Missing Link (The Finders Book 1) (5 page)

"We need more. We need to get to her again." I said, throwing the towel down.

"That we do," Rome said before stripping off his shirt and tossing it at Dom who dodged it swiftly. He threw his arms wide. "But you know what they say, when in Rome..." He held his fists up in a ready to fight position and I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face as I did the same.

"Bro, we don't wanna know about who's been in you..." I commented as I circled around him, bouncing on my toes.

"Shut up loser, let's see what you've got."

Chapter Five

Sam

"Samantha!" I heard Charlie yell for me, and quickly got up from the bed. He hated when I didn't come to him as soon as he called. I stood on the landing that overlooked the front foyer.

"Yes?" He was standing bellow talking with our maid and cook Elise. He looked up and smiled, waving me to come down. Elise nodded her head and walked towards the kitchen.

"I have a friend and his girlfriend joining us for dinner tonight." He explained as he turned to face me and reached out for my hand. I took it with a gentle smile.

"Lovely." I said sweetly.

"I expect you will find something nice to wear and will conduct yourself accordingly." I nodded understanding what he was saying, dress sexy and keep your mouth shut unless necessary. He pulled my hand up to his mouth and brushed it softly with a kiss.

"Of course." I nodded.

"Good, they will be here in just over an hour. You'll need to go and get ready." I nodded and again tiptoed up to give him a light kiss on the cheek. He smiled with approval as I turned and walked quickly back up the staircase. It was strange to think that no matter how much I despised Charlie for keeping me here, my actions as a "girlfriend" were very instinctive. Of course I had learnt the hard way that displeasing Charlie was a painful option.

I found a beautiful floor length dress in my closet. It was an amazing emerald colour with an almost satin feel to it. It hugged my body in all the right places, and swept low enough in the front to show my great breasts but still be sophisticated and not slutty.

After a short shower I applied some subtle makeup and arranged my hair so it was pulled back at the front but hung down my back, just brushing the top of my curvy rear. People often thought my hair was coloured from a bottle or than I had light brown hair. But it was all natural; I had never dared to touch my hair with any sort of colour and had not cut it for years. When the light hits it, you can see the beautiful shades of red that naturally streak through.

As I walked down the staircase I studied the man that Charlie was shaking hands with. He was taller than Charlie, slightly broader but also very handsome. His business suit was impeccable, not a crease in sight and paired with some very shining, and I predict very expensive, pointy business shoes. His eyes moved to me as I hit the tile floor with my heels, running the length of my body before returning to my face. I immediately felt the sudden urge to cower under his sharp eyes. The feeling I got from Charlie was often dark but the vibes this man sent out were straight up knee shaking scary.

Charlie snaked his arm around my waist as soon as I came within reach, "Samantha, this is Luther."

I smiled sweetly and reached out my hand. He took it and shook but his expression did not change, nor did he speak. I cleared my throat nervously,

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." I bowed my head graciously and spoke as though it was an honour to be in his presence. After a moment, he finally nodded. He gestured to a young girl who stood a few steps behind him, her head hung and hands gripped together tightly in front of her.

"Isla." He snapped sharply. She moved swiftly to his side, but never raised her eyes. She was very young, barely 18, if not younger. Her hair was platinum blonde, but I could tell it was natural. Luther gripped her chin tightly and lifted her face to us.

"This is Isla. I apologise for her rudeness. She is just learning." He looked at Charlie as he spoke. Just learning? I wondered what he meant by that.

"Shall we move into the dining room? Dinner is almost ready." Charlie held out his hand towards the dining area and I followed him as he led us through two large doors into where his extravagant dining table was. It was decorated beautifully with bouquets of new flowers lining the centre of the table and expensive cutlery placed at four seats. The table could hold 20 guests but we sat at one end, Charlie and I on one side, Luther and Isla opposite.

