Love Slave for Two

Chapter 4

Nevvie took a shower, wanting to finish before Alex returned. He usually stayed out late on Sunday nights and hopefully would tonight. She relived the day, the way Tyler held her hand at the bakery, how both men looked at her when asking her to move in.

So they weren’t interested in her body. Who cared? They wanted her.

They wanted her to be part of their family.

Mentally she planned what to take, how to pack. Maybe she should have left today. Away from them, standing in the rat-hole apartment and dreading Alex’s return, Nevvie felt more alone than she had in years.

With the boys she felt like a part of a family. That was an alien feeling, but one she had quickly grown to love.

Growing up she’d never felt like she belonged. When she found out she’d been adopted, it made sense. The man she thought of as her father died when she was eight. When her mom remarried two years later, “Preacher Jim” wasn’t her favorite person in the world.

A strict and unyielding man, Nevvie proved to be anything but compliant. He never tried to molest her but she’d be damned—literally—if she’d spend all her free time doing nothing but reading the Bible as he insisted.

A voracious reader, Nevvie’s favorite Nancy Drew and other books were taken away, deemed too immoral. He permitted only school texts and her Bible. He forbid any music except the Christian radio station. No TV allowed. Or movies.

Preacher Jim insisted the Earth was only a few thousand years old despite what scientists said. Even at ten Nevvie knew that was pretty damn stupid. While all her friends wore jeans or shorts, Preacher Jim forced her to wear long-sleeved, ankle-length dresses.

At twelve she ran away for the first time, which puzzled everyone except Nevvie, because she earned straight-A grades. She ran away at least once a month to her second cousin’s house for sanity and sympathy, riding the school bus with her the next morning. Finally, Preacher Jim deemed her a child of the Devil and encouraged Nevvie’s mother to reveal the truth about her parentage and give her cousin’s mother custody of the unruly girl.

Nevvie flourished once free of her stepfather’s restrictive tethers. Even her teachers noted with confusion that while most children should be failing by that point, if anything, her already impressive grades improved. She graduated with honors and an academic scholarship to the University of South Florida. Her mother and Preacher Jim and two younger half-brothers moved to Utah or some godforsaken place when she was sixteen, and she hadn’t heard from them since.

She didn’t want to.

Everything was on track until late one August night, when Nevvie was eighteen and in her first semester at USF. The alternator on her beater Chevy died on the way home from her job at the Bowl-A-Rama on 56th Street. She made the mistake of trusting Steve Moses, a guy she knew from high school, to give her a ride home in his daddy’s brand new Jag.

She’d been a virgin. A piece of her died when he left her lying on the side of the road. She supposed she was lucky he didn’t kill her. She dropped out of college and wanted to put Tampa far behind her, especially after Steve Moses’ daddy bought him out of trouble and blamed her for the whole thing.

Now, back in Tampa, her luck had finally changed for the better.

She rolled over and feigned sleep when she heard Alex stumble in around two a.m. She was too excited to sleep.

Alex staggered into the bathroom then fell into bed smelling of beer and perfume. She’d never let him fuck her without a condom, thank God. She especially didn’t want him touching her now. It didn’t matter that Tyler and Thomas were gay, she was their girl.

It’s all she wanted to be.

The days crawled and Nevvie’s stomach twisted into knots. She resisted the urge to call Tyler and make sure the offer still stood, afraid Alex would catch her. She hid the necklace in her shoe when in the shower. Otherwise she always wore it, even in bed. There was no way in hell she would take it off.

Thursday morning. Emancipation. Freedom.

Alex didn’t get ready for work like he normally did on Thursdays. Nevvie fought the urge to pressure him out the door. That would set him off and he’d never leave.

She washed the dishes and tried to act normal. By seven, Alex had made no move to get ready. “Don’t you have to go to work today?”

“No. I’m going to drive you and take the car. I need it.”

No! She froze, trying to think.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” she lied. “They’re very private. They don’t want people knowing where they live. You screw this up, they’ll fire me.” Crap, even she didn’t believe that.

“Hell, you know where they live.”

“I clean their house. I’m supposed to know.”

He paused his video game and eyed her over the back of the couch. “You get ready. I’ll take you. If your little queer boy boss has a problem with that, have him talk to me.”

Nevvie was glad he couldn’t see her fists clench behind the counter. She fought the urge to sling every plate in the drainer at him.

