Saving Dallas 2 Making the Cut (27 page)

After I was bathed, my hair washed and
Madeline had rubbed an awful rose scented lotion all over me, she
grabbed her bag by the door and presented me with a simple satin
night gown.

“For you,” she said smiling and pushing it
towards me. It was not new, but looked clean and quite comfortable.
I wasn’t too excited about how my nipples protruded out of the thin
fabric that fell just below my knees, but I was afraid that it was
something Charlie had chosen for me and I didn’t want to disappoint
him.

“Thank you,” I said to her as she stood
before me smiling like I had just made her whole day.

“Surprise for Mr. Charlie,” she whispered in
her thick accent. My face fell at her words. She thought we were
lovers, and he didn’t pick this. Good, I could take it off.

“No, no,” I said, trying to choose simple
words to make her understand. I pointed at my hard nipples that
were chilled from the cool temperature in the room and made a face
that hopefully resembled fear to her. I just wanted her to nod in
understanding. What I didn’t want, and really didn’t expect, was
for her to blow hot air onto her palms and place them on my
breasts. I stood in shock as she pressed her warm hands against me.
My best guess was that she figured she could make them less hard by
warming them. Of course, my stupid bi-curious body betrayed me and
I found them hardening more from her touch. She didn’t seem to
understand what was happening and must not have cared. She just
shrugged her shoulders and said the words ‘you fine’ over and over,
trying to convince me that it wasn’t a problem. I was certain that
my face was red as a beet and I just wanted to get out of this room
and away from her pretty little hands that I was beginning to
notice looked perfect on her pretty little frame. Fucking Linda. I
would blame this shit on her.

We walked out of the bathroom that adjoined
what would be my bedroom for the night. Madeline carried my dirty
clothes with her, and I didn’t care what she was planning to do
with them, just as long as she left. My room had a full sized, gold
framed bed covered in a floral bedspread and throw pillows. An old
vanity table and a small night stand were the only other things in
the tiny room. I couldn’t wait to lie down in the bed and lose
myself in sleep, but Charlie and I had dinner plans.

In the dining room, lit candles and food
covered the table in a beautiful spread. Food was the last thing on
my mind, but Charlie was standing by the table waiting for me, so I
had no choice but to go over and take a seat. Like a gentleman, he
pulled the chair away from the table for me and laid the thick,
cloth napkin in my lap once I was seated. His excessive niceness
was starting to annoy me. Why was he acting like this?

“I hope your bath was enjoyable,” he said,
smiling at me from the head of the table. He had seated me to his
right which put me a little closer to him than I wanted to be.
Julia Roberts. Julia Roberts.

“It was, thank you. Madeline was a huge help.
It was nice having her there. Sometimes, I’m a little modest. That
is the reason that I was uncomfortable at first. I didn’t mean to
offend you by not accepting her services. I apologize.” I smiled
warmly at him and waited for the crowd to cheer as I saw the pride
dancing in his eyes. I was clearly acting as he thought I
should.

“Please, eat up. I have decided that your
behavior today has proven to be more than satisfactory. For that, I
am going to give you something in return.” I almost jumped out of
my seat at his words. He was going to let me call Luke, or maybe
even see Luke. I couldn’t believe my luck! I was right! I had
played his little game and now it would be used to my advantage.
Tears burned the back of my eyes at the thought of hearing Luke’s
voice. “Would you like to hear what it is?” I beamed at him,
wearing a smile I knew had an effect on anyone who had ever
encountered it.

“Yes, please.” The excitement in my voice
must have been contagious, because Charlie laughed then looked at
Jasper, who smiled also.

“Instead of taking you to your new home
tomorrow, I have decided to take you to Mexico where I can show you
off. I will buy you all the most exclusive, expensive bikinis the
world has to offer. You can sunbathe, and drink
piña
coladas and just relax for a while. It’s a
little generous, but I believe you have earned it.” I watched in
disgust as he smiled at me, taking a bite of red meat and chasing
it with a sip of wine.

“I don’t want to go to Mexico,” I said, my
voice just above a whisper. Instantly the warmth seeped from his
eyes and his voice became hard as he continued eating, taking
bigger gulps of wine than necessary.

