Saved By Him (The Monster Series Book 2) (12 page)

I glance down at my watch and notice that it’s already past eleven. “It’s more afternoon than morning. You two enjoying your brunch?”

“You know I love a snack here and there. At my age there’s no such thing as watching my figure. Who knows what kind of foods they have in paradise. I want to get my fill while I still can.”

I laugh at Nanna and tease her, “Excuses, excuses. Nanna, do you have two more plates?”

She prepares two plates and I make sure to sit down in front of Jack, so he can see me at all times. I don’t want him to feel threatened.

When it looks like he’s going to get up I quickly say, “Stay a while, Jack.”

His shoulders slump and he lowers his head slightly. I can feel his eyes on me as I pour two glasses of OJ for Sophia and myself.

I reach over and then fill his glass too. “I’ve noticed you’ve started on the garden. I’m glad you’re feeling better. There’s a chapel close to the river. I’d like to go show you. I think you’ll be able to do something with it.” I’m trying to make small talk. I want to see how he reacts to it.

“Yes, Master.” He almost bites the words out. This man has a lot of anger in him. I don’t blame him at all.

“My name is Adam Stone but you can call me Adam. There are no masters and mistresses here,” I say for what feels like the hundredth time, and I’ll keep saying it until they start using our names.

He frowns and then asks, “Then why did you call yourselves Master and Mistress Ryland?”

I’m surprised by his question. He’s not as broken as Sophia. This man still has a lot of fight in him. It must have been a nightmare for him. How did they get him to submit? I would fight to the death and Jack looks like a man who would do the same. He has the body strength to defend himself.

“That was all a show to fool the fuckers who had you, Jack,” I almost spit the words out. The anger I feel is always simmering in the background, ready to erupt. “No one has the right to keep another human being as a slave. It’s wrong!” I shake my head and get up fast. The chair falls back and I see Nanna reach a hand out to me.

“Fuckers, the whole lot of them!” I need to get away from Sophia and Nanna. I’m just going to upset them. I walk to the door but stop and glance back at Sophia. She has a panicked look on her face and it makes me feel terrible. “Stay with Miss Ella.” I look at Jack. “Come, Jack.”

The walk down to the river gives me time to reign in my temper.

When we reach the clearing, I stop a few steps away from the chapel. “This is the chapel, at least that’s what we call it.”

I let Jack take a closer look. His eyes are vibrant and intelligent. I can see him already planning what he’d like to do here. Seeing Jack out in nature is like watching a wild beast finally get set free. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. It’s the little moment like these that makes it all worth it.

“If you need to get some of your supplies here, just let me know and I’ll help you drive it down. It’s too far to walk up and down with everything.”

Jack makes direct eye contact with me. I see anger, confusion and a strong will staring back at me.

“You’re safe here, Jack. River and I will make sure nothing happens to you.”

I leave Jack in the clearing so my words can sink in. It’s going to take a very long time to win his trust, but it’s something I’m prepared to work for. Jack needs a friend, and I’ll be the best one I can be.

Sophia~

I get to spend the whole day with Miss Ella. I help her squeeze lemons so we can make lemonade. After that we squeeze more oranges for orange juice. My hands are red from all the squeezing. We then cut apples for apple pie. I’ve never seen so much fruit in my life!

I’m busy stirring the tomato sauce for the meatballs when Mistress River comes in.

“Sophia, how are you?” she asks all friendly.

“I’m good,” I make sure to smile.

Miss Ella comes to stand by me. “Now ask River how she is.”

I frown not following but I do it anyway. “How are you … River?”

“I’m very well, thank you for asking,” she says with a huge smile.

“Now that’s the proper way of greeting someone, my girl. And you listen when they answer. People don’t listen nowadays. If you care about someone then you listen when they talk.”

“Yes, Miss Ella,” I say quickly. I want to show her that I listened. 

Mistress River pours two glasses of the lemonade I helped make. I watch her closely as she takes a sip and when she licks her lips, a warm feeling settles in my chest. She likes it. I smile to myself, focusing on the sauce again. Miss Ella said it burns quickly.

Jack comes in from outside and he’s got dirt all over him. Mistress River laughs at him and then says, “Go shower and then meet me here, Jack.”

He listens and quickly leaves the kitchen. Mistress River places some stuff on the one side of the table. I try to keep an eye on the sauce, while watching her. I see pretty pictures of flowers.

Jack comes back in, all clean after his shower. He’s wearing dark jeans and a black shirt. It makes him look good. My eyes go to Mistress River and I see the appreciation on her face. Jack is pleasing her, that’s good.

“Come sit next to me, Jack.”

When Jack sits down he moves the chair away from Mistress River. I hold the spoon tighter and I watch for her reaction.

