⚠️ Warning - This chapter contains descriptive scenes of violence and abuse ⚠️

~ Daniela's POV ~

The pain in my body was among many of the things that were keeping me from falling asleep that night.

Carson and I ate dinner when the nice guard brought it to us with some more ice for my bruises and then after that we decided to try and go to sleep.

Of course I'd been sleeping most of the day which meant I wasn't that tired, even if my body did need the rest. Along with that and the pain, I couldn't get the thoughts and images of what happened out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes pictures of George flashed through my mind which would just lead me to start crying all over again.

It wasn't like sobbing crying because I'd already done that earlier and I was too exhausted to do it any more. This was just those silent tears that fell whenever I remembered what happened and the fact I'd lost my only connection to my mother for the rest of my life. I had this sharp pain in my heart which wouldn't go, no matter how many times I tried to push the thoughts away.

She was gone and every time I reached my hand up to hold the necklace for the comfort that I so desperately needed, I remembered it all over again.

I remembered the way he humiliated me, the way he hit me and hurt me like I was just a punching bag and the way he ripped the necklace from my neck.

It was like I was nothing, that he could just treat me like nothing and it didn't matter.

"Dani it's okay, don't cry."

"I'm sorry." I mumbled my apology as I wiped my eyes, hating the fact that I was making our pillow and his shirt wet with all my tears. "You don't have to apologise."

As he said this, he took my hand in his, using his thumb to gently wipe away the rest of my tears from my cheeks.

"What can I do to take your mind off it?"

Although it was pretty dark in the room, the light coming in through our window allowed me to still see his brown eyes which were so close to mine as he spoke in a soft tone.

"Talk to me." I let out a sniffle causing him to smile before I rested my head on his shoulder again. "About what?"

"Anything. I just want to listen, my head is hurting too much to talk right now Carson, but I need something other than my thoughts."

He nodded his head in understanding, taking a moment before he spoke again. "You want me to tell you a story? You said you loved story time."

I could hear the amusement in his tone and as much as I was still on the verge of another emotional breakdown, a smile still tugged at my lips as I nodded my head.

"Can you tell me about your mother?"

It fell quiet for a moment probably caught off guard by my request before he eventually cleared his throat, looking up at the ceiling as he thought. At first I thought I'd annoyed him again since I knew he wasn't happy about sharing things about his life with me, so when he started talking about himself, it definitely did lift my mood, even if it was a tiny bit.

I can't explain why I asked him about his mother, it just felt like something my heart wanted. Maybe to replace the void left my the absence of my own mother.

"The only reason I'm here right now is because of her. She raised me, my younger brother and sister all by herself. She worked so hard just to provide for us, even though she could barely afford food for herself. Sometimes she pretended that she'd already eaten just so that we would eat guilt free."

As he spoke, from the look on his face it's like he'd gone straight back into the past in his head.

"At one point she was working three jobs to pay our rent, buy our food and clothes. Having three young children meant she was always buying new shoes or clothes that we'd out grown, paying for school shit or something or another, but she didn't care. She did it all for us, with no light at the end of the tunnel, with nothing to look forward to. There was no end point. She just kept going, she did everything for us to try and give us a good life."

Carson fell quiet for a moment before a smile tugged at his lips probably to do with whatever memory was in his mind.

"I remember one day she'd left work to come and pick us up from school and we passed this new diner on our walk home. I begged her to take us in there for dinner everyday for the rest of that week. On Friday, once she'd been paid at work she did, but we still couldn't afford much to eat from there. She bought us all one burger to cut into quarters to share, a plate of french fries and one milkshake with four straws. I had the red straw."

The longer I listened to him talk, I couldn't help but smile when he did, somehow conjuring images of him and his little family years ago in the diner.

"It didn't matter to me that we didn't have a full dinner like everyone else did in there, it was good enough for us. Even though we got quite a few dodgy looks when we passed the milkshake around like that game, I think it's called pass the parcel or some crap."

When he said this I couldn't help but laugh causing him to turn his head to look at me, a small smile tugging at his lips too.

"She sounds like an amazing woman."

