Page 74 of Sweet Misery

More fists. More kicks.

I wasn’t going to be able to take much more. My brothers knew I was doing this for them and if they spoke up, it would be in vain.

The issue was Misery.

Arianna.

My little daffodil.

What would happen to her in all of this? Punishment was on us, but to hurt us all, there was a common denominator.

Her.

We had nothing. Not one fucking plan. And none of us were armed. We’d taken it all off for the evening, hoping to retreat to my room after making her dinner and bringing it to her. We had plans with her for the evening.

My vision swam as I tried to stay conscious.

My chest burned with the knowledge I’d failed.

“I-I’m sorry. A-Arianna,” I choked out before the final hit connected with my head, knocking me out.

23

SEVER

Massimo was released. He dropped to the floor, either dead or unconscious. I prayed just unconscious, but I knew he’d taken a nasty beating for me.

My heart hurt at that knowledge. Father always hated me, so I knew why Mass had taken my place. I’d have surely been shown no mercy. Even unconscious, my beating would have continued until I stopped breathing.

I caught Mass’s chest move, and breathed out, knowing he was still alive.

The twins hadn’t moved an inch in all of this.

While they were wild and violent, they were also calculating. Always biding their time. I had to trust in them on this.

But it was damn hard as I watched my brother fall and my girl bleed.

“Do you think I wanted to hurt your brother?” Father shouted, his eyes wild as he stared at us, Ari’s hair still twisted around his fingers as she silently sobbed. All she’d done since she’d gotten here was fucking cry.

I hated it.

I wanted her smiles and laughter. Her whispers. Her promises. Her love.

I couldn’t have that because this prick was ruining it all.

“Do you think I want to kill him?” he continued. “This is a fucking lesson, boys. You do what you’re fucking told. No love! NONE!” Spit flew from his mouth as he screamed at us. “And you never fucking lie to me.”

He dunked Arianna’s head into the metal container. She flailed and tried to fight him off, but he was too strong. I made to move forward, desperate to stop him. The twins had the same idea.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go to plan because before we could reach him, we were capture, four more of his men coming into the house. Restrained, we were forced to our knees to watch as he drown her in our fucking living room.

“No! NO!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Ari! Please! Stop! Don’t! Don’t kill her! Kill me instead! It was me! It was fucking me!”

If I thought my confession would stop him, I was wrong. Instead, he just continued to hold her head beneath the water as she thrashed violently.

“S-Sever. Sever. Close your eyes. Close yours eyes,” Roe called out in a shaky voice.

“Close your eyes, little brother,” Ren choked out.

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