“Of course you do. It will be a new
experience. One of many you will have while you are with me.”

“I have had experiences. In Mexico. I don’t
want to go back,” I said, my shoulders now slouched and my
excitement gone. I stared at him expectantly. Surely he didn’t
think this was something I wanted.

“Dallas, you are being very unappreciative
and I don’t like it. I have offered to take you to Mexico. It
doesn’t matter why, or that you have been there before. Just my
offering to take you should be enough. The correct way to respond
to that would be to thank me and consider this a lesson that if you
conduct yourself in a manner I find appropriate, you will be
rewarded.”

I stared at him, my mouth now hanging open.
He was out of his fucking mind. When he dropped the silverware
loudly on his plate, I jumped.

“What did you think you would be receiving?
Tell me. Your eyes lit up like Christmas when I mentioned rewarding
you, so there must be something that you were expecting. What was
it?” I shook my head, unable to find words. He was growing angry
and I knew he was capable of anything.

“Tell me,” he barked, banging his fist on the
table.

“I-I thought you would let me call Luke,” I
stuttered. My heart beat roughly in my chest awaiting his
reaction.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Dallas. There is no
point in giving any man false hope. He made his decision and it
wasn’t you. He fought off four of my best men protecting that
stupid piece of leather that he wore on his back. It took them a
while to finally wear him down, and even then he refused to block
the blows to his face, just so he could hold onto it.”

I wanted to throw up at his words. They tried
to take Luke’s cut and he refused, that was why they had beaten him
so badly. I was wondering what in the hell Charlie meant when he
said that he made him fight for it.

“But, when he had the chance to save you, he
didn’t. He chose another woman over you, Dallas. He didn’t even bat
an eyelash when he said her name. I saved you, Dallas, from living
a life playing second string to a bunch of other women. You are
classy, sophisticated and mature. I want you by my side and you
might not realize it today, tomorrow or even this year, but
eventually, you will realize that he made the right choice. You
belong here with me, not with a bunch of trashy bikers who will
settle for a life driving beat up minivans and raising six bastard
children, that will in turn continue their pathetic legacy. They
are beneath us now. I have brought you out on top, and one day you
will thank me for it.” He straightened in his chair, obviously
talking about the club put him in a frenzy and he didn’t like it
when he lost control. I didn’t like it when he spoke about the club
like that. Julia Roberts could keep her fucking job.

“Let me tell you something, you pathetic,
useless, egotistical, self-righteous, pompous son of a bitch,” I
said rising from the table and glaring at him. This would probably
not end well, but fuck it. At this point, I had nothing to lose. “I
know about having money. I could buy this house and a hundred
thousand more like it and not put a dent in my accounts. I own over
six hundred million dollars’ worth of property that range from
Georgia to Louisiana and everywhere in between. I employ hundreds
of people that respect and fear me so much that when I walk in a
room, I can silence it with a single look. I don’t have to use
physical force or violence to take what I want. I simply write a
fucking check. Those trashy people you are referring to, just so
happen to be my family. They have something you never will, and
that’s me. I will never belong to you and we are not the same. I am
human, you are a sick, sadistic being who is nothing more than a
waste of air.” My fingernails dug into my palms as I clenched my
fists. My shoulders rose and fell in a heavy rhythm as my breathing
accelerated with every word. At some point during my speech, I had
spit on his face and he now sat calmly, wiping it with his napkin.
He was not at all fazed by my outburst and seemed just as calm as
he had when I entered the room.

“I suggest you eat your food, Dallas. I
understand that you are upset and I will consider forgiving you for
your little temper tantrum due to the events you have dealt with
today. I don’t care that you had money, although I would be lying
if I said I was not disappointed in myself for not doing proper
research on you. Whatever you had before, you don’t have now. Now,
you have nothing, only me. You will become dependent on me. You
will soon find comfort in my presence and when I am away from you,
you will miss me. I am the only person that controls what happens
to you.”

He was sitting casually in the dining room
chair. His legs were crossed and his hands laid on his knees while
his elbows rested on the arms of the chair. If looks could kill, he
would have died a thousand deaths from my glare.

