Chapter 6 Chapter 6
“Yes, sir. She was staying in a tent in the woods, about two miles in. We figured she couldn't have gotten far. Earlier today we found the campsite, but it was empty. I had two men stake it out. She knew someone was looking, and she came out after dark and was about to move when they intercepted her,” he said.
It seems like Ms. Rhodes was smart. When the car pulled up to the doorway, I didn't wait for Wesley to open it. I got out and walked in, pulling my jacket off and rolling up my sleeves. She needed to be taught a lesson.
When I walked into the living room, I stopped short. Jules was standing beside a woman; she was tied to a chair, but she wasn't Blair Rhodes.
“Who the fuck. Is she?”
“Ms. Rhodes,” he replied.
“Drag her to the basement and tie her down. I’ll be there soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
I headed to my room. After a much-needed shower, I headed down to the basement. Jules was standing outside. I nodded for him to leave and walked over to the girl and pulled her blindfold off.
“Who are you? I know you’re not Rhodes’s daughter.”
She gave a weak, humorless scoff. I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me.
“Answer when you are asked a question,” I said, letting go of her.
“Isla. Isla Rhodes. I was sold in their daughter’s place,” she said.
“And why would they do that?”
“Because I mean nothing to them, and they no longer have any use for me,” she said, and I just looked at her.
Her eyes were brown; she looked skinny, as if she hadn't had enough to eat. Her hair was gold and curly. What exactly was going on here? Why did they send her to their daughter's place?
“Why did you run?”
“Because… because I was tired,” she replied.
“Tired of what?”
“Tired of living,” she said, and that hit too close to home. I walked out and left her there.
“Jules, untie her and take her up to the guest room and tell her to have a shower. Tell Maria to prepare dinner for one.”
“Yes, boss,” he replied.
I headed up to my room and walked into the closet. I found a pair of shirts that was large enough to fit her. I walked back out and headed to the guest room. I didn't even bother to knock, not in my own house. I opened the door and froze.
A naked woman couldn't entice me, but she scrambled to wear her shirt. She turned around and looked at me, her eyes wide. She was scared.
“Hurry up, I'm waiting.” I dropped the clothes onto the bed and walked out.
“Wesley, call Brax and tell him to dig deeper into Isla, and I mean everything that happened in that house….”
Jules came up. “Boss, there is someone here to see you; he won’t leave. His name is Jacob, and he says it's important about Ms. Rhodes.” He said,
“Bring him to my office.”
He nodded and walked back down. I headed to my office and waited. Five minutes later, Jules walked back in with an older man; he looked to be in his fifties.
“What is it?”
“I am sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Ferro, but I need you to know. Isla is afraid of the dark. She hates needles. Belts, ropes, and the like scare her. She won’t eat, drink, speak, or look at anyone without permission. She doesn't know how old she is, but she is 18 years old. She doesn't know what year or month we are in because she was never given the chance to remember. She is terrified of hospitals. Now that she is no longer in the Rhodes Manor, I can retire,” he said, and I just stared at him.
“After sixteen, there is no information on her. Why?”
“Because she was locked in the basement and given food to eat once a week. “I’ve said too much,” he said, and he dropped down onto the floor on his knees.
“I’m begging on her behalf. Please don't hurt her; she has suffered enough,” he said.
“Fine, you can leave.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ferro,” he said.
After he left, I sat there. So she really meant it when she said they had no more use for her.
When I headed into the dining room, she was just standing there. The food was on the table, but she just stood there with her head down. I took a seat at the head of the table.
“Sit down,” I said, and she sat down, but she didn't touch the food.
“Go ahead and eat,” I said, watching her closely. She picked up the fork; at that moment the storm that had been threatening to burst all day finally burst. That first peal of thunder was so loud it vibrated throughout the house. She dropped the fork with a clatter and covered her ears and ducked under the table.
Just what the hell did this girl endure? I stood up and walked around.
“Maria?”
She appeared from the corner. “Mr. Ferro?”
“Take the food to my office.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied, placing the food onto the tray and walking away. I peered under the table, and she was still covering her ears. I grabbed her hands, and her head snapped up, and she looked at me with wide eyes.
I got her out from under the table and led her to my office. I locked the door, and she just stood there.
“It’s soundproof; sit and eat.” I took a seat on the sofa and watched her as she sat down and ate; she picked up the fork with shaking hands and began eating.
The man said she was afraid, so what exactly did she suffer from? After she finished, she just sat there, with her head down.
“How old are you?”
“I… I don’t know,” she whispered.
“Name?”
“Isla Rhodes?” she said.
“Do you study?”
“No,” she answered with a whisper.
“So if you weren't studying, what were you doing?”
I saw the second she froze; it was as if answering that question would get her in trouble. My phone vibrated in my pocket.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Ferro. Don’t ask Ms. Rhodes anything. She won't answer or try. I found… it. “Sir, can you wait until six AM? I will have all the details, including video,” Brax said, and I paused. Brax never asks.
“Okay,” I ended the call and looked at her. I stood up.
“Follow me.”
She stood up immediately. This wasn't obedience; this was submission. She was groomed into submission. I walked out of the office and headed up the stairs. I walked over to the room she had used earlier.
“Go to sleep, Ms. Rhodes, and don't try to run. You’ll be shot before you make it five feet out the door.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied in that same tone, and it pissed me off.
“No sir, no anything. Just Nikolai.”
I left her standing there and headed back down to my office. What could be so bad that Brax called me?