Page 2 of Lord of Punishment
Sasha’s eyes opened wide, her entire face falling. “Oh, my God. Charity. I’m so sorry. Come in.” She’d approached me several months before, starting up a casual conversation inside the library I’d been allowed to visit, my fiancé believing it was a safe location for me to be. She’d seen bruises on me before, asking me gently where they’d come from. I wasn’t as naïve as I’d come across, realizing she had to be law enforcement, trying to get me to provide her with evidence she could have my fiancé convicted with.
I clutched my bag against my chest, the entire almost year playing out in my mind. I’d even dared go through the bastard’s desk, finding what little he didn’t keep locked up. I had no clue if it would help her or not but at this point, it just didn’t matter. Getting as far away from his toxic regime as possible did.
As soon as I dropped my duffle bag on her entrance floor, the tears began to fall. “Please help me. I have nowhere to go. He’s going to kill me. He’ll find me. I know he will. I just…” When I fell against her, she exhaled and wrapped her arms around my frail body, closing and locking the door before guiding me into her living room.
She held my hands for a few minutes until I stopped sobbing, her touch motherly as she brushed strings of unwashed hair from my face.
“He did this to you?” she asked in such a quiet voice that I had to strain to hear her.
“Yes.”
“And I know it’s not the first time.” Of course, she already knew the answer, but like a cop would do, she wanted the horror I’d been through confirmed.
I shook my head, embarrassed I’d fallen under his spell so easily. That wasn’t like me. Now I didn’t know me any longer. “I have something for you.”
“You do?”
The last time I’d seen her, she’d promised me assistance in gaining a new life, one that was far removed from his brutality and the danger that had surrounded me since moving to Los Angeles. In return, I was to find and bring everything I could on the asshole’s business dealings. Snooping had placed my life in jeopardy, but I would have brought her the Golden Gate Bridge if it meant having another opportunity at living the life I remembered. I pulled an envelope from my purse, fingering it for a few seconds before handing it to her.
I was no longer shocked I couldn’t stop shaking, my fingers numb from lack of food and sleep.
While Sasha took it from me, she didn’t bother opening the flap. We’d developed a level of trust over the last few months, a friendship that had been unexpected. However, I was no fool. I knew she worked for a law enforcement agency, tasked to friend the fiancée of the most notorious cartel leader west of the Mississippi. I wouldn’t testify against him, but I had provided enough evidence I was hopeful would send him to prison for a very long time.
Even if she managed to accomplish the mission, that didn’t mean the man I’d thought I’d loved didn’t have far-reaching tentacles, men prepared to reach out and torture me. If found, I wouldn’t die quickly. That much I knew about his operations.
Sasha stood, taking the envelope with her. I didn’t pay attention to what she was doing, holding my arms as a series of chills continued to keep me on edge. When she returned, she had another larger envelope in one hand, a set of keys in the other. She sat down opposite me in a chair, taking her time placing both items on the coffee table.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, Charity. Are you certain you want to do this?”
I found the courage to lift my head, looking her directly in the eyes. “Yes. I have no doubts.”
“And you do understand that once you leave my house, Charity Powers will no longer exist. Ever. You can’t contact a single person you knew from the past. No phone calls, no birthday cards. Nothing.”
The ache of never being able to see my parents again weighed heavily on my mind, but what choice did I have?
“Yes. Please protect my parents.”
Sasha exhaled. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you. Will anyone else know who I am and where I’ll be?”
She shook her head. “No one. To be honest with you, what I’m doing could get me fired because approval of a new life generally follows testifying in court, but I refuse to allow you to be killed.”
Reaching out, I squeezed her hand, additional tears sliding down both cheeks. “I completely understand. He took everyone from me. I can’t thank you enough.” As soon as I let go, she placed her hand on the envelope.
“Inside you will find everything you need to start your new life. You have a new social security card, credit cards, money, a bank account already established. You also have a small but adequate house that was willed to you from your grandfather. You’ll find details on him and the other members of your family inside as well. Memorize the details then destroy the paperwork. The keys are to a car that will get you to your destination safely. Understood?”
“How did you manage this so quickly?”
Sasha smiled. “I have friends all over the world, some who belong to an organization providing assistance to people in need of escaping. From here on out, you’ve never heard of me.”
“Sasha isn’t your real name. Is it?”
“No.”
I studied the envelope, sick to my stomach. “What if he finds me?”
“He won’t. I’ll make certain of that. As of today, your new name is Georgia Ingalls. Charity Powers will end up washing up on a beach somewhere.”