’t have been good.

  Once he hugged Mother, he excused himself to the bathroom, and they let me have it.

  “You better not fuck this up for us, little whore. He is paying good money to have you. You’ve been all he has thought about since you left, and now that he is the CEO of a big company around here, he has his eyes on you. If you fuck this up, you will wish you were never born.” Too late, I’d wished that for years.

  I didn’t get to reply because the man of the hour walked back into the room. He looked a little flushed, and his eyes were dilated. I’d seen that look in him before and turned my head so I wouldn’t have to think about that look. It was his after coming look. I was hoping he hadn’t just gone into the bathroom to wank one off. Gross.

  He sat down next to me and leaned over to whisper in my ear. My stomach churned in disgust. “You look delectable, Monera. I’ve been waiting to touch you again for seven years.” He pulled away with a creepy smile on his face. I took some deep breaths and ate my food in silence. Zeyn and the stepparents talked about business and his father. Zeyn was all too thrilled to talk about the wedding he was planning and the special honeymoon he had booked for us. He wouldn’t say where, but he would joke about how we probably wouldn’t see much of it since we would be in the bedroom most of the time. I threw up a bit in my mouth at that statement. I wanted to yell at them all, have a shit fit, but I was still playing good girl. I would flip soon, and they wouldn’t be prepared for it.

  Chapter Thirty

  Dinner went with just five almost throw-up moments from me. After we finished eating, Zeyn left, but not before promising me good times, just like we used to have. I added another throw-up moment to my nightly count after that. I really wished I’d let it come all out over their faces. At least, I would have a happy moment. Mother walked me to my room and pushed me inside without a word.

  Finally, I was alone again. And I had a deadline to get out of here. Two weeks. Our wedding date was in two weeks because Zeyn had to prepare his manager to watch over his company while we were away on our month long honeymoon. I swear, I would rip off his dick if it came at me and take my chances with sharks or whatever dangerous animal was near my escape route.

  I discarded my clothes and hopped in the shower, washing off that whole experience. After I was done, I changed into sweat pants and a t-shirt and settled on the floor. My body was going to ache from this, but it was my only option. Surprisingly, I fell asleep quite fast, and I dreamt about the one thing that would keep me sane during my stay here. Wolfe.

  I dreamt of our time in the cave. Back when I was fighting him, I knew he would be it for me, but I was too afraid to take that leap of faith. I dreamt of the closeness of his body when he’d helped me into the little boat and how his hands splayed across my back, pressing me against him. His eyes told me he’d wanted me, and he would have kissed me if we hadn’t been interrupted.

  I woke up feeling fingers touching my face. At first, because of the dream, I thought it was Wolfe caressing me. A smile grew on my face. Until I heard a low groan and remembered I was not with Wolfe anymore. My eyes flew open, and my body jumped back as far away from those fingers as possible. In front of me was my disgusting future husband.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I cursed. He was in my room, and the door behind him was closed. I felt cornered like a wild animal, and I was in the mood to fight like one.

  “Oh Monera, I think I like your new saucy mouth. I wanted to have a few moments alone with you before breakfast with your parents. I’ve missed you, and I have to tell you, as soon as I saw you, man, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman. I had to go and stroke one off in the bathroom. You’ve always had that effect on me. I can’t wait to make you my wife.” His mouth lifted and his tongue snaked out and licked his bottom lip. His eyes zoomed in on mine. My lips were the only things he never gotten a taste of. I’d never let him, and I’d left before he had the chance. At first, he wasn’t interested, but the longer he messed with me the more he wanted to claim all of me; he wanted my lips, my body, and my soul. I’d refused.

  He started to move slowly toward me like a panther. I locked my jaw and waited to strike. I wouldn’t just lay there this time.

  “You are so beautiful. I’ve imagined what it would feel like when I sink into your hot cunt.” He moved closer and closed his eyes, while moving in for a kiss. With all the might I had, I swung with my right fist and connected with his jaw. His eyes snapped open, and he gripped me by the arms before I could move and had pinned me to the ground.

  “Get off me, asshole!” I screamed and he pressed his body against mine. Tears threatened to escape at the feel of his erection against me, but I held them back. He would not get my tears.

  “I know you’ve been fucking that shit rock star, but sweets, you are mine. And you will submit to me.” He moved one of my hands over to the other and grabbed them both in one hand. It freed the other so he could move it down my body and palm my breast roughly. He pressed his sad excuse for a dick against me, and like a crazy person, I laughed. I laughed so hard he stopped what he was doing and looked at me.