"She is." Carson nodded his head in agreement as his eyes locked with mine. Just like that day when I put my hand on the back of his head, once again we just stared at each other.

For those few seconds we were in our own little world, just the two of us.

The moment my heart rate began to pick up, I almost instantly looked away from him, clearing my throat.

"So how did it all change?"

"How did what change?"

"You can afford three homes, something must have changed somewhere along the way."

When he finally understood what I meant, Carson looked away from me again, shaking his head as he let out a sigh.

"A job opportunity came along for me and it changed our lives. I was able to provide enough money for my family that my mom didn't have to work anymore."

"How did it feel?"

It may have sounded like a stupid question, but I just wanted to hear his answer from his perspective. I never had the opportunity to buy my parents anything with my first pay check or to make them proud when I finally got a job. But he did.

"Way freaking better than I ever thought it would, being the reason she didn't have to stress so much anymore was unexplainable. I remember when I told her that she wouldn't have to work anymore, she didn't believe me. She thought I was lying."

He let out a chuckle at the memory before he continued the story, still with an amused smile.

"I think her exact words were 'You better not be playing with me Carson Agnello or you won't be getting any dessert today'."

"I'm guessing you got your dessert when she realised it was all real."

"No, I didn't actually. She burned it because she was too busy crying." This time I was the one who laughed at this while he just smiled.

"What about your siblings?" I let out a small yawn as I questioned him before resting my head on the pillow instead of his shoulder.

"Are you tired? Go to sleep if you are."

"No, tell me. I want to know." He gave me a smile as he moved some hair away from my face before he let out a sigh.

"There's not much to say about them, they're both idiots."

"That's not nice." I gave him a small smile causing him to roll his eyes before he let out a sigh. "My sister Poppy, she's 21 and my brother Kai is an idiot."

"Carson."

"Fine he's 23, happy?" I nodded my head at this letting out a small laugh. "Don't you get on with them?"

"No I do, I love them but it doesn't mean they're not freaking idi...-" When I gave him a pointed look he quickly changed his words. "-nice people. I think you'd like Poppy, she's the same age as you."

Although his words were nice, all I could do was give him a tight lipped smile when I realised I probably would never meet her. When his mood faltered, I was sure he was thinking the same thing.

"I miss them Dani."

Usually I would have tried my best to give him some advice or a pep talk to make him feel better, but that day my mood was just as low as his. After what George did to me, I would have been stupid to even try to do that.

We both knew we weren't ever going to leave, there was no point trying to make ourselves believe otherwise.

Especially that night of all nights.

So, I just pulled him in for a hug, hoping that it would be enough for him.

"I know."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"So what about your friends?" As I spoke I wrapped the blanket around my body, leaning against the wall as I sat on the bed.

"My friends?"

"Yeah, last night you told me about your family so now tell me about your friends."

Of course he wasn't very happy when I asked him to do that, but thankfully, he didn't cause another fight like he had the last few times I'd asked him personal questions.

We hadn't spoken much since we woke up this morning, I think both of us were just exhausted from the events of the day before. My head and eyes were hurting like hell from all the crying I did not to mention all the fresh injuries that were killing me.

"What do you want to know?"

"How many do you have?" Maybe it was a stupid question, but something I began to understand as I grew up was that the older you get, the less true friends you have. Maybe in school you could list off a bunch of names, but at times when you really need them when you're older, those names become very, very few.

In my case, I had none at all.

"Three."

It's better than zero.

"How did you meet them?"

"What the hell is this? An interrogation?" When be eventually snapped like I had been expecting him too, I just rolled my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall I was leaning against.

"It's called a conversation. I've already told you most things about me but like you said, you didn't care about that."

When I referred back to the argument we had the previous day before George came to take us to his stupid room, I knew I'd hit a nerve when he didn't respond straight away.

"Damn, I didn't mean that Dani, I was just angry."

"I don't care. You know what, forget I asked you anything. If you were really my friend like you say you are, I wouldn't have to feel guilty every time I asked you a simple freaking question."

Go off sis.

Shut up.

So maybe my mood that morning was pretty awful.

A few moments passed in silence until the sound of Carson laughing echoed through the room causing me to glare at him.

