The Stripper’s Prince

The past pops up

11 years ago:

“Tara, come in here!!”

“Coming mom!”

I run down the stairs with my hot pocket in hand. I was just about to eat when my mom called me. She always does that so I learned to just take my food with me whenever she did it.

“Me and Gabriel are leaving for our trip now. Are you sure you’ll be alright for the next few days on your own?”

“Yeah mom I’ll be fine, I’m not a baby. And besides, Brent is here to watch out for me. Right big bro?” I called out and he came strolling in from the living room.

“Of course” he said smiling at me. Brent is the son of my mother’s second husband. My step brother and best friend or ex best friend now. We clicked instantly when we met and were like real family. He was 18 and I was 15 so when our parents got together, we went to the same school and he looked out for me. I’ll always remember the day he went from my family to my enemy. It was the day our parents went away for their tropical cruise vacation since they were overdue for a honeymoon. I didn’t mind, I was in high school and I thought being 15 meant I was practically an adult. I couldn’t wait to live rule free and neither could Brent. It was the first night they were officially gone and I remember getting ready for bed when he came into my room.

“Hey you”

“Hey what’s going on bro? I can’t believe their gone, no rules, this is so amazing!”

“Yeah I know, we’re completely alone for the first time”

“Yeah totally” I answered, just having a conversation and being happy he was there. I remember feeling excited thinking me and him would stay up late and be rebels together and bond even more. He came over to the bed where I was sitting and playing games on my phone. He took the phone from my hand and I whined for it back. He challenged me and we ended up okay fighting on the bed. We ended up sprawled out and tangled into each other, laughing and having fun. As we continue playing, my night dress come up and I remember that day I didn’t have anything on underneath.

“Oh my god I am so sorry you had to see that!” I say embarrassed and quickly do to pull it back down but he doesn’t move. He’s on top of me, holding my arms above me head. I lay there completely exposed as I tell him to get off. He crashes his lips onto mine and calls me beautiful and sexy and a woman. I scream for him to get off and in return I get punched in my face.

“Shut up! You know how long I’ve waited for this? I’ve been patient, I defend you from bullies in school, help with homework, take you shopping. You need to show me your appreciation now” he says as he’s pulling down his shorts. I cry and beg him to get off when I see him spit in his hand and rub me down there. I thrash and try to fight but scream and do limp when he roughly enters inside of me. I lay there crying as he uses me and kisses and touches all over me in the process. He feels on my breast and continues calling me sexy over and over again. After that day, I was his secret girlfriend and I wasn’t allowed to talk to any other boys or do anything that upset him or he threatened to lie to my parents and say I was a w***e so they would send me to boarding school. The abuse finally stopped when I turned 18 and moved away from home, not leaving a trace. I’ve never trusted a man since until my ex and look how that turned out.

Tara…

Tara……..

TARA!!!!

Tara’s POV:

I wake up in Sammy’s arms as he shakes me awake in his office. I feel cold water splashed on me as I’m fully brought back to consciousness. I look around scared and nervous, not caring how I look in the process.

“Are you okay? What the hell happened out there?”

“I-I need you to put up a picture and make sure the guards to let a certain person in the club. My safety could be at risk”

He nods and we have a long conversation before he decides to let me go home early. I walk outside towards the train when someone snatches my arm.

“Well hello there sexy, long time no see”

“Brent get the hell off me” I say yanking my arm back.

“You need to come home, you still belong to me if you don’t remember. I don’t like you shaking your ass and showing what belongs to me in that club”

“You’re delusional, I’m not anybody’s property and I’m not going back anywhere with you so leave and don’t come back”

With that he wraps his hand around my neck before squeezing the air out. I’m turning purple trying to no avail to fight him off. “You must have forgotten that I love you and I’ll do whatever it takes to have you. Even if it means killing you and then myself so we’ll be together”

I try even harder to fight back and manage to scream. He gets angry and completely cuts off my air supply and looks ready to end me when I hear my name being called from a car. “Tara baby is that you? The f**k is going on over there?!” That’s all I hear before a car door rips open and I hear someone running towards us. Brent drops me and takes off running into the night disappearing without a trace.

“Are you ok? Damn I can’t leave you alone for a second!” Anthony says out a breath. We hug and kiss before he holds my hand and walks me back to his car. I get in and he kisses my forehead before pulling off for our date. “You’re not walking or taking train anymore, I’m dropping you off and picking you up everyday now”.

I nod, grateful for him. I truly don’t deserve a man like this in my life. “So are you going to tell me who this second crazy man is?”

“When I’m ready” I answer. “Now feed your little lady” I say as I perk up and he laughs

“Yes ma’am”

As we drive to our destination, I think back to Brent’s threat and consider moving again and fast. Nothing good can come from this. My phone rings and when I pick up there’s nothing but heavy breathing on the other line. I hang up right away and get a call yet again. My phone suddenly blows up with texts and calls coming back to back. I panic as I start seeing alerts for voicemails pop up. I start trembling and when I turn my phone off, the tablet in my bookbag starts making noise from notifications. I turn my phone back on and immediately read a message that stays “stop holding hands in the car with that douche bag”. I look down at my hand that’s intertwined with Anthony’s and I instantly feel sick.

“Baby? Baby are you okay?”

I hear Anthony’s voice but I’m unable to respond as the fear takes over and the world goes dark.