Page 72 of Tainted Ties

We reached the kitchen, where Enzo sat perched on a stool.

His face twisted in confusion and underlying anger.

Dread swarmed my stomach. What were we doing in here?

“Papà, please! I won’t do it again,” I begged him when he reached for the knife by the stovetop.

“Stop!” Enzo intervened, grabbing ahold of our father’s shoulder.

I saw the panic flash in my brother’s eyes, knowing he couldn’t stop the inevitable.

He could never stop it.

“Oh, I know,” my father sneered at me before grabbing my hand and slicing my palm open.

Blood gushed, out and I—

I jerked awake, my heart racing and my body slick with sweat.

Disoriented and paranoid, I frantically looked around the room.

There was no one there, only me and the black abyss.

Then the nausea hit me full force, bringing me to my feet.

I made it to the toilet two seconds before throwing up my dinner.

Hot tears rolled down my face, along with the sobs that racked through my body.

I wept. For Enzo. For myself and what would happen if I stayed with Roman.

I had tried blocking out my hurt because if I didn’t acknowledge it, then it couldn’t affect me.

Grief was a funny thing. Time didn’t heal all wounds; it only made them easier to bear. But nothing was getting easier.

My body trembled, coiling tight with anxiety as my emotions suffocated me with an overwhelming force.

Dry heaving through the pain, all my thoughts swarmed in my mind, demanding attention.

What would happen if I gave into these indescribable feelings toward Roman?

Who murdered Enzo?

How far was my father willing to go for his revenge?

After making sure I wouldn’t vomit again, I stood up and washed my mouth.

With shaky hands, I grabbed my phone and dialed the only number I knew by heart.

“Hello?”

“Irina.” I sobbed anew, hearing a familiar voice, wishing she was here to comfort me more than anything.

“What’s wrong, Aurora?”

“Everythinghurts,” I whimpered.

My heart felt as though it’d been scrubbed raw with sandpaper, and it was unbearable.

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