“Come on.” Shadow waves for me to lead the way out the door. I start walking back to my cabin. “Nope, come on.” I follow her toward a barn, expecting she’s going to put me to work now, but instead she stops at a door and opens it. My jaw drops, and I look at her before turning back to the room. “This is our private gym for the Handmaidens. We discussed it and wanted you to work out.”
I start to protest, but she holds up a hand to stop me.
“It’s not up for negotiation. You are still in danger. Maisy had to prove she could fight before we let her go out there.” She chuffs out a chuckle, something I know she doesn’t do often. “Although we had very little choice with Maisy. Her aunt’s old man is a friend of the club, and he was already training her.”
“Maisy is trained?” I’m shocked. She never told me she knew how to fight. Then again, I kept her from sharing too much personal stuff because I didn’t want to get close to her.
“Oh yeah, she is. She almost took me to my ass the first time we sparred. I’m sure Riddler worked with you, but I want you to build up your stamina first. After that, you and I will start training.”
I nod and walk over to the treadmill. I climb on and start a program that has me walking at a fast pace. My leg pulls and my ribs ache, but I push myself through the pain, wanting to get the energy out.
When I finally stop, I’m alone. I head for the kitchen and grab some food before returning to my little cabin. My mind is all over the place, memories flooding behind my eyes. I miss my family, my sisters. The pain of being without them is almost unbearable.
Curling up on the bed, I fall into a fitful sleep.
The euphoria from the drugs was wearing off. I could feel every ache and pain. I felt the violation to my body. Blood caked my face where he punched me when I wouldn’t react to him. I’d let the drugs carry me away instead of being present and thanking him like he’d wanted me to do. I’d never thank this man for using me the way he had.
Darkness surrounded me in the small room I was trapped in. It was no bigger than a closet. I’d been here for several months, and I’d tried to kill myself numerous times just to get away from Andrus.
The door opened, and I screamed as two guards stepped inside and laughed. They advanced on me, and I cringed back into the wall. There was barely any room for the three of us. One grabbed for my hands, but I struck out.
Fear grips me so intensely that I kick and fight with everything in me as I come awake.
Warmth suddenly spreads through my body. For a moment, I think it’s the drugs, but then I feel a calming presence. My hands move in the darkness, brushing soft fur, and I feel warm breath next to my face. When I fell asleep, I forgot to leave a light on, and my body trembles in fear of the dark. The real-life bogeyman is in the darkness. His eyes always watching me.
The large body presses closer into mine, and I calm. I can barely make out the shape of a huge dog cuddled up to me. His fur is dark, and I can’t stop myself from sliding my hands into it and holding on. I drift back to sleep.
“What the fuck?” is exclaimed as a deep growl rumbles next to me.
When I open my eyes, sunshine streams through the cabin windows, and Tink stands frozen, fear plastered across her face. I sit up and look down at the giant furball in bed with me.
“Poison, very carefully, come here,” Tink says. “That’s the dog that’s been roaming free for months. The neighbor said it’s dangerous and a killer.”
I glance back down at him. Most of his fluffy body is black, with brown patches on his cheeks, chest, legs, and belly, and a white patch on his chest. His eyes are a deep chocolate, rimmed in black, and perfectly almond-shaped. He nudges his large snout into my face and licks my cheek before letting out a small whimper. His tongue pops out as if he’s smiling, and I rub his head.
“This big baby wouldn’t hurt a fly,” I tell her as I lean in and press my face into his fur. “Although… he does need a bath. Want a bath, baby boy?”
He jumps off the bed, and as I stand, he positions his body between Tink and me.
“She’s okay, handsome,” I say.
He walks over to her and sniffs her, then lets out a gruff sound before moving back toward me. My stomach grumbles, and then I hear his too.
“Are you hungry, big boy? Want some crunchies and munchies?”
He responds with a single bark.
“Let’s go, buddy.”
Tink walks beside me toward the mess hall and shakes her head, unsure of my new companion. People give us a wide berth, and I’m okay with that.
“So, he’s a stray?” I ask.
“Yeah. Although he seems well trained and pretty good.”
“I’ll take care of him if that’s okay.” I brush a hand through his fur. He’s so tall his back is almost at my hip and his head comes up to my chest. “Can I give him a bath? If he’s going to be sleeping with me, I want to make sure I’m not catching anything from him being in the wild.”
“Of course. And as for keeping him, I don’t think you have a choice. He’s claimed you.”