Page 20 of The Caged Girl

“The breeders?” My voice trembled.

“Demi, we are an all-inclusive, exclusive resort for the wealthy. We are full-service. Sometimes we have unique couples coming to us with their marriage in shambles because they cannot reproduce, so we have options for that, too.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that. Who are the breeders? These girls aren’t birds or animals, Alister.” My head turned as his palm cracked against my cheek.

Gasping, I clenched my eyes shut as he aggressively took me to the bathtub. My skin stung as I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the monster in front of me. “I wanted you to be a nightingale. I wanted you to be in my own Russian roulette. You don’t even know what happens every time a guest checks out. You don’t even know about my fun little game to ensure no man or woman leaves this establishment with the intent to ruin all my hard work.”

Ripping my lace nightgown off, he smiled as he looked at my naked body. “Then I saw you… I saw the chocolate eyes that enticed my brother and nephews. I knew I always had to have more than him. Look at me now, Demi.” He turned the bathtub on and demanded that I get in.

“Please, I don’t want to,” I whispered.

He snapped his fingers and just like that, a woman appeared. It was Marcie, wearing her usual all-white outfit. “Marcie, darling, will you clean up the favorite girl of La Gabbia, please? She vomited earlier, and I can’t bear the smell of her.”

Marcie’s eyes met mine, but she quickly looked away. I could tell she was forcing herself not to say what she wanted to. Alister left the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

“You look just like her, you know…” Marcie said quietly as she lifted my hand and guided me into the tub.

“Marcie, I went down to…”

“Hell?” she answered as my body sank into the warm bath.

“They call it the Euphoria program.” I was scared to close my eyes and see the scenes of Declan raping a dead woman or beating her lifeless body.

“It’s uncanny how much you both are alike.” Marcie squeezed a sponge and began lathering soap onto it.

“Who?” I paused.

Marcie sighed. “Your sister, Layla, of course.”

My heart pounded against my chest but suddenly, everything felt still.”

“Marcie…” I trailed as my head ached with confusion.

“My sister died in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the reason I went to Charlotte and ended up in Ian Ivory’s torture chamber. She betrayed me. She fell for that monster—the man who trafficked girls into Ian’s arms.”

Marcie slapped her hand over my mouth, but I hit her hand off me. “Don’t you dare touch me.” I seethed as hot tears stung my eyes.

“Demi, your sister didn’t betray you. She saved you.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

After Marcie bathed me,I was given a silk nightgown to wear. “This is what he wants you in.” Marcie pinched her lips to the side.

“I need you to tell me how you know my sister when I saw her die in front of my eyes. I need you to tell me how Bradley is walking around this resort when I killed him. I killed them both.” My body was shaking as Marcie pulled the gown over my head and my hair dripped down my back.

“Demi, when Mac and Tini saw you in the ocean that day, they said you asked for plain white rice and yogurt.”

I nodded as I remembered that moment, thinking someone was saving me but quickly realized there was no way my life hadn’t already been meticulously planned out for me by deranged monsters.

“You said that to show them compliance and that you were brainwashed by Ian. You said that because you’re a brilliant girl and want to live.” Marcie grabbed a hairbrush and began brushing through my sopping wet hair. It was all true. I saw their green eyes and blonde hair and knew they were all just the same. I knew I had to pretend I was consumed by the Ivory family.

“Marcie, please tell me, is my sister alive?”

“Not the sister you knew. Best you just let her stay dead.” Marcie tapped my shoulder and walked away.

Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at me. “Alister Ivory is an even sicker bastard that Ian ever was. Just be careful. I know you want to burn it all down, but he’ll never let you go unscathed.”

I stood there and watched her leave before turning to the vanity and leaning into it. Staring at myself in the mirror, I knew she was right. But more than anything, I couldn’t calm my nerves, thinking my sister was potentially alive. Glancing up at the ceiling, I also knew I was being watched. What did the girls mean when they said one gets chosen at the end of each guest’s visit? Chosen for what?

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