AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ELODIE
Dominic lost his shit on me when we got home.
He’s been getting increasingly violent, with me and anyone who opposes him. Dominic truly is a psychopath. He’s barely hanging on by a thread and coming to me at night less and less frequently. I think he’s finally found a mistress. I’ve never been more relievedin my life.
Every time Dominic beats me, afterwards he acts as if nothing happened. I’m expected to just get up off the floor and resume daily life.
“Go pour me a drink, you stupid bitch. God, you’re good for nothing. You know what kind of day I’ve had,” he snarls at me.
Flinching, I move to the drink cabinet and pour him a whiskey, dropping two ice cubes into it. I wish I had some poison in here, but he’s made sure there’s nothing like that I could use.
Taking him the drink, I sit on the chair closest to the couch and wait. Either he will tell me I can go, or he will start complaining about how horrible his life is, how his men don’t respect him, and how his father doesn’t either. It’s the same thing every single day when he gets drunk.
There have been problems for a while now. Well, really since he forced me to marry him. His father was furious. He had no idea Dominic had been dealing directly to my parents. Or that they had sold me to him. In fact, his father had set up an arranged marriage that fell through when we were married.
After that, he started giving Dominic less and less control of things.
Tonight was the second time I had been anywhere in a year. The first was a dinner the night before with one of Dominic’s business partners. I had to entertain his wife while he and Dominic went off to smoke cigars and talk business.
The wife and I never spoke a word to each other. She sneered at my appearance as soon as they sat down with us and had her face stuffed in her phone shopping online for the rest of the time after that.
I know I look horrible. I barely eat. I only get a few hours of sleep at night because of the nightmares. And every time I look in the mirror, all I see are dead eyes. Lifeless. Hopeless. Desolate. Though I imagine, she isn’t any less trapped than I am. She just deals with it by shopping. I’m going to deal with it by getting away from this psycho I’m married to.
This world is a cesspool. These people are so different from what I saw of Drake’s family the few days I was there.
No one is to be trusted. Dominic has gone through so many men recently that I don’t even recognize them from day to day. I don’t know how that can be secure. The two men standing in front of the building right now have been here a couple weeks now but the rest are new.
Dominic looks at me over the rim of his glass. “We are going to be going into business with Aiden. His wife wasn’t impressed with how you look. Make an appointment at the spa this week and at some stores to get some new clothes that are more up to their standards. I’ll send some men with you, so don’t even think about trying anything stupid. You need to fix yourself up a little because we are going to be spending more time with them. You look like a fucking hag. I don’t know what I ever saw in you before. You disgust me. Leave me.”
Well, you’re the one who orders all my clothes you idiot, I think to myself.
Shocked at the fact that I actually get to leave, I nod and stand. Walking quickly, I make my way to my room and undress, heading for the bathroom. Turning on the water in the tub, I walk over to the sink and take off my jewelry. Sure I have some pretty things. At first, Dominic tried to buy my love. He brought trinkets, furcoats, and big bouquets of flowers. Nothing moved me. Eventually all pretext of happiness on his end disappeared.
No photography though. I haven’t been able to take a single photo since I’ve been here.
I loathe him. I will always loathe him.
Once the water fills halfway, I add some bath oil and a bath bomb. Sinking down into the tub, I turn on the jets. This tub is a lot like the one at Drake’s but this one is smaller. Only made for one person. I’ve never had to worry about Dominic trying to get in with me and ruining the only place I truly have any peace.
Sighing, I close my eyes. I don’t have a cell phone. I’m not allowed to have one. Tomorrow I will have to use the office phone and make some calls to set the hair and shopping appointments. A buzz goes through my body as I realize this may be the only chance I get and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to do everything I can to escape.
For the first time in a year, I go to bed with hope in my heart and get a full night’s sleep.
CHAPTER 22
DRAKE
Well now we know she’s alive. But I’m sure she thinks I hate her since I couldn’t even bring myself to look at her. My dad and Anthony are silent in the car on the drive home. All of us are lost in our own thoughts about what happened at the fundraiser.
“Okay Drake, we can do it your way now,” my dad says quietly.
Blowing out a breath, I choke up with emotion. I’m going to bringmy girl home.
Nodding, I reach over and hug him. Anthony looks at me and inclines his head, giving me his blessing as well.
After we get home I reach into my pocket, pull out my phone, and dial a number.
Zeke answers with a clipped “Hello.”
