Savage's

CHAPTER 24

*Gray*

I parked in the parking garage and made my way up to the penthouse. It was almost five o'clock, and the movers were already gone. When I stepped inside, I was pleased to find majority of the house empty, except for the friendly voices coming from the dining room.

I walked in and saw everyone sitting at the table, drinking wine and talking. Daisy peered up at me, and when I glanced back at her, she quickly looked away. I noticed she was wearing one of my T-shirts, and instantly I was turned on. To avoid revealing that, I walked into the kitchen where Fran and the chef, Boyd, were preparing dinner together. I waved, grabbing a beer from the fridge, and walked back into the dining area.

"Your movers are going to finish the job faster than expected, if you couldn't already tell." Alistair said, chuckling.

"They work quickly," I smirked, taking a drink of my beer, "That's good."

"Gray, can you help me lift that heavy box in my closet, please?" Alexa asked, and everyone looked at her, she definitely wasn't being discreet.

"Sure." I said, setting my beer on the table, as we walked away.

I followed her upstairs, and shut her bedroom door behind me. I had asked Alexa to get some information about Daisy, just something for me to work with. I need to know just how damaged she is, so I can make sure to never trigger her. I know it sounds shady, but it was important that I learned her boundaries.

"Okay, I talked to Daisy a little bit," Alexa whispered, looking around as if someone could spot us, "And it's about as bad as you feared."

"What did she say?" I asked.

"Honestly, not much, but it was how she presented the small amount of information... She trusts only herself, and I don't know if she's capable of changing. She has been hurt beyond belief, Gray, and possibly beyond repair." Alexa grimly states, and I can tell her sorrow is eating her alive.

"Maybe, but I won't give up hope." I sternly remarked, and Alexa looked at me in shock.

"You like this girl, don't you?" Alexa asked, "Like, you like her..."

"I think so..." I muttered, looking away, "Just tell me what else there is."

"She's been sexually assualted, probably a lot, because she lived in that house for a whole week..." Alexa said, shaking her head with dismay.

"You're holding something back, what is it?" I demanded, and Alexa sighed.

"You've always read me like a book," She laughed half heartedly, "I'm afraid they broke her will to live, Gray... they turned her so completely submissive. I mean, they even stopped drugging her, because she didn't fight them anymore. I'm not a professional on s****l assualt or anything, but I would think it would take longer than a week... Don't you?"

Alexa made a good point, but everyone's threshold is different. I couldn't stand the thought of Daisy being treated so poorly. I know certain abuse from experience, and I know just how traumatizing it can be. A week in a brothel, would seem like an eternity to most. That's plenty of time to acrue a broken mentality. Although, it does make me wonder about her life before the brothel.

"What are you suggesting?" I asked, reading her skeptical expression.

"I just... get the feeling that she was abused before arriving at the brothel, but there's no way to prove it because she can't remember anything before that." Alexa noted, shaking her head.

"We need to determine how she lost her memory, in order for her to try and regain it." I said, realizing that Daisy must feel so lost.

"I think that would be good for her... depending on what her past involves." Alexa muttered with furrowed brows.

"No matter what her past entails, it would be good for Daisy to know where she came from and who she is. Right now, all she knows is being used and sold." I admitted, and Alexa gave me a pleading look, I knew she was struggling with this.

"It could damage her even further..." Alexa murmured.

"We'll take things one step at a time," I said, about to break even more bad news to Alexa, "First, I need you to do your best work on Sunday... my mother invited Daisy and I over for dinner that day."

"Seriously?!" Alexa shrieked, fearing the worst for Daisy.

"Don't worry," I calmly noted, "I won't let her out of my sight."

"Gray..." Alexa whimpered, "This feels like a bad idea..."

"There's no way to get out of it, Alexa, trust me I would have if it were an option." I grumbled, taking a deep breath, "I have an idea, I just don't know if it's going to work."

"What?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

"I'm going to handcuff her to me..." I said, "It's the only way I can ensure her safety."

"Well," Alexa sighed heavily, "That's a terrible idea, Gray. They're going to know instantly-"

"Not if I tell them it's to show her, she can't get away from me. I'll tell them how it demeans her, strips her of privacy, that's something that should please them." I interrupted, feeling more certain of myself.

"Maybe," She shrugged, very uncertain of me, "I just don't know if it will give the idea you think it will."

"I have some time to figure it out." I grumbled, before leaving her room.

I walked back downstairs, where everyone was still sitting around the table talking. I noticed everyone was finished eating, including Daisy, and I was just sitting down for my dinner. Alexa entered the room shortly after, and sat by Daisy again. Everyone glanced between Alexa and I, as tension started to build.

"That must have been a heavy box..." Caz snickered, and I quickly glared at him, silencing him instantly.

"It was..." Alexa sighed.

"How about you ladies go relax, I need a minute with these guys." I commented, glancing at Daisy, who was staring at me with a look of suspicion.

"Come on Daisy, let's go find a good movie to watch." Alexa smiled, and they exited the dining room together.

I waited until I knew they were out of earshot, because this isn't something I wanted to worry Daisy about yet. Especially not the details, first I need to determine a solution, and then she'll be informed.

"Alright," I took a deep breath, "My mother wants Daisy and I over for dinner on Sunday evening, which means she wants another chance to hurt Daisy."

"Tell me you said no-" Caz griped, until Rome interrupted him.

"It's not that easy, Caz. Now shut your mouth, before I shut it for you." Rome growled at Caz.

"I wish I could have said no, Caz, but unfortunately that wasn't an option. If I had said no, that would have raised suspicion. We have to play along with her game, but in a smart way." I educated them, "I thought of handcuffing Daisy to me, but Alexa thought that would look like what it is... me protecting her."

"It could also look like you want to keep an eye on her twentyfour-seven, depending on how you played it." Alistair noted, shrugging.

"Nah, I'm with Alexa, that's too obvious." Caz disagreed, "What about if you wired Daisy? So, if she was taken into a different room, you could hear what was happening?"

"Then what would happen when she's attacked, and he goes to defend her?" Rome retorted, "That would be an even worse situation."

"Do me a favor," I said, finishing my meal, "Think about it for the night, and we'll talk more in the morning."

"You got it, boss." Alistair firmly nodded, and I could tell he was wracking his brain for ideas.

I left the dining room and was about to go upstairs, when I noticed Alexa and Daisy in the living room. They were both snuggled under blankets, watching a movie, which had both of their undivided attention. I smirked, before heading upstairs to take a shower. Tomorrow was my last day at work, before the move, and I was ready to take a break from that place for a while.