Page 78 of Weaponized

He shrugs. “Yes. But to my knowledge, our father is still out there, thinking that you’re ‘this close’ to getting engaged to a Larozzi, and if he finds out that either of us has fucked him over, he’ll kill us. Slowly.” He sighs. “The question is whether Victor will get to him before he finds out what we’ve done.”

“Why do you think he will?” I know my father is vicious. I also know he’s clever and unusually well informed. However, I can’t think of how he’d figure out that either Rowan or I have a relationship with Victor.

“Nothing stays quiet long, G. He’ll figure out at some point that you were in his workshop. He’ll piece that together. Or, if Gianni really hates you, he’s figured out a way to get to Da already.”

I feel sick. I hadn’t considered any of those possibilities. I thought I was better at this game. I’ve turned soft. Trusting.

Rowan must see it on my face. “It’s okay, deirfiúr.” His voice is soothing. “It’s agoodthing that you don’t see danger around every corner. It’s because you’re a good person.”

“Row—”

“Gráinne. Stop. You are not to blame for our father’s actions.For his sickness. For the things he made you do at twelve, fourteen, or sixteen. For being raised to believe that you only fulfilled his twisted purpose. You did what you had to in order to survive, but you’re more than that, G.” His eyes are shining. “You’re my smart, interesting, funny little sister. You’re Maeve’s protective, inquisitive, and involved older sister. You matter for a lot of reasons that you’ve never given yourself credit for.”

I throw my arms around him. “You matter too, Rowan,” I tell him hoarsely. “I love you, and I’m so glad you’re my big brother.”

He squeezes me tight, and I can feel my heart start to heal a little. Finally, I pull back.

“I’d like to go see Elizabeth,” I tell him. I notice that I have a dozen missed calls from her on my phone. He nods slowly.

“That should be okay, as long as you aren’t alone. Her place is on campus, so you should be safe there. I can drive you,” he tells me.

“I can take your car,” I inform him. “And I’ll take the pistol under the seat with me.”

His eyebrows raise. “Well, maybe you are more observant than I knew.” He pauses, thinks. “Okay, I have the tracker on you. You’ll have the gun. Go ahead, give her a call.”

Thirty minutes later, I’m headed out in my brother’s Mercedes towards Elizabeth’s town house. She was nearly hysterical with worry when I called her. I explained how my phone needed to be fixed, which I guess is true enough. She insisted on having a girls’ night where she, Taryn, and I can watch movies, eat junk food and not talk about boys.

I adore my friends, so I think this plan sounds perfect. It’s still a little early for the evening that she has planned, but I want to give Elizabeth a hug. I know. I’ve changed. I’m not the same singularly focused person who enrolled at St. A’s only a few months ago. I’m still trying to reconcile my recently discovered need for friendship with the aloof person I’ve always been. Elizabeth and Taryn mean something to me. They give me a sense of belonging, a sense of equality that I’ve never experienced before. I can’t seem to let it go.

I stop at a convenience store to pick up some chips and salsa, along with some soda and ice cream, because, hey, why not? I don’t want to show up empty-handed. I pop open the door to the back seat to set down the grocery bag, which is full, given we all prefer different types of Ben & Jerry’s. As I move to stand back up, I feel a blinding pain in the back of my head. The world goes dark.

Gráinne

The pain is excruciating. I’ve never had a headache this bad before, and I move to get out of bed when I realize: I’m not in my bed. I’m a little foggy on what’s happening until I notice that my hands have been zip-tied together.

I suck in a breath.My father knows.He knows and he is going to kill me. He figured out I was in his workshop. He knows I told Victor. My entire body trembles. I wonder if he has Rowan too. Or Maeve. Please not Maeve.

I gulp air and try not to hyperventilate. My eyesight is a little blurry, but I know I don’t recognize my surroundings. I’m in…a cabin? When did my father get a cabin? My ankles have also been tied together and I’m at an awkward angle. I’ve been thrown on a couch and my face is mostly sunk into its musty cushions.

It’s completely silent and I’m trying to get my eyes to focus. If he’s left me, he’ll be back soon. I need to see if there is anything I can use as a weapon. Or, maybe there is something that will cut through the zip ties.Focus. You need to focus.I don’t have an opportunity to find anything useful when I hear him.

“Ah, I see my bella is finally awake. Seems like thepiece of shityou tried to wipe off of your shoe didn’t go away.”

Gianni Abruzzi is standing over me,sneering. Both his eyes are swollen and bruised from where I punched him in the face. He laughs without humor. “Oh, have I surprised you? Did you think I would let you catch me off guard—twice—and do nothing about it?”

So, he’s figured out that I was the one who interrupted his assault at the start of the school year. For a brief moment, I’m relieved. It’snotmy father. But that feeling is short-lived.

“I’m not at a disadvantage now, bitch,” he spits at me. “You’ve taken everything from me. My friends. My family—”

“I don’t know—” It’s hard to speak. My brain is so fuzzy.

“Don’t interrupt me, cunt!” He grabs me by the throat and I struggle to breathe as his hands tighten. And tighten. “I’d love to choke the life right out of you,” he growls while still squeezing.

He bangs my head off the arm of the sofa before he releases me. I cough and struggle to suck in air. I move my hands and realize I can barely feel my fingers, the plastic is so tight around my wrists. I move them up to touch my neck when I encounter my necklace. My necklace. My fingers grasp my charm as hard as possible, but he is back on me.

Gianni lifts me off the couch and tosses me on the floor. I go for my necklace again, and he punches me straight in the face. I hear my nose crunch. Blood pours over my lips and I can taste it in my mouth. It clogs my nostrils, making it hard to get the needed air in my lungs.

“Oh, that hurts, doesn’t it, bella?” he taunts. “You don’t know pain yet, but you will. You see, first—first, I’m going to find out what’s so special about that magic pussy of yours. You had Luca panting like a dog, chasing you around like you were a bitch in heat. He had no time for anyone but you. I wondered what was so special about that cunt. But, I promise you, I’m going to find out.”

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