Page 44 of Covert (Ruthless Love #2)

Chapter forty-one

Nikki

M y beating wasn't terrible. Dear old daddy took a belt to the back of my thighs and shoulders until he physically couldn't anymore.

Then he made my brother take over. Poor Angelo.

I know it killed him to have to do that to me, but if he had pulled any of his strength, Father would've noticed, and the next part of our plan would be ruined.

It had hurt, sure, and I cried out, satisfying his sadistic heart, but it didn't compare to the hurt in my heart.

He knew he had to torture me in a way that wouldn't scar me and devalue me for a potential partner.

Which is how I know he plans to sell me again.

If I had to guess, to Vitale's son. Angelo told me that the senior Vitale was killed by a curvy housewife named Hannah, who was the woman of the Colombian mafia that Vitale Sr was stupid enough to kidnap. Good for her.

Now, I'm in the dark. This section of our basement is completely pitch black.

It's designed to make people go insane. Without any ambient light, your brain starts to invent things - shapes, shadows, lights.

After enough time in pitch black, even the strongest people will break.

And that's what he's trying to do to me.

Get me to break, mentally, into submission.

Most people start to experience derealization or dissociation, collapsing in on themselves mentally.

Most people break after three days.

With no way to tell time, I don't know how long I've already been in here. And before, I would have already broken, but I had a secret weapon now .

My guys.

In my mind, I'm riding on the back of Diesel's bike as we drive across the Chesapeake Bay to Kent Island. I'm curled up on his lap in front of his cabin, naked, and wrapped in a blanket as we watch the fire crackle at night.

I'm in the kitchen with Beckett, cooking our favorite meals while flirting, or I'm reliving that night that I took his virginity.

I'm curled up with Axel in his chair, or laughing at his adorably goofy grin, which he gets when he's trying to be sexy for social media.

I'm wrestling with Maddox, or tattooing them all again.

In my mind, I relive every moment with my guys, and I know I'm going to see them again. That they're worth fighting for, and it gives me the strength I need to not break.

Eventually, one of Dad's goons opens the door and pulls me out. I wince at the sudden brightness, but make sure to act broken. I mumble to myself, stumble, and make my eyes blur, just as I'd seen other people who survived the dark.

I'm taken to my childhood room and tossed onto the bed unceremoniously.

"We'll send someone to take care of you," the goon says.

I just mumble to myself in response. Dad subjected us to psychological torture to train us early on. He should know better.

I lay on my bed, mumbling to myself. I don't know if they have cameras or mics installed in my bedroom, now, so I need to keep up the act.

About twenty minutes later, a woman appears.

"Alright, miss, let's get you into a shower. "

I continue to mumble, but she's not wrong. I stink. I'm not used to not showering daily.

The woman hooks her hands under my arms and helps me to stand, lifting me and helping me to shuffle to the attached bathroom. But when we get to the bathroom, and I sneak a peek at her face in the mirror, I stumble to a stop.

Ice blue eyes. Ice blue eyes that I've lost myself in for hours. And a familiar nose and familiar mouth look back at me. The same color of brown hair as her brother.

I gasp in shock.

"Natalie?" I whisper, unsure of any listening devices. Her hands around my shoulders tighten as her body stiffens next to me."Natalie Garrison?"

I spin, slam the door closed behind us, and grip her shoulders. She's startled by my sudden movements, but she casts her eyes down. She's a servant here. Fuck! Someone in my father's organization must have kidnapped her and forced her into slave labor.

She exhales carefully through her nose, eyes cast down in neutral submission. "Yes, ma'am. My name is Natalie."

I shake her, trying to get her eyes back on me. "No. Natalie. I know your brother. I... I'm in love with your brother."

Cracked ice eyes finally snap to mine.

"Ma-Maddox? You... you know him?" Her tone is still hesitant, but hopeful. I sigh in relief and pull her against me, gathering her in my arms, amazed and grateful that fate set her in front of me.

And then I realize I'm holding Axel's first love. That's a sobering thought .

"He's still looking for you. Every day. Fuck, I need to figure out how to tell him I found you and that you're okay." She still assesses me carefully.

I kick on the water in the shower to hopefully drown out our conversation and catch her eye again.

"Look, my brother and I aren't like them.

You're under my protection now. No one will touch you or hurt you anymore.

You're safe. I want you to sleep with me.

" Her eyes widen. "God, no, but like, sleep in my room with me so I know you're protected.

Mad and Axe have been killing themselves looking for you. "

Her lower lip wobbles, and she gives in to the first sign of hope I'm sure she's had in years.

A sick thought comes to mind that I pray doesn't happen. "Do they make you..."

She shakes her head quickly. "No. As far as I know, they have other girls for that."

Well, that's one relief.

They took my cell phone when they threw me in the dark. I need Angelo to get a message to the guys so they can stop worrying.

"You... you know Axel?"

I pull her to sit on the floor, and I explain the last six months of my life to her. I need her to trust me so I can keep her safe. And we need a game plan. I'll never be able to escape again under my father's regime.

And we need a plan to keep Natalie safe.