Page 18 of The Devil's Den

Their hard footsteps crash up the stairs as I gasp, my panting loud.

Crap! Stop thinking about her before they kill you.

I widen my eyes, looking this way and that, but there’s darkness everywhere. I run anyway. I can’t wait around for them to catch me. I turn a corner and—

“Boo!” Stan jumps out, a flashlight under his chin, a frightening smile on his face. “Lookie who I got, Drew.” He grabs my hoodie, yanking me back down the stairs, my feet practically tripping over each other while I try to keep up.

“Oh, it’s our little friend.” Drew pouts and his black mustache does too. He’s scarier than Stan. “We missed you. Gotta say, you’re some runner though. Now, we’re gonna see how well you punch.”

I shake my head as Stan throws me to the cold floor. “I don’t want to fight.”

“Too fucking bad.” Stan kicks my back.

“Ow! Stop!” I cover my face with my palms.

“Owww! Stooop!” Drew mocks in a baby voice. “I’m a wittle pussy.”

Stan kicks my back again, harder, right before Drew lifts me up, balling my hoodie in his fist. “Punch me! Show me what you got.”

“No!”

“You have one more chance to do it before I hit you.”

With my rough inhales, I form a fist at my side.

“Don’t want to disappoint Agnelo, do you? If Daddy isn’t happy, his princess is in lots of trouble.” Stan chuckles.

At the mention of Aida, my fist lands without a thought right into Drew’s cheek.

“Fuck!” He grits his teeth, and when he punches my chin, I crouch on the floor as he lets me fall onto it.

If protecting Aida wasn’t the only thing I cared about, I would’ve killed them all by now, or at least tried to. But over the years, Agnelo has threatened to hurt her if I don’t do what they want. So I have to. It’s the only way to protect her.

“Stupid kid has a good right hook.” Drew massages his cheek. “He’s got potential,” he tells Stan as though I’m not there.

“Agnelo wants you to start today.”

“And I will, right after I give him a good ass beating.”

Once his foot connects with my stomach, I don’t remember much after that.

* * *

AIDA AGE 10

I pick up my books after completing another reading lesson with Ms. Greco, needing to take them to my room before Dad gets home. Just as I’m about to climb the stairs, the front door opens and in comes Stan, a man who’s been in the house a few times, carrying—

“Oh my God!” The books drop with a bang as I run. “What did you do to Matteo?” I shout as he brings him toward the basement.

“My goodness,” Ms. Greco whispers in a trembling way. “Is he still alive?”

“He’s fine.” Stan rolls his eyes. “Drew got a little too happy with his fists. Kid’s gotta toughen up.”

“You assholes beat him up?” I grit as we reach the basement. I’m boiling with fury tangled with rage.

“You better watch your tone with me,” he snaps. “Don’t want your daddy finding out what a little bitch you are.”

“Don’t speak to her that way!” Ms. Greco opens the door, while he brings Matteo down.

---