Chapter Seventeen

Neve

I have spent hours keeping the woman warm. She shivers uncontrollably even though I'm wrapped around her with all three blankets too. I stroke her hair again and she stirs. Relief floods me, I was beginning to give up hope. She opens her eyes and they dart around in sheer panic. I smile kindly, "It's okay," I whisper, "You're going to be okay. I'm Neve."

"Neve," she repeats, her voice croaky. "I Malia." I realise she's not from England and my heart sinks. This poor woman isn't going to understand anything I say and she's probably terrified.

"How did you get here?" I ask and she looks at me blankly. I put my arms out like an aeroplane, "You fly?" I ask. "Boat?" I add, moving my hand up and down like it's going over water. I sigh heavily.

"Boat," she repeats, smiling and I nod.

"Yes, boat, on water?" She nods.

"Family?" I ask hopefully.

This time she shakes her head sadly. "Better life," she says, nodding. "I here for better life."

"With Finn. Finnegan?" I ask. She stares blankly again but the sound of the lock opening grabs our attention and she pushes back against me like she's trying to hide.

Mary pops a tray on the top step and I dive up, rushing up the steps. "Mary, wait," I gasp desperately. She hesitates. "It she okay, is Harlee okay?" I cry.

Mary glances back over her shoulder and turns back to Neve. "She's fine. I'm looking after her well," she whispers, smiling.

"Is Finn there, please ask him to come, I'll do whatever he wants."

"I haven't seen him in a few days. Harlee is fine. I promise I'll take care of her." I frown, her words sound so final.

"Mary, what do you mean?"

She steps back and closes the door. I bang my fists against it, yelling Finn's name over and over until my voice is hoarse.

Malia approaches me cautiously, and I realise I must look crazy behaving like this, but I feel so helpless.

On the tray is two bottles of water, four pain killers and two cheese sandwiches. Malia carries the tray down the steps and I follow. We sit in silence eating, and I think over ideas on how to get Finn's attention.

A few more hours have passed since we ate and we've both slept for most of it. It's only the sound of the lock that gets us stirring. Footsteps descend and I recognise his shiny shoes right away. "Wake up Princess, I hear you've been begging for me." I sit up and he comes to a stop, looking at me with disgust. "Let's get you cleaned up."

"I can leave?" I ask, hardly believing it.

"I need your services for a while."

"What about Malia?" I ask as he holds out a hand.

I stand and take it. "She'll be fine."

Ryder

"It's a good deal," mused Benedetto, his fingers rubbing his goatee.

"A very good deal. We're much more reliable than Finn, that's why you came to us months ago," says Griff. "I'm sure you were just as sickened as us to hear about his recent dealings in sex slaves."

"I came to you months ago and you turned me down. I'm meeting with Finn later this evening. I'll discuss these rumours with him."

"Meeting Finn, where?" I ask.

Ben eyes me suspiciously and Griff leans forward. "He's taken Ryders old lady," he says and I glare at him. "We've been trying to track her down."

"I've never seen him with a woman. But this does explain your enthusiasm to ruin him," says Ben.

"We're being honest with you, Ben, that's how we do business. We don't hide shit and we don't lie," says Griff.

"That's a good quality, I like that. Maybe we can discuss this offer further in the morning once I've straightened things with Finn? I'll let you know if I see your old lady."

He stands and we shake hands, signalling the end of our meeting.

"We're gonna lose out on that deal, we'll hardly make anything from it," mutters Griff.

"If it's what we have to do to ruin that fuck, then we'll do it. I'll cover any loss to the club," I tell him.

"Man, we're playing a dangerous game. What if he gets desperate and hurts Neve or worse, sells Harlee.""Shut the fuck up, Griff. You're not helping."

"I'm here to speak the truth man, you asked that of me. You wanted me to be the eyes and ears when you weren't thinking straight and so here I am. I asked you not to make this deal, yet I'm here supporting you. I said this might blow up in our faces, yet we're still here."

I sigh heavily, he's right, he thinks clearly when I can't and I know saving Neve is taking over my sanity. "You told him the truth about Neve," I mutter.

"Because he's the kind of man that appreciates honesty. He wouldn't have fallen for that deal knowing you're making a fucking loss."

