Page 73 of Sweet Misery

“I have ten men outside. Six in here with me. All have orders to kill anyone in this house who tries to interfere in what’s about to happen,” Father continued, staring down at her. I knew his words were more for our benefit than hers.

But the most important thing was he knew.

He fucking knew we loved her.

Love wasn’t allowed.

If we loved anything, ever, we were punished for it.

It had always been that way.

This time would be no exception.

Sever made to step forward. At the same time I grabbed his arm, Father spoke again.

“I find you the most loathsome of all my children. I would happily kill you first, Severo. Don’t give me the pleasure.”

I winced beneath his ugly words and held Sever’s trembling arm harder to prevent him from certain death.

Quickly, I shot a look to the twins to tell them to keep it together. For now, we had to focus.

“Father, what’s going on?” I called out.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Massimo.” Father glared at me as I stood across from him, the metal container between us. “We both know you’ve fallen for the whore. Tell me, which one did she ensnare first?”

I swallowed thickly, knowing he’d kill Sever on the spot.

“Me,” I said before Sever could speak up. He’d not kill me. I was his heir and probably the closest to him. At least I was the one invited to dine with him. That had to mean something.

Father raised a brow at me. “Massimo…”

“Father.”

He let out a sigh before he slammed Misery’s head against the edge of the metal container. She let out cry of pain as blood bloomed from the cut that appeared on the side of her head.

“Don’t,” I warned him. “Father. Please.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I do love her. I want to marry her.”

He let out a loud laugh before smashing her head against the container again. I stepped forward this time, ready to choke him to death, but I was seized from behind and brought to my knees.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. Mark here is going to beat you until the truth comes out. Very standard stuff. You knowhow it goes. And if you pass out, then I get to beat her. Easy, right?”

I didn’t get to answer because Mark’s fist met my face. And it didn’t stop. I took hit after hit, my ears ringing and my head spinning. I was always a fighter. I’d been raised to fight, training with the best of them. Getting hit was never a big deal to me because I could take a punch and keep on going. This was different. On repeat, I was beginning to struggle.

Blood trickled from my mouth and nose. My vision sparkled and dotted. My ribs screamed as his fist collided with them. Kicks. Punches. More kicks. I sagged forward, but two of the guys holding me forced me back up to take more of the beating. Misery cried for me. I saw my brothers having an internal fight with themselves over it.

I’d die for any of them.

Without question.

“Dunk him.”

I barely heard my father’s words before my head was submerged into the tub of water. I took the punishment, grateful for the short reprieve from being beaten. I’d learned to hold my breath a long time ago just for these moments. One never knew if they were to become a victim to the same torment we delivered.

I was pulled from the water, limp but alive, my lungs burning.

---