Of course, I did.Once again, it was over and over. I never spoke, and I alwaysanswered to 'Gemma', even though I knew it wasn't my name. Itwas a girl'... name, I guessed, though like many other things, itwas something I would use to please them. Daly always told mewhat to do, and the games changed, though there was always thecommon thread of pleasing the man. Just it was up to her how itwas done, or up to him, if he wanted to see us do somethingtogether.Then it all changed again. There was no man. My parents were probably freaked out of their mind. I was sure they had called the cops.I called them and my mom picked up after the second ring.“I’m sorry!” I moaned. “I came over to Chrissy’s last night and fell asleep.”“Mister Carter was good enough to call us this morning and let us know,” said my mom. “You could have called last night, Mallory.”“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan on staying all night.”“Well, you’re a big girl now,” said my mother, amazing me. “We’ll see you later. I caught her in my arms but quickly hooked her wrist cuffs together behind her back, then I eased her down to the floor onto her knees. As she sat back I hooked her wrists to her ankles before she slumped aback against the wall. I held my face up to hers.“I’m going to take this gag off you, and you’d better behave when I do, yes?” She nodded wearily. I unhooked the strap and removed it, tossing it to the floor, then immediately held her face in my hands and kissed her on the mouth. Her jaw was. I never pick the same one from year to year and avoid married ones like the plague. But with so many to choose from and the looks the girls always got, I usually do well. Most years, anyway!Like many high-end hotels, the ballroom and even the restrooms were lavish. Dark marble tiled, waterfall sinks, floor to ceiling walls for the stalls. None of that registered this year because I came in here to catch my breath. There was a woman I didn't recognize who seemed to appear in my view at every.