Page 1 of Einar (The Brigands of Ruk #2)
Chapter One
ROWAN
“ Hey Sis ! Whatcha been up to since we talked last?”
“ Oh , the usual. Had a dress fitting yesterday for a benefit Robert has later in the week and other than that, I’ve just been fiddling with things here at the house. What about you?” I reply, forcing cheer into my voice.
Ruby pauses and I see her eyes darting across my face. However , I feel my husband’s cold, dead eyes boring into me the longer I talk to my sister on our FaceTime call. So now isn’t the time for her scrutiny, and I prompt her to reply quickly.
“ Sis , are you listening to me?”
“ Sorry Rowan , my mind drifted off there for a second.”
After years of marriage, I should be used to the level of intrusive control that he exerts over every miniscule facet of my life, but I’m most assuredly not.
Did I use getting a drink of water, the only thing I’m allowed to have without restrictions, as a cover to move across the room and situate myself just so? Absolutely , yes I did. Am I now standing in front of my bathroom vanity wearing the shortest sundress in my closet knowing that it’s Tuesday , the allotted family phone call day? Knowing that Ruby would be able to see my legs in the mirror just outside the door?
Yes , I sure as shit did!
The look in my big sister’s dark brown eyes as she takes in the bruises that cover the back of my legs almost has me cringing. This is my hell, my secret, my embarrassment. And as much as I’ve tried to stay strong by hiding the horrors of the life I chose, I must get out before my mind splinters. I’ve tried to be strong on my own, but I need help and she’s all I have in this world. I know my sister and there’s no way that she won’t immediately start making plans to get me out of this hellhole if I say one simple word. A word we’ve used since we were kids to keep each other safe. The one I’ve wanted to scream out loud, only to whisper it in my mind over and over every time I thought I wouldn’t survive another day.
“ Rowan ? What the fu…”
I’ve let my mind float off, and now Ruby’s voice spreads terror through me because I can’t let her finish that sentence. Robert is watching, like he always is, and I won’t risk him knowing that I allowed my sister to figure out what he’s doing to me.
Pasting an even bigger and brighter smile on my face, I shake my head as minutely as possible. My sister isn’t stupid and instantly stops mid-sentence and switches gears. Her beloved face creases into her fake smile.
“ Hey , I was thinking of stopping by on Thursday . I’m going to be traveling that way to pick up some new uniforms in the next city over from ya. I’m sure the boss wouldn’t care if I swung by on my way back.”
Thursday …she would want to come on Thursday . Nausea begins roiling in my gut as I force myself to airily respond to her.
“ Ohh , Thursday won’t work for me, Ruby . I’m sorry, I would have loved to see you. Robert has a few of his colleagues coming over that evening and you know my main job is to be a good hostess.” If only she knew exactly what being a delightful hostess entailed…
The bottom drops out of my stomach when she replies. Knowing Robert is listening, I fight to keep the small amount of food he allowed me to have for breakfast in my belly where it belongs.
“ Hey , I’m a waitress, so hosting is what I do best. I don’t care to help you out.”
Ruby can’t be here. We look so similar that many people mistake us for twins, and I refuse to allow Robert to get his hands on the only person on this earth that loves me and whom I love in return.
“ Absolutely not!” My words come out in a harsh snap, and I hide a wince. Robert doesn’t permit me to raise my voice, and I’ve no doubt he’s going to use that as an excuse to educate me on how a lady comports herself.
Softly , I clear my throat, making a concentrated effort to gentle my voice and lose the edge to my tone.
“ Sorry , didn’t mean to snap at you, but Robert is so picky about how he wants things done. You would probably be in the way more than anything else.”
Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention and I freeze. Robert has decided that my conversation with my sister has lasted long enough and he’s on his way to make my excuses for me. His cold voice reaches me as I put a hand over the speaker on my phone, so Ruby can’t hear what he says.
“ Rowan , my precious pet, you’ve exceeded your allotted phone time today. Wrap it up now, or your punishment for raising your voice on the phone will worsen…drastically.”
I feel myself nod, numbness beginning to seep in. It’s the only way I’ve managed to survive this long being married to a depraved monster.
“ Sis , I need to go, Robert needs me. Call me Thursday and I’ll see if our plans have changed. I love you, go have fun!”
Even though I know those particular plans won’t change, no matter how many times I’ve begged whatever god or gods that were listening to end my suffering.
