Page 7 of Sweet Misery

I knew Arnold Day. The guy was as useful as a bent dick. I’d roughed him up for owing money more times than I could count. He’d beg and plead, asking for more time. I’d give it to him only because I knew the end game of killing his ass would be sweet.

“Is he in the clear?” I asked.

“You tell me. I’ll give you time to decide if she’s worth it. If you break her before, say, April, you can go kill her father. He’s the one who put those marks on her pretty face.”

I ground my teeth at that.

“What is her new name?” he asked.

“Misery.”

He let out a soft laugh at the name. “She’s your late Christmas present. Enjoy her, my son. I want to be able to hear the whore’s screams all the way to my estate. If I can’t, I’ll be sure to pay a visit.Capisci?”

"Capisco, padre.” I looked to the door, knowing I was going to have to go deal with this shit. If we didn’t make her scream, then he would.

“We will speak soon, Massimo.” And with that, the line went dead, leaving me to stare at the door I knew I’d have to walk through. Once I did, everything would change.

God bless the poor girl upstairs.

She’d need it living in Hell.

3

ARIANNA

Iwoke with a soft whimper, my body aching. My eyes wouldn’t open completely as I tried to stare up at the unfamiliar ceiling. The ugly memory of what happened rushed through me, making me gag as I struggled to sit up.

I met resistance.

I cried out when I realized I was tied to a bed. My heart banged hard in my chest and fear bubbled to the surface as I twisted my hands and wrists in an effort to free myself.

The burning ache of the ropes made me cry out while I continued my struggle.

Tears streamed down my cheeks like a river. Heavy footsteps thudded down the hall. I whimpered and tried harder to free myself, but it was no use. I was a prisoner in a place I knew damn well I didn’t want to be in.

The door handle jiggled for a moment before I snapped my eyes closed, hoping I wasn’t harmed.

The door swung open with a creak, and the heavy thud approached my bed before stopping next to me.

My breath came out in shaky gasps as I tried to not sob.

“I know you’re awake,” a soft, deep voice murmured. “Sleeping girls don’t cry.”

I trembled at his words, willing myself to not scream for help. There wasn’t help here. I’d be stupid to think it.

I exhaled, my body shaking.

“Open your eyes.”

With every ounce of bravery I had, I forced my eyelids open and peered up at beautiful man with hair black as night and eyes gray like the cloudiest of days. He was tall, gorgeous, and clearly worked out because his muscles strained against his black button down as he cocked his head at me.

He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

“W-Where am I?” I choked out.

“In my home,” he answered back, not giving away any details on location. “My name is Massimo.”

Massimo Saconne. Sever’s eldest brother. Heir to their empire.

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