Finn hands me a silver dress. It glitters in the bathroom lights and I snatch it angrily. "You promised I could see Harlee," I snap.

He pulls the towel from my body and I do my best to cover myself with the dress. He pulls that too, leaving me exposed. He makes a grab for my breast and I recoil, folding my arms to cover that area. He sniggers, "You need to play a role this evening. I have the police chief meeting us for dinner."

I feel a glimmer of hope but it's soon snatched away when he grabs me to him, turning me to face the mirror. He runs his hands over my chest, batting my hands away from my breasts. He cups them, smirking at my reflection in the mirror. "I know what you're thinking. That this could be your chance to escape, to get help. Well if you want to see Harlee again, you'll play by my rules."

"I can't believe you'd stoop so low as to threaten your own daughter."

He grins wider. "As long as I have you, I don't care about anything or anyone else." My heart breaks a little more at his disregard for our daughter. "You know, your boyfriend hasn't been in touch. Do you think he's given up?"

"No."

He smirks, burying his face into my neck and nipping the skin. I shudder with repulsion. "Maybe he doesn't care like you thought."

"Why are we having dinner with the chief of police?" I ask, changing the subject because the thought of Ryder giving up on us, makes me sick to my stomach.

"A precaution. Questions will be asked and when…" he paused and smiled, "Sorry, if Ryder does decide to get desperate and report you missing, I want the police to be able to shut him down. Always one step ahead Princess. Now get dressed." He steps away and I sag in relief, grabbing the dress from him and slipping it on under his watchful eye. "Your role tonight will be the doting wife. Smile in all the right places, be attentive to me and act like I am your world."

"And if I don't you'll hurt our little girl?" I snap. "Where is she exactly?"

"She's with Mary," he replies. At least that's something. I don't think Mary would hurt her, she seemed quite taken with her. "Mary lost her child, I think it was a girl, new-born. She was devastated and never went on to try again. She'll make a good mother one day." He sees the way I stiffen and sighs, "Maybe I can give her what she's always wanted. Harlee will forget about you soon enough and she can have a loving mother."

I slap him. It's hard and stings my hand instantly. He wastes no time reacting, grabbing me by the throat and slamming me hard into the mirror. I grin, glad I've hurt him too as the red mark appears on his cheek. "Fuck you, you prick," I hiss through gritted teeth. "I hope you fucking die a painfully long death."

He sneers, "I love it when you fight me, Neve, it makes life interesting from that boring little bitch you'd become." He presses his erection into my thigh and I fight myself not to vomit as he grabs the hem of my dress and begins to shove it up.

"No," I snap, shoving his hands away. "No fucking chance."

"Keep fighting me, Princess, it makes it sweeter when I finally get inside you and win."

He roughly shoves his hand between my legs and I cry out in anger. I don't want to give him a fight but there is no fucking way he's forcing me to have sex with him.

There's bang on the door and Finn stills. "What?"

"Boss, the car is ready, we need to leave on time."

Finn laughs, resting his head against my forehead, our breathing short and heavy. "We'll have to pick this up later, princess."

The restaurant is crowded and the smell of cooked garlic makes my stomach growl in hunger. The waiter leads us to a table by the window, pulling out my seat for me to lower into. The view of the Thames relaxes me slightly. Just being out of that house is a good feeling. The waiter returns seconds later with a couple, the man older with a ruddy complexion and the woman thin with pointed features. She gives a stern look my way as she's seated and I instantly get the feeling I won't like her.

"Charles, it's so good to see you. And this must be Helen, how lovely to finally meet you." Finn oozes charm, kissing Helen's hand just like he had done to me all those years ago. "This is my wife, Neve."

We all shake hands before sitting back down. Finn places his hand on my knee and gives it a rough squeeze. "I thought you were separated," asks Charles.

"We were, but you can't fight love. For all my sins, Neve loves me and I love her. We're giving our marriage a second chance."

"That's good to hear. So many people give up too easily, especially you young ones."

"Yes, Harlee is our pride and joy. We want her to be happy."

I struggle to concentrate on any of the conversation because my mind is consumed with food. I'm so hungry and the divine smells are making it impossible to think of anything else. A waitress places a bowl in front of me and I almost whoop for joy.

"Thank you," I say politely.

