Scars: Book One by Sinden West Read Free Book Online Page B

rail before folding my arms around myself and staring at the
ground. His black boots appeared in my line of vision, but I didn’t raise my
eyes.
    Not
until I smelt leather, and suddenly something was being wrapped around my neck.
I jerked in surprise, my fingers going to my neck and eyes wide.
    “Relax,
baby. It’s not another noose. It’s just something to remind you of your place
here.”
    I
clawed at it, a small padlock cold under my fingers. “It’s a dog collar. You
put a dog collar on me?” I rasped out.
    “Don’t
try to get it off, it’s padlocked on tight. You’d only end up hurting
yourself.” He smiled slightly. “That’s my job, remember?”
    Downstairs
in the dining room, cold toast sat on a plate on the floor with a mug of water
next to it. I dropped to my knees, unable to sit any other way without hurting
myself more. I was obedient, like a dog. I hated myself but I was too sore and
too tired, not to mention hungry, to fight. I ate until the plate was clean,
and gulped the water down into my dry mouth, ever conscious of this heinous thing
around my throat. I finally set the mug on the floor and waited with my eyes
down for his next instructions.
    “Put
them in the kitchen and then follow me.” He got to his feet, and I struggled to
mine. He didn’t even look behind to make sure I was following as he headed to
the living room. Of course, I followed. He’d just made me a little less human.
    He
settled himself in the armchair again, as I stood naked before him. He picked
up that damned diary and passed it to me, then settled back and waited.
    This
time there were two Post-It notes marking pages. I just held it and stared for
a moment.
    “Don’t
make me wait, Rachel. You don’t want me hurting you while you’re still so
sore.” I flinched at his words and began to read.
    ‘Today
I asked Hannah to move in with me. She was getting kicked out of her rental
because it was being sold. She was damn near in tears over trying to find
another place that she could afford. Her ex was being a prick about the money
she was owed, and she’d just been laid off from her job. When I offered, she
threw her arms around my neck like her life depended on it, kissing me and
thanking me. It was nice to feel so wanted and needed. Afterward, we made love
for the first time. I said she didn’t have to do that, but she said she’d had
feelings for me for a while. When she said that, it was like everything was falling
into place.
    Rachel
was delighted when we told her. She wrapped her arms around me and pressed
herself to me tight. “Thank you,” she whispered in my ear. She really is the
most polite young lady. I’ve learned she’s fifteen, although her body is, shall
we say, mature. Hannah worries about the boys who go after her. She says
Rachel’s too innocent for her own good. I told her I’d help see off any
unsuitable kids who came sniffing around her.
    Hannah
started to cry again, telling me how grateful she was to have a responsible man
in her little girl’s life again. I won’t be telling her my secrets; she’s so
happy. It’s time for my life to start over on a fresh path.”
    The
entry ended and I shut the book.
    “You
haven’t finished yet. Open it to the next page that I marked.”
    I
swallowed; the collar uncomfortable around my neck, as I did as he asked. I
cleared my throat.
    “Hannah’s
gone away for the weekend with a girlfriend. I told her that I’d take care of
Rachel, and she should go ahead and have a good time. All went smoothly until
the second night. We were sitting in the den together; she was playing on her
phone and I was reading the paper. She sighed and turned off her phone,
throwing it aside.
    I
asked what was wrong. She gave a laugh and said she hated boys her own age,
they were so immature. She liked older, more mature guys.
    I
laughed at that and said not too mature I hoped.
    She
smiled as well. ‘Someone like you,’ she said. ‘Someone who can take care of
me.’