Sold To My Husband

Chapter Four

Rory's POV

Max stilled as well; he'd probably felt the weight of his words.

"I'm sorry...that wasn't intentional," he said as he walked closer, pulling me into a hug.

"I just blurted those out of anger; I didn't mean it; I'm sorry," he said, and I nodded, my stupid mind softening at his apologies.

"I'll get something to about it before it gets too late, and we won't have to pay with anyone's life," he said, stroking my hair.

"What's there to eat tonight?" He asked, pulling himself from the hug.

"There's nothing. My arms have been aching all day, and my head's been throbbing," I said, watching his eyes roll his eyes in exasperation.

"Why? For goodness’ sake, Rory, I've been starved all day, and now I have come home to nothing because your arm's aching, and you have a headache," I sighed, trying to walk closer to him.

"I'll just get some food outside," he said, dressing up before he turned to walk out of the room.

"You don't have to leave, Max; I'll make something for you to eat," I said, gripping his hands.

He gave no response and threw my hands off his, walking away from the room.

"Are you going to meet Ivy?" I thought, asking as the question swirled in my mind. The words formed in my throat, and the words came right onto the tip of my tongue before I bit it back to maintain the animosity.

But the thought of the way he smiled at Ivy, the way he held her hands, and how his mother had claimed she was the perfect match for her son made a knot tie in my stomach, worrying me to my brim at her sudden resurfaced existence.

I gulped back in and headed to the bathroom, stripping myself of everything I was wearing, and turning the warm water in on the bath.

I took a seat on the ledge beside the tub; I cleaned the scratches of the wound I'd gotten from Margret's nails.

I dipped a toe in the bathtub before walking into it fully, and it felt heavenly, like the hug I'd been needing for eternity.

I groaned at the amazing way the water caressed my sore muscles and rubbed the scratches on my body.

I dunked my head once before tipping it back against the tiles behind me and closing my eyes, thinking about nothing; not Margaret, not Ivy, and not Max.

My thoughts drifted to the man seated on my papa's chair years ago, and a slight wonder played on my mind, thinking that maybe if I'd listened to my father and gotten married to him, it'd be a happily ever after before I dozed off in the water.

****

I woke close to dawn, with my body turned blue from the iciness of the cold water.

I stood up in the bedroom, feeling the crispness of the water on my skin.

The room was oddly quiet, and I looked around at the absence of my husband.

I heaved a sigh and plopped into bed, drawing the sheets over my body, I closed my eyes and let a final slumber wash through me.

*

*

*

The sharp banging on the door jolted me out of my slumber, it was from outside, and I could feel the familiar forgotten lethalness of the door.

"Open this door or we'll break it down," The voice of the men by the door, angry and deadly.

I stood up, hurriedly changing into a shirt and a pair of pants before running out to them.

Margaret was by the door. We stared at each other until another bang broke the silence.

"You must have done something b***h," She cussed, as I walked to open the door in time for them to break it down.

"Where's your husband?" They asked, and I knew immediately what they were here for...the loan Max had taken.

"He's out of town; who are you, and what do you want?" I asked, steeling my spine.

"We've been sending notices six months before now, and he's been acting oblivious to it; who are you?" They asked, and I hid my fear to reply.

"I'm his wife."

"I'm afraid we'll have to take you in his place, and you'll be kept in our custody until he's found."

"What are the options? For the payment," I asked.

"Pay a million dollars and get your life back, or pay, he'll pay with his life; the contract had that written clearly," he said, and I nodded.

"I need to pick up my phone, and I'll have the money wired to you," I said, but they were resolute as he signaled to his men to take me.

"Stop! Let me go!" I yelled to no avail. The men dragged me to their car, making sure I was blindfolded before they drove off.

Two hours later, I felt the cold air of the environment that seemed to be their stopping point prickle my already cold body.

I was typically naked except for the shirt and the pants I was wearing.

The car halted at a stop, and the man opened the door, taking my blindfold off before taking me out of the car.

The house felt... like it belonged to someone I knew, someone who was in my unconscious last night because of the power, the bone-chilling air it exuded.

Their phones buzzed, and instead of the usual drag from the car, he held his hands out for me to walk by myself with my feet bared to the stones that laid the path.

"Your husband is almost being found and when he's here, you'll be allowed to leave," he explained as I walked into a room, surprisingly better than I thought it'd be.

"I need my phone, just a call, please. I promise I'll have the money before my husband is even found," I said, but he nodded in hesitance.

"Can I use your phone then? Please," I begged, and he sighed, staring at me again before he handed his phone to me.

My hands trembled as I dialed the number...my father's number, holding back the tears that brimmed in my eyes.

I dialed it, and it connected, a few dings before it connected.

"Hello... I dragged, my voice shaking as his familiar old, raspy voice sounded from the phone.