Alex stared her down, daring her to defy him. She backed off and gathered what she’d need for her shower, taking it into the bathroom. She might never get undressed for her boys, but she damn sure wasn’t getting undressed for Alex. She decided on jeans instead of shorts. She wasn’t showing Alex any more of her body than she absolutely had to.

She tucked the necklace into the toe of her sneaker and started the shower, finishing as quickly as possible. The latch on the door was iffy at best and a strong tug would open it. She didn’t want Alex walking in while she was naked.

Nevvie dressed and had put the necklace on when she heard the knob pop. Alex appeared in the doorway.

“What the hell you doing in here with the door locked?” He saw the necklace. “What the fuck is that?”

She protectively covered it. “A present.”

His eyes narrowed and he advanced. “From who? Those fag boys? Who the fuck gives their maid a necklace? How fucking long you had it?”

She tucked it under her shirt and shoved past him. “They gave it to me for my birthday, asshole. Which by the way was a week ago, and you didn’t even say anything.”

He grabbed her arm and spun her around, slamming her painfully into the wall. “What the fuck did you call me?”

She yanked her arm free, trying to catch her breath. If she had to she’d walk and call Tyler to come get her. Her purse sat by the front door. Alex snooped through it anyway. At least there she could always grab it fast.

“I called you an asshole!” She tried to walk to the front door and he grabbed her by the hair. Her first instinct was to fight, but when he reached for her neckline she twisted and kicked and pulled away, trying to protect the necklace.

Her boys gave it to her. She damn sure wouldn’t let this shithead take it.

“You haven’t been treatin’ me real good lately, Nevaeh. You getting some from them fag boys?” He shoved her sprawling across the plastic crate doubling as an end table by the couch.

She turned and scrabbled backwards. Alex frequently yelled and shoved her, but never hit or came after her like this before. There was a dangerous gleam in his eye she didn’t like.

He advanced. She finally regained her footing, put the couch between them.

“You shut up about them. You don’t know anything about them. They’re my friends, and they treat me a hell of a lot better than you ever have!”

“We could pawn that goddamned thing, you selfish bitch.”

“Go pawn your fucking Xbox!” She looked at the counter where she always kept her cell phone—it wasn’t there. He must have taken it. The clock on the stove read seven-fifty. If she wasn’t there on time and the boys couldn’t get her on the phone would they come looking for her?

“Fuck, you gotta set of brass balls on you, bitch. I bust my ass and make us a new life here, and you go fucking a couple of gay guys for a necklace?”

“For your information I’m not fucking them, and you do shit around here. I’m the one who’s always worked my ass off. Well, fuck you, Alex. I’m leaving, and I’m not coming back.”

She bolted for the door. He hooked an arm around her waist, slamming her against the kitchen counter and knocking the wind out of her. “You’re not leaving until I say you are.”

He punched her and grabbed her by the hair again. “In fact, I’m going to teach you a lesson and take you to work so your little fag boys can see what it looks like when a real man fucks a woman.”

She fought like a wildcat, kicking and scratching, screaming for help. She landed a punch to his ear, loosening his hold. With a cry she launched herself at the front door, but he caught her foot and she kicked at him, unable gain purchase on the cheap linoleum floor.

She screamed, hoping one of the neighbors would, for once, call the police, but not holding out any hope. She fought Alex and held onto the bathroom door frame. Then he launched a kick at her ribs and she curled into a tight ball, trying to catch her breath and protect the necklace.

She’d die before she’d let him take that from her.

Thomas and Tyler were a bundle of nerves. They woke early, eagerly anticipating Nevvie’s arrival.

Tyler also had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that worsened by the minute. Something was desperately wrong. Nevvie wouldn’t change her mind, he was certain. Had the caveman discovered the plan? Was she okay? He’d fought the urge to call her yesterday for fear of making Alex suspicious, unsure if he monitored her calls.

Eight o’clock came and went with no sign of Nevvie. Tyler paced in the kitchen while Thomas glowered at him from the counter.

“Are you sure we didn’t go too far? Maybe she changed her mind.”

“No, I’m telling you something’s wrong,” Tyler insisted. “If anything, she’d be early today, not late. She wouldn’t be late and not call, especially not today.” The sick feeling had grown to a fully enraged, gut-twisting scream. His instincts were never wrong, and a feeling like this meant something bad.

