Page 110 of Monster in Disguise

Yes, Father's done something alright, and that's erasing what little humanity I had left.

"You see," he starts as he surveys the instruments of torture, "there's always one eminent student who gets to dothis." Unexpectedly, Father is excited about something.

"When someone wrongs the famiglia, we have to give back retribution. But our kind of retribution is a little different."

He takes a long knife, testing its sharpness by running it along his forefinger.

"We hit where it hurts the most, and we let them knowwhyandwhodid it."

Father saunters to the prisoner and using the tip of the knife he removes his gag.

"Romero Santos. Want to tell my son about your crime? You have your chance to confess your sins." Father's lips are drawn in a sardonic smile.

I move my gaze to the prisoner and regard him as he's breathing deeply, sweat falling down his face.

"I didn't know, I swear. I thought she was eighteen." His voice is pleading, and his eyes jump between me and Father before settling on me. In a pleading tone, he addresses me.

"Please, please! I have a family."

"Exactly!" Father interjects, slapping the man behind his head. "And your family will know what you've done. This should show people what happens when you mess with someone in our famiglia."

"What happened?" I finally utter, aiming the question at my father.

"Nothing, I swear. She wanted it!" Eyes bulging, shoulders slumped, the man is trying his best to profess his innocence.

Annoyed at the outburst, Father places the knife, sharp edge inward, in Romero's mouth.

"Now he's quiet." He shakes his head, exasperated. "This man, who by the way is twenty-eight, seduced and impregnated the daughter of one of our soldiers."

I tilt my head, taking in the information.

So?

I don't voice that question, as Father continues.

"She's twelve."

My expression changes immediately, my eyes blanking.

"Rape?" I turn to Father.

"Does it matter?" he asks, shrugging his shoulders. Of course it wouldn't matter to Father. For him, rape isn't that bad of an offense in the first place. It's not as if I don't hear his new wife screaming all the time in the house.

No, this is about pride. Romero dared to touch a daughter of the famiglia and he must pay for it. Funny, but if Father had done the same thing, and I know he's done it before, it would have gone unnoticed.

I school my features once more, focusing instead on the rapist in front of me.

Twelve. She's twelve. That's even younger than I was when... I stop that train of thought. It always makes me ill thinking about that encounter, or any of the subsequent ones.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask.

"Get the message across. Personalize it. Make it a punishment and a warning at the same time."

I nod.

Father regards me for a second before turning to leave.

"You have two hours."

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