Chapter Eleven

Larissa

I shouldn't have failed. Jude was supposed to follow me off the roof. I would glide away, and he would fall to his death. The Morelli brothers wanted me dead. Amon told me so. He'd repeatedly shown me videos so I would know how cruel they were. They tortured and murdered, sometimes for no reason at all.

They'd blown his father up. A gentle man, Amon said. No wonder Nadine despised me. I was guilty by association. It was as she said. I deserved her hatred. I must kill them before they kill me.

I began to sink below the surface. I quickly drew in a breath. My legs were starting to cramp. I would rest a moment below the surface. I liked it here, where it was quiet, and nothing could harm me.

But I always had to come up for air.

I pushed with my feet. Just as I broke the surface, the hook grabbed the rope where I was tied and began pulling me toward the edge. I took a quick, deep breath. As I was dragged through the water, my head automatically went under.

Sometimes, if Nadine brought me to the ladder, she would take as long as possible. By the time I climbed out, I would be vomiting water. It was Arnie this time, and he was a little better. He slipped a hand beneath my arm when I was close enough and helped me up the ladder, but his hand strayed to my bare breast and squeezed. When I looked at him, I saw something in his eyes that had me backing up a step.

I glanced around when I was standing beside the pool. My legs trembled as they always did after this punishment. When I saw Nadine, I dropped to my knees and bowed my head. I was never to look at her directly.

"Make sure you don't fuck up again, or I'll be the one punishing you."

"Yes, mistress," I was always to address her as such, but Amon said I was to call him by his name.

"Stand up."

"Yes, Mistress." I came to my feet.

"Put her in her cage," she ordered. "Feed her the mush tonight."

Before I could move past her, she twisted my hair in her fist. Tears stung my eyes, but I knew not to cry out. It would only make it worse. "If you fail us next time, I'll shave your head, and then I'll beat you within an inch of your life. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mistress. I will not fail."

"You better hope you don't." She turned to Arnie. "Take the bitch away."

Arnie took me back to my cage and shoved me inside. Once more, he touched my ass and my inner thigh. I quickly moved farther into the cage, and he laughed.

"Someday, I'm going to fuck you. Mark my words," he spoke low so the cameras wouldn't pick up his words.

He closed and locked the door. He rarely talked to me. I wasn't sure, but Amon might've said something to him. He was more discreet with his words and actions toward me.

Mistress said no one liked me because I'd been friends with the Morelli brothers. Not that I blamed anyone. How could I have thought they were special or that I was special to them? It had all been a lie.

At least now I had a blanket and a small pillow in my cage, so I curled on my side and hugged the pillow tightly. My cage was cramped. There was very little room to move, but I deserved no better.

There had been a time…

No! I mustn't think about that. Amon said it wasn't real. Just something they tried to make me believe. Nadine would whip me if she knew my thoughts had strayed, and then she would run straight to Amon. He would begin the cleansing again. He said the drugs and electrical shocks were necessary to save my soul. I knew they were, but the pain was horrible.

I would succeed next time.