  “You will never own me. Your tiny dick and hands will never ever give me pleasure. You might as well go find a blow up doll because that’s all I will be for you. Wolfe made me scream his name all night; you couldn’t even get a moan from me. You are pathetic!” I continued laughing. I wasn’t sure why I was taunting him; maybe, I had lost my mind, and it was all I had left.

  “You’ll be my wife and I will work to make you scream my name for the rest of your life, sweets. I plan on working on it every day. Even after you’ve given me children, I will still fuck your cunt until you forget that anim
al’s name.” He smiled and leaned down to kiss my cheek.

  “I will never forget him! You might as well give up now!” I growled. I thrashed my body around, trying to get loose, when he took advantage of my movements and crashed his lips to mine forcefully. His tongue tried to invade my mouth, but I bit him like a fucking piranha.

  He pressed his pelvis against me and pulled back.

  “Your struggle only makes it more appealing to tame you.” He licked the spot where I’d bit and sat up. I pushed myself back toward the wall, trying to get away from him.

  “Now that we have gotten that out of the way, get dressed and come to breakfast. You’ve got ten minutes before I come and get you. Dressed or not.” He would drag me out there naked if I wasn’t. That was clear as day on his face. He turned swiftly and walked out of the room. My worst fucking nightmare had come true.

  The first thing I did was head into the bathroom and brush my whole mouth out. I was pissed, if he fucking thought he could control me like he had when I was a young teenager, he had another think coming.

  I had something to fight for, and I was not giving in. I washed my face next and then changed into some clothes. I put on my brave face and opened the door. My door babysitter, Jason, wasn’t there, so either they trusted me or he was hiding. Turns out he was grabbing some food at the counter.

  Everyone was gathered around in the kitchen eating breakfast. Eggs and bacon. It was simple, and I was ok with that. My appetite had decreased after what happened in my bedroom.

  “Finally, you would think getting dressed was a hard task considering how long it takes you to do it, Monera,” Mother commented. And my day had begun. My day continued in the same manner it had started.

  Zeyn casually touched me, and I would allow the small ones for now, but anytime he tried to kiss me or anything, I would move my head to the side. It was worth the verbal lashing my mother would give me. I couldn’t care less that she would scream at me.

  My stepfather just wrote my behavior off and said I just needed to be taught how to behave again. After breakfast was over, I was put to work, cleaning their house and scrubbing floors with a small brush.

  Sweat covered me; I was almost finished when my stepfather and one of those guards walked on my new clean floors with their dirty boots. I groaned out my frustration and got their attention.

  “I’m sorry, were you cleaning right here?” he mocked me and stomped causing a big cloud of dirt to fall off his shoe. I hoped I wasn’t here much longer. I was going to end up biting my lip off from trying hold back my retorts.

  “You know, she tried to whore herself to me once, her own stepfather,” I heard him say as he walked away. I was starting to lose my patience.

  Chapter Thirty One

  “I really don’t know what that animal saw in you. You’ve really let yourself go these past years, Monera.” Mother took a seat across from me. I was taking a break from cleaning and she’d decided to come and mess with me. I just stayed silent.

  “You look more like your father now.” My head flew up to face hers. After my real father died, she’d never really talked about him. Every time I tried, she would scream at me. She took away all photos of him; it was like she’d erased him from my life. All I had were vague memories of him here and there. I looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

  “Your features are more masculine like his. It’s a shame he died and not you.” I tried not to let her words hurt me, but bringing up my father opened a small floodgate inside me. Tears started to well up in my eyes. I turned my head so she couldn’t see them, but she gripped my chin firmly and turned me to face her.

  “He did love you very much; I think it’s what made me hate you the most. Now justice will be served. We are going to try and get some money out of your boy toy before we hand you off to Zeyn.” My eyes narrowed at her mention of Wolfe. What did she mean?

  “Nothing for you to worry about now. I just want you to think about that in just two weeks you will be marrying the man who fucked you up even more than we did. Oh yeah, Monera, I believed you when you told me, but I wanted you to suffer.” I shoved her hand away from my face with force.

  “You fucking believed me? You let him do that to me? I was a young girl for christ’s sake!” I screamed. I’d had enough. I stood up and faced her head on. She’d let me go through the abuse of that man for her own pleasure.

  “You little shit. Your father loved you; everyone loved you. His little light. Why the hell should you have gotten everything when he died? I’ve hated you since the moment I saw you,” she spat at me. Wait a minute!.

  “What do you mean I got everything? You told me there was nothing!” People were rushing into the room to see what the commotion was about, but all I saw was red.