“Sit down, Dallas. Now.” His tone was so cold
and demanding that even in my state of rage, my ass obediently sat
in the chair. “I have built my reputation off of my word. There are
people who have died for simply not trusting me. If I say I am
going to do something, I follow thru. If I say I won’t do
something, then you be assured, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I
won’t. I gave my word to Luke that I wouldn’t hurt you. I gave my
word that you would be safe, but don’t take advantage of that,
Dallas. I never agreed to not hurt Luke. I will hurt him if that is
what it takes to get your attention.” My angered faded, and the
hard shield that I wore crumbled. Charlie was right. Anything I did
would hurt Luke. I was in hell and there was nothing I could do
about it.

I picked at my food, managing to choke half
of it down. I was sure it was delicious, but just like the rest of
me, my taste buds were numb. My plan to escape had been crushed
when I realized that no matter where I went, Luke would suffer for
my leaving.

“May I please be excused?” I asked Charlie,
keeping my head down so that I wouldn’t have to look at his face
which would certainly be smug.

“Of course.”

I stood from the table, wishing I had the
strength to flip it over on him. “Dallas.” I turned at the sound of
his voice, unable to avoid looking at him. I didn’t want him to see
my defeated look, but he drew me in with his one worded demand.
“You look beautiful in satin. It suits you.” My stomach turned at
his comment. I didn’t need compliments from this man. He made me
sick, but I managed a smile.

“Thank you. Madeline offered it to me. Please
thank her for me, if I don’t get a chance to.” I was back to acting
and it bothered me how good I was getting at it.

“Madeline will be well rewarded for her show
of kindness and her services. Good night, Dallas.”

“Good night.” I walked to my room, everything
I passed turned to a blur as my eyes filled with tears. I collapsed
on my knees beside the bed and for the first time in a long time, I
prayed. I prayed for the safety of my family. I prayed for the
strength to endure whatever Charlie offered me, and I prayed for
forgiveness. I was going to kill Charlie Lott. An eternity in hell
would be heaven compared to what I was living in now.

Morning came and I opened my eyes to find the
weather outside was terrible. Lightening bolted and thunder
crackled while rain poured from of the sky. On the floor beside my
bed, I saw several shopping bags from Macy’s. Who in the hell had
time to go to Macy’s? I figured a man like Charlie Lott had
connections everywhere. He probably called the CEO and had him open
the store, personally, just so he could have one of his goons shop
for me. I climbed out of bed, feeling slightly sore but much better
than yesterday. I didn’t care what was in the bags. I had no desire
to dress or bathe or even brush my hair for this man, but I hauled
the bags onto the bed anyway and began opening them.

It was too weird that Charlie knew so much
about me. The clothing was removed of all the tags, freshly
laundered and looked like it would fit me perfectly. He even had
makeup and shoes purchased that resembled the things that I owned
back home. Well, that I used to own. Maddie had them now. The
thought of Maddie, safe, at home with Logan, made me smile. A soft
tap on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Charlie didn’t barge
through the door or wait for me to answer. It’s like he knew that I
was already awake and going through the things he had bought for
me.

“Good Morning, Dallas. You will find
everything you need in the bags in front of you. When you are
dressed, I have breakfast waiting.” If he was waiting on an answer,
he would be waiting a while. I didn’t feel like talking right now.
I almost faked an illness, so I could stay in my room all day, but
I was afraid he would send Madeline to give me a sponge bath or
some other shit and I really didn’t want that.

There were no jogging pants in these bags; no
shorts or jeans and not even a pair of flip flops. There were only
skirts and blouses and dresses. Things I would wear to work. The
shoes were all heels and in boring colors, which made me smile. He
didn’t know as much about me as he thought. I chose a black, three
quarter sleeved sheath dress that stopped just above my knees and a
pair of black heels. I fixed my hair, letting it fall in its
natural waves down my back. I kept my makeup light, and rolled my
eyes at the perfume that I pulled from the bag of cosmetics. In no
way would I wear perfume for this man. The awful smelling rose
scented lotion still clung to my skin and I hoped it was as
repulsive to Charlie as it was to me.