Page 42 of Broken
I jump when I see Twisted standing in the middle of my room. “Sorry, I was just coming to check on you.”
He cares about me. I’m his family. It hurts to know that. “It’s okay.” I pull out my work T-shirt and a pair of jeans shorts.
“You going in tonight?”
“Yea.” I look over at him. “I thought the distraction might help. I’m feeling a bit better too.”
“Great.” He smiles at me. “Well, I’ll let you get dressed. Let me know if you need anything.”
I need a way out, but no one can give that to me.
I know I should tell someone.
I need to ask for help.
When you’re ready, when you need someone to talk to and be in your corner.
I’ll be here.
No judgment.
I can’t help but wonder if she would be there for me after hearing my story. Out of everyone here, Lucy seems to be the most in my corner, she and Max.
Max.
A part of me imagines that he’ll hate me when this all comes out.
The other part wishes that I will tell him and that he’ll wrap me in his arms. He’ll promise me that everything will be okay, not knowing if it really will or not.
I’m terrified that they won’t believe my story. I’m even more afraid that I won’t even get to finish my story. They will hear me say that I was sent here and immediately kick me out. If I’m on the streets I’m as good as dead, or Hades will make me wish I were.
I head out to the club, thankful for the distraction from the storm raging in my mind.
***
The club is packed and thankfully I haven’t had time to think about my life once. There are only a few guys lingering around now and Tracie is starting to close down the bar. I bring them their last round when one guy grabs my arm. I look down at him.
“Hey, sugar,” he slurs. “Why don’t you give my dick a special dance?”
All his buddies laugh and it pisses me off.
I pull my arm, trying to free myself of him.
With one hard tug, he pulls me onto his lap. When he thrusts upward I freeze.
Hades walks into my room and every part of me wants to cower in the corner.
He smiles and that’s even scarier. “Today, we are gonna try something new, for you at least. Strip and get on all fours.”
I’m pulled up and shaken out of my daze.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Max’s voice booms.
When did he get here?
The drunk stands up and sneers at me as he stumbles past us. My heart is beating so fast that it almost hurts. Maybe coming into work wasn’t such a great idea.
“Izzy, are you okay?” Max’s words cut through the fog in my brain.
