In Chains (17 page)

The waiters approach and clear our table. The lights dim and I notice a band are on the small stage tuning their instruments. Ben’s date is looking down at his lap, groping him under the table most likely. Christina’s parents are deep in conversation with each other. Christina has her head resting on Simon’s shoulder, she’s gazing at her ring and Simon is gazing at her contentedly. Everyone’s happy, except me.

It hits me like a freight train. Simon wanted Christina and he went for it, he didn’t ask my permission first, he didn’t even ask what I thought about it. Come to think of it he didn’t even tell me he’d got her a ring. She never asked me if I was okay with her getting engaged to my brother before accepting his ring. Ben didn’t concern himself with my feelings when he spent forty-five minutes with another woman on our date. All my adult life I’ve allowed people to dictate to me what I should and shouldn’t do. I let Dan dictate who I could be friends with, how I dressed, where I went, when I could go out and even my own opinion of myself. I’ve allowed Simon to tell me who I can date, whether I can drive my own car home tonight and even what I can do with my car keys. I’m not mad at them. I let them do it, I allowed it. Not anymore. Succeed or fail, I’m going to make my own decisions and take back control of my life.

The band strikes up. They’re starting off with a slow number and the dance floor quickly fills with couples. Simon and Christina get up to dance. Her dad leans across the table. “Would you care to dance Savannah?”

After my revelation it feels as if a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I smile across at him. “I’d love to.”

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Kayden

Fuck I’m cold. I try to keep my hands warm by shoving them in my jean pockets but the rest of me will have to fucking freeze. I try jumping up and down and slapping myself on the arms but it doesn’t make any difference. I tried all the cars earlier to see if any were unlocked, but they weren’t. I’m too tired to go for a run. The warmest spot, if you can call it that, is by the glass windows.

I’m looking for Savannah but I can’t see her. I hope she isn’t sitting with that blond bastard. The servers are walking past with more food. Jeez, I never seen so much food. These people can eat. My mouth waters again when they walk by carrying some white pie stuff. I dunno what it is but it looks good. My stomach rumbles. I didn’t have time to eat any bread before he made me come here. It’ll be hours before I get to eat. Most of the people ain’t even eating all their food. The servers have taken some plates away that were half full. What’s left on their plates would feed me for a week. I wonder if they’d notice if I snuck in the kitchen and took some of the left over stuff. I bet they would. I bet it’s alarmed like that food shop was. I might try though. If I’m quick enough I can grab some food and eat it before they catch me. It’ll be worth a beating. Except I told Savannah I wouldn’t do any stupid stuff. She’d think that was stupid, wouldn’t she? Then I’ll have no chance of getting her back. I’d rather have Savannah than food.

Is that her? I press my face against the glass. It is. She’s dancing with some old guy. Who the hell is he? Why does she have to have so many men chasing after her? I watch to make sure he don’t put his hands anywhere he shouldn’t. She’s beautiful. She looks good in that dress. She looks good in jeans too though. She looks good in anything. I wish I wasn’t a slave. I’d give anything to dance with her right now. Her warm little body feels so good against mine. If I wasn’t a slave she’d be with me. I’d be allowed to love her. I just wanna love her. Fuck, am I crying?

I walk away from the door, wiping my eyes. Then I turn around and walk back again like some sort of idiot because I need to know what that guy is doing with her. I must like torturing myself. Good, he’s stopped dancing with her. He’s dancing with some old woman now. If he’s got a girl of his own, why was he dancing with mine? Except she’s not mine, is she? She was, for a little while.

I smile as I remember her dancing with me and telling me that she loved me. That felt so good. It’s been a long, long time since anyone said that to me. And that blow job, damn. Her lips felt good around me. She’s got a beautiful body, I don’t think she realises how beautiful she is. I’m glad she didn’t give that blond fucker a blow-job; I would have had to cut his dick off and choke the cunt to death with it if she had.

I wish she wouldn’t make such a big deal over what her brother will do to me if he catches us. I couldn’t give a flying fuck what he does. He can’t do any worse than they did to me at the pound and she is so worth it. I can’t give her up, I can’t. I love her, she makes me happy and I haven’t been happy since I was a little kid. I know I make her happy too, most of the time. I’ve gotta make her see that I don’t care if I get beat, I can take it. I’ll do what she wants and not be stupid but I’m gonna try and change her mind. I need her.

