Chapter Three

T his place feels like a dungeon. When he led me into this room, I almost asked him to kill me instead. Living in a warehouse is bad enough, but the room he put me in? It has no windows. No natural light. This is going to drive me insane.

The room itself is sparse. Just one king-size bed and a nightstand with a lamp. Nothing to really use as a weapon either, not that I'm sure about escaping yet.

I need to bide my time. Maybe earn some trust. Some freedom.

So instead of trying to fight my way out of here, I'm lying in bed with nothing to do. Better than being stuck in Kado's presence. The way he watches me unnerves me.

It's like he wants to be under my skin.

I could try to walk out of this room. There's no lock stopping me. I'm afraid of what I might find, though.

I'm still thinking about my demise when a knock on the door startles me.

Sitting up, I wait for him to barge in, but he doesn't.

I wait several seconds before a second knock comes.

Seems he is willing to give me my space. Not wanting to test his temper, I get up.

Walking over to the door, I open it.

I'm surprised to find him on the other side with a plate. He holds it out to me.

I frown down at it. It's only some scrambled eggs and toast, but could he have drugged it? I don't trust him.

Taking the plate hesitantly, I give him a small smile of thanks. His face transforms with that one smile. Before, he looked unsure, but now he has a beaming smile on his own.

"Could I get something to drink?" I ask.

He nods, turning to leave me staring at his back.

He gave me a tour earlier, not that it was needed. The entire place is pretty open. I watch as he walks down the hall into the main area. It only takes him a minute to come back with a glass filled with what looks to be orange juice.

"Thank you."

He nods once. He hovers at the door, so I start to close it. His hand stops it, making me flinch.

He removes his hand, looking down at me with a frown on his face. Then he taps his chest twice and points down the hall.

"You'll be down there?" I ask.

He nods his head, so I do the same, closing the door.

Then I move to the bed.

I sniff the food and juice, but it seems fine, so I eat it. At this point, there's no reason to starve myself. If he wants to poison me, he can.

If I'm being honest, internally, I don't think he will. My gut is saying the man could have killed me back at the house or let his boss kill me at his place. Instead, he made it clear I was under his protection.

To what end? His boss seemed sure he wouldn't hurt me, but could he be wrong? How well do you actually know a person? This man is a murderer. I know for a fact he killed Mr. Jones. He freely admitted it. I saw the body with my own eyes. Hell, I even know where it's dumped.

So what does this man want from me?

Setting the empty dishes on the nightstand, I curl under the thin blanket. Oh, how I wish I had my weighted blanket , I think as I flip off the light.

I know I should be trying to escape or do something, but if I'd hazard a guess, it's got to be like ten in the morning by now. I'm running on very little sleep. I need to rest.

For a brief moment, a flicker of hope sparks in my chest. When I don't show up for my calls today, they will complain to the agency. Then the agency will call the cops for a welfare check.

Only, I'm not sure they actually would. When I was hired, Theresa told me that not many make it long in this business. That she has a revolving door of girls wanting steady work for a short while. At the time, I thought she was trying to intimidate me into working hard and not complaining. Now I'm wondering if it's true. If she won't even notice I'm gone.

Could this really be what my life is reduced to?

When I don't pay rent on the first, my landlord will have no problem renting my place out to someone else. He probably won't even remove my things from it, renting it as is. That's the way it works in my neighborhood. I can't even be mad about it. He is probably making ends meet, like I was.

Who else would miss me?

My neighbors? I never spoke with them. We all kept our heads down and minded our own business. It's the best way to survive.

The thugs I passed on the street? They might notice me gone, but only because I'm not walking by anymore for them to admire.

I haven't wished for a family for a long time, but for once, I wish they were there. That there was someone who would notice that I am missing. Someone who would look for me.

There's no one, though.

I've spent the last decade surviving this world. Each day, I worked to make it to the next.

My only regret in this life?

I haven't ever really lived. I've never done anything crazy and wild. I don't have any stories to tell my kids one day about how I was when I was a teen.

All I have is a boring story about a teenage runaway who slowly made her way up from dirt poor to just poor. A woman who lived each day making a dime so that she could make it to the next day. A cycle that was never broken.

Maybe it's best that I don't have a family. They wouldn't be on the news crying about what a wonderfully bright girl I was. Talking about how I lit up every room I've ever entered.

