The next evening, Armando confirmed the rumor about Maggie and went over to Rock’s house to discuss the matter.
“Hey, Rock,” Armando called as he walked through the front door.
“Hey, man. What’d ya find out?”
“Yeah, it’s true. I sent one of our guys from North Philly over to see her. She wouldn’t get in the car with him. You want me to handle this?” Armando asked.
“Yep, you take care of her. Don’t kill her. This one has great earning potential. But this time I want you to break her in the right way. She needs to understand we make the rules, not her! Oh, and one other thing, I want you to do…” Rock dictated.
When Maggie returned to the house early the next morning, Armando was waiting for her. He held out his hand to take the money she’d earned and handed it to Diesel. Then he backhanded Maggie, and she flew sideways, landing on top of a couple of girls who were sitting on a mattress nearby.
Instead of helping, the girls pushed her off them and onto the floor. Armando stomped over and kicked Maggie in the gut. She barfed and fell lifelessly into her own puke, which clung to the side of her face.
“Get the hell up, you little bitch,” Armando seethed.
Armando pulled Maggie up by her hair, and she ran behind him as he ascended the stairs.
“Please, Armando. I didn’t do anything, I swear,” she begged, but her pleading fell on deaf ears.
Once in the bedroom, he pushed Maggie onto the bed.
“Let’s go. Get undressed,” he ordered.
“Please, Armando. At least tell me what I did,” Maggie pleaded.
“It’s not what cha did, ya stupid little freak. It’s what ya didn’t do. Little Maggie doesn’t get in cars with her tricks. Ring any bells?” he sneered.
“I’m sorry, Armando. It’s just that when I was taken, the man who kidnapped me put me in a van, and now I’m scared to get into cars with people I don’t know,” she said, hoping to avoid punishment.
Armando started laughing. A first it was a giggle, but then it turned into a full belly laugh. His reaction led Maggie to believe that maybe he understood her dilemma. But then his laughter took on a sinister growl, which eventually became the dominant sound, Maggie knew she was fucked.
“Oh boy,” he yelled, as his laughter waned. “That’s a good one. Now take off your fuckin’ clothes before I tear them off myself.”
Maggie quickly undressed and stood before him naked.
“Come on,” he said and headed for the closest.
“Oh no, Armando. Oh, please don’t put me in the box. Please. I’ll try to do better,” she promised.
“Bitch, please. Ya ain’t gonna try to do nothin’ better. If I ever decide to let you outta there, you’re gonna do every damn thing I tell ya to. This ain’t no negotiation, you idiot,” he spewed ruthlessly.
In the closet, Armando unlocked the box. “You getting in yourself or do you need me to throw you in there?” he half asked.
Trembling, Maggie sat on the edge of the vertical box; slowly, she slid herself into it until her bare feet hit the bottom. Then she squatted into a ball.
“I’ll see ya when I see ya,” Armando said with a big grin on his face.
As Maggie sat, cramped at the bottom of the wooden box, she knew this was only the beginning of her punishment.