Page 44 of Pushed
Chapter Eleven
Machi
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“Are you okay?”
Imperial rolled her head in my direction, sitting softly onto the bed with a wince. “I'll be fine.”
“I warned you.”
“Yeah, you've said that already.” Shaking her head, her hands sat on her lap. “I can't believe you spanked me.” Relief highlighted her tone as she lifted her head. “I honestly thought you were going to kill me.” Rocking her waist, she adjusted herself on the mattress.
Watching her, I leaned against the wall and stuffed my hands under my arms. “That's not how it works, you're no good to them if you're dead. They want you to be like a doll; pliable and workable, so they can do whatever the fuck they want to. It's not that bad if you end up in the right hands. But fighting me, disobeying and not following the rules, that's what's going to make this harder on you.”
Fiddling with her nails, she picked at her fingers. “I'm not meant for this, Machi, I can't handle it.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked, touching my bottom lip. “You handled yourself pretty well I'd say. Most girls panic, they try to run or fight back. But you. . .” Bobbing my head up and down, I pointed in her direction. “You're stronger, you fight without lifting a damn finger.”
Sighing heavily, she flopped her body back, falling weightlessly onto the mattress. “Am I sure. . . Yes, the answer is yes.”
“Well, I guess the only big problem you do have is keeping your mouth shut.” Winking playfully, I chuckled.
I wanted to lighten the mood and get her to finally see that I wasn't the bad guy. I had a role to play, breaking character wasn't something I could do outside that room.
But if she allowed herself to read between the lines, if she let herself see me and not the man I was forced to be, maybe she'd finally understand.
Lifting her head up, her lids hovered half open. “That's not funny.” Grunting with annoyance, Imperial rubbed her temples. “Can I ask you something?”
Shrugging my shoulder, I tipped my head towards the ceiling and nodded.
“Will you give me an honest answer and not one of your cryptic fucking statements that don't make sense?”
“I only make promises I can keep, but don't let that stop you. Go on, ask me.”
“I know what you're doing and I know what you're preparing me for. I don't agree with it and I'd be lying if I said that I haven't been trying to find a way out. But there's one thing I don't understand—why are you being this nice to me? I mean—” Cutting herself off, she pinched and poked at her elbows nervously. “Are you always this nice to the women you kidnap?”
Shit.I expected her to ask me about what was going to happen next or why the men here desired such horrible, disgusting things.
How do I answer her?
Tell her the truth, it doesn't change anything.
Maybe she'll trust you more.
“Well, if you want honesty, the truth is I've never kidnapped anyone before, you're the first.”
“That's bullshit,” she said, her voice high, almost mimicking a cruel laugh. Shaking her head in disagreement, Imperial sucked her cheeks in and bit down. “I don't believe that for a fucking second.”
“I'm serious, I've never had to take any of the girls forcefully, they all came because they wanted to.”
Pushing up on her elbows, her eyes slit tight. “Why don't I believe that? You're going to try and tell me that women agree to this shit, like you can waltz right up to them and reel them in like you're selling tupperware to an elderly woman? No, I highly doubt that. Your guy there, Fior, when he grabbed me, it didn't seem like it was his first time. And that night your guys were out there looking, looking for other girls, girls you lost—”
Holding up my hand, I stuffed her words right back into her mouth. “I saidInever kidnapped anyone, that doesn't mean it's the same for everyone else here. And yes, we were looking for a couple girls, but it doesn't usually go down like that. That night was different, it wasn't typical. I'm not who you think I am, Imperial.”
“So you don't go killing men and stealing women? That's all in my head, it's not how this shit goes? How the hell am I supposed to believe that when that's exactly what happened! What is this then, is it all just a big game? Is it just my eyes playing tricks on me; smoke and mirrors?”
A pain hit my chest as the words came out of her mouth, slicing my heart in half. That was a phrase I wanted to forget. The only other thing I would ever risk my life for had swallowed those words, allowing the mask to take shape and come alive.
