Page 31 of Girl in the Water

“Yes, Senhor Ian.”

He shook his head. “You said if I let you stay, you’d do anything I tell you.”

Her gaze dropped to his crotch. She hung her head, her enthusiasm leaking away. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Yes, Senhor Ian.”

Not that!

“Attack me,” he snapped.

She looked up, her gaze unsure.

“We arenevergoing to have sex.” He was embarrassed just having to say that. And when was the last time he’d felt embarrassed, for fuck’s sake? “We’re not even going to see each other naked. Ever.”

She was watching him, uncertain, disbelieving.

“Attack me,” he ordered again.

Nowas written all over her. But here she had a dilemma, because she also wanted to please and obey him. After a moment of struggle, she carefully stepped up to him and kicked him gently in the shin with the tip of her toes.

Christ, they had a long evening ahead of them.

* * *

Daniela

Senhor Ian was a scary man. He was also a nice man. He confused Daniela to frustration.

He spent the evening ordering her to beat him up, until she had no choice but to fight him, as honestly as she’d fought the boys back in her village when they’d taken her coconuts. She hit him, hard. And he didn’t hit her back. He patiently showed her how he was deflecting each punch.

Then he sent her to bed. In her own room. He did not tie her up again.

He’d told her they would not have sex. He’d also told her that he wouldn’t send her back to Rosa.

So what did he want with her, then? He bought her food, let her stay at the house, and didn’t want anything from her. She didn’t understand him.

He must want something. But what is it?She had trouble falling asleep, trying half the night to answer that question.

She didn’t consider running away. Where would she run? To do what? Even if she slept in the streets, she’d need money to eat. And if she slept in the streets, she’d be at the mercy of everyone who was stronger than she.

With what Senhor Ian had taught her, she could maybe fight off the village boys back home, but if a couple of loggers grabbed her, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

She wished she could stay here, in this house, with Senhor Ian forever.

Not only did he not make her do things she didn’t want to do, but he had said he would protect her. With Senhor Finch, she’d lived in the constant fear that Senhora Rosa would come for her. After Senhor Finch, the first man who realized that she was on her own could have taken control of her.

But now… Was she safe? The idea took time getting used to. She hadn’t felt safe since she’d been a small child. She tried to relax into the thought, into the night, little by little. She couldn’t.

Her thoughts kept returning to Senhor Ian.

He had pain deep in his eyes that had nothing to do with the pain of his headaches. Hidden pain. The pain of things he tried not to think about. Daniela recognized the look from the mirror.

Senhor Ian…

Senhor Ian acted friendly toward her, but Pedro too had been her friend once, then he’d given her to Senhora Rosa.

So maybe Senhor Ian was telling the truth about wanting to help her, and maybe he wasn’t. But if he was…

Even if he was, he would leave someday. He’d only come to find his friend. And only stayed to find his friend’s killers. When he did, he’d leave.