Page 12 of Stains of Desire

Her eyes widen. "Your daughter? She was here?"

"Yes. We were both kidnapped."

"How old is she?"

More tears fall. "She turned four a few days after Santiago's men abducted us."

"What's her name?"

"Millie."

She strokes my hair. "That's a beautiful name."

"She must be so scared." I sob.

She hugs me tighter.

The door flies open and Santiago's thug saunters in. "You. Get ready." He hands Zoe a razor.

She throws it at him. "Shave yourself. You don't own me."

"Zoe," I quietly warn her.

He grabs her throat and pushes her against the wall. "Pick it up and get ready. And the next time you want to talk back, you'll take the consequences." He releases her and slams the door.

She bends over, choking.

I rush over to her. "Are you okay?"

She inhales deeply then straightens up. "I'm not shaving for Santiago or any of those pigs."

"Zoe, don't go against them."

"No. I'm done. They are going to do whatever they want anyway. Let them do it with my hair."

"Zoe—"

"No." She trots to the door and knocks on it. When it opens, she defiantly says, "I'm not shaving for you or anyone."

He shakes his head and scowls. "Stupid, stupid, girl." He grabs her hair and yanks her away, and I can hear her screams.

For two weeks, she doesn't return. I'm scared for her, and one day, the door opens. She gets shoved in and bangs on the door, hysterical.

"Zoe," I call out, and she freezes.

When she turns, I tug her into my arms as she sobs.

Santiago's thug comes back into the room and throws a formal dress on the bed. He points to me. "That's for you." He hands Zoe a pair of six-inch stilettos. "This is your outfit tonight."

Her face reveals her horror. "Where are my clothes?"

"You don't get any. You both have forty minutes to get ready. Don't make Santiago wait." He slams the door, and the lock clicks.

My gut drops. I feel horrible for her. He's going to make her sing naked.

I quietly say, "Come on. We need to get ready."

"Is this all we are to be?" she asks with tears and defeat in her eyes.