Chapter 79
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Thank God. The idea of Madison being examined like a horse at a trade show makes me sick. 'Give us privacy, please," I say.
Madison darts her attention between us. She hasn't spoken in several minutes and that doesn't look about to change. But unless I'm imagining it, some color has returned to her face and she's breathing easier.
Asher hesitates at the door. 'The fox should have three legs."
'Three?" I repeat.
'Yes. The fourth, with the chain, is only added once a girl is trained and broken. She is neither." His long, dark stare at Madison communicates to me that he has also noticed how young she is.
The women who get the finished tattoo are changed forever.
I wonder helplessly what Mila was like before the last leg was added.
Asher closes the door as he exits. Letting out a quick breath, I smile gently at Madison.
'Sorry about all that," I tell her. 'He's been through a lot, so he's suspicious of … well, everyone."
'It's okay," she whispers meekly.
She's so nervous ... How did someone like her find the courage to try and escape?
Silence stretches between us. I'm supposed to be checking her for ink, but the awkwardness of the situation is sinking in. Gnawing at my tongue, I debate how to begin the process. Madison is staring at me—has she blinked in the last minute? 'Maybe we should take off your coat," I start.
She unzips the front, exposing the thin, ribbed purple sweater underneath. I flinch at the sight of the long sleeves. Getting out of this without her stripping down isn't happening. To my amazement, Madison doesn't wait for my next instruction; she keeps going—the sweater is yanked over her head, sending her long hair into a cascade of waves. Static makes the thin strands cling to the sweater before it's set lightly by her feet. She's not wearing any undergarments.
'Here," she says, twisting to show me her back and shoulder. 'This is what you're looking for, right?"
Madison's back is a canvas of bony ridges. I want to take her downstairs to the kitchen and plop her in front of a stack of Ollie's famous pancakes. But instead I stare at the canvas of pain and hurt spread across her body.
Painted on her right shoulder in stark black ink is the familiar shape of a fox on its haunches, its black body surrounded by thick, detailed chains.
Three legs, I confirm to myself. It's just like Asher said. I'm not relieved. Finding out that she was definitely forced to endure life in a brothel is horrible. It would almost be better for her to be a liar. I try to imagine the things she's seen … the things that she's done. If she were my daughter, I'd be so worried about her. I touch my stomach, roiling with empathy for a parent I've never met, and for my future child as I picture it going through what Madison and Mila have.
Yannick must be stopped.
Something on her left shoulder draws my eye. There's another tattoo. This one is a strange, thin rod. I can't make sense of what it's supposed to be. A bat? A baton? 'Did they tattoo this on you as well?" I ask curiously.
She cranes her neck to see what I'm talking about. Pain flickers in her eyes for a moment as she shakes her head.
'I ran away from home." She hesitates, like she's overwhelmed by mentioning that word. I know the feeling. 'My parents wanted me to see a tutor so I wouldn't fail sophomore year. And I didn't want to."
Sophomore year? My eyes flare wide. Oh my God, she can't be older than fifteen!
I'm infused by a brand-new wave of disgust toward Yannick.
Fuck that man. He deserves to burn in hell.
'I snuck out," she rattles on. 'And went to a tattoo parlor to get this. That's when I was kidnapped. I shouldn't have run away." Again, she pauses, her voice growing softer. 'I was so stupid."
'But you're safe now," I say soothingly. Picking up her sweater dress, I hand it back to her with a sheepish grin. 'And that's all that matters."
Madison puckers her lips together. Then, for the first time, she manages a smile. 'Thank you."
'You're sure of what you saw?"
Asher is pacing his bedroom. His shoulders are massive knots that throttle his neck. 'Yeah, positive," I say. 'It was definitely a three-legged fox. Are you satisfied?"
He pulls up short, staring at me like I said something insulting. All at once he drops his arms and sighs. 'I'm sorry; I know I'm being paranoid."
Seeing how he recognizes his behavior and apologizes, the tension evaporates from my spine too. 'I understand. Everything that's going on … It's hard to know who we can trust."
You, for example.
I don't say it. I never could.
Asher lets a tired smile cross his face. Ruffling his hair, he approaches me. 'Thank you for checking her."
I let my eyes become downcast. 'There's something else."
'What?" His voice is back to being anxious.
'She's only fifteen."
He says nothing. Lifting my head, I see the lack of surprise on his face. 'How do you know?"
'She said something about not failing sophomore year. So I did some quick math."
Asher grimaces. 'Yannick has always preferred teenagers. The younger they are, the easier they are to break."
I clutch my stomach so I don't heave. 'Asher, we have to protect her."
'We will. I'll tell Layla to set up a guest bedroom for her; she'll be as safe as anyone under my roof."
I smile in immense relief. Egged on by my flood of emotions, I move forward, wrapping him in a strong embrace. He stiffens in shock before hugging me back. At first, it's hesitant, but then it's firm and solid. He's eager for my touch.
'Thank you, Asher." Mila will be thankful too. My attention shifts to his large bed. Since I returned to the mansion, I've been sleeping in my own bedroom. The questions in my brain, my own fears, have kept me from wanting to share his bed.
'Tonight," I say lightly, 'can I sleep here?"
Asher jerks back, holding me at arm's length. 'You're serious."
I nod.
'Camila, I would love nothing more than to have you here beside me."
I smile shyly at his honesty. I don't tell him that I'm nervous … that part of me still wonders about the core of his being. How dark are his sins? Can light ever shine on them? But I'm also feeling needy. I don't want to be alone, especially after listening to Madison. Her tragedy has made me want to seek out a source of protection.
There's no one more protective than Asher Volkov.