No, they would talk about the boring girl with the boring life. The one stupid enough to get mixed up with the Yakuza and losing her life.

That's who I'm reduced to.

That's a depressing thought.

I've been pacing just outside the front door for hours.

At first, I was hanging out inside. I wanted her to know that I was there if she needed me. I didn't want to go too far so I could get her anything she might need. I wanted to tell her to make herself at home, but I didn't know how. Not without pulling my phone out.

Then I got all in my head and thought, what if she is scared of me?

That sobering thought is what drove me outside. I've been listening for any noise inside, but there hasn't been any. She is still holed up in my room.

I hate it. I hate that she feels she has to hide away from me. I want her to view this as her home. I want her to be comfortable here and want to stay.

She chose me. She said those words. So why isn't she happy?

I've had some time since she went into the room. After I delivered the food, I sat down at my computer and did my research. There wasn't much on her, but I was able to find regular money orders for a rundown apartment on the south side. I know the area well. It's full of gang members and thugs.

My Lucy lived there?

I know this place isn't much, but she will never have to worry about her safety. I have state-of-the-art security systems in both the apartment and the warehouse. There's also a perimeter alarm set up at different distances, so I know every movement going on.

I would never let anything harm her. Not now. She's mine. I take care of what's mine.

Now I just need to convince her of that.

Only after she finished eating, she never came out. I thought she would at least bring her dishes to the sink. That's when I started wondering if I was the problem.

So I'm here pacing instead, wondering if she is still in the room or tiptoeing around the apartment.

How long do I wait before I check on her? I don't want her to think I'm being pushy. I only want to make sure she is comfortable. That she doesn't need anything else. I want to let her know if she needs anything, she only needs to ask.

I could text Miya or Cleo. They would tell me how long I should wait.

Then again, I feel like doing that would be admitting I am a failure. That it's night one and I can't figure out how to take care of her.

Kenji and Kai make it look so easy. Even when Miya pretended to hate Kenji, she still wanted to be around him.

Maybe I'm defective.

What woman would want a mute man anyway?

Women want to hear how beautiful they are. They like for a man to open up and speak about his feelings. From what I can tell from Miya and Kenji behind closed doors, they also like a vocal man in bed.

I can't offer that to her.

Is that why she doesn't want to be around me? Does my muteness freak her out? It wouldn't be the first time someone has said that to me.

Looking at my watch, I realize it's nearing noon. About time for her to eat lunch.

I should make her more food, but I don't have much. I don't eat here often. I only have the essentials on hand. Food I can make quickly and eat in a pinch.

After debating on whether or not I should make her some food, I finally decide to just check on her.

Walking down the hall, I stop in front of the door. I listen for a sound, but there's nothing.

So I knock softly at first. When she doesn't answer, I knock a bit louder. Starting to feel a bit panicked, I open the door.

My heart stops as I look at her. She looks so peaceful sleeping in my bed. She's still tucked under the blanket with her hand under her face.

Unable to stop myself, I move closer. I know if she wakes up, she will freak out, but I just need a closer look.

Kneeling next to the bed, I take in her face.

She is so beautiful. Even more so than I thought when I saw her from afar. I watched her clean Marcus's house for over a month. She would always hum to herself as she cleaned too. Only when she was alone, though. She never made a noise when he was home.

I got the feeling she didn't like him much. I always wondered why she would work for him then, but seeing where she lived, I get it now.

She had no other choice. She did what she had to in order to survive.

I get that. I've been there. I did the same thing after my mother died, leaving me all alone.

I had no choice but to adapt to my surroundings. I endured horrors before Kai's father found me. He took me under his wing and made me into one of them. It's the only reason I have the family I do. As much as Kai hated his father, I could only be grateful to him. He brought me here and gave me this life.

I know what it's like to fight every day for what you have. Lucy has been doing it for far too long. I hate that she has had to struggle. I want her to know what life can truly be like. To enjoy herself without the threat of homelessness or violence hanging over her head.

I'll be the one to give that to her.

Anata, I will make your life better. You do not have to worry anymore. I will take care of you always.

I only wish I could voice the words to her instead of thinking them in my head.

Pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand, I stand slowly. Then I back out of the room.

I need to make her want to stay here.

I need her in my life.

I'll do anything to keep her here.