"It's not a joke Carson."

"I know, you're just cute when you're mad at me." Even while I was glaring at him, he just flashed me a smile showing of his perfect white teeth.

"I told you I'm sorry, but Dani there's a lot you don't know about me and for now I want to keep it like that. Maybe one day I'll tell you, now just isn't the right time. If you're okay with that, then I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

As much it naturally bothered me that he was keeping things from me, I knew I didn't have the right to be annoyed because I was keeping a huge secret from him too.

I knew I'd tell him eventually about Ayden and the truth about my life outside, but for now, I was happy just getting to know him without telling him all of that.

So I guess he was the same.

"Okay." I gave him a small smile to which he just nodded before he let out a sigh. "Their names are Grey, Fox and Aviana. We met at school when we were 14 years old."

I could tell from his tone and from his expression, he didn't really want to speak about them, and I didn't want to push him too hard.

"You can tell me about them another time." When I gave him a small smile, he just gave me a grateful nod before he looked away from me.

The rest of that day passed very quickly by, maybe not for Carson but for me it did when I fell asleep after breakfast. I guess now I was in his position from the first week when he just slept during the day to recover from his beatings from George.

I felt bad about leaving him alone all day but it's not like I could do much if I fell asleep.

At least I woke up in time to keep him company during dinner, although I wasn't very good company after everything I'd been through in the last 24 hours.

"Thank you." I gave the guard James a smile as he handed me some more ice for my bruises when he came to bring us our dinner.

Now that I'd calmed down after what happened yesterday, I was able to thank him when he came in to give me some ice like he did yesterday. It was weird for me to watch him interact with Carson though. It seemed like something had changed while I was passed out yesterday because when Carson spoke to him today, he had this kind of respect for him that I hadn't seen before.

But afterwards, Carson told me it was because James wasn't like the others, he'd never been rude to us and he earned his respect when he brought me the ice the day before.

"How are you feeling Daniela?"

"I'm okay, I'm a little sore but nothing I can't handle." As I spoke, I gave him a smile as I held the ice to my ribs, wincing a little at the initial pain that shot through my ribs.

"I'm sorry for what happened. I wasn't there but I heard..."

"It's okay, I'm okay." He nodded his head before he spoke again, this time a little more reluctantly. "That necklace, they said your mom gave it to you?"

"Yeah, she gave it to me for my birthday before she died. Have the other guards been talking about it?"

At the thought of people discussing me and what happened yesterday, an uneasy feeling stirred up within me. I know I kind of overreacted with all the screaming and for someone who didn't know the story of the necklace they'd think I was just some spoilt girl crying over a necklace. But it really did mean everything to me, even Ayden knew it's value and he never once touched it.

"A couple of them but mostly George. He's been showing everyone, gleaming with pride whenever he looks at it. It's sick really."

"Well, it brought me a lot of comfort over the last five years but I hope it brings him hell." As I said this, James nodded his head, giving me a soft smile.

"He'll get what's coming to him one day Daniela. Don't you worry about that."

"But you work for him?" This time it was Carson who spoke up from his place on the table again. He really liked sitting up there, leaning against the wall, maybe it was comfortable.

"Not everything is by choice, son. I'm doing this for my children, I may work for him but I don't agree with one single thing he's ever done."

Carson nodded his head in understanding before James eventually headed back over to the door. "I'll come back for your plates soon."

With that he left the room and within moments Carson had come over to the bed with my plate of food.

"You're keeping all your food today, you need it."

"No Carson, please take some-"

"Don't argue with me Dani." He gave me a stern look as he kneeled down in front of me before he gently opened my hand to give me a fork while he placed the plate in my other hand.

"No I will argue with you because you need to eat more. Please Carson, I can't move right now so please just do this for me."

I could tell he didn't want to, but the longer I gave him a pleading look, the weaker his resolve became.

"Why do you do this? Every single day you do it and I know you're still hungry Dani, I'm not stupid."

"Because I care about you. This is what a friend does." I shrugged my shoulders giving him a shy smile while he just let out a sigh. As he stood to his feet, he took the plate again before he bent down, placing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"Thank you Dani."

