Marks of Rebellion (Behind Closed Doors #2) - Maggie Cole Page 0,3
you mean?"
She rolls her eyes. "Oh, every now and then I have to put on a concert. Dress and all."
"Dress?"
She snorts. "Yep. I'm sure you'll have one, too."
"They have dresses here? In the jungle?" I ask in disbelief.
"Yep. Santiago thinks he is cultured. How warped is that?"
"Stop talking. Wash faster," the man yells.
Zoe grabs the razor out of the bucket and shaves her armpit. "Thank God I had most of my hair removed via laser."
I look down.
How long has it been since I had a good wax?
Zoe hands me the shaving cream. "I think you might need a few of the razors. Good thing they just restocked the bucket."
"I'm not shaving for those bastards."
Something crosses in her eyes. She lowers her voice. "You don't have a choice. Hair isn't allowed. Santiago won't have it. And the last thing you want to do is rile the beast."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. Here, let me hold your ankle, and you can do your legs."
I groan but pick my leg up to allow her to help me.
"What did they do to your ankles?" she cries out.
"It's from the shackles. My wrists are the same." I hold them out.
"Give me the soap. Let me help you clean them. You could get an infection from these wounds."
I do as she says, and she cleans them and then holds my calf so I can shave. When I've gotten my legs and armpits, I do my bikini line and throw the razor back in the bucket.
"Nope. Pick it back up. It's commando time."
I ask the question I'm most fearful of. "Are they going to rape me?"
She shakes her head, and her eyes widen. "They haven't done that to me. But they love to stare, and every now and then cop a feel to watch me squirm. And sometimes they make me sing for hours naked."
Horrified, I gape at her.
"I've worn hardly anything on stage. I just pretend I'm in a concert to get through it."
"I don't want to give them the satisfaction—"
"Vanessa, don't make them angry. I did the first night I got here." Her voice is firm with warning.
"What did they do?"
"Zoe, out!" the man yells.
"Just do what they say," Zoe instructs. "I'll see you at dinner, and we'll talk in the pit with the others after."
"The others?"
"Yeah. Penelope and Julieta."
Goose bumps break out on my skin. There are more women here?
"They won't be at dinner?"
Her face falls. "No. They'll be fed scraps. Be grateful you'll at least get a good meal tonight. Santiago is fed like a king. The rest of his guys mostly fend for themselves and rely on whatever they can catch. It's not always cooked all the way. It might be a while until you get anything else you can stomach."
"Zoe, now!" The man yells.
She groans. "Gotta go. See you tonight. And shave until you're bald." Zoe winks and leaves me in the river to finish.
I follow her directions and remove all my hair. It takes a while, and when I'm done, I get out. The man hands me a dress and high heels.
Is this a joke? He wants me to wear stilettos in the jungle?
How does he even know my sizes?
Santiago was planning on buying me.
I've been bought.
For the first time since arriving, the realization hits me like a brick. Santiago owns me. At first, it was Carlos. Then the guerrillas.
I'm never going to be free again.
If only I had never met Carlos Garcia.
But I can't go back in time. Santiago knows I'm a keeper of secrets. I quickly need to figure out what secrets to tell him and what to keep to myself.
Both sides of the war are dangerous, but if Carlos does ever capture me from Santiago's possession, I need to make sure I haven't divulged anything that can lead back to me. I don't want to experience his wrath in that situation.
Either way, I'm going to end up dead. Santiago, Carlos, guerrillas, or the other Global Leaders are going to one day end my life. And none of them will give me a merciful death.
For hours, I sit at a table with a linen cloth and candles. As much as I don't want to enjoy anything, the meal I eat is the first in months that tastes delicious. Santiago fills my wineglass and makes me drink. Steak cooked to perfection and fresh fish fill my plate. I eat every last bite. The flavor of the meat bursts on my taste buds. I almost groan from the deliciousness.