  “There was nothing for you! Not anymore, we fixed that and made sure I got what was rightfully mine.” She screamed at me and her husband was at her side to comfort her. Glaring at me because I’ caused her distress.

  “You’re all sick fucks! Burning in hell would be to easy a punishment for you.” I belted out and someone grabbed me. I kicked and fought against him with all of my might. I had to get out of here. I screamed and threw my elbows back at the man holding me, until he held a cloth over my mouth, and my vision went blurry.

  “Wolfe.,” I called out before I lost consciousness.

  My eyes felt like they weighed fifty pounds as I tried to open them, and my mouth felt like a desert had rolled in. I struggled to move my body, even when I finally opened my eyes and saw I was on that stupid bed. With great effort, I rolled myself off the bed and to the floor. Fucking hell.

  I looked out the window and saw that it was night. They’d drugged me and thrown me in here. I couldn’t believe everything that horrible woman had said. She believed me about Zeyn; that was still a hard pill to swallow.

  I needed to get out of here. I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to fight them off and keep Zeyn away from me.

  I slowly started getting control over my body. I rolled over and crawled toward the door. I looked through the little slit under the door and didn’t see boots. I wondered if Jason was at his post, guarding the door. I got up onto my weak knees and cracked the door enough so I could see outside. He wasn’t there. Still dressed in what I was wearing when they’d knocked me out, I stood up and peeked out the door. No one.

  Taking my chance, I slowly walked out into the hallway. My body felt like shit, and I wasn’t sure if I could even make it, but I had to try; I had to leave. As quietly as I could, I peeked around the corner to the living room and saw Jason passed out on the couch. I took a few deep, shaky breaths and, on my bare feet, walked out into the room and toward the door. I made it without anyone waking up, but right beside the door was an alarm system. As soon as I opened it, the alarm would sound. Shit!

  I took a few minutes to contemplate what I should do when the answer settled in my head. I needed to leave; I would muster up all of my strength and run like Forrest fucking Gump. I unlocked the deadbolt and gripped the knob. As soon as I opened it, I had to bolt. I dug the ball of my foot on the tile and counted to three in my head.

  One

  Two

  Three

  I ripped the door open and flew outside as fast as I could. The sound of the alarm started blaring behind me, but I didn’t look back. I had to do this! I ran down the driveway, climbed over the small fence that surrounded the place, and took off. I found the strength through my foggy brain and weaved around the houses, trying to stay off the main roads.

  My feet slowed and I pressed my back against a house. I gasped for breath; running after you had just been drugged was hard. I felt like I only had one lung and my nerves were sending wrong messages to the rest of my body. I looked around suspiciously, watching for anyone who was trying to catch me, and I knew they were.

  I didn’t see any movement, so I slowly walked around the house and kept moving down the street, house by house. I saw a gas station up ahead and took off for
it. I could call someone; I wished I had Wolfe’s number, but I knew the number to the pub, so I could try to reach Evan. He would help me.

  I just made it under the streetlight when I was tackled to the ground, and a hand covered my mouth. I tried to bite and scream. Anything to get attention of someone around me, but then I felt a pinch in my side and things started to get fuzzy again.

  “Nice try, bitch, I’m getting paid too much to let you get away.” Harsh words growled in my ear, and I was out again.

  Chapter Thirty Two

  “Wake up, Monera, if we weren’t allowed to sleep then neither should you.” My eyes rolled open and then closed at the light that burned them. Fuck, it was morning, and I was back in their bloody house.

  “Wake up.” A hand smacked my face, and I groaned. I opened my eyes again and I saw the stepparents staring at me angrily. At least my failed attempt at escape had pissed them off. I smiled briefly and then tried to sit up. Very slowly, I succeeded in doing so and looked at the people around me. We were not in my bedroom but in the living room.

  There were muffled voices coming from the TV, and I felt a sense of longing for some strange reason.

  “Good, we figured you would want to see this. Get a last look at your lover boy before heading to the doctor’s office today for your tests.” Mother threw a granola bar at me and sat down across from the couch I was on. I turned toward the TV and stilled.

  Wolfe was walking onto a stage to a podium. I blinked a couple of times and then read the news strip below.

  Wolfe Lennox releases statement.

  There he was, my Wolfe. His hair was messy and thrown up in his signature bun. His beard looked rough, like he hadn’t been taking care of himself. In some way, I hoped it was because he’d been looking for me. I waited eagerly for him to speak, and thankfully everyone around me stayed silent.