Trying to ignore the way my heart fluttered in my chest, I nodded my head as he sorted out the portions of our dinner before he handed me back my plate.

"So what shall we talk about now?"

"You just love talking, don't you?" When he flashed me a grin, I nodded my head. "There's nothing else to do, so we're going to talk. Maybe you could try to think of something to talk about for once instead of it always being me."

"But you're just so good at it." When I heard his sarcastic tone I narrowed my eyes at him from across the room while he just laughed. "Okay fine. How about your plans for the future."

"My plans?"

"Yeah, where do you see yourself in five years? Assuming you were never kidnapped." When he quickly added the last part I gave him a small smile although I really didn't want to think about that.

That would mean I'd still be in a relationship with Ayden if I was never kidnapped. So I'd probably be a completely different person at 26 years old, nothing like the young innocent girl I once was.

"I don't know, I guess by 26 I'd maybe want to have gotten my career of the ground, possibly working for one of the bigger accountancy firms in New York."

Although I purposely tried to avoid anything personal, he just steered the conversation in that direction anyway.

"So you'd still be living in New York with your boyfriend?" I don't know why, but when he mentioned Ayden I felt like he was asking me something else. It was like his question meant more to him than just knowing if I wanted to live in New York for the next five years.

"I suppose."

When I gave him such a short response, it fell silent between us for a moment as I tried to push the thoughts of Ayden out of my head.

"You miss him, don't you? That's why you've gone so quiet." When I heard him speak I lifted my gaze to look at him, noticing the soft frown on his face. "I guess."

Of course I didn't. The time I'd spent away from him was like heaven to me, even if had to come to another hell just for that.

"Sorry for bringing it up. I didn't mean to upset you Dani."

You didn't. You made me realise how freaking lucky I am to get away from him.

"It's okay."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

Jut like everyday, after we ate dinner we got into bed once they turned the lights out leaving us in the dark. But, as I expected since I'd been sleeping for most of the day I couldn't even keep my eyes closed for long before I opened the again.

Hours could have passed while I just lay there in his arms, trying not to toss and turn only so that I didn't wake up him up. He fell asleep pretty quickly once we lay down so I knew he was tired.

Then that dreaded moment came in the middle of the night when I needed to pee. I lay there for a long time trying to debate whether or not I should get up, but then I decided Carson wouldn't appreciate me peeing all over him in our bed.

So, I had to figure out a way to get up without which was harder than it sounded especially when you remember I always slept next to the wall so I was currently trapped between Carson's wall like body and the actual wall on the otherside.

It took me long time to finally be able to shuffle down the bed and out of his grip before I tip toed across the cold concrete floor into the bathroom, closing the door behind myself. Letting out a breath, I glanced up at the dim flickering light above me in the cold ass room.

I don't think I could ever put into words how cold this room was, especially at night after you get out of a mildly warm bed.

Through the shivers I managed to do my business before I went through to the torture of washing my hands with the ice cold water making them feel like they would fall of any second.

"Dani?"

When I heard my name my turned towards the door as I turned off the fawcett, drying my hands on the towel next to me. Before I could respond to him, Carson called out to me again, this time with more panic and urgency in his voice.

"Dani!"

Quickly opening the door to our room, the little bit of light from the bathroom allowed me to see Carson who was now sitting up on the bed looking around at the now lit room with a frown.

"It's okay, I'm here." When he saw me coming towards him he let out a breath shaking his head. "I thought..."

"I'm sorry, I was in the bathroom."

When I reached the bed sitting down next to him he gave me a frown. "W-why didn't you wake me up? When I woke up alone I thought you were gone or maybe you'd got hurt."

"I didn't want to disturb you, I'm sorry."

When he didn't say anything I just pulled him into a hug, both to comfort him and to warm myself up again.

"Don't do that again, you scared the hell out of me Dani." Nodding my head I let out a sigh as I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

The sound of the heavy door to our room opening caused Carson to flinch waking up almost instantly, while I on the other hand, took much longer to wake up considering my lack of sleep during the night.

"Up, both of you. Now."

