“Don’t look, little Angel,” he teased. “You bring him to life again.”
I bit my lip and looked away, trying not to smile from my embarrassment. It was beyond strange to have the urge to smile or to think sexy, joking thoughts at a time like this. I felt guilty. Josef was so nice, and he felt safe to me, but I couldn’t get in the habit of letting my guard down.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
His eyes shot up to the camera then back to me.
“I come from a fishing village in Honduras. My parents, they die when I am thirteen, y Master save me from bad men who buy me at orphanage.”
Bile rose in my throat. In my book, Marco was a “bad man,” but Josef obviously cared for him. I’d hate to know how “bad” the other men must have been for Josef to see Marco as a savior.
“So how old are you?” I asked.
“Twenty-three. Y tu? Ah, and you?”
“I just turned twenty.”
I sat up as Josef stood and went to the bucket. I looked away as he peed, throwing back his head for a loud yawn.
“Now you,” he said.
I stood with my bound hands in front of me and he lifted my dress until I was squatting over the bucket. I peed, and when I tried to stand he held my shoulders down.
“You try to go,” he said.
I shook my head and felt my cheeks warm. “I can’t.” I stood again, hating the wet feeling left behind when I couldn’t wipe.
“Maybe I shit first, y you won’t feel bad.”
Surely he was kidding. He smiled, completely at ease and serious.
“Aw, Josef, come on. Can’t you hold it?”
“Why? Es no good to hold.”
“This is such a small room…” Dear God, it would smell awful in here, especially since we couldn’t flush it away.
“Angel…” He became serious. “Our bodies…no es dirty. We are animals. It’s natural.” He pulled his pants down and I lay on the blankets, rolling with my back to him to try and block it all out. Thankfully he didn’t take long.
“Now you,” he said afterward.
I heard him pull up his pants, but I stayed where I was, not looking at him.
“No. No way.”
“Just try.”
“I can’t. I don’t need to.”
He sat next to me. “I can help. I massage you.”
Massage me? Oh, heck no. I sat up, leaning against the wall, and pulling my legs up. The room stank, and Josef’s face was as adorable as ever. I realized then that I liked him. Not like that, but as a person. He was cute and genuine.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m okay.”
He sighed, clearly not believing me.
Footsteps sounded from outside the door and a key turned in the lock. Familiar panic rose inside me, and I shrunk back into the wall. Josef went to his knees, lowering his face to the floor and placing his palms facedown on his thighs. My instinct was to stare at the door and see who came through it, but I forced my eyes down as it opened.
“Look at me,” Marco said.
We both lifted our faces and did as he said.
“We have guests arriving at lunch. Josef, you, Jin, and Perla will provide the entertainment after our meal.” Josef nodded. “Angel, you will stay at my side and remain silent. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Sir,” I said.
“Bueno. Time to get ready.”
He blindfolded me, once again, and took my arm, leading me down the hall and up a set of stairs. Then, all at once, a mix of gorgeous sensations hit me—a warm breeze, the sounds of the sea, birds calling, and the strong fragrance of tropical flowers. Too quickly it was over and we were indoors again.
“Introduce her to the others and show her the slave quarters,” Marco told Josef in Spanish, all business. “Dress her in a black shift. She is a non-worker tonight and until she’s fully trained.”
“Sí, Amo.”
I felt Marco release me, and then we were winding through the house, sounds of people working—pans clanging, water running, a vacuum somewhere. My bare feet felt carpet, then textured tile as we went from room to room.
The air was crisp and tendrils of foreign scents hit me as we walked: cumin and jalape?os from a kitchen, strong flowers on a warm breeze, probably drifting in from an open window or door.
We entered a quieter area and stopped. Luis removed my blindfold and uncuffed me, then closed the door. I heard a lock click from the outside. I rubbed my tender wrists and rolled them around with a grateful sigh.
“This es our room.” Josef took off his collar and set it on a corner table next to another, smaller one.