The control in the other man was absolute. He ordered what his family would eat, and if either of them spoke when he wasn’t ready to listen, he cut them down. Curse watched the byplay with the family. Sasha certainly hated him.
Their food came from Sandra, and his thoughts returned to Mia. He wondered what she was like when her father was around to take away some of the slack. There had to be a time when she was happier, easier, more carefree.
Even as he thought it, Curse doubted it. Whatever happened in Mia and Ashley’s past would stay there, but it had changed Mia completely.
****
Mia gritted her teeth as Dale got her to bend over the bed to finish smoothing out the covers. She hated this job more than any other. He had her cleaning his office, the kitchen, the sitting room and finally the bathroom downstairs before he ordered her to clean upstairs.
Think about the money.
When she thought about money and the chance of getting her mother’s prescription and maybe some meat for dinner, she was able to do what he wanted without even gritting her teeth. It was hard to work for a guy who gave her the creeps.
Since she quit working for Jerry she had more time free to clean. Jerry offered to let the street know of her services, but the only person to take more of her time was Dale, the creep.
“Very nice,” he said.
Rolling her eyes, she wondered if she should just tell Curse to have a word with Dale. The thought of that happening filled her with joy. Dale would soon back off with that threat. Climbing off the bed, she was startled as an arm banded around her waist.
“I’ve got you, baby.”
His voice sent chills down her spine. Tugging out of his hold, she tensed as he seemed to grip her a little tighter. Walking around the bed, she saw the time was a little after lunch.
Curse was a creature of habit. She wondered what he was doing for lunch. Earlier in the week she’d spoken to Sandra about serving the table. The other woman had two kids, and her husband was off work with a bad back. Mia told Ashley to advise the men to tip the woman greatly. The extra money would help Sandra out no end. Ashley had argued with her, telling her the men would rather tip her for her mother’s medicine, at which point, Mia told her friend she could no longer accept money from them. Curse, in a strange kind of way, was her boyfriend. It was strange for her as she wouldn’t put Curse and boyfriend in the same sentence.
“I really do love your cleaning,” Dale said, pulling her out of her thoughts.
You’re not out of the woods yet. Clean this bastard’s house and get gone.
“Good. I’m glad my services please you.” She tucked the bottom sheet underneath the mattress.
“I don’t suppose you’ll look under the bed. I’m sure the wife dropped something under there this morning.”
His wife was always conveniently missing whenever she came around to work.
Last time, Mia. Last time of working for this creep.
Kneeling down, she looked under the bed to find something glinting. Mia reached under to grasp the jewel. “I’ve got it.”
She jerked, slamming her head against the wooden slats of the bed as fingers ran up her leg.
“So soft. I knew you’d be soft to the touch.”
“Get off me.”
Mia tried to climb out, but he stood with one foot between her thighs.
Think, Mia, think.
“You’ve been teasing me with this body on display.” She’d worn her waitressing uniform as she was at the diner immediately after finishing Dale’s home.
“Leave me alone. I’m not teasing you. You’re seeing stuff that isn’t there.” She tried to move back, but her butt hit his thigh keeping her in place. Cringing, she tightened her fist around the jewel. She cursed her actions over and over as he proceeded to stroke her thighs.
Would she fit underneath the bed? If her ass was small enough she’d make it out the other side.
He grabbed her ankle, jerked up her dress and tugged. For a slender man, he had a lot of muscle. She cried out as her leg gave out and she fell to the floor. Clawing at the carpet, she tried with all of her might to stay underneath.
“You’re not running from me anymore. I want to know what that pretty pu**y feels like.”
In one yank, she was tugged from underneath the bed. She screamed as the carpet rubbed against her flesh. The uniform she wore provided little protection against the onslaught. She released the jewel and tried to stop him from hurting her.
The moment she was out from under the bed, he turned her over. Slapping out her arms, she hit out. Dale backed away, but she didn’t know how long for.
Without wasting a moment, she climbed to her feet and started for the door. Dale’s hands grabbed her hair and tugged her back. She collapsed against him, and he threw her into the wooden wardrobe. The door cracked, and for several seconds she was winded from being thrown against the hard surface. Dale picked her up and threw her to the bed. Her dress tore from his rough handling.
Fight.
He charged at the bed, and she kicked him in the stomach. Dale went down, grunting. Scrambling off the bed, she ran for the door trying to get away from him as fast as she could. She screamed in pain as he caught her hair. Thrown against the wall, she wasn’t prepared for his slap.
“You little bitch. You’re going to learn your place.”
His hands went around her neck, cutting off her oxygen. She clawed at his hands. Nothing was helping. Reaching out, she scratched his face, and he released her. The attack went on. Dale slapped her around the face, landing blows to her body. Mia fought, wishing Curse was near to help her. No one was going to save her. Grabbing the lightshade on the drawer beside the bed, she slammed it against Dale so hard. With him following behind her, she wouldn’t make it out of the house alive.
Locking herself in the bathroom, she tugged the phone off the wall. The door shook under the impact of his body.
Dialing Ashley’s number took her two attempts. Her hands were shaking so hard, she couldn’t even focus. Tears fell down her face, and she worked fast.
The phone rang, and she jumped as Dale threw his body against the door.
“Come on, Ashley, pick up.”
“Get out here, bitch. I’m going to f**k you and make sure you can’t stand for the rest of your life. I’ll f**k up that pretty face of yours. No one will come near you.” His threats poured out. Fear gripped her with every passing second.
“Who is this?” Ashley asked.
“Ashley, I need your help.”
“Mia, what’s wrong?”