Page 54 of The Caged Girl

“You must be his perfect wife. It’s the only way you’ll survive. Just save yourself. That’s why I did what I did. It will be a waste if you don’t survive and live. Please, Demilion,” she whispered so quietly into my ear that I pinched myself to make sure I was awake and alive.

A door opened. They’d make sure when opening the first door that it closed all the way before sliding the screen in front of the bars.

They didn’t want us to see even a sliver of light because that would give us some form of hope. All this time I had feared bright lights and white, but now I realized this truly was a hell greater than all.

No wonder the nightingales were subservient. They’d rather please these sick men than be thrown back here.

A warm arm grabbed me and dragged me to my feet. “No, wait,” I called out as her hand released mine. “Who are you?” What did she mean it’s why she did what she did?

“Goodbye, my sister.”

My entire world shattered as the cage slammed shut. The second door opened and shut behind us.

Light. A small flicker from the lantern hanging in the narrow hallway made of all black bricks. I slammed my eyes shut before slowly opening them.

Falling to my knees, I realized it’d been so long since I even stood. My body didn’t have the strength.

“Demi, please, let’s go.” Opening my eyes slowly and shielding them from the light, I looked at him.

“Bradley, my sister…” He lifted me and carried me in his arms. His lips were in a tight line as we walked to the elevators. This entire time I was with my sister. I was with Layla.

“Save her, Bradley. Put me back. Kill me. Just let her out. You congratulated him, Bradley,” I cried and choked on my own saliva.

Bradley didn’t speak as his eyes flicked to the red light in the corner of the elevator.

They were watching us.

“Alister wants you to receive medical care and rest today. Tomorrow is your orientation as the co-president of La Gabbia.” He glanced down at me and instantly shut his eyes, as if he were in physical pain looking at me.

I couldn’t stop crying. My sister and I had spent time together in a dark closet when we were trafficked in Nashville. And now this…

What did Layla do? What did she mean I had to be the perfect wife to survive?

“The next time, he’ll kill you and her.”

“Was my sister with Alister?”

Bradley carried me out of the elevator and looked over his shoulder before walking forward and then making a quick halt before turning around.

He was getting us on camera that we were heading to the right place. Scanning his badge against a door, it slid open, and we walked in. I kept my eyes closed. Everything was bright and all white.

Feeling something on my face, I opened my eyes. Bradley had put sunglasses on me.

Laying me down on the bed, he immediately walked to the wall-to-wall window and drew the curtains closed.

“Demi…” He sighed before lifting me back up and carrying me to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet with one hand, he checked the water and slid me into the oversized tub, then quickly lifted my gown off my body.

“Ah!” I cried out as the warmth burned my skin. The clear water instantly turned shades of brown, red, and black.

Sprinkling in Epsom salt and soap, he dropped to his knees and turned my head toward him.

“I don’t understand anything, Bradley. I’m so tired, I’m so scared. You must go back down there and get my sister. You…you love her.” I rested my head on the curve of the tub as the water covered my aching body.

“I don’t love her, Demi. You know that. It’s always been you…” His eyes filled with tears as he took a washcloth and began cleaning my face.

“The cage, the way you were kissing her… You’re sleeping with her. Of course, you love her, Bradley. You have to save her. Why is she there? I thought…”

“Alister is making you see what he will do if you don’t obey him, Demi. This is how he makes everything work. He finds the weakest link in you. How do you think he gets all these wealthy couples to never leak what he does here? He has videos of their wives and the men. He could incriminate them all.”

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