This is where I am coming from....
I have a younger cousin. At the time she was Casey's age she was a mother to one, unwed, living at home, etc....
She is drop dead beautiful. Much more beautiful than Casey, who is stunning. She was an honor student with a full ride scholarship to college.
She lived in Ft.Laud (originally typed as Miami) at the time. She started clubbing, which led to drinking, which led to drugs, which led to her living on the streets. Her parents took her child and kicked her out.
At that time she met a man who took her to Miami. He bascially locked her in a gilded cage. He controlled her and scared her. She did what he said, including sleeping with men for money. She was terrified. She lived like this for over a year. He fed her only when he chose, beat her, etc...
When her parents finally tracked her down and she got help it was discovered that he was a nothing. He was just a punk. Her perception of him as being this huge bad arse was due to her fear at the time.
When her parents found her she literally trembled with fear of the thought of this man. She would sleep with a knife and one eye open. She thought for sure he was connected to the mafia, etc.... lies, all just lies.