When I heard George's cold voice, I forced my eyes open lifting myself up into a sitting position while Carson just continued to lie there, glaring at George.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, so I suggest you get the hall out of here before I beat the crap out of you."

His voice was thick with sleep, the tiredness evident in his sleep and yet still, he sounded so dominating - so powerful. I watched next to Carson as George stepped in further into our small room, stopping pretty close to where we were on the bed.

"Agnello, let's not make this harder than it needs to be. We both know you're going to end up tied up taking a beating whether you like it or not, so just get up."

So we were back to those games again. This man was sick.

"George please, just stop now. You've done en-" Before I could finish my sentence, my words were suddenly cut off hand a sharp sting erupted in my cheek.

The second a small cry of pain left my mouth from the slap, Carson suddenly pushed himself up off the bed, pushing George backwards and away from me. I watched with wide eyes as Carson lifted his fist, ready to throw it towards George's face. But, before he could do anything, a number of George's guards suddenly stormed into the room.

I watched from the bed as they all went straight towards Carson, grabbing him to pull him towards the door. As usual he didn't let them get to him so easily, so that meant he earned himself quite a few punches, especially to his stomach to wind him.

"You're hurting him! Stop." When I suddenly lurched forward to pull one of the guards away from Carson after he kneed him in the stomach, I felt someone wrap their arms around my waist.

"Don't." When I heard the harsh tone whisper into my ear, I turned my head to see James giving me a cold look. I didn't get a chance to say anything as he pretty much carried me out of the room leaving Carson behind.

"What are you doing? They're hurting him! Let me go!"

The entire time I kicked and screamed as he carried me, his grip didn't loosen in the slightest until he finally reached the room I knew we were going to.

"Daniela stop." When he put me down, he pretty much whisper yelled those two words at me.

"You were on our side." Of course I didn't shout those words at him, but I did give him a glare as I said them while the sounds of the rest of the guards got closer to the room. "I am, but the last thing he needs is you getting hurt too. You're already bruised and injured, just stay quiet and it'll be over soon."

He just about had time to finish his sentence before the other guards stormed in with Carson who already looked like he was struggling to even stand. While I kept my eyes on him, I felt James lead me over to the chair where he pushed me down onto it, tying the ropes around me.

They weren't as tight as they usually were, which I guess was because it was him tying me up.

It didn't take long before Carson was tied up where I was only two days ago before George and Mark came strolling into the room. I refused to even glance in their direction, instead choosing to keep my eyes focused on Carson.

"Oh I think this is going to be the best one of them all, what do you think Daniela?"

Even when George spoke to me, I refused to look at him or even acknowledge his presence once. It was actually only when Carson sent me a subtle shake of the head that I finally forced myself to look at George who was now glaring at me.

"I'm going to make both of you suffer, I promise you that."

Biting my tongue, I just held his stare before I eventually looked back at Carson which George took as his indication to begin.

It was similar to the other ones I had to sit through a few weeks ago, with rounds of punches and kicks to his body and to his face.

But this wasn't like those times because every single time they landed a hit I felt my heart break even more. Every time I heard him grunt or make anything that sounded remotely to cry of pain, I felt sick to my stomach.

It was an old fashioned beating using punches and kicks sure, but that's what made it so much worse. It dragged it on, it made it longer and it made Carson suffer even more when they purposely kept him awake to feel the pain.

I was fighting every single urge in my body that was aching to stop it. But unlike the other times we'd been through these games, this time I didn't stay quiet.

Carson's eyes began to flutter closed before he forced them open again, trying to keep himself standing as a light sweat coated his body when I finally spoke, giving in to my urges.

"Stop! Just tell them to stop, we won't eat, just stop."

The moment the words left my mouth, the room fell silent as everyone turned to look at me, including Carson.

He didn't glare at me, he didn't even seem angry or annoyed like I thought he would have, especially a few weeks ago. It was only when the attention was on me that I saw a flash of relief on his face as he hung his head struggling to catch his breath.

Then I heard his laughter.

Both Carson and I looked at George when he let out a maniacal laugh, looking between the two of us.

"Three weeks later and you finally stop me. Well, let me tell you something Princess." When he used the old nickname, he took a step closer to me as all traces of humour disappeared from his face.

