Forbidden

Scared

Michael's POV

I didn't sleep last night and just lay thinking about all the thing's Leanne told me and I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. I had a feeling something was going on, but I never imagined it was something like this. I've been going to that brothel for over a year and I always thought Mary wad a really sweet woman, I've stood and had conversations with her many times and not once would I have imagines she'd force a 15 year old girl to work for her and even worst she did it mere hours after her parents died. Leanne's her neice and she's just a kid and needed taking care of and be loved, but instead she's spent months living with a woman she's terrified of and being forced to sleep with grown men.

I asked Leanne over and over if she wanted to be there and if she was sure and if she would have said no I would never have done anything with her and even if she had wanted to be there, she was only 15 years old and shouldn't even be thinking about sex or be anywhere near a place like that and I hate myself for putting her through that, because I did. I may not have known it at the time, but I'm still just as responsible for her pain and misery as Mary and those other men.

I'm sitting in the kitchen waiting for Leanne and eventually she comes downstairs. "I'm in here" I say softly, hearing her walking around looking for me and she walks in timidly.

"Did you sleep ok?" I ask softly and she nods. "About last night..."

"I made all up" she quickly cuts me off "no you didn't" I say softly and she nods. "I Did! We were arguing and I was upset. I didn't mean any of it"

"That's kind of a random thing to say to someone during and argument" I raise an eye brow "well I did. It's not true" she mumbles. "Yes it is" I say softly and she doesn't answer me. "Leanne, you have done nothing wrong" I say softly taking her hand and sit her beside me at the table.

"Please don't tell anybody what I said" she pleads "if Mary found out you knew then she'll know I told you she'll..." She pauses nervously.

"She'll what?" I ask "I um.. I should probably start getting ready to go" she mutters "I'm not taking you back there" I frown confused. "B- but you have to. You were told the rules. I have to be back by 10am" she says nervously. "I'm sorry, but I'm not taking you back to that place. We're gonna have some breakfast and then we're going to the police station and..."

"No! I'm not going to the police!" She panics. "Leanne, I'm not gonna send you back there and act like everythings ok because it's not. I know your scared, but I'm calling them and.."

"Then I'll lie" she cuts me off. "If you tell them, then i'll lie. I'll them you made it up an- and that you raped me and forced me here an- and..."

"So do it" I shrug and she looks at me confused. "Your not exactly lying. Your here because I paid your aunt to make you come here and I had sex with you when you didn't really want to and even if you did, your underage which is statuary. So if you wanna tell them I forced you here and I raped you that's fine, but I'm still gonna call them"

"So you'd be happy going to jail? Because you will"

"I wouldn't be happy about it, but if it stops you from having to go back to that place then so be it" I shrug and she doesn't say anything. "I know your scared, but I'm gonna be with you the whole time ok?" I say softly and she nods. "I'm sorry. For what I just said" she mumbles and I smile at her through pursed lips. "It's fine"

"I wasn't always scared of you" she mutters "answering the question I've been too scared to ask. "You wasn't?"

"No" she shakes her head. "You were always nice to me" she mumbles and I purse my lips trying not to cry. I'm relieved there were times she wasn't scared of me and genuinely wanted to be with me, but that doesn't change the fact there were times she was.