Page 62 of Love and War

I didn’t even know why it took me so long to finally decide to leave. Maybe because I couldn’t disappoint her. But I didn’t fear that anymore.

She loved me.

I loved her.

I finally believed I was enough for her. I am enough. It didn’t matter that I came from nothing, or that my piece of shit father beat me until I could finally fight back.

She wanted me, she still wants me.

“He’s awake,” someone said from the doorway. I hadn’t noticed it opened up, and now stood two men.

I watched them both stepping in. The first to step in was one with short blond hair, stocky but short. The second to step through was an older version of the other. Except he had some gray hair around his sideburns, and his eyes were blue but evil.

“This is him?” the older man asked.

“Who are you?” I snapped.

I was losing my already low patience.

“Disrespectful, too.” He chuckled, except it wasn’t funny. That evil gleam in his eye was telling me everything I needed to know.

“What do you want?” I tried to sound respectful, I did. But whatever he wanted couldn’t have been good. Richard didn’t bring people around me unless it was to teach me a lesson. So, this had to be it. A lesson for something I must have done.

A fist collided with my cheek, my face snapping to the side. Fuck, that shit hurt. But it wasn’t anything new.

I glared up at the three men hovering over me, Richard was a piece of shit, who was my father. Always let his friends beat me. I was always able to fight back. But my hands were tied behind my back, my legs tied to the leg of the chair. I was unable to do anything.

So, when the younger one began punching me over and over again, I couldn’t do anything but take the hits. I could feel my nose break, my brow split open. Blood dripped down my face. I could feel the bruises littering my face, my eyes swollen. Yet I refused to let them hear me.

I don’t know how long it was before he finally stepped back. I could barely see anything but red from the blood dripping into my eyes.

“Fuck, that felt good,” he cheered.

“Okay, now that that’s done, let’s have a chat.”

I closed my eyes, refusing to let them win this.

“Oh no, son, we’re going to make eye contact for this conversation.”

One of them grabbed a handful of my hair, gripping so tight that I finally hissed. Lifting my head up, I was met with the older man sitting in a chair across from me.

“Wonderful.” That evil gleam again. “First things first, I hear you’re excellent at hacking into systems.”

I didn’t say anything.

“No need to confirm it, son. I know.” Crossing his leg over he sat back watching me. “This next topic, it may come as a surprise. But no need to drag this out, right?” He chuckled.

I wanted to grind my molars together, but my entire face burned.

“Aziza.”

One word.

One name.

And I was suddenly struggling in my seat. I rocked back and forth trying anything I could do to get out. I ripped my body side to side, struggling to get out. I won’t let them touch her.

“I’ll kill you,” I gritted out. “I’ll kill you all, I will—”

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