I can’t see her anymore. I dunno where she’s gone. Another car has just pulled into the car park. He’s not getting out though, he’s just sitting there. C’mon, get out of your car and leave it unlocked. I sink down to the ground, pull my knees up to my chest and try to get warm. I keep my face pressed to the glass, looking out for Savannah.

There she is. I stand back up so I can see her properly. Son of a bitch! That blond fucker is talking to her. I bet he’s asking her to dance with him. My hands form fists. I’m tempted to bang on the bloody glass. Please don’t dance with him baby. Please tell him no. I wanna dance with you. She’s walking away from him. My hands relax and I can’t help but laugh at the look on his face. She shot you down didn’t she, you arrogant cunt. I love you Savannah. She’s disappeared again. I sink back to the ground.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Savannah

Reaching inside Simon’s jacket I find my car keys. Picking up my bag I head outside to have a cigarette and also to find Kayden and give him the keys so he can sit in my car.

A gust of wind hits me as I step outside. I’m shivering so much I can’t hold my cigarette still to light it; I should have thought to bring a jacket. There’s no sign of Kayden, maybe he’s around the back of the hotel. I decide to walk around and have a look. I hear footsteps running behind me, someone grabs my arm and sharply yanks me back, I stumble into them. “You out whoring are you, bitch?” Ice runs through my veins. I recognise that voice. Oh my God. It’s Dan. I’ve gone into shock and I’m unable to speak or move.

His hand shoots around my throat and he pulls me backwards, out towards the car park. “I found your brother’s house whore. You think you’re so clever don’t ya,” he snarls in my ear. He’s still dragging me backwards, further away from the hotel. “I recognised your car, so I followed you here. How many men you been fucking since you’ve been gone?” I still can’t find my voice to speak. He raises his voice. “Answer me whore. How many men you been fucking?”

He tightens his grip on my throat. I can’t breathe. I panic. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to drag me into his car and no one will know. No one will know where I’ve gone. I don’t want to die. I’m not ready to die. Finally getting the message from my brain, my muscles spring into action. I scrape the heel of my sandal down his shin and stamp hard on his foot. “Bitch,” he snarls.

Spinning me around he back slaps me. Sharp pain and heat spread across the side of my face as my body slams against my car. I fall to the floor, tears welling in my eyes. Grabbing a handful of my hair he pulls me back up, I shield my face with my hands, anticipating another blow. “You’re coming with me whore,” he snarls as he drags me roughly by the hair towards his car. “You’re gonna learn what happens to filthy whores who fuck other men behind their boyfriend’s back.”

I’m shaking uncontrollably. I need help. Frantically my eyes scan the car park. No one’s here, everyone’s inside the hotel. We’ve almost reached his car. If I don’t do something now it’ll be too late. Sheer terror causes me to scream as loud as I can. “Help! Somebody help me please.”

“No one can hear you. You stupid bitch,” he screams at me as he opens the door to his car. I try to resist as he attempts to force me in.

Suddenly his body snaps away from mine as if he were attached to a piece of elastic. Kayden’s fist slams into Dan’s jaw and I hear the sickening crunch of bone meeting bone. Dan falls backwards against his car, his mouth bloodied. I can’t stop trembling. Kayden is scowling, his hands fisted, his eyes bright blue. He turns to me. “Are you okay Savannah?”

Before I have chance to answer, Dan gets to his feet and scowls at Kayden. He wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. “Are you her latest screw?” He pushes his face up against Kayden's. “You know she screws anything with a dick between its legs. She’s nothing but a filthy whore.” He turns to face me. “Get in the car. Now.”

Kayden moves to stand between me and Dan. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Get in the fucking car,” Dan growls, ignoring Kayden.

I glance at Kayden, my voice coming out as a squeak, “He’s my ex-boyfriend.”

Kayden scowls at Dan. “You’re the ex?”

