Page 75 of Sweet Misery

I knew a losing battle when I fought it.

There wasn’t fuck all we could do about any of it.

I wouldn’t close my eyes though. I knew they wanted to save me from seeing her die, but I loved her. I’d be with her until the end.

“Arianna. I love you. I love you,” I shouted on repeat.

Her flailing slowed until she went still. Her body twitched. I sobbed loudly, the twins sniffling behind me.

Father held her under for another moment before bringing her limp body out and dropping her to floor unceremoniously.

I tried to see the rise and fall of her chest, but it was impossible in the hoodie I’d put her in. I’d tried to get her out of the house and out onto the balcony before they’d taken her. I knew she’d have been able to shimmy down it and run into the forest. We’d find her after.

That hadn’t gone to plan.

“Wrap her body and put her in the trunk,” Father snapped.

Plastic was brought in and I watched, bile in my throat, as her body was wrapped loosely and dragged from the room.

There was nothing in my heart that told me she was still alive.

My darling star was dead.

All because of me. Because I fucking loved her.

Because our father was a fucking prick monster who deserved to be dead.

Not her. Never her.

Father turned to us, a grim expression on his face.

“Let this be a lesson,” he warned softly. “I’ll have her body disposed of personally. It will be me who removes her arms. Her legs. Her head. Remember I’m the one in charge. I make the rules. You were created to FUCKING. FOLLOW. THEM!” His fist collided with my face, snapping my head sideways.

He twisted his fingers in my hair and brought my head upward so I was staring into his face. My jaw hurt from clenching my teeth so tightly as I glared back at him, nothing but pure venom and revenge in my heart.

“You almost cost me a son tonight. Someone who isn’t completely fucking worthless. Massimo took your place tonight because he is a real man. You? You’re fucking worthless. Useless. The next time you fuck up, you’ll die. And no one will fuckingshed a tear.Non sei niente. Sarai sempre niente.” He spit on my face before walking away. To the twins, he said nothing.

He left the room, the front door opening in the distance. The men holding us let us go. They didn’t hang around. They left us alone with the metal container where our girl had just drown and with an unconscious Mass on the floor.

“Mass. Mass!” Ren shook Mass roughly.

He didn’t stir.

“Fuck,” Roe shouted. “FUCK!”

I lost it. Sobs racked through my body as I let out my heartbreak and anguish.

I’d spent my entire life fighting the evil of my father. I’d complied and done everything he’d wanted of me. There were never any rewards with him. Only punishments.

He’d taken the love of my life away.

I’d watched her die in our fucking living room.

I’d even given her a knife before his men had burst in on us. A meager attempt at offering her some protection while she fled from here.

She’d not even gotten to use it.

She never had a fucking chance.

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