Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 78732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Dima is taking a lot of risks because I know there's no way his business is legal, especially if he has to use threats and sneaky-ass contracts in order to operate.
It takes a lot less time to get a marriage license in Clark County Nevada than it ever should. I know Vegas is the marriage capital of the world, but shouldn't Sharon or Sandra or whatever her name is wonder why this man is in so often that she knows him by name?
"The license fee is a hundred and two dollars," the woman says after all the digital forms are complete.
Ellis doesn't hesitate to pull out his wallet. This time he uses a credit card rather than a handful of cash like he used last night at the grocery store.
"Thank you, Sandra," Dima says, accepting the forms rather than letting Ellis or me hold them.
We follow the man right back out of the building and back to the SUV.
The drive back to the warehouse seems to take twice as long as the drive to the marriage license place, and with each turn of the SUV's wheels, my heart rate increases.
Instead of going into the same door we exited, Dima has the driver go around the building to another door.
Unease washes over me when we climb out of the vehicle, but somehow Ellis's palm on my lower back helps some. I may not know the man, but knowing I'm not alone makes me feel a hell of a lot better.
The door opens, and I feel like I'm in some sort of fractured fairy tale. The room we walk into is set up like a chapel. There are flowers—fake, I imagine—in vases, and two pews on either side of the aisle, as if someone would show up to buy a wife with all of their fucking family or something.
"Let's go," Dima urges with his hand waving toward the front. "The sooner the ceremony is over, the sooner you can start the honeymoon."
My skin crawls with his words. Are the women lining up for these men? Are the ones living practically on top of each other actually willing to marry these men and have sex with them?
I'm not a prude, and I'm not usually one to judge, but Jesus, what does he have on them that would make them see that situation as one they'd willingly enter into?
But then again, to what extreme would I go in order to protect Morgan?
"Please," I whisper when Ellis urges me to walk toward the front, making me realize that my feet are locked in place.
"It's okay," he says, but I don't know that I can trust him.
Maybe he is just as evil as Dima and the men working for him. Maybe he's only trying to get compliance out of me until we're no longer here and then he plans to hurt me or sell me to someone else, or many someone elses.
I run my hands up and down my arms, doing my best to ward off the goosebumps that cover my skin. In any other situation, I'd turn around and run, but I know my feet can't carry me past the trouble I've gotten myself into this time.
My knees threaten to give out as we walk toward the man in the front.
I never spent much time worrying or planning my wedding, but the limited time I have pictured what it would be like, it looked nothing like this.
The rest of the ceremony is a haze. I know I say the words, repeating the vows after the man, but I also know I won't be able to pull this moment from memory when I need to.
I tremble even more when I hear the man say Ellis may now kiss his bride, a tear streaming down my face. But the man leans in, pressing his lips to my cheek rather than my lips.
I open my eyes, feeling very surprised he didn't take the opportunity he was given, knowing there isn't a single person in this room other than myself that would be offended by whatever he wanted to do.
"Very sweet," the big guy who came to the door the first time yesterday says.
"Mr. Burke, please come with me," Dima urges.
"And my wife?"
"She'll be right here when we get back."
The big guy smiles as Ellis walks away but his lips form a flat line once he's out of the room.
He turns toward me, making sure to invade my entire line of sight.
"You will do whatever is asked of you," he growls. "You signed a two-year contract, and you must stay married to him for that long. I'd suggest being a submissive wife, or it's going to be a very long two years for you."
Chapter 11
Heathen
There's absolutely nothing I can do about the trembling in her body once I come back out of the other room.