Eight-ten. “I’m calling.” Tyler grabbed his cell, called, then frowned. “It’s going straight to voice mail, not even ringing. Her phone’s off.”

Thomas looked out the front window. “I’ll admit this doesn’t look good. You said she’s close?”

“Only twenty minutes on a bad day. Not even three miles.”

Thomas disappeared to the bedroom. He returned, fully dressed, and tossed a pair of shoes to Tyler. “Let’s go find her.”

Tyler slipped on his shoes. He left a note in case she arrived while they were gone, and followed Thomas out the door.

“Which way?”

Tyler gave him directions and Thomas frowned. “That’s in SuitcaseCity.”

“It’s a dump. I hate the thought of our sweet girl living there.”

Thomas pulled the Ridgeline into a parking spot next to the Escort, his jaw set in a hard line. “If we’ve got to drag her out of here kicking and screaming, she’s coming with us.”

Tyler grimly nodded. “Agreed.” So much for finesse.

They climbed out of the truck. That’s when they heard a woman’s terrified cries.

Tyler sprinted across the commons toward her apartment, Thomas on his heels. Sure enough, the loud crashes and frantic cries came from apartment 111. Thomas tried the knob, found it locked, and pounded on the door. “Nevvie, open up! It’s Thomas!”

They heard another loud crash and a man’s enraged roar, followed by the sounds of someone being struck and Nevvie crying again.

Thomas pushed Tyler out of his way, took a step back, and kicked the door. It gave way on the third blow and the two rushed inside. They didn’t see her and raced through the spartan apartment to the bedroom, where Nevvie cowered on the floor in a corner. Alex towered over her, kicking her.

Thomas played defensive end for three years on his high school football team. The old skills came back as he dropped his shoulder and, with an enraged howl, charged Alex, driving him into the wall.

Tyler raced to Nevvie’s side. At first she shrank from him. Then, recognizing him, she sobbed with relief and threw her arms around his neck. He scooped her up and carried her to the living room.

“It’s all right, sweetheart, I’ve got you,” he soothed. “What do you need to take?”

She felt her chest. “My purse. By the door.”

“Anything else? Anything at all? You’re not coming back here—ever.” She looked horrible, at least one black eye, her lip split. “Pictures? Paperwork? Jewelry?” He heard Thomas’ enraged voice and assumed the caveman was getting a taste of his own medicine.

She shook her head and rested it on his shoulder, tightening her grip on him. He dipped to the side to grab her purse as he passed and exited the shattered door.

He turned, waiting for Thomas and murmuring soothing words to Nevvie. A moment later Thomas appeared in the doorway. Shaking and flexing his now bruised and scraped right hand, he took Nevvie’s purse from Tyler and walked ahead to unlock the truck. The men didn’t speak. Thomas helped Tyler ease her into the back seat. Tyler climbed in next to her—she refused to let go of him.

“Let’s get out of here,” Thomas growled, backing out.

“We should call the police,” Tyler said from the back. “Get her to hospital—”

“No,” she cried. “No police. Please, I want to get away. Before he follows us.”

The men exchanged looks in the rear view mirror. Tyler placed a calming hand on her cheek, trying to get her to look at him. “Nevvie, we have to report this, file charges, have a doctor check you out—”

She frantically shook her head. “No! Please, no…” She sobbed against him, hysterical.

“All right, sweetheart. It’s all right.” He protectively cradled her while Thomas drove them home.

She could barely walk. Thomas carried her into their bedroom where he carefully placed her on their bed. Her right eye had nearly swollen shut. They watched as she compulsively touched a spot on her chest through her shirt. At first Tyler thought she might have a bad bruise there until he spied the silver chain under her shirt collar.

The necklace.

Tyler sat on the bed next to her, pulled her into his lap, and let her sob against him.

“Tom,” he whispered, “I think I have some chamomile tea in the cupboard. Make her a mug, use lots of honey and a couple shots of bourbon, right? And a dishtowel and a bag of frozen peas for her eye.”

Thomas nodded and set to it.

“Nevvie, sweetheart, why won’t you let us call the police?” Tyler asked.

She shook her head, clutched him tighter, and trembled. “He didn’t follow us?”

“No, love. He most likely wasn’t conscious when we left, if I know our Thomas.”

“Good.”

