Page 5 of The Bratva King's Twins

“Everyone get in here, dinner’s ready!” Dad shouted, voice reverberating through the big, cold house.

With a final glare, Dante shoved me down, dropping me onto the couch as he scoffed and turned away from me.

I took a moment to regain my bearings the moment I was left alone, aware of how fast my heart was racing. Tears welled in my eyes, bringing me right back to my childhood, reminding me of how badly I wanted out of there.

Even in my early twenties, I was just as much of a target as when we were young.

I should’ve been out on my own, going to school and starting a life for myself, but Dad wouldn’t allow it. He said I was his little girl still, and I couldn’t leave until he ‘made arrangements.’

While my brothers were useless to him, I apparently wasn’t. He was only waiting for the best offer to make it all worth it.

Sucking in a shaken breath, I reached for my phone, only to find the screen completely shattered.

The broken screen didn’t matter. Of course not. There were always new ones, and Dad would tell me to put it on his card and pretend like he’d do something about Dante.

But he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t stand up for me or put my brother back in his place. Instead, he’d ignore him and pretend like Dante wasn’t his flesh and blood.

And I would be just as alone. Just as susceptible to his bullying, his number one target.

“Vivian!” Dad yelled, snapping me out of it.

Letting go of another breath, I wiped my tears and reassured myself that Dante wouldn’t really follow through with his threat. At least, I told myself he wouldn’t. I pulled myself together as best I could and joined the rest of my family in the dining room as if nothing happened, despite the bruises already forming on my wrists.

Avoiding Dante’s scalding eye, I looked down at my plate while the chef brought out the last of the meal, and Dad said grace before we dug in.

Having retreated within myself once again, I didn’t say anything, afraid of earning more ridicule from my brothers.

Dante was always the worst of them, but with Elio’s passive disposition, he seemed just as bad at times. He could help me, but he usually didn’t. On the worst days, he would even join in.

Dad talked about everything and nothing at the same time, not allowing much room for anyone else to join in except for his wife, Shannon. She was a tanned, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed young woman who was far too beautiful to be with my dad, but it didn’t take much to realize exactly why she put up with him.

She certainly wasn’t the brightest, but she had her priorities straight, and even if I didn’t agree with them, she knew what she wanted.

Shannon loved expensive things, and if it took flocking to a rich man to get her said things, then flock she would. She scarcely paid any attention to us. Even if I had been angry with Dad for the fact that he was already moving on when Mom was hardly buried in the ground, I still tried to get to know her. Yet she didn’t care to give me the time of day.

While none of us particularly liked her, Elio especially wasn’t fond of the situation. Shannon was nearly his age, and she was Dad’s biggest distraction. Despite trying to get his attention, hoping to be brought into the fold of the family business, it never seemed to work because of her.

Dante was right behind him in vying for his mentorship, but it was always fruitless.

I would’ve felt bad for them if they didn’t treat me like their personal punching bag.

Barely picking at the herb-crusted chicken and sautéed vegetables in front of me, I couldn’t help but focus on how badly I always wanted us to be normal. How much I wanted to not feel like a prisoner in our family home.

“We were thinking of taking another romp to the Caribbean,” Dad began, throwing back some of his red wine.

Elio’s face tensed as he met his gaze. “Again? What about business?”

“What about it? It’ll be here when we get back.”

“I was hoping you might show me your recent dealings,” my brother tried, reaching out once again. His hints were far too obvious, and yet, Dad still dodged them.

Dad waved the sentiment off. “No need to worry about that.”

Looking down at his plate, Elio’s jaw clenched, but he dropped it. Dante looked just as frustrated.

“The water was so blue the last time we went, wasn’t it, dear?”

Shannon nodded enthusiastically with a pressed smile. “Yes, so blue.”

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