During dinner Charlie and Luther discussed business plans, although what they talked about I couldn't understand. They talked about workers and money and clients, but no details. It seemed odd to me but Charlie never allowed me to hear or see anything that was related to his workings. I had no idea what it was he actually did, other than make a hell load of money.

CRASH...

I looked up from my dinner at the loud noise. Isla's face was in complete shock and there was a broken glass in front of her, her water leaking over the side of the table and onto her lap. Her mouth dropped wide, her eyes frozen open in shock and a glimmer with what I recognised as fear.

Luther's hand moved so fast it was almost like a blur. He twisted his left hand in the hair at the back of her head and pulled her with him as he stood to his feet. Isla's face twisted in pain but she didn't cry out, Luther’s face simply portrayed rage. I gripped the table tightly as his right hand reared back, fist clenched. The crunch and scream that followed was enough to make my stomach turn and my dinner almost end up returning to the plate. I realised I'd closed my eyes and when I pried them open, Luther was standing over a cowering Isla who now had blood streaming down the side of her face from a large cut. I moved so fast I barely caught my chair before it fell backwards onto the floor. I scrambled around the table, wrapping my arms around Isla and turning her face to check the deep gash across the top of her eye. Her eyes looked around the room but were dosing and unfocused.

"Leave her." The stern voice came from behind me.

"She might have a concussion." I said looking up at Luther from my place crouched on the floor.

"Serves the damn girl right." He said clenching his fists. Where this abrupt need to stand up to this man who scared the ever loving crap out of me came from, I will never know. My mouth clearly was leading the way with a mind of its own because as the words came out I instantly recognised my mistake

"It was an accident!" I growled up at Luther as I continued to clutch this small frail girl to my side.

Luther moved towards me, but Charlie was suddenly standing there with a hand on his shoulder. He glared down at me as he spoke, "Excuse Samantha's insolence. Maybe we should allow her to take Isla to the kitchen and clean her up as we finish our dinner."

Luther's gaze penetrated through me, I could tell he wanted to teach me a lesson and I was relieved Charlie was holding him back. But I knew as soon as they were gone Charlie was going to teach me a lesson of his own. I could already feel the pain that was to come. Luther nodded curtly and I wasted no time scooping the young girl up and holding her tightly as we moved towards the doors that led into the kitchen. I sat her down on a stool at the breakfast bar and searched the cupboard for the first aid kit I had used on myself during several occasions. I heard angry voices from next door.

"How are you feeling?" I asked Isla as I placed the kit next to her and took out a few wet wipes. She chewed on her lip nervously but didn't speak. I dabbed gently at the blood that ran down the side of her face, cleaning it off and then gently working at the cut. She cringed in pain but still no words or noise.

"It's okay. You can talk to me." I prompted. "This looks really sore." She scoffed loudly and I jumped slightly, surprised.

"It's not the worst." She said quietly. I nodded in understanding, I'd been on the receiving end of Charlie's anger more than a few times, especially during my first few months here. "Luther has a doctor that comes to the house to treat me. I asked the doctor to help me once. He hung around at the house while Luther had another go at me just so he could treat me again." She sighed with defeat. I pulled a large band aid out of its sterile package.

"How long have you been with Luther?" I asked as I placed it over the now clean cut.

"Maybe about a year, I'm not sure. I was locked up a lot after I was taken and could barely tell what day it was." This caught my attention.

"After you were taken?" I enquired. She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself tightly like reliving the memory was painful.

"I went to a bar with some friends. I was in College you know, studying to be a teacher.” A small smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, the longer she was silent, the more it grew. It was infectious and soon I realised I was smiling with her. “I really like kids, I like teaching them new things and helping them learn. It’s just so cool to watch someone develop like that…” Her voice got more excited and then trailed off. Her smile slipped away so fast it was almost like it was never there.

“After a couple of drinks I wasn't feeling so well so I decided to head home. A couple of my friends offered to walk with me, but we lived in a good area, it was all student housing.” She cleared her throat and I knew she was fighting back tears. When she spoke again her voice was completely void of any emotion, the excitement I heard before was a dim memory, a small snippet of the past her.

