Page 5 of Ludovico's Vengeance

“A few years ago, your grandfather and I went into business together.” The man’s gaze darts between Milo and myself as he speaks, “I want to assure you that I will continue to do my part, with your approval to do so, of course.” He explains. I cross my arms over my chest and cock a brow at him. “My part with distribution, I mean.”

My face heats as a molten rage rushes through my veins as I quickly stand and loom over the man before me. He’s at least smart enough to look a little taken aback at my reaction.

“I need you to spell it out for me because the first thing that comes to mind can’t be what you’re fucking talking about.” He staggers backward at my response.

“We - he - I mean, I - we had an - an agreement. It’s primarily cocaine and heroin, nothing stronger than those two.” Mr. Barone stumbles over his words.

My glare has him cowering into himself as I speak.

“In all the years we’ve had control, it has been made clear by my great grandfather that we do not dabble in drugs.” I snarl as I stand at my full height, my spine straight as an arrow. My chest puffs out to make my appearance more intimidating. “You’re telling me that you and Frederico had a deal to get drugs on my streets?”

Milo begins to advance toward me to grab ahold of the man who has been placed at the top of my shit list. I shake my head so quickly, only my friend sees the movement. Milo stays in place allowing it to play out the way it’s meant to.

“He approached me about the partnership after he found out.” Mr. Barone explains, his voice cracks before he goes silent when he realizes what he gave me.

The hair on my neck stands on end as his words sink in. What the fuck is this man into?

“Found out what exactly?” I snarl; Milo has moved forward with his palms pressing down on Mr. Barone’s shoulders, holding him in place. I see the wheels turning behind his eyes as he tries to determine if he can lie to me. He must decide it’s not worth it after a few moments of silence, but what he says is not at all what I expect.

“About my daughter.” His response is quiet. “No one else knows outside of the woman who raised and tutored her.”

I take a step back to take in the whole picture keeping an indifferent mask in place.

“What does your daughter have to do with anything?” I ask as I drag my fingers through my short beard.

Mr. Barone huffs out an annoyed sigh.

“It was supposed to be a boy. I never wanted a girl. I told everyone the baby and her mother died during labor twenty-five years ago.” The way he says the words as if it should be self-explanatory shocks me. “We killed her mother since she was worthless, and couldn’t produce an heir. My father wouldn’t let me get rid of her in case she could become useful down the line.”

I glance at Milo whose eyes are now as wide as mine. What. The. Fuck?

The horrors that flash through my mind for a person to be isolated for so long make my stomach flip. Where has this girl been all this time? How old is she? I don’t recall ever hearing about a wife and pregnancy before. The blood boils in my veins as I level him with a glare. Mr. Barone flinches as soon as he sees my expression. Good.

“If you want me to consider the remote possibility of you continuing on the venture you started with Frederico, I want your daughter. My men will be escorting you home and retrieving her,” I say without hesitation.

Hot water beats against my skin as I stand under the pulsing jets shooting from the shower head. I like to keep it on the highest setting of pressure that I can. After an hour of my favorite workout, the repetitive pounding from the stream of water beating against my muscles feels so good. Not that I would know what a massage feels like but, I imagine it’s a similar sensation. And boy, could I use one, especially after days like today.

My entire body is vibrating with discomfort and soreness. An hour of repeatedly punching a bag that does nothing but mock me will do that to a girl. Yes, I know it’s an inanimate object which has been in the corner of my room for as long as I can remember. However, it’s annoying, especially when I have no one to spar with like in the videos Cece has shown me. Plus, I hate cardio. I’d rather work with the free weights that I've been granted permission to use every other day. Unfortunately, Cece says I’m not allowed to have them without supervision. Seems dumb to me. But I guess, what do I know?

I grab the bottle of body wash and squirt a dollop onto my loofah before lathering my body up with soap. More often than not, I will spend an exorbitant amount of time taking a long shower; however, something is off today. It feels like if I don’t have my eyes on my surroundings, everything is going to be pulled out from under me. Though, I guess since I’ve never been outside of my room, a change would be nice. Hell, I only have one large window which overlooks the backyard. If I'm honest, I’m mostly forced away from that window.

Besides Cece, my dad is the only other person who I get to see. I've asked about my mom over the years, but I'm met with silence or a handprint across my face. So, I've stopped asking. However, my father is usually so busy with his work, it’s rare I get to see him more than once a month. It’s been explained to me repeatedly that I'm safest here. The dangers of the outside world should scare me, but the longer I’m forced to stay here, the harder it is. I crave companionship. I love the books that Cece has brought me over the years. But a girl can only handle so many stories that I’ve never had the chance to experience in life, ya know?

My twenty-fifth birthday is in a few weeks, I’m hoping they’ll let me at least step foot into the back yard. Even for just a moment, I’ve never felt the grass between my toes. It sounds like it could be heaven, to smell the fresh outside air for more than a few moments a day when we open the window.

When I step out of the shower, I grab the towel from the vanity and wrap it around my body. After dragging a brush quickly through my hair, I hear shouts coming from strange voices on the other side of the wall. I pull the towel tight as I step back into the shower and press myself against the cold wet tile. My body trembles as terror begins to take hold of my senses. Whatever is happening out there can’t be good. Tears stream down my freshly washed face as a harsh hand bangs against my bathroom door.

“Nina! Get your ass out here.” Dad’s gruff voice snarls loudly through the thin barrier.

I take a deep breath when I realize I'm safe and let him know that I’ll be out in a minute. After I go through a speed round of towel drying my body, followed by my hair, I pull on the matching set of sweatshirt and pants I brought into the bathroom with me. A bright grin spreads across my face when I open the door, it’s been so long since I’ve seen my dad. Instead of who I expect, I see a group of strange tall and muscular copy and pasted men surrounding my father. They’re all dressed in identical suits.

“Daddy? I – What's going on?” I take a step back, further into the bathroom which has suddenly become even more of a sanctuary.

“You’re no longer my problem.” He shrugs and rolls his eyes as he steps aside and all I see is the wall of men I've never met before in front of me. One begins to approach me as I cower into myself.

I scream so loudly my voice cracks when Cece comes running, her plump petite figure barrels through the men, not giving a care in the world at what may come of her disobedience to my father.

“Nina, honey it’s ok. They won’t hurt you.” She whispers gently to me as she tucks a stray strand of her blonde hair back into her messy bun. “I know it doesn’t make sense right now, but one day it will. Just go with them, please.”

---