“What the fuck it gotta do with you, piss-”

Kayden raises his leg and slams his foot into Dan’s stomach. Dan falls to his knees, his hands clutching his gut and he vomits. Before he has time to recover, Kayden grabs him by the hair and slams his face into the car windscreen. Dan looks across at me, dazed, his face streaked with blood. He stumbles into his car. Oh thank God, he’s going.

He leaps back out again and I catch a flash of metal. Oh my God. He’s got a knife. He lashes out with the blade and Kayden jumps back. Dan’s eyes are wild and he’s screaming obscenities at Kayden, repeatedly swinging the knife in his direction. What do I do? I need to call the police but Dan could kill Kayden before they get here. My heart bangs against my ribs.

Dan suddenly spins around and lashes out in my direction. I feel something touch my arm and I hear Dan screaming, “I’m gonna kill you, bitch.” Something warm trickles down my arm. I wipe my hand over it. It’s blood. My blood.

Kayden shoves Dan back against the car. As he lashes out with the blade Kayden grabs his hand. There seems to be a stand-off. They’re both staring each other down. I should call the police. I fumble for my phone. Damn it, what’s my unlock code? What’s the code? Think. Think.

“There’s only one bitch here,” Kayden says to Dan, “and that’s you. You’ve fucked with the wrong man, you don’t scare me. I’m gonna make sure you never hurt her again.”

As I finally succeed in unlocking my damn phone Kayden forces the knife into Dan’s chest and twists it. The phone falls from my hands as Dan’s eyes widen and he slowly slides to the ground. Kayden kneels down, he’s lifting Dan’s arm, I don’t know why. There’s a rushing sound in my ears, my throat is dry and I feel dizzy. Kayden looks up at me. “I think he’s dead Savannah.”

I can hear voices. There’s a crowd of people standing outside the hotel. Simon pushes his way through the crowd towards me. He looks down at Dan. “The police have been called, they’ll be here soon.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and leads me back towards the hotel.

“You’re as white as a sheet. Sit down,” he leads me over to a chair. I grab the nearest glass to me and down the contents, not caring whose drink it is. It burns my throat. My words tumble over themselves as I tell Simon what happened. “Ssshh,” he pulls me in for a hug.

Christina leans in towards Simon and puts her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go and talk to the police. I’ll tell them a slave was involved. They’ll call C.S.S.’’

I freeze. I feel light-headed and sick. I push Simon away from me, shaking my head violently. “No. They’ll take him to the pound prison. They’ll kill him Simon.”

“You’re not thinking clearly, that’s understandable. Sit here and calm yourself down. Let Christina deal with it.” I realise she’s already gone outside. Jumping out of the chair, I run for the door. He’s holding my arm, trying to pull me back but I drag him along with me. Finally, he lets go.

Outside, three men who look like security guards have Kayden face down on the ground and are cuffing his hands behind his back. The police are standing over by the car, watching the paramedics examine Dan. I scream out, “No!”

As they yank Kayden up off the ground, his eyes meet mine. “I love you Savannah,” he cries out. “I love you.”

“No. Kayden.” As I run towards him they point something at the back of his neck, he convulses and passes out. I’m still running towards them as they pick up his lifeless body and throw him into the back of their van. Just as I’m about to reach it, they drive off. “No.” I collapse to the ground, unable to stop the tears that are now streaming down my cheeks. I never got to tell him that I love him. He’ll die never knowing that I loved him. Why did I let everyone keep me away from him? Why? I jump as I feel Simon’s hand on my shoulder. He gently lifts me up and holds me in his arms. My hands fist against his chest and I stare up at him, wide eyed. I’m crying so much I can barely speak. “They’re…they’re going to…kill him. I love…him. I…love him.”

“I know Savannah,” he rubs my back, “but it’s for the best. You’ll get over him in time.” He frowns at me and looks down at my arm. “You’re bleeding. Let’s get the paramedics to have a look at you.” He walks with me towards the ambulance but as I pass the police I wrench my arm from his.

“I did it. I killed him,” I call out, holding my hands up in the air. “It was self-defence; he was trying to kill me.” The officer looks surprised. He tells me it’s okay to lower my hands. Simon is now by my side.