She shrugged. “Next thing I knew I was locked in a room, given food, told if I behaved I'd be let out." She shook her head. "Luther let me out but claimed I belonged to him. I tried to fight back to begin with, but the beatings were bad. Broken ribs, concussions, he even sliced open my leg once because I told him I wanted to go home."

I gripped the counter, scared if I let go I might collapse. Who does that to a young girl?

"You're trainer doesn't do that to you?" She asked, her head tilted curiously.

"My trainer?"

"Charlie? I've heard Luther call them trainers. We've had a few other girls come to the house with men."

My head was starting to feel dizzy. Trainers? Was Charlie my trainer? And what were they training us for? The kitchen doors burst open and Luther ploughed through them, followed closely by Charlie.

Luther grabbed Isla by the arm and all but dragged her out the opposite door and towards the foyer. Isla threw me a quick glance but quickly restored her go to position. Head down, do what you're told. I was frozen on the spot, Charlie's eyes glaring at me across the room.

"Clean up this mess," he indicated towards the medical kit. "I want you in my room in 10 minutes." His voice was firm and commanding and not to be opposed.

He left as swiftly as he entered and I swallowed hard, pain was to come.

-----------------

I stared at the face in the mirror, reaching up to touch the angry red mark covering my cheekbone and under my eye. I cringed, it was still fresh and tender and I knew soon it would start to bruise.

Charlie was usually pretty smart about where and when he hit me. I was often spared the bruises that covered my face, neck and wrists, but Charlie’s anger had prevailed over his consciousness, and he had gone all out this time. I heard the bedroom door open and stilled.

"Cover it with makeup; I don't want to look at it." He said harshly, staring at me from the doorway.

"You mean you don't want other people to see it." I muttered, turning towards him. He took three quick strides across the room and grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling my head back roughly so I was looking up into his dangerous eyes. They sparkled with a deep evil glare and I shuddered. His other hand came to my throat and he squeezed as he pushed my back up against the mirror. I tried to breathe in, but as I did he tightened his grip, cutting off any air from getting in.

"Don't push me child," he growled deeply. "You will do as you're told, act as you're meant to and never," he squeezed again, my hands pulled at his arm but it didn't budge "EVER, talk back."

The room was starting to blur as he released me and I gasped for air.

He pulled me by my hair towards the bed, throwing me face down onto it and using his free hand to rip away my underwear. Tears leaked from my eyes and I wished then that I had passed out or better, that he'd stopped me breathing altogether.

Chapter Six

Charlie adjusted his suit in the mirror as I lay on the bed, covering myself with a sheet. He watched me out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm leaving for a few days on business." I nodded slightly. He walked towards me and I fought the urge to cower away from him. He ran his hand down my cheek and leaned in, kissing my forehead gently.

"This wouldn't happen if you would just listen and do as you're told Samantha."

I nodded again, "I apologise." I whispered softly, my voice was scratchy and it hurt to talk.

"Good girl." He swept my hair back, eying what I assumed was now worse bruising around my throat. "I'll have Bear make you a Doctor’s appointment to have to have these checked. You tell them sometimes we get to rough when we play."

The smirk that crossed his lips almost made me shiver in disgust. I forced a small smile instead.

I crawled out of bed, tucking the sheet delicately around my body as I watched his car leave from the bedroom window. I sighed in relief. It was true that Charlie had hit me, hurt me, and punished me before. It wasn’t a daily, weekly or even monthly occurrence, it also wasn’t uncommon.  But the frequency of abuse was increasing. Small things were causing him to lash out in ways he would have simply laughed off before. I was scared. I knew Charlie, I could read him well. I knew what he liked and what he didn’t like, what would set him off, what would make him happy. This Charlie, was completely unpredictable.

There was a quiet knock on the door.