Page 47 of Massimo

I choke on a scream. "I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

Terror spears through every cell in my body. I might throw up, lose control of my bladder, pass out, or all three, as what I'm seeing shifts between the guard now and the guards ten years ago in my father's office.

"I'm sorry!" I scream. "I'm sorry! Whatever I did wrong, I won't do it again!"

I'm trying to scramble away, but strong hands are gripping me. They're powerful,deadlyhands.

But they're not hurting me; they're stopping me from spiraling straight into hell.

"Nova!" Massimo sounds far away as my eyelids flutter. My heart pounds so fast and hard it hurts my chest. "Nova, sweetheart. Come back to me."

My entire body is bludgeoned with pain, the result of holding onto the horror I witnessed and was forced to endure—the lesson I had no choice but to learn—slowly destroying me from the inside out.

"Massimo," I croak.

"Come back to me, princess."

It's the 'princess' that shatters my walls—said like a soft caress rather than my father's sneered hiss.

A roar like a locomotive rushing forth with all the pain and rage I feel from what my father did to my mother—all the intense hate I have for him—barrels out of me as I scream and scream.

Then black engulfs me.

Chapter 21

Massimo

"JesusmotherfuckingChrist."

I catch Nova as she collapses. I scoop her up, cradling her tightly to my chest, and go back into the bedroom.

"Get Jerome!" Gabe shouts at Damien.

Before I can get Nova to the bed, she's lurching awake, clawing to get away. My heart is being torn out of my chest as she sobs and chokes, promising not to do it again.

Then I freeze as she whimpers and says in a broken, small voice, "I promise not to run, Daddy. I promise not to fight. Please… Stop hurting Mama."

"Massimo, she's going to puke," Gabe warns.

We get Nova into the bathroom just in time. I kneel, holding her over the toilet, refusing to let go of her as she retches. It's mostly bile because she's eaten so little the past few days. I need to get more food into her, but that's a problem for later.

Jerome pushes in with Damien on his heels. "What happened?"

"She's having a flashback of some kind. I don't know how to stop it." My voice cracks as Nova heaves in my arms again, shaking so hard that she may shatter into a million fucking pieces.

Gabe touches my shoulder. "You were pulling her out of it, Mass. Talk to her again."

I kiss her head and take a deep breath, not consciously forming my words to her.

"Nova, sweetheart, you're safe. No one here will hurt you. I've got you. I'm not letting you go." She cries out but grips me closer. "I'm never letting you go," I promise fiercely. "Never. I'll keep you safe. I swear on my goddamn life. You're safe. You're mine. My princess." I hate myself that I ever called her princess with disdain and hate. How could I be such a fucking idiot?

Her shaking eases, and she curls into me.

"My princess," I whisper again, rubbing her back. "My little hellcat. Come back to me, Nova."

Her body shudders as she fully relaxes against me. I can feel her presence return, no longer trapped in the hell inside her head.

Her words to her father echo like a shotgun blast in me.

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