For the code of Promise

Saved

Jane’s POV

When he turned to look at me, an intense fear settled on me as I saw bold black ink over his large chest. It was a tattoo. I focused closely to read the visible words, and I managed to pick out S4S. It translated in my brain—he was one of them. He gazed at me, his eyes shining as they ran swiftly from my face down to my toes. He nodded his head, and his eyes penetrated my posture even more.

“What a cleavage…” he admired, looking at my chest. “I didn’t expect to see a velvet like you.”

Everyone’s eyes landed on me within seconds. I wished to bury my face, but I was focused on every view in the room. The two girls who had led me to their boss were told to go outside. I was left alone as the only lady standing among men. I looked around; the situation was getting more awkward. Likewise, I expected the man in the pool to introduce himself to me, even though my liver was dissolving in my chest. Furthermore, I thought he was going to recognize me, since I was once involved with the S4S members.

“Undress her! I want to see if she’s worth my second name!” the man in the pool commanded, splashing water with his fist.

I stood still as his men were frightened by his voice, which almost ruptured their eardrums. He had a strong, hitting voice. Two of his men ran toward me. They stood in front of me, looking confused, as if they didn’t know what to do. He signaled one to leave me, and the other remained standing; his knees were clicking in front of me. I could see it in his eyes—he was more afraid than I was.

“Forgive my reluctance, I missed introductions,” the boss said, swimming to the end of the pool closer to where I was standing.

“I am Tom Nancy. Everything within this palace and its surroundings bears my name. Everything… including people, they bear my name. They are my property!” He paused as he took a second gaze at me. “You were called by my name in the hospital… let me see how worthy you are to bear my name.”

He bragged about everything around him, wanting me to see how powerful he was. I realized I was called Nancy because he was already owning me. I fumed, hating the situation. I thought Jaxon’s father was helping me, but he had put me into hell. Even if I wished to free myself, I wasn’t going to stand a chance. When I thought about my son, I felt more betrayed because I was assured he wasn’t safe where he was being kept, judging by what was starting to happen to me.

Tom commanded the man standing in front of me to undress me so he could see my body openly and judge whether I deserved his name or not. The man slowly came closer to me. His body was trembling like winter grass, but his eyes were drowning in his wicked soul. He locked his eyes into mine. He held my blouse and tore it from my chest down to my stomach. My breasts were left visible as he completely tore the cloth from my upper body. When he was done, he ordered me to remove my trousers and my pants. I didn’t listen to him; instead, I kept my eyes locked on his silent fury, which was developing from his trembling body. He squeezed my breast, forcing me to completely undress, and I didn’t wait—I sent a slap to his face. He became even angrier, and two men joined him as they roughly undressed me. I was left naked, lying on the floor. I stood up slowly, trying to cover my private parts.

“Wow, Nancy… I liked you even before you undressed,” Tom said, sighing as he allowed his mind to drift into fantasy with my naked body.

“You deserve to stay with me and do anything you want,” he bragged.

I couldn’t control the situation; I was helpless. It was a huge embarrassment to be undressed in front of all those men. It was abuse. I wished I could kill everyone who had laid eyes on me in that room. I lifted my eyes and realized they were still staring at me, zooming in on every inch of my skin.

“Come to the pool and feel this soothing water on your skin, my beloved,” Tom said, giggling and opening his arms to receive me.

“I am sorry, I won’t do that,” I responded.

It is unclear to me why I apologized. Nancy had asked me to be obedient to him, but I wasn’t supposed to allow myself to be his slut until the other Nancy came for me. I was trying to act along, but not to fully submit myself to him. I wished the other Nancy would show up; maybe he would be better than the monster in the pool.

“What…” he trilled, getting out of the pool. “You are turning down my hospitality?”

His body looked tough like steel. He stood in front of me completely naked. His face looked serious, and I failed to look into his eyes. When he saw me glancing sideways, he thought I was blushing and even said it out loud. He pressed my lower jaw with his bare hands.

“You are a hard nut,” he said, crushing my jaws.

When I was about to scream that I submitted to him, I heard a gunshot above our heads. The bullet hit the roof, bounced off the walls, and dropped into the pool. Everyone froze, staring at the entrance, and there was my angel, standing armed. His face was colored with anger, and his arms were raised with pistols pointing at Tom.

“Remond!” Tom screamed, trying to calm himself. “What an entrance you made!”

Remond didn’t say a word. He walked forward slowly, step by step, meticulously. When he reached Tom, he stepped on his toes with his boots. Remond looked just like his son Jaxon—a soldier indeed. Tom’s guards remained silent, their guns pointed at Remond.

“You want war with me, Tom, but I am not interested,” he groaned, then looked at me. “She’s neither a bedsheet nor yours, Tom. Remember that.”

Tom chuckled, mocking him, and his guards did the same. Remond’s face changed with anger.

“Stop it!” he screamed, firing a bullet into the head of one of the guards. Everyone went silent. The guard fell into the pool; the water changed its natural color to red. Tom couldn’t believe Remond’s nerve. He quickly snatched a gun from one of his guards and pointed it at Remond, but Remond didn’t flinch.

“Get dressed, small girl,” Remond said, looking at me. “We need to go.”

I didn’t wait to pull my pants back onto my body. Within seconds, I was dressed. My jacket helped cover my upper body since my blouse was torn. I walked to stand next to Remond. He looked at me without even trying to smile.

“Goodbye, Tom. Thank you for taking care of her,” he said, holding my hand as he pulled me toward the exit of the pool room.

“It’s not the end, Remond. I will kill you!” Tom screamed helplessly.

I thought they were going to shoot at us, but they didn’t. I don’t understand why they spared us; maybe they were afraid of Remond. I believed Remond had many backups. We walked until we reached his car, then drove away to my son.

The other Nancy—Remond—was my angel. He saved me from the monster. He took good care of my son. Jaxon’s father was no different from Jaxon: always complex personalities, but one thing for sure—they had good hearts.