"I'm not stopping. I won't stop, even when you're begging and crying and when he's unconscious, I won't stop."

It took me a second to process his words before I turned to look at Carson who was doing his best to mask any emotion on his face but I knew what he was feeling.

His eyes gave it away, he was scared.

"Please. Please just stop." When I turned to look at George again, this time pleading with him he just let out a laugh, shaking his head. "No."

I felt my last shred of hope leave when he turned to look at the two men who had just been hurting Carson. "Carry on."

This time when they started again, I felt tears well up in my eyes as I watched Carson struggling to stay up on his feet now barely even conscious.

Just like that I sat there as the tears flowed silently down my cheeks, watching as they pretty much beat him into unconsciousness. Then they carried on, he wasn't even awake anymore and they carried on hurting him.

He must have been so scared, whatever dream he was having or whatever thoughts were going through his head. I should have done better to protect him out here while he slept, but they just ignored me every time I shouted for them to stop.

"Stop it! Just stop! Can't you see he's hurt enough!"

By the end I was trying my best to hold back my cries as I watched them hurt him, until finally, George called them off.

He didn't say a word to me, no one said anything else until he was finally thrown onto our bed in our room when George turned to look at me.

"You're his weakness and apparently he's yours. So get used to it Daniela, this is your life now. I know how to make you both suffer, and I'm never going to stop."

He didn't even give me a smirk like he always did, instead he just gave me a glare before he left the room leaving me with Carson's unconscious body.

I don't know how long I sat on the floor next to the bed waiting for him to wake up. Apart from taking one bathroom break, getting up to get the ice that James brought us and to grab some toast that he also brought, I didn't move from my spot.

I just sat there all day on the cold floor by the bed icing his injures or holding his hand.

"Dani..." When I heard Carson mumble my name in a hoarse whisper, my head snapped up in his direction as he battled to force his eyes open. "I'm here, I'm right here Carson."

"I-I'm s-sorry."

Shaking my head, I reached my hand up to stroke his hair as my eyes filled with tears when I saw the pain and in his eyes. "Don't say sorry, it's not your fault. None of this is your fault."

Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to his cheek before his eyes fluttered closed again and he fell back to sleep next to me, leaving me all alone again.

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

The next two days passed by just like that. Carson and I spent most of our time in silence while he recovered from his injuries.

But it was nothing like that first week that we spent in silence while we were locked in here. It was comfortable. We just lay there in the bed or had our food in silence, making a few random comments or jokes here and there.

We only started having longer conversations again two days after George's latest instalment of the games. But, that morning he just told me information about himself like his favourite food or what he liked to do in his free time. The answers, by the way were, his mom's beef lasagna and workout - he was some kind of health freak I think.

He also despised tea. Every kind of tea.

"Ice tea?"

"No."

"Herbal tea?"

"No."

"Green tea?"

"The freaking colour doesn't matter, it's still disgusting as hell."

"Okay fine, collagen tea?"

"What the hell even is that?"

This time when I let out a laugh he just gave me a glare which only made me laugh harder.

"You're funny."

"And you're freaking annoying." Once my laughter died down I just gave me him a sweet smile. "So what do you like to drink then?"

"Coffee, water and alcohol. Maybe not in that exact order."

"Oh I love coffee, but it has to be a latte, I only drink it with lots of milk." Carson just nodded his head at this although I was sure he really didn't give a crap.

"I can't imagine what you're like drunk." When I said this, he turned his head to look at me as I stared at him, trying to decide if he would be better as a moody drunk or a funny drunk.

I wonder what kind of drunk I would be?

A traumatised, emotional drunken mess.

"I don't get drunk."

"Oh come on, that can't be true." Of course he just shook his head, giving me a smirk. "I'm not a lightweight Trouble, I can handle my drink."

Ignoring the nickname he was still using, I just rose an eyebrow at him. "So you've never been drunk before?"

"Of course I have, when I was younger."

When he said this, I sat up straight on the bed, turning to face him while he just continued to sit, leaning against the wall while looking at me with a frown.

"You have to at least tell me one story then, a drunken fight, a scandalous hook up, anything."

