Chương 10: Chapter 10

Michael

"Yes sir. Understood sir." Cobi hangs up the phone then huffs out an exaggerative sigh.

"You sound like a pansy."

"Fuck off."

"I'm serious." I huff out a breath of smoke and inhale one more time before placing the cigarette under my boot, crushing it instantly, then turning back to smirk at my brother. "Never took you as a little bitch who grovels over the phone."

"Yeah? And I thought you quit those after dad died of lung cancer asshole? Besides, not all of us have the luxury of having a decent boss."

"Don't make a habit of it." I state taking the now crushed butt and placing it inside a nearby trashcan.

Cobi is right, I stopped smoking shortly after dad was diagnosed. Dad had smoked his whole life, dying only a few months after he was diagnosed. I don't make a habit of repeating mistakes, but after everything that's happened in the last seventy-two hours, I think I will make today an exception.

"Think they'll be alright?" He asks joining me on the small white bench just outside the outreach Hospital for abused women. My phone vibrates and I look down noticing the same annoying lawyer calling me that has been trying to reach me for a few months now. Pressing ignore I bring my gaze back to my brother.

We got here in Alaska sometime in the middle of the night. The staff instantly taking the girls into separate rooms to speak with them and have them psych evaluated. The building is in the middle of nowhere, surrounding by nothing but mountains of white snow.

"Not sure. They've been through a lot. More than any of us could imagine. But I think they can start healing now."

"They're families have been informed of their condition. They will all be flying in soon, but that doesn't mean it will be a happy reunion."

"All from the states?"

"No, looks like our girl is the only one. Bringing her home may be a problem since she'll be all alone. She won't have her friends much longer. Rest of them are from Europe. Still trying to get a hold of Cassie and Amelia's families. Seems the fucker had a thing for girls from all over."

My mind wonders to the fragile girl whose world I shook a few days ago. She has the brave front, the tough gestures, and attitude, but her body is broken, tired and weary. And if her eyes are anything to go by, so is her mind.

"And they'll stay here for the time being?"

"Yep, at least until they get the help they need."

My eyes flow up and catch Rogers, waving us down. I stand, Cobi joining me and walk over towards him. He's still in his combat gear, gun against his side, but his face is angered and irate.

"What's wrong?" Cobi asks.

"It's these fucking doctors man. They know the girls' stories, know what they've been through but most of the staff here are being too forceful. Like right now, they're grabbing that Donaldson girl's arms and"

Before he can finish, I run inside, my feet pound the pavement, with anger as the sliding glass door opens and the smell of disinfectant surround me. Most of the staff is in a small circle, watching as spectators while a woman, no older than my mother, grabs hold of Whitney's arm while she screams expletives at them.

"We need a sedative stat."

"No, let me go. Glupaya zhenshchina"

"Calm down girl, we only mean you help."

Not bothering to wait any longer, I run right into the brawl and shove the woman off Whitney with one arm, while the other grabs hold of Whitney and pulls her into my body.

"Mike what are you doing?" I hear Cobi call out, but I ignore him, focusing more on the staff's gaping mouths.

"You were told never to use sedatives or excessive force. What part of that didn't you quite understand?" I feel fingers grasp onto my sides tight, digging into my flash but I allow it, knowing she needs the connection to safety, despite my skin catching fire.

"Sir, we need her in a private room. We have to evaluate her physically. We cannot allow her to stand out here and scream and shout. There are other's women here, children even. If she creates a scene, they will feel they are no longer safe." The nurse states, starring at Whitney with pity.

"Mr. Taylor." An older woman calls out my name, walking over towards us. The crowd moves around her, giving her room until she stops just before me and Whitney. She has a kind enough face, soft blue eyes and a gentle sway to her short frame but I still keep Whitney attached to my body. "My name is Doctor Olga Remy. I am the woman that will be in charge of Miss Donaldson here. Is there somewhere we can speak privately?"

"I just want her to feel safe."

"And she will, but being here, with you, blocking her from us, is not good for her mind. We cannot allow her to rely on another person. Not yet."

My breath shortens, but I nod my head, angry at myself for getting this close to Whitney. She's right. If Whitney sees me as someone that will never rid himself of her side, she will never get the help she needs.

"Let me talk to her. Give us a few minutes and I'll have her back to you." Fingers tighten along my sides as I await the head nod from the doctor. Once I receive it, I grab hold of Whitney's hand and practically drag her outside.

The cold air is refreshing as our breaths flow around us in condensation. I turn, watching as Whitney protects herself, wrapping her arms around her body. No longer in her attire we rescued her in, the staff here had given the girls new clothing once they arrived, consisting of gray sweats and a white thermal. Her hair is no longer tied into a tight bun atop her head but flowing around in soft curls down her back.

Beauty.

"I wish to go back to my master."

"Whitney"

"That is not my name."

"Yes it is." I shout getting into her face. "Your name is Whitney Donaldson. You were taken four years ago and sold to that pathetic sack of shit that raped and abused you every single day."

Her head shakes while I spit the truth at her. Her angry glares at me protect herself from accepting the truth. She is still protecting him, his hold on her that strong. Every tear running down her cheek gets slapped off with her palm, making me want to hunt that fucker down myself and end his life slowly.

"Whitney, listen to me. Those doctors in there hold your fate. You can either, stay this stubborn girl and not get any help, hurting your parents and everyone that has helped to get you here along the way, or you can woman up. You can live your own life, something most girls in this situation don't get. You're one of the lucky ones. You've survived, do something with that."

"He'll come for me, I can hear his voice, shouting at me to obey, to come back to him."

"It's not real Whitney. It's your conditioning to that asshole." She continues shaking her head and I know there is no changing her mind unless she hears that he will no longer be a threat to her physically and mentally.

"You're wrong. He will come for us. I'll return to my master, where I belong." More tears flow down her eyes and for me, it's now or never.

"He can't Whit. He's dead."

"No." She shakes her head, covering her mouth with her hands. "You're lying."

"I'm not Whitney. I killed him myself."

"No." Her eyes bulge out of her head; the dark green irises stare at mine in rage. "You're lying."

"It was before we got to you girls. We tracked him down and killed him before we got to you."

"That's enough Mike. Let her go." I turn to see Cobi and two of the staff members walking outside as well. I turn back to Whitney noticing I have indeed grabbed hold of her arms. Throwing myself off her, I look down at my hands, angry that I have gone that far. I have scared her, and by the look in her eyes, done more damage.

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean."

"I want to go inside. Please master."

"What did you call"

"Come child. Let's get you all inside now." Olga calls out. The nurses come and retrieves Whitney leading her inside while Cobi stares at me with a death glare. Before he could speak, Olga's voice calls out again, this time directed at me. "She needs you Mr. Taylor."

I turn, starring at the woman that will hopefully help these girls become somewhat of the person they were before evil knocked at their door.

"Need me?"

"Yes. She allows you to touch her, but no one else. There is a level of comfort there, and for the time being, that may be the only way we can get through to her."

I'm shaking my head before she even finishes her sentence. She's wrong. I can never be someone's confident. I can never be what Whitney needs. I'm no longer that man. "Sorry, you've got the wrong guy."

I walk right past her, walking into the entrance and towards the exit of the building. I can hear murmuring and sobbing but don't turn to look at her. She needs someone that she can trust to never hurt her, and that's not me.

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