“For how long?” I blurted out, slightly annoyed and slightly louder than a whisper.
“Please. Keep your voice down.” Grace pleaded. “You don’t understand. You don’t know what they’ll do. You don’t want them to come.” Sheer terror rippled in her voice.
“How long have you all been here?” I whispered.
“A month or two maybe. It’s too hard to tell. You kind of lose track of time down here,” Storm said in a defeated voice.
“Storm was here first, the rest of us only a few days, a week maybe. I don’t know.” Leah whispered.
“What about your families, loved ones, friends? Anyone who would notice you missing? Anyone who might come to look for you?” I found it hard to believe these girls had no family.
Grace spoke, her tone void of emotion. “My parents abandoned me on the steps of a group home when I was five and never looked back. I grew up in foster care. They don’t care where I am or that I’m gone.”
The quiet seeped into our bones as their hope faded. I could feel it in the air. But I knew without a doubt my family would come. “Stay strong. Just hold on for a little while longer,” I told them. “My family will come, and we’ll get out. Those bastards will pay!” I said it with as much courage as I could muster. I felt it in my very soul. They would come. I just prayed it was sooner rather than later. Because who knew what was coming?
Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, images flooded my mind. My family. Mom and Dad on vacation or at gatherings. My uncles. My best friend. And the one face that’s never far from my mind.
His smile. The way his eyes sparkled. The delicious way he smelled of musk and man with a hint of leather. His taste when we kissed the first time. I knew I had to make it out of here alive for him. I closed my eyes and remembered the first time we met. The one man who made me rethink letting anybody else in my world. The only man I have ever betrayed my father for. I lay there, closing my eyes and imagining Dominic Hayes. The one person to truly see my soul.
2
Jules
One year ago
Today is my seventeenth birthday and my family is planning a party. They didn’t think I knew about it. But my best friend in the world, Gia Di Salvo, couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. I also might have blackmailed her with some unsavory photos she took while she was drunk last time.
I truly hated surprises.
Anyways, my mother, Cara Galenti, was one of those smothering mothers, the kind where no matter how old you are, they thought you needed a birthday party. Or they cried about how old you were, and how you didn’t need them anymore. Don’t get me wrong, she was deadly, and could be one of the meanest, most ruthless women this side of the Syracuse when it came to her family. After all, she was married to my dad. She kind of had to be.
My dad gave her anything her heart desired. Partly because she knew how to work him, and partly because he was a little scared of her. We all were. But in all honesty, my parents had a marriage most people craved. The adoring looks my dad gave my mother made even the hardest man soften up.
They were passing this party off as my birthday party, but we all knew better than that. This “party” was a front for my dad to invite his “associates”. The entire family would be there, and they were going all out.
“Agreements must be made, Jules,” Dad said as I rolled my eyes.
Business for the club was always number one. My mom was a close second.
The whole place looked different as they prepared for the festivities. Booze flowed everywhere, loud music, and people dancing. With this many people, you’d have thought a person would feel cherished. That wasn’t the case.
There I was, celebrating my birthday with my best friend. Both of us looked like sin, dressed in as little as possible. We took pride in being sexy, being naturally beautiful. It had its perks. With long dark hair, small waist, and legs to die for, I was fierce in my black leather mini skirt and halter top. Mother would say a ’woman’s hair was her crowning glory. Her motto was “You must always look your best.” Gia wasn’t looking too bad either in her mini dress and spiked stilettos. Honestly, I was envious of her curves. She had a true hourglass figure. Being shiny and polished was what was expected from us.
Tucked away in a corner, we watched as people strolled in, working the room, and making introductions. My family had invited everyone they could think of tonight, from senators to dirty congressman and other slightly unsavory associates. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed what looked like some of the local chapter of the Lawless MC, the local Irish club, coming in. I’d seen some of them before, but this looked like a whole shit load of guys, all tattoos and leather. None of that appealed to me.
I was just about to walk away when he strolled in, all muscle and sex. He smiled when his buddy whispered something in his ear. He had the deepest set of dimples I’d ever seen, only slightly hidden in his facial hair. Nothing too overgrown, you could tell he had it trimmed up. But it was enough that I could touch