She doesn’t seem bothered as she places the stuff in front of him. “I’ve gotten a list of flowers for you to start with, seeing as you love them so much.” She points to one and says, “That is a shooting star, Jack.”

I try to see what she’s pointing at but the picture is too far from me.

She picks up a pen and then asks him, “Which hand is your stronger hand?”

He holds up his left hand and I look down at my own hands. I’m stirring with my right hand, I suppose that’s my stronger hand.

When I look up again I see that Mistress River is leaning over Jack. She’s holding his hand. I forget about stirring as I watch her teach Jack how to write.

I watch them while doing my work. Jack gets lost in what he’s doing and he almost looks happy.

I pour the sauce over the meatballs and then Miss Ella says, “Ten minutes to dinner time.” She comes to check if I’ve done it right and then pats my arm. I’ve learned that’s her way of saying I did a good job. I like when she does that.

“Let’s do your name quickly.” I hear Mistress River say. “What’s your last name?”

“Hawkins,” Jack answers.

“But that’s Cameron’s last name,” Mistress River says and I glance over my shoulder. She looks shocked.

Jack tenses. I know he hates Master Cameron for what happened to his mother. “He married my mother,” he bites the words out.

“Cameron is your step father?” She asks carefully.

Jack jumps up and storms out of the kitchen. I’ve never seen him behave like that.

I look to Mistress River and I see fear on her face instead of anger.

“Jack’s mom died when he was young. Cameron sold her and the Master killed her,” I quickly explain, hoping I’m not talking out of turn. I don’t want Jack to get in trouble. Mistress River gives me her full attention. She’s treating me like she would treat Master Adam and Miss Ella. The thought pops into my mind – I’m really not a slave anymore! Feelings overwhelm me and I’m not sure what to do with them all. I can’t think about it all now, but I lift my chin when I say, “Cameron had a son with Jack’s mom and that’s the only reason Jack never tried to leave. He did it all for David. He promised his mom that he would look after David. ”

I feel a sudden burst of rebellion for not using the word master. It makes my heart pound faster in my chest.

“Jack has a brother?” River gasps a look of panic on her face. “Are you telling me we left Jack’s brother back there?”

I flinch at the thought of David and what he would do if he knew I wasn’t calling him master anymore. “No. David is Cameron’s son. David was the one who had me and Jack whipped. Jack started a fight with him when he saw me giving David a blowjob.”

“Let me get the story right. David is Jack’s younger brother, but he’s just like Cameron?” She finally gets it!

“Yes.” I look out the window but it’s dark. I can’t see Jack. “I think that broke Jack’s heart.”

“Thank you for telling me, Sophia.” My heart fills with a weird feeling. That was the first normal conversation I’ve had and I didn’t get in trouble.

They’ve been telling us the truth!

I’m really free?

I’m no longer a slave?

The overwhelming emotions bubble up my throat and it comes out sounding strangled.

“Oh no, my sweet girl,” Miss Ella cries. She grabs me to her and holds me tight and it’s only then I realize I’m crying. Miss Ella cries as well and it makes me cry harder.

“I’m … free?” I ask between sobs, the words coming out muffled against Miss Ella’s shoulder.

“You are! You’re free and safe! You’re safe with Miss Ella.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, the tears falling faster. I hold onto her tightly. It feels like everything around me is spinning. Inside of me it’s spinning – out of control.

After a little while I manage to calm down a little.

We’re both wiping the tears from our faces when Adam comes in. He freezes and I notice how his body tenses. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, we were just being silly women,” Miss Ella says. “Let’s eat.”

I get the plates ready while Miss Ella loads them with food.

Everyone is quiet as we start to eat. I can feel Adam’s eyes on me and after a while he asks,” Did you have a nice day, Sophia.”

I smile and nod. My eyes flit between Adam and Miss Ella and then I say, “I did, thank you for asking. How was your day, Adam?”

A stunned smile forms around his lips and he starts to laugh. “Did Nanna teach you that?”

Nanna slaps him against the shoulder with a dishcloth. “Don’t laugh at the girl! Someone has to teach the children proper manners.”

“Nanna, we’re not in the eighteen hundreds anymore.”

Miss Ella slaps him with the dishcloth again. “Are you calling me old?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he laughs at her.

I can’t help but smile at them. It’s moments like this you can see they care a lot for each other. I’ve never had that.

Adam looks at me and his laughter dies. A look I haven’t seen before makes his eyes look darker, like storm clouds. “You look pretty when you smile like that,” he says in a hushed tone and it makes my cheeks feel warm. “Don’t do that fake smile anymore. I like it when you show us how you really feel.”

I nod and go back to eating my food. I suddenly feel very aware of Adam and it makes me feel awkward around him. There are so many new emotions and I don’t have names for them. It feels as if I died with the beating and now I’m getting a second chance at a new life.