“I have to clean the room. That’s my job.”
“Who said that? Nick? Jace?” Ari saw a dark bruise on the side of Hope’s neck. That could explain her compliance.
Hope sorted the last book, sliding it into place, and she walked to the bed and pressed the buzzer. She must have been locked in the room with Ari.
“Where are you going? Don’t leave.”
The door opened before Hope could reply, but it didn’t matter. The girl left without a second glance. Ari understood why. She’d lost her trust in the real world when she’d needed it most. Why would Hope help her now?
***
“How long are you going to keep me down here?” Ari asked Nick the next time he came to her room. She’d started thinking of it that way. As her room. She wasn’t sure how long it had been since his first visit but it felt like more than a couple of days.
“Until I’m sure you won’t do something stupid.”
Ari snorted, but her stomach growled at the same time, covering up any insolence. She held her hand over her shrunken belly and looked away from Nick’s probing eyes. She’d been reading a book when he arrived. Now he stood before her, wanting something. She wasn’t sure what.
“You’re hungry. Why aren’t you eating?”
“I don’t trust your food. Or what you may put in it.” Ari knew they drugged her drink at the club to get her to the house. She also suspected drugs made Hope passive and glassy eyed. Ari had started to eat the sandwich they’d given her, but the bread had smelled funny.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
“What about the other girls? You’re hurting them.”
“You know how these girls can be. Wild. Disobedient. Different methods work on different people.”
His words chilled Ari, making her recoil farther from him. “I saw the bruises on Hope’s neck,” she said. When he didn’t reply she added, “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“Just being here is enough for now.” He opened the door and Hope came in with another tray of food. She set it on the dresser, never making eye contact with Ari. Nick smiled at Ari, and he and Hope walked out the door, leaving her alone again.
***
Ari flipped the page of her book, thinking about how it would have been nice for Nick to have at least provided her with some new material. All the books on the shelf were identical to the one’s she had at home and had read a dozen times already. Dropping the book on the bed, she took another bite of cookie from the plate on the bedside table.
“Who’s Nick?” Hope asked.
Startled, Ari looked up. She’d forgotten Hope was in the room. Dusting or something. She came and went, still never talking to Ari and she’d gotten to the point where she just ignored the girl.
“What?”
“Nick. You’ve mentioned him.”
“Um...Nick is the guy who’s keeping us here. Tall? Handsome? Creepy as crap?”
“You mean Reggie.”
“Who’s Reggie?” Ari frowned. “I’m confused.”
“Reggie is my sugar daddy, well he was. Until he brought you and all the other girls here.”
“Wait,” Ari tried to figure it out with her addled brain. “Reggie and Nick are the same person?”
“I guess.”
“Nick is a juvenile-court-appointed lawyer. Are you telling me that’s whose been buying you stuff this whole time?” Ari remembered Devon talking about Shanna being with a guy named Reggie as well.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“Is this his house?” Ari asked.
“Kind of. It’s a house, but he doesn’t sleep here.”
“How many girls are here? Besides you.”
“Six, I think.”
“Shanna?” Ari asked, afraid she’d been hurt the night of Ari’s abduction.
Hope walked over to the dresser and opened each drawer, straightening the clothes inside. “She’s still here.”
“Are they all working?”
“Yeah. A couple on the street, but most of the men just come here.”
“Can they get help? If I give you a phone number, can they call? Can someone flag down the police?” Ari was sure that if one of the girls could contact Davis they could get out of here. He would stop Nick.
“The police don’t listen to us,” Hope said. “No one listens to us. We’re just whores and troublemakers.”
Her words felt like a slap. Ari deserved to be slapped. She hadn’t believed Hope when she’d told her about this place. Why would the police believe her now? Because someone with a better reputation was missing? Ari swallowed the bad taste in her mouth.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t listen. I’m so sorry. But I have someone who will believe you. I promise. He helps kids like you.”
Hope stared at her with dark, narrowed eyes. “So did you and look where it got me.”
“His name is Davis. At the Glory Youth Center,” Ari said. “Please Hope, trust me.”
Hope shook her head and left.
***