Sweet Collateral

I rub my fingers over my temples. “That means she’s not someone I want near me.” But what can I do? I owe Nero a debt that can never really be repaid, and he’s never once asked me to. Until now.

He huffs a short laugh. “I need her with someone I trust, someone no one will dare fuck with.” I really have no choice here, and that irritates me.

“Call me when Andre has secured the sale. I’ll have my men collect her.”

I hang up the phone and shake my head. Nero Verdi helped put me where I am. I owe him a loyalty that very few are privy to. He’s proven more than once that he’s a good friend to have, if not very dangerous. The Italian is ruthless, power-hungry, and completely lacking the morals the mafia usually pride themselves on. The cartels, for the most part, don’t like outsiders, but Nero and I, we play by different rules, more ambitious ones. Empires are built on such bloody alliances.

2

Anna

The man dresses, barely sparing a glance for my naked form sprawled over the dirty mattress. I count the tiles on the far wall. Thirteen across and fifteen down. One hundred and ninety-five in total. I can recall every crack, every smudge of dirt, every chipped and blackened bit of grout like a map imprinted on my mind. These things that should be without consequence and hold no meaning are my only salvation within these four walls. Tiles and cracks—a necessary distraction from my morbid existence.

There was a time when I would hope and dream of something better than this. That time has long since passed. What once felt like the most brutal form of degradation; daily rape, is now my normality. In my acceptance, I have found a degree of peace. This just is…I just am. I exist and this is my life. As soon as you accept a situation, it becomes far more bearable. Hope is what breaks even the strongest.

The man slams the door behind him and leaves me in the dark, windowless cell. And here I lay, waiting for the next man to come in here, and the next…and the next.

Some time later, the lock clicks ominously, before the hinges scream, allowing a shaft of light to creep over the dirty floor. One distinct set of footsteps enters the room. A dragging limp that I know is his damaged right leg. Alejandro’s gaze drags over my exposed body. There’s no point in putting clothes on here; they just get torn off. Modesty is for those who care. I don’t. Greasy black hair sticks to his forehead and sweat patches spread from beneath his arms and around his neck. Alejandro is a disgusting excuse for a man, but his favors are easily bought. Suck his dick, and he’ll get me almost anything I want. I learned fast in here that drugs help ease the situation. More specifically, ketamine, though it’s not as easy to acquire as cocaine or heroin. I’ve accepted this fate, but I can’t quite bring myself to completely give up, and that’s what heroin is, dying without actually taking the bullet. And Cocaine heightens everything I want muted.

“Did you bring some?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“No. Get up. It’s your lucky day.” A sick grin works over his lips. “Or perhaps unlucky.” He laughs and turns away, walking back out of the door. I push to my feet and move to follow him, hesitating in the doorway.

“Where are you taking me?” A trace of panic starts to creep up on me as I stare at that line on the floor, the invisible border of my room.

“You have a new owner, Rubia. I’ll miss those sweet lips wrapped around my cock.” I know the way this works. I’ve seen girls outlive their usefulness—become worn out and undesirable. Or get diseases, then they’re either sold or killed. And useless girls… the places they end up… Sold. The word evokes a fissure of fear that stirs the edges of my numb mind. I know what humans are capable of, the depths of depravity they can sink to. It’s not so bad here. I’ve had much worse.

“Hurry up!” Alejandro barks.

I don’t even know how long ago it was that I was brought here. Time has no place here. When was the last time I left these four walls?

I cross the threshold and follow him down a corridor and through another door. Bright sunlight hits me, and I squint away from it, nervously glancing around at my surroundings. It’s a warehouse.

Frowning, I look behind me at the maze of wooden walls erected in the middle of the vast space. Holding my arm out, I allow the sunlight to dance over my skin as it drifts through the windows high above us. So close. I was so close to freedom, all this time. I’d assumed that the dark little room was buried in the basement of some building, impenetrable and forgotten.