“Have you got a supply of chicken soup?”

He flashes me a panty-dropping grin. Even sick, I want to reach over and kiss him.

“I enjoy soup.”

“Chicken soup?”

His grin gets bigger. “Well, this week it was your lucky week.”

“And now you’re going to feed it to me?” I giggle softly.

“You’re sick. Let me help.”

I smile, feeling my eyes burn. “I don’t think anyone has ever taken care of me.”

His eyes soften and he strokes my cheek before scooping up a spoonful of soup and popping it into my mouth. It’s salty, and warm, and it tastes divine. I groan as it burns down my throat, but a moment later I feel the aches in my body ease as the warmth fills it.

“After this, have a shower and then sleep for the day. It’s the best thing you can do.”

I nod, too tired to argue. William finishes up feeding me and helps me into the shower, and then he tells me he’s got to go and spend time with the other girls. This warms me, and I can’t help but love that he’s taking time out to spend time with the girls. He needs to build something up with them, something that gives them a reason to see him for something other than a monster.

With a stroke of my hair, and a kiss to my head, he leaves to do just that.

I stare out the window, smiling, feeling my skin prickle as I watch William involving himself in a volleyball game in the yard. All the girls are out there, and they’re all getting into it, laughing and giggling as they play. It didn’t start out like that. When he first took them out there, they were hesitant. They stood back, watching, carefully playing but having no fun. Then slowly he managed to coax them out.

Now they’re all laughing and enjoying themselves, and so is he. He’s wearing a pair of old faded running pants and a sweatshirt. He looks normal, just a man enjoying the company of some friends. They’re relishing in him, clearly enjoying being able to spend time with him. I can’t blame them. When you get inside William, he’s amazing. He’s so complicated yet utterly loving and caring.

I’m smiling, just staring out the window, high on painkillers.

I don’t notice them come in, but suddenly, there they are.

Cops. Heaps of them.

I skid my chair back and press my face to the glass, and I watch the gates slide open and six cars skid to a stop. The girls all huddle together, and their hands clasp as they stare with pale faces at the police barreling out of the cars. William walks forward, the cops bark something at him, he shakes his head, and hih1> then suddenly he’s on the floor, a large cop hovering over him, jerking his hands behind his back.

I scream, and run from the room.

It takes me a full five minutes to get out of the house, and by the time I skid out, the cops are taking the girls, pulling them away from each other and gently leading them to the cars. I run towards them, my head pounding, my ears screaming. I feel so sick, but my panic far outweighs it. I come to a complete halt when I reach the first car, and I spin towards a police officer.

“What are you here for?” I cry.

The cop looks down at my hand, and then yells, “Another one. Search the house—make sure there are none left.”

“What?” I yell as he takes my arm. “Let me go.”

He pulls me towards a car, and I turn my gaze to William. He’s face down in the dirt, his eyes on me. My heart breaks, and I shove out of the officer’s arms, charging towards him.

“William!” I cry.

“Get hold of her,” one of the police officers barks. “Now!”

“No,” I scream as another hand wraps around my arm, pulling me back. “William.”

William lifts his head, staring into my eyes. “It’s okay, Beauty. It’s going to be okay. Go.”

“No,” I cry, feeling tears tumble down my cheeks. “I won’t leave you.”

“It’s okay,” he croaks again.

“I knew it!”

I twist around to see Peter coming in, his face red and his hands clenched. It was him; I knew it was him. Ben is behind him, his eyes wide, and his face a complete mask of shock.

“Will?” Ben asks, when he stops next to the police officer holding William down.

“I told you, Benjamin,” Peter growls. “I knew something was off. He’s buying women and using them as sex slaves!”

“What?” I scream. “No, he isn’t!”

“William,” the officer begins, “you’re under arrest for the abduction and assault of these women. You are not required to say anything, but anything you do say will be held against you in the court of law.”

“No!” I scream, twisting. “Ben, please, they’ve gotten it wrong.”

Ben’s eyes turn to me, and I can see the confusion in them. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“I...I don’t...I...but...he’s not hurting us, Ben.”

Ben looks down at William. “Tell me this isn’t true.”

William says nothing. The officer pulls me towards a car, and my panic sets in. I fight, twisting and screaming. Tears soak my cheeks as I try to get closer to William.

“Please,” I beg. “Don’t take me away. He’s all I have.”

“Miss, if you will get in the car we will make sure you’re safe.”

“No,” I wail. “Please.”

“I’m sorry, miss,” the officer says, opening the car door and pushing me down towards the empty seat.