threads, some falling over this thick lashes before he glanced up. “I’ll get you out of there, Evie. I promise. If it’s the last thing I do.” His hand clutched the neck of the guitar.
“No, don’t do that.” I dropped to my knees at his feet. My hands gripped the frayed denim at his stonewashed knees when I saw the pain in his eyes.
Julian and I had always been close. He was the oldest, been the first to be placed in this house. I would miss him the most, and I think this would be the hardest on him. He wasn’t ready for this separation any more than I was ready to be traded and sold like a whore.
“I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret. I’ll get out. I’ve been waiting years for this moment.” I faked a smile, but my damp eyelids betrayed me.
Julian only shook his head, hair falling in his eyes and shielding his watery gaze from me. I squeezed his knee, then stood, a painful ball rolling in my stomach at the thought of what the next twenty-four hours might hold.
As much as they'd tried, they couldn’t protect me from all the horrors at home. The first night I failed to earn less than a grand doing “modeling” as she called it, Judy smacked me across the face and hollered she couldn’t wait till I turned eighteen so she could dump me on some asshole.
I’d shuddered then. It’d been her simple prophecy.
Think you’re done when you’re eighteen, sweet Eve?
Not likely.
My brothers, my saviors. I am so thankful I’ll never have to know what I would have done without them in this ugly world.
“I love you, boys.” I placed a kiss on Grant's forehead. All the tears had been shed in the days and weeks leading up to this. We were each empty, the pain in our hearts a permanent cross to bear. I hugged each of them tightly, knowing this wouldn't be the last time I saw them, but unsure of when the next time would be, and I walked out the door, to my fate. The next twenty-four hours would change everything.
two
Eve
I reached the bottom of the stairs as Judy leered up at me, an over-priced fur coat draped over her shoulders. She reminded me of a mean Stepford wife, her hair styled in a perfect bob. I shuddered when she placed a hand at the small of my back.
“You look friendly.” I felt her claw-like nails scrape my back in a gentle warning, then suddenly she tugged fiercely at my arm. I gritted my teeth harder than I ever had, thinking it was just a few more minutes. A few more minutes and Judy would be out of my life forever. The only thing I worried about was my boys, my brothers, being left behind.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Judy snarled.
“Get your hands off me,” I snapped out of the side of my mouth, and felt her hand drop to her side. If I didn’t know better, I would say she was scared.
She croaked. “Now I remember why I’m glad to get rid of you, you little bitch.” I felt the rancid stench of her breath wash across my neck, and I wanted to shriek and pound her with my fists until she was bloody and brutalized.
But I didn’t. Instead, I stepped away, reaching for the door, thankful that I wasn’t allowed to take a bag. Nothing from my previous life allowed. The only requirements were high heels, a short dress, and red lipstick. All girls were to dress more or less the same to allow the men the chance to see them at their best. No bruises or broken spirits allowed. This was a high-end auction, only the most beautiful women on the block. My stomach turned in another slow flip. I shoved a lock of hair behind my ear and tried to control my anxiety. Deep breaths, Eve Marie White. You can do this. You can do this. Forget the baggage. You can get through hell and back with heels, a great dress, and red lipstick. I’d only have to prove it.
Judy escorted me down the steps of the derelict two-story and opened the car door for me. I cringed when she leaned over, her breath washing across my low neckline as she buckled the seat
“No, don’t do that.” I dropped to my knees at his feet. My hands gripped the frayed denim at his stonewashed knees when I saw the pain in his eyes.
Julian and I had always been close. He was the oldest, been the first to be placed in this house. I would miss him the most, and I think this would be the hardest on him. He wasn’t ready for this separation any more than I was ready to be traded and sold like a whore.
“I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret. I’ll get out. I’ve been waiting years for this moment.” I faked a smile, but my damp eyelids betrayed me.
Julian only shook his head, hair falling in his eyes and shielding his watery gaze from me. I squeezed his knee, then stood, a painful ball rolling in my stomach at the thought of what the next twenty-four hours might hold.
As much as they'd tried, they couldn’t protect me from all the horrors at home. The first night I failed to earn less than a grand doing “modeling” as she called it, Judy smacked me across the face and hollered she couldn’t wait till I turned eighteen so she could dump me on some asshole.
I’d shuddered then. It’d been her simple prophecy.
Think you’re done when you’re eighteen, sweet Eve?
Not likely.
My brothers, my saviors. I am so thankful I’ll never have to know what I would have done without them in this ugly world.
“I love you, boys.” I placed a kiss on Grant's forehead. All the tears had been shed in the days and weeks leading up to this. We were each empty, the pain in our hearts a permanent cross to bear. I hugged each of them tightly, knowing this wouldn't be the last time I saw them, but unsure of when the next time would be, and I walked out the door, to my fate. The next twenty-four hours would change everything.
two
Eve
I reached the bottom of the stairs as Judy leered up at me, an over-priced fur coat draped over her shoulders. She reminded me of a mean Stepford wife, her hair styled in a perfect bob. I shuddered when she placed a hand at the small of my back.
“You look friendly.” I felt her claw-like nails scrape my back in a gentle warning, then suddenly she tugged fiercely at my arm. I gritted my teeth harder than I ever had, thinking it was just a few more minutes. A few more minutes and Judy would be out of my life forever. The only thing I worried about was my boys, my brothers, being left behind.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Judy snarled.
“Get your hands off me,” I snapped out of the side of my mouth, and felt her hand drop to her side. If I didn’t know better, I would say she was scared.
She croaked. “Now I remember why I’m glad to get rid of you, you little bitch.” I felt the rancid stench of her breath wash across my neck, and I wanted to shriek and pound her with my fists until she was bloody and brutalized.
But I didn’t. Instead, I stepped away, reaching for the door, thankful that I wasn’t allowed to take a bag. Nothing from my previous life allowed. The only requirements were high heels, a short dress, and red lipstick. All girls were to dress more or less the same to allow the men the chance to see them at their best. No bruises or broken spirits allowed. This was a high-end auction, only the most beautiful women on the block. My stomach turned in another slow flip. I shoved a lock of hair behind my ear and tried to control my anxiety. Deep breaths, Eve Marie White. You can do this. You can do this. Forget the baggage. You can get through hell and back with heels, a great dress, and red lipstick. I’d only have to prove it.
Judy escorted me down the steps of the derelict two-story and opened the car door for me. I cringed when she leaned over, her breath washing across my low neckline as she buckled the seat
Similar Books
