Nina chuckled. “She’s ruthless. I didn’t see it for a long time, but the last few years she’s gotten worse. If Zeke hadn’t gotten there when he did, she would have killed me for trying to leave.”
“Did you try to leave before?”
Nina shook her head and moved away from her brother. She returned to the couch and pulled the blanket over her lap. “Another girl tried once. She was nice. Didn’t have anyone, but she was really sweet. Happy and positive. They picked her up in a bar, drugged her, and no one knew she was gone. She was eighteen.”
“What happened to her?” Monty sat next to Nina.
Nina shrugged. “Gwendolyn. The girl’s name was Annie. She fought back on everything. Told them she was going to get out of there one day. She would talk whenever they brought men in to her. Talked so much the men didn’t want her. Gwendolyn told her she either had to shut up and take it or she’d be of no use. Annie snuck out that night. Tried to run away.”
“Did she make it?”
Nina swallowed. She could still see Annie’s face the next morning. “The guards caught her. Brought her to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn beat her until she was barely recognizable. She lined all of us up in one room. Annie was there, her hands bound. She was bloody and bruised and naked. Gwendolyn told us that was what happened if we tried to run. If we thought we didn’t belong to her. She said we were her property to do whatever she wanted to do. She shot Annie. In the chest. Made us all stand there and watch her bleed out.”
“Fuck.”
Nina drew a breath, closing her eyes and remembering Annie. “She was just trying to live. She wanted to be a person.” Nina wiped the tears from her cheeks. “No one tried to run after that.”
“How long ago was that?”
Nina shrugged. “Five years, maybe? It all kind of blends together when there’s nothing to mark the passing of time, but I think it’s been about that long.”
“I’m so sorry, Nina. I can’t…”
“Don’t blame yourself. Or Zeke. The choice to leave was mine. I was so afraid of Dad, and I knew if I was gone, there would be no reason for him to come back.”
“He did come back. He lived in the house for six years before he died.”
“He’s dead?” Nina gasped.
Monty nodded. “Drank himself to death. Passed out one night and never woke up, according to the medical examiner.”
“Thank God,” Nina breathed.
“Yeah. But… This place exists because of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t have a will, no surprise, but since I was his only living family, without you here, everything went to me. I guess, legally, that means you own half of this place.”
Nina shook her head. “This is yours. You’re doing good work here, Monty. I’m so proud of you.”
Monty hugged her again. “I’m so happy you’re back. And anything you need, let me know. Zeke is my emergency contact, and he has access to all my accounts, so he’ll get you whatever you need.”
“Are you mad I want to stay with him?”
Monty shook his head slowly. “Mad? No. Curious, but you need to feel safe. I don’t get to question what makes you feel safe right now.”
“You know he’d never hurt me, right?”
“Yes. I would never question that.”
“Except last night?” Nina asked.
Monty exhaled sharply. “Last night was… Walking in and seeing you. Seeing you in his clothes and your wet hair, those bruises. I lost my mind. I reacted.”
“Did you apologize to him for it?” Nina asked.
Monty twisted his lips at her and shook his head. “No.”