I polish off the soup before everyone else at the table, not having the energy to be worried how that makes me look. The next course is steak and salad, and it goes just as quickly as the soup. The chief shoots me a quizzical look on more than one occasion, but I simply smile. Once I'm finished, I lay my white cloth napkin over the steak knife and tune in to their conversation, waiting for them all to be occupied before sliding it onto my lap and then dropping it into my clutch on the floor.

We say our goodbyes after coffee and cheese. I managed a few more mouthfuls but had to give up when my stomach aches in protest. Sickness bubbles away inside as I slide into the waiting car, itching for my bed so I can slip into a food coma.

Finn slides in beside me and pushes the button to raise the divide between us and the driver.

"Well done. I'll perhaps let Harlee see you for two minutes tomorrow."

I frown, sitting up straighter. "Tomorrow? But you said tonight."

"It's extremely late. Harlee will be asleep."

My heart squeezes with disappointment. "Please, let me just look at her. I won't wake her."

"Don't be a drama queen, Neve. I prefer you as a fighter." He pauses before adding, "Besides, it depends how well you perform when we get home."

"What do you mean?" I ask cautiously.

"I'm going to send lover boy a video, I'm sure he's missing you."

"Don't be ridiculous, he's not looking so leave him be."

Finn laughs, "He's going to cause me problems and I'd rather know when that's going to happen. All this waiting around is boring."

I slip my hand into the clutch bag and grip the knife handle. "You'll want me to fight?"

He smirks. "Of course. I want him to hear you begging for your life, princess. Let's spring him into action."

"I'd rather die," I say coldly and he glances at me. "I won't fight on camera or any other time," I spit.

He arches a brow, "Is that right. Let's see." He grabs my dress, yanking it hard enough to rip up the centre.

I kick out and he laughs, "You can't help it. It's instinct to survive."

"It's instinct to keep you the fuck away from me," I yell as he pulls my legs apart and kneels between them.

"Baby, why are you pretending you don't want this as much as me? We fight, we fuck, it's what we like."

"It's what you like," I hiss, kicking out again. "I've never enjoyed a second in the bedroom with you."

He runs his hands up my thighs, lowering his head to my stomach and licking the skin there. "I'm going to fuck you like you deserve," he growls, gripping my ankle and lifting my leg over his shoulder. "Hard, fast and painful."

I laugh and it throws him off guard, he raises his head right as I pull my hand from my clutch and raise the knife. I slam it into his shoulder and he cries out in pain. I withdraw it and try again, this time missing as he shuffles back from me. I lean forward, slashing around until I make contact, not caring where I hit, as long as I do. "You asked for a fight," I scream, "So fucking fight me." He tries to grab my wrists but I'm too frantic in my movement.

He pushes up onto his knees and lays over me, eventually pinning my arms to my sides. He headbutts me hard and I feel my nose spray out. "Drop it," he hisses, squeezing my wrist tightly until I release the blade. He grabs it, and falls back onto the seat, gripping his shoulder.

"Die," I whisper desperately as his breaths come out loud and rattling. "Please just fucking die." His eyes reach mine and I smirk. "that'll be the only time you hear me beg," I spit.

The car stops and the door is pulled open. The driver stares back and forth between us, taking in Finn's blood-stained shirt and my ripped dress. He reaches into the car, grabbing my arm and dragging me out. I land on my knees, trying desperately to scramble to my feet. He pulls me up the steps and the big man comes into view. I begin to back away, shaking my head in panic. "No," I whisper, "no, no, no." He grabs me as the driver tells him that the ‘boss' is hurt.

The door to the cellar is opened and I'm thrown in like a rag doll. Rolling down the stairs until I land in a heap at the bottom. He slams the door and locks it.

Malia rushes over and I wince as she tries to help me sit. I shake my head, choosing to crawl over to my mattress because walking is too painful. I'm dizzy from the blow to my face and every limb aches. As I drag myself over the cold floor, I heave, spilling the contents of dinner onto the concrete. I sob, angry that I've lost the fullness from my stomach.

As I lay on my mattress, I notice the other is now occupied. Malia goes to her and lies behind her, stroking her hair just like I'd done to her. I smile to myself, closing my eyes and letting the darkness take me.