Page 36 of Recovering Ivy (Red Team #4)

Ivy

“Not so high and mighty now, are you?”

“Huh?” My head was throbbing, and my vision was blurred. I tried to sit up but thought better of it as a wave of nausea hit me. I turned my head in time to throw up over the side of the bed.

Once the contents of my stomach were emptied onto the floor, I looked around the unfamiliar room.

“Such a fucking lightweight,” my mother said with such disgust I flinched.

“Where are we?”

“I’m taking you home where you belong.”

Fear was the only emotion I could summon. My brain was fuzzy and my body lazy. I was too tired to move. I knew I needed to get up and find a way to run, but I couldn’t. Instead, I closed my eyes and let the darkness take me.

Loud yelling pulled me from my sleep, but I still couldn’t get my limbs to cooperate. I had no idea how long I’d slept. It could’ve been minutes or days for all I knew. The tiny crack in the curtains told me it was dark outside, but other than that, I knew nothing .

“What the fuck, Sarah? What do you want me to do with her?” a man yelled.

“Sell her.”

“And how am I supposed to do that when the bitch can’t even handle a little benzo?” The man’s impatience was increasing.

“She’ll cost you less than the others in the long run. She’s clean. No tolerance yet, but you won’t even have to start giving her the good stuff for a while. How many other bitches do you have in your stable that aren’t feins?”

I wanted to protest. Beg them not to give me anything more. However, as desperately as I tried, no words would come out. “Besides, I gave her enough to knock out a horse. Lower the dose and she’ll be compliant. What’s wrong with you, Lance? I’m offering you fresh pussy and you’re complaining.”

“This shit is low, even for you. Selling Joey to Forester was pretty jacked. But Ivy? Your own flesh and blood? Bitch, you got no soul.”

This couldn’t be happening.

I fought so hard to get away from her. From this life. It was all for nothing.

“I don’t need a lecture from the man who left me his kid and is a fucking pimp. Do you want her or not?”

“I’m not giving you more than ten grand for her. She’s gonna be a pain in my fucking ass. I won’t be able to have her turn a trick for at least six months. Not that my men will mind breaking her ass in, but she’s gonna cost me money.”

“You said fifteen,” my mother argued, trying to haggle a better price for her only child.

“That was before I saw her puke her guts up from a tranquilizer. I figured she was a junkie like you. She’s fucking clean, Sarah. I need to put work into her. Ten or I walk. ”

“Fine. Ten.”

“Let me say goodbye to Miss Goodie-Two-Shoes, then she’s all yours.”

The man chuckled. “I’ve never met a bitch as low down as you.”

“You’ve never complained before. Didn’t seem to matter when I was sucking your dick.”

God, I wished Zane was here. He wouldn’t let Sarah sell me. He would never let Lance put his hands on me. I wondered if he even knew Sarah had taken me.

“Yeah, well, I never said you didn’t give a great blowjob. I said you’re an underhanded cunt.”

The hair that had been covering the side of my face was brushed aside and I opened my eyes. Sarah was so close I could smell her foul breath even before she spoke.

“I warned you to mind your own business. I tried telling you you were no better than me. But did you listen? No. You always looked down your nose at me and caused trouble. Now, Lance is gonna teach you all the lessons I failed to teach.”

“Why?” I croaked out.

“Why not?”

What kind of mother did this to her child? This was low, even for Sarah.

“I tried to help you,” I cried. “I loved you.”

“I never wanted your help. Since the day you were born, you’ve been more trouble than you’re worth. I should’ve gotten rid of you while you were still in my stomach. Better late than never.”

Sarah backed away, and as grateful as I was for the fresh air, I didn’t want her to leave me alone with Lance. Not that she’d protect me from him, but the minute she left, I knew Lance would hurt me .

“You wanna hit before you leave? Something to take the edge off?” Lance offered.

I didn’t bother trying to move to look to see what they were doing. I heard the flick of a Zippo lighter and the smell of my childhood floated in the air. A few minutes later, the door opened, and I watched my mother walk out the door, black duffle bag in hand.

She’d done it. She sold me to her ex-husband. He was a pimp and dealer, a man I remembered well from my childhood.

“Ivy, Ivy, Ivy. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” Lance started. “You were such a pretty little girl. And when you finally grew a pair of tits, my mouth would water thinking about how those mile-long legs would feel wrapped around my waist. Such a shame I had to wait so long to get my taste.”

My stomach churned again, and I thought I was going to throw up again.

“If I didn’t like my women feisty and able to fight back, I take what’s mine now.

As soon as the benzo your mama gave you wears off, I’m gonna fuck you until you’re begging me to stop.

I’m gonna take your ass first. I bet a good girl like you has never taken dick up your ass before.

Your mama’s a stupid bitch. I would’ve paid twenty for you.

I have clients lining up to get a piece of clean pussy. ”

My eyes drifted closed and I knew this was the end of my life. I’d never recover. I almost welcomed more of what Sarah had given me. I needed to be numb.

As I laid in a dirty hotel room, my impending rape looming over me, I thought about Zane.

All the things I wished I had told him. All the things I wished I had done differently.

Even if he found me, I would be dirty - ruined.

I hated this for him more than I hated it for myself. He didn’t deserve this.