Series: The Rossi Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Because they aren’t her.
Holding her in my arms, feeling her cling to me, reminded me of the one person in my life that I failed to save, failed to protect. I grit my teeth, grabbing onto the sink that’s barely fastened to the wall. Things were easier before she escaped and ran right into my arms like I was the hero in this twisted fucking story.
But I’m not the hero. I can’t save her...I can’t even save myself. I force air into my lungs, and swallow down all the emotions swirling out of control inside of me. This is my job. The only life I’ve ever known and some tiny, fragile fucking woman isn’t going to ruin it for me.
I lift my eyes to the mirror, looking at my reflection I see the man I’m meant to be.
The hardened criminal, the killer, the fucked up asshole.
I was born to do this. It’s in my blood.
Chapter Three
Violet
I blink my eyes open, feeling a little warmer than I have in a long time. My jaw throbs and I fight back tears at the pain. When I shift against the mattress I feel an unknown fabric rubbing against my naked skin. I gaze down at my body, which is now covered with a large black shirt. I look around the room expecting… hoping the owner of that shirt would still be here, but I’m met with nothing more than disappointment when I realize the room is completely empty as always.
I suck in a ragged breath, the faint scent of cinnamon and whisky tickle my nostrils, which I quickly realize comes from the shirt covering me. I get up and shimmy the shirt off of me while trying to keep my boobs covered.
Now that I know for a fact this mirror isn’t really a mirror and that someone might be watching me right now I am not going to give anyone a show. I turn my back to the door and slip the oversize shirt over my head. The soft fabric falls over my body swallowing me whole. The shirt is so long on me it fits me more like a dress then a t-shirt, coming to rest just below my knees.
I sit there for a long time wrapped in Ivan’s shirt. It still smells like him and I can’t help but revel in his unique scent, it calms me, it makes me feel safe, and it reminds me of how he made me feel when he was holding me in his huge arms. He said that he couldn't help me but he doesn’t realize how much he already has.
Not only did he save me from being raped by those two men but he also held me for I don’t even know how long. After being without any human contact for so many days, his gentle touch meant everything to me… not to mention the warmth he provided me with. Because of him I felt a little more human again. For the first time since I got here I smile. He even left me his shirt, he cared enough to leave him shirt, knowing how cold I was. If that’s not kindness then I don’t know what is.
I pull my legs up to my chest and rest my head on my knees trying to relax when I hear someone unlocking the door. I’m instantly on high alert, staring at the door waiting to see who is going to come walking through it. Ivan told those guys not to come back, surly they would listen to him? They called him boss, so I’m assuming he’s the one in control of this entire thing.
My heart jump starts at the next thought...or maybe it’s Ivan who is coming back?
When I see the food door flap open and a tray being shoved through it I’m equally relieved and disappointed. It’s not Ivan, but it’s no one coming in here to try and hurt me either.
I almost don’t get up, leaving the food sitting there when I take another look at the contents on the tray. It holds the normal paper plate and water bottle, but there is something else on it.
I jump up and run to the door, my bare feet slapping against the cold concrete.
Toilet paper. Fucking toilet paper. I never thought I could be so happy about such a ridiculous little thing as toilet paper… but I am. I’m so happy about it that I decide to actually eat a few bites of the sandwich. The inside of my mouth hurts like hell and my jaw is swollen but I manage to chew anyway. I twist the cap off the clear bottle of water and wash down the dry pb and j pieces in my mouth. They land in my belly with a heavy thud.
I eye the door knowing there is no way one of the men put that toilet paper on the tray. They wouldn’t care enough about such a small thing, after all I’m nothing but a piece of meat to be sold. I know for certain Ivan had to have done it. He was kind enough to leave his shirt for me, so there is no way it was anyone but him. Which leaves me wondering how he became the boss of this god forsaken place? He seems different than the other men here...or at least the ones I’ve met. He’s kinder, gentler, and that gives me hope where I’ve had none.