His heart went out to her.
“Why didn’t you come to me?” Peter asked. He would have done something to help her.
“Why would I come to you, Peter? You’re in love with another woman. I’ve got no one else to turn to. I know this is my future.”
Peter closed the distance, cupping her face. “This future will get you killed, Rose. Brad’s the one in control, and what makes you think he’s not going to stop this control or make it worse? He could make you go days without food.” He stopped as his anger threatened to consume him. Rose was being abused, and from the look inside the book this had been her life for a good few months and he’d not seen it. “Do you love him?”
She shook her head. “He scares me, Peter. If I don’t do as he says he’s going to share me with his friends. I don’t want to do that. I wouldn’t survive that. I’ll be good. I promised.”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not going to happen. Brad is bad news.” Peter cupped her cheek, resting his head against hers.
“There’s no stopping it.”
“Yeah, there is.”
“How?” Rose asked.
“You’re coming with me.” He stormed up the stairs, opening the doors until he found her room.
****
Rose had to stop him, but as she followed him up the stairs and entered her room, she couldn’t form the words. She watched him throw her clothes into an overnight bag, pack up some of her books, and then he was done. Peter was saving her from her parents and from Brad. It was only a matter of time before something bad happened to her. She knew the rumours about Brad had to be true. The way he kept warning her about sharing her with his three friends scared her. Each time he mentioned it, he looked more and more aroused. There was no stopping him, and Brad was the one who held all the cards right now. He made sure she knew who was in control of her and the situation.
“You can’t take me with you. If Brad finds out…” She couldn’t finish her words.
“I’m counting on Brad finding out. I’m not afraid of that little prick.” The violence in Peter’s words shocked her. “No one should ever withhold food like that.” He dropped her cases and stood near a wall. She couldn’t tear her gaze away as he thumped the wall.
“Peter, don’t. You’ll hurt your hand.”
“I don’t give a fuck about my hand.” Peter turned to her, his hands cupping her face. “No one should ever do what they’ve done to you. He was wrong, and your parents were wrong to follow those orders.” He brushed her lips with his, and then they were walking down to the front door.
“Wait, I’ve got nowhere else to go. This is my only home, and I’m not cut out to be alone.”
Her mother’s past words stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re staying with me,” he said. “I would never let you go, Rose. You’ll be safe with me. I promise.”
He stopped to talk to her. She wanted to go with him, but her sudden fear held her back.
“Rose, if you stay here you’re going to end up married to Brad. When that happens, your voice will no longer be heard in this town. You know that, right?” he asked.
Tears filled her eyes. She got the message loud and clear. Once she married Brad no one would care. This was her only opportunity to get away from that.
“Get me out of here.”
Grabbing her hand, Peter led her out of her home, across town toward his car. Rose noticed several of the town locals stare at them. She dropped her head unable to meet their gaze. Peter didn’t seem to care.
“Let the bastards look. What will it take to get these people out of the dark ages?”
She wished she knew what he was talking about. Rose had lived this way her whole life and didn’t know any differently.
He helped her into the passenger side of the car. Once her case was in the backseat, Peter climbed in the front and pulled out of the parking lot.
“You shouldn’t be alone for some time. I don’t think Brad is going to take too kindly to this, and there’s something about him I don’t trust,” he said.
She didn’t argue. There was a cruelty to Brad, and she hated it. Being near the other man made her feel dirty.
“Thank you,” she said. Staring down at her hands, Rose couldn’t meet his stare. “I didn’t know what else to do. Before I knew what was happening I was engaged. They’d already quit for me at the library. I didn’t have a say in anything. I was alone.”