Stealing in the Second Degree

Chapter 3

A sharp pain in my stomach woke me up, as soon as I started to doze off. 

"Get up." A voice commanded. I instantly sat up, but something dug into my wrist, holding me back.

I looked up. 

Austen stood over me, his looming figure overshadowing mine. I scooted back to the bed and grabbed my throbbing wrist. My whole arm had fallen asleep. I winced.

Austen crouched down to my level and reached out to the bed post, opening the hand cuff. I pulled my wrist to my chest. It was red and raw. I looked  up at Austen.

"You have a guest." He smirked. His eyes were deep blue. I surreptitiously gulped, inching away from him.

He grabbed my bicep and hauled me to my feet, dragging me downstairs.

I could only wonder what was in store for me.

I froze when we walked into the living room. To my surprise, none of the other brothers were there. Instead, a scruffy man sat on the couch, his arm draped over the edge. He looked up at me, his dull brown eyes dragging over my body indiscreetly. His eyes landed on my hair and his eyebrows shot up. 

I tried to move behind Austen, but his arm shot out and stopped me, pushing me forward.

"These ees the girl?" The man asked, his accent thick. I looked up at Austen, my heart beginning to pound.

He nodded. "This is her."

The man stood up, his mouth twisted into a sneer as he walked over to me. "She ees preetty. She make good deal on market."

I let out a little sob. The man reached out to my jacket, and began to tug it off. I pushed his hand away involuntarily.

Before I could even see it coming, the man back-handed me, his ring scraping against my lower lip. I stumbled back, and felt a hand stop me from tumbling backwards completely. 

"Stupid beetch." The man spat at me, his eyes firey.

I touched a hand to my mouth and brought it back down. A droplet of blood covered my knuckle. I stared at the man in front of me.

I realized that, soon, my life would be in his hands. I would be sold, no doubt as a sex slave, where many girls stayed until they were brutally raped and left to die. 

I thought about Rory. How she would never know why I abandoned her. 

I couldn't let this happen. I swallowed my pride and twirled around to Austen.

Our eyes met, and he thoroughly studied mine, our communication silent and quick.

"Jepado, stay here. I am going to talk to her." Austen commanded, placing a hand on waist.

He brought me to a bathroom and, as I walked in, he tore off some toilet paper and ran cold water over it.

I wondered what he was doing, until he brought it to my mouth.

When I grasped it with my own hand to hold it there, he shut the door behind me and then crossed his arms and looked down at me.

"So, what do you have to say?" He asked, his jaw clenched. I bit my tongue for a moment. 

"I-I know that you have the-the right to do anything with me that you wanted, but I am asking that you don't do this. Pleading, actually." As I studied the tiled floor, I grew a little more courage. "I will do anything, but don't let this happen to me. Please." I added at the end.

There was a pause, until suddenly two hands were placed on either side of me, hitting the door with such ferocity that it jumped me. Austen's face was only inches away from mine. His eyes were cold again, and it scared me.