Page 68 of Enslaved

“Yes,” I replied to the teen who stunk like fish.

“Come with me. Quickly.”

I ran down the dock after him, took off my heels and boarded a fishing vessel.

“Welcome aboard, friend of a friend. You’ll be safe with us. I’m George. There’s a bunk down below, food, water, and chianti—if you need it. We’ll be there in two days.”

“Where is there?”

“Andre said it’d be safer if you didn’t know.”

“Thank you for helping a stranger.”

“It’s nothing,cara.We all have sisters.”

“There is one thing I need.” I reached out taking the fishing knife from his belt. His eyes opened in horror not knowing what I was about to do. I walked to the side of the boat with my hand on the leather collar still tightly fastened around my neck. I held the knife up, letting it slide between my skin and the leather. I jerked fast and the blade set me free.

I held the pieces of the collar in my hand, vowing that no man would ever put one on me again. I tossed it over the side of the boat, watching until it disappeared.

“Thanks,” I told George, handing him his knife back. I swallowed hard, then went below deck, crawled into the tiny bunk and prayed for sleep. Anything to pretend tonight didn’t happen.

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