My thumb is moving to end the call as I feel my husband’s hand wrap in my curly, waist length red hair, viciously yanking me away from the bathroom counter. My flailing knocks the half-empty cup of water over, the liquid spilling across the marble surface dripping onto the floor as my husband drags me across our bedroom to the closet.
Both of my hands are gripping his wrist, trying to alleviate the pressure on my scalp. Thankfully , he allows me to do that since most of the time, when he drags me by my hair, I’m required to crawl alongside him like a good, obedient wife. I close my eyes and will myself to get through this…just one more time.
I can hold on and survive now that Ruby knows about the bruises. She’ll come to my rescue, just like she always has. She’s my big sister and has always looked out for me. Even when I’m the one responsible for landing myself in this mess.
Robert hasn’t said a word since he grabbed me, but then he never does until he gets me to his playroom .
He’s a United States Senator and makes sure that none of his perversions become common knowledge. Robert knows that he wouldn’t survive the scandal his… preferences entail. The mansion we live in employees a large staff that are in and out of various locations all day, so he had a special room made to indulge in his vices.
Much to my dismay, if only one person in this godforsaken house was trustworthy and not terrified of my husband, I might have been able to escape without involving my precious sister.
The clicking sound of the latch on the hidden door at the back of our closet makes me flinch. Which in turn, causes the hand in my hair to tighten and twist, brutally pulling and forcing my face up so he can see the expression written there. My gaze drifts over his face, wondering how something so handsome can be so evil. His classical Romanesque features, dark brown eyes and dark hair dusted with silver at the temples hid so much.
So . Very . Much .
“ I see that talking to your sister has revived some of your spirit. I don’t know whether to allow you to speak to her more, so I can have the pleasure of breaking you all over again, or to forbid you from doing it anymore, as your disobedience vexes me greatly. Have I not given you everything a woman could ever want? Have I not taken years to painstakingly train you to be the perfect wife and toy?” His icy words rip into me, cutting at the fraying edges of my mind. It’s always far worse for me when his words are slow and measured versus his normal, loud outbursts of rage.
He drags me the rest of the way into the playroom and throws me against the St . Andrews cross positioned in the middle of the floor. Pain explodes in my shoulder where my body hits the hard surface of the disgusting sex toy. Taking slow measured breaths, I force myself to breathe through the pain, wishing it … all of this away. Nevertheless , I know it’s only the beginning.
“ Strip !”
His harsh words make me flinch, but I don’t hesitate to begin removing my clothes, closing my eyes as I do.
Once naked, I raise my arms and spread my legs, assuming the position I’ve taken many, many times before.
As he securely fastens the cuffs around my wrist and ankles, I allow my consciousness to drift into that gray, in-between place. It’s the only thing that has saved me from completely losing my grip on reality.
The first strike of the cane against my shins comes as a shock. The pain emanating from the strike flows across my mind, attacking it and feeling like shards of glass have been shoved into my skull.
“ You will thank me for being a good husband and taking time out of my exceptionally busy schedule to remind you of all the things I do for you. How lucky you are to have such a loving man at your beck and call.”
He sneers before backhanding me across the face so hard my head snaps to the side. The sensation of wetness trickling down my chin tells me that he’s busted one or both of my lips again. It’s a small wonder he’s never knocked any of my teeth out.
Seconds later, he grabs my cheek roughly, running his fingers through the blood dripping from the corner of my mouth. “ Oh , my dear wife, how I love this look on you.” I close my eyes as those words flow through my mind. ‘ God help me’ is all I can think when he rears back, slapping me again. His laughter is all I hear as dark spots appear before my eye starts to swell shut. He keeps asking me something, but with the ringing in my ears I can’t hear him. This disobedience just enrages him further and I become nothing but a human punching bag. But Robert is smart about my so-called punishments. He has learned through trial and error just how hard to hit me without doing permanent damage. Although his last punch to my side has me moaning aloud; a rare sound I never allow myself to make when I feel something crack.
Tears streak down my face, blurring his handsome outline in front of me. Cussing , I hear him pick up the discarded cane and brace myself for what’s next. The cane whistles through the air, an ominous foretelling of the pain I’m about to feel. The throbbing in my shin is a pale echo of the suffering yet to come. Robert continues to rain strikes down upon my body, never striking the same place twice, and after every impact of the cane, he stops just long enough to demand the humility of my words.
“ Thank you, husband.”