At first he just continued to frown before he suddenly smirked, gesturing for me to come closer to him like he was going to tell me a secret. I for one couldn't believe he was even going to tell me a story since he seemed to be in a bad mood that day.

"Once upon a time when I was drunk, I met this highly irritating brunette who wouldn't stop talking. She kept asking me all these freaking questions and when I finally had enough, I smothered her with a pillow until she stopped talking and then I sat in peace and quiet. Then I woke up and realised it was all a dream. The end."

"That's not funny."

When I gave him a flat look, narrowing my eyes at him he let out a laugh. "You thought I was going to tell you some juicy gossip didn't you?"

"No." Letting out a huff, I leaned against the wall again, pulling my knees up to my chest while he just laughed next to me.

"Don't pout Dani."

"I'm not pouting." Turning my head to face him, I intended to give him a glare but instead I found him just staring at me with one of his rare smiles with such an intense gaze I felt like he could see straight through me.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"No reason, you just look nice today." He casually shrugged his shoulders before looking away while I just sat there in shock. "What?"

"I said-"

"I heard what you said, but why? I mean I've looked like this for the past three weeks that you've known me, I haven't even brushed my hair and I've also got bruises and cuts-"

"Dani it was a compliment, why are you arguing with me?" When he gave me an amused look this time I just looked away from him, unsure of what to say.

I can't remember the last time someone gave me a compliment and actually meant it. Not like what I heard from Ayden whenever he said I had a nice body.

I guess I didn't know how to accept it.

That's because you're not pretty Daniela. Only your parents called you pretty and they were kind of obligated to do that.

"Look at me." When his words came out in a softer tone taking me away from my thoughts, I took a moment before I eventually turned my head to look at him. He held my stare for a moment, looking me in the eye from where he was sitting just next to me.

"You're beautiful Daniela, the bruises don't change that and your hair is perfect how it is."

"But-"

"No buts. Dani you don't need anyone to tell you that you're beautiful, you need to believe that inside you. You need to know your worth and never let anyone treat you less than you deserve."

"But what if I deserved what I got?"

You deserved it all Daniela. You deserved his beatings, your body is there to service him, you-

"You didn't deserve a damn thing that's happened to you in here or any bad things you've been through before. Dani you deserve the freaking world and you shouldn't settle for anything less. Ever."

Without saying another word, he lifted his hand to wipe away a stray tear that had fallen down my cheek, giving me a soft smile.

Maybe I could tell him what Ayden did? It seemed like he cared about me. He was the only person who did, he wouldn't judge me, would he? Maybe it would help him to open up to me about his own life.

It's not like we're ever going to get out of here, he would understand what happened, maybe even help me through it?

"Can I trust you?" When I said this he gave me a small frown, nodding his head as he gently stroked my cheek. "Of course you can."

"Carson I have something to tell y-"

The sound of the door unlocking cut me off before I could tell him, causing both of us to turn to look at the door when George came in followed by the nice guard James. The moment he came into the room I noticed the smirk on his face as he stopped to stare at me.

"Daniela O'Brien, I should have looked into you sooner baby. You're going to earn me a hell of a lot of money."

In response to his words Carson tensed up next to me but I was too concerned and confused about George's words to take any notice of it.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Your boyfriend is rich as hell. How much money do you think you'll be worth to him? I'm thinking millions. You should have told me who he was sooner."

He let out an excited laugh as he sat down on the chair across the room from where Carson and I were still sitting on the bed.

"What does Ayden have to do with anything?"

"Oh, sweetheart, he has to do with a lot. Tell her Carson."

When he directed the conversation towards Carson, I turned my head to look at him but he didn't look at me. Instead he was glaring at George, and this was one of the harshest I'd seen on him yet.

It was even worse than the first one he ever gave me when he told me he would kill me if I spoke again.

"Carson? Do you know what he's talking about?"

When Carson didn't respond to me, George looked between the two of us before he laughed again.

"She doesn't know, does she?"

Oooooh 👀

It's getting exciting, the next chapter is the one you're waiting for 👀 trust me

What did you guys think? What do you think is going to happen when she finds out?

Double update again today ❤️