Thomas returned with the makeshift ice pack. Tyler carefully placed it on her forehead, wishing he could take her pain away. The doctored hot tea soon had her calmed and she lay in his lap with a glazed, distant stare. She’d once mentioned that she didn’t drink because it hit her hard and fast.

Thank God.

Thomas sat on her other side, holding her hand. Eventually, she rolled over in sleep, facing him.

Tyler took the melting bag of veggies and carefully extricated himself so as not to wake her.

He walked around the bed to Thomas and kissed him. “I’ll make us breakfast,” he whispered in his ear.

“Thank you for listening to your instincts.”

Tyler looked heartsick. “I wish I’d listened sooner.”

Nevvie slept past lunch. One or both men stayed with her. When she awoke she was so sore she could barely move and needed help sitting up to get out of bed. Thomas brought her some Tylenol and both men helped her into the bathroom, standing outside the door and waiting for her. She’d been wearing jeans, but before she went in Tyler handed her a pair of his lounging shorts and one of Thomas’ T-shirts.

“These should fit you, sweetheart, you’ll be more comfortable. I’ll take your other clothes and wash them and we’ll pick you up some other things later.”

She nodded. When she finished, they helped her back to bed and she curled on her side, her hand over her chest where Tyler suspected the necklace lay. Her thighs were black and blue, her arms covered with ugly bruises. Alex’s work boots had left horrible marks.

Tyler left Thomas with her and went to his office, closing the door. He called and made an appointment for the next day with their doctor, a woman. Like it or not, Nevvie was going. He wouldn’t force her to do it today, but she would go.

When he returned he sat on her other side and took her hand. “Sweetheart, you’re going to let us take care of you for now. You’re not going to work, you’re going to heal.”

She started to protest and Thomas laid a gentle finger on her chin. “Sugar, hear us out, please.”

Tyler continued. “We meant it when we said you’re part of our family. We take care of our family. Once you’re feeling better, then we’ll sit down and discuss exactly what you want to do in regards to our arrangement, how many days you want to work here, how many with Thomas, pay, all of that. For now, until you’re feeling better, you are going to let us take care of you and what you need. You are not going to feel guilty about it. Understand?”

She closed her eyes and nodded.

He carefully patted her shoulder. “That’s my good girl.” His eyes traveled her face then brimmed with tears. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry we weren’t there for you when you needed us.”

Nevvie squeezed his hand. “You saved me,” she said. “If you guys hadn’t got there…” She shuddered and looked at Thomas. “Did you hit him good?”

Thomas brushed hair out of her face. “Sugar, I have a wicked right hook.”

She laughed then groaned when it hurt her ribs. “Ow.” When she recovered she looked at them. “Any house rules I should know?”

Tyler smiled. “Flush after you go. My only unbreakable rule.”

“Yeah,” Thomas snarked, “ask me how I know that one. Forget to flush one time and you’d think I scalped a dog or something.”

“OW!” Nevvie laughed and moaned at the same time. Tyler shot Thomas a nasty look.

“Terrific. So not helpful, Thomas.”

Tyler coaxed some soup into her and ran her a hot bath. After dinner, she joined them on the couch to watch TV. Before bed Tyler finally broached the subject.

“Sweetheart, where did you wish to sleep tonight?” She looked at him and he clarified. “Do you feel comfortable sleeping alone? You’re welcome to curl up with us if you’d feel safer. Or one of us could sit with you in your room.”

Her boys. Her fantasy come true and she was too damn sore to even think about taking them up on it. “Let me see how I do tonight. I’d like to reserve the option for company if I need it.”

“It’s up to you. We meant it—we’re taking care of you.”

She squeezed his hand. “Thank you.” She looked at Thomas. “You have no idea how grateful I am.”

Thomas kissed her forehead. “You don’t owe us a thing, sugar. Get to feeling better and put that nightmare behind you.”

They helped her to her room and Tyler fussed with the bedding until certain she was comfortable. Both men kissed her forehead.

“Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything,” Thomas said. “We’ll leave our door open.”

“Anything at all,” Tyler echoed.

In the hallway they hugged each other, standing there for a long, silent minute. Thomas finally stepped back. “Are you sure she’ll be okay alone?” he whispered.

“For tonight. She’s exhausted and needs to be alone. She’ll reach out when she needs us, I have no doubt. Let’s let her be. We’ll hear her.”

The men left their door open and went to bed, too upset to do anything but fall asleep in each other’s arms, dreaming about the woman they loved one room away.