Page 25 of Bittersweet Endings
Well, they wanted her. They got her.
“Curious as to why I never told you I was raped?” I paused. “Because you all flinch at the word. Like hearing it cuts deeper than how I goddamn lived it. Not one of you ever asked what it cost for me to carry the burden,” I growled.
“We would’ve helped?—”
My brother’s half-assed reply was cut off by my guttural scream. “I was scared! A scared, broken girl whobelievedthe men who destroyed me—underyourwatch. And I kept quiet. Not for me. Foryou. I swallowed it all to protect this family. But I’m the villain?”
And now they wanted explanations? No. They didn’t get to speak. Not until I was done.
“Carmine didn’t brainwash me. This isn’t a fucking syndrome, Apollo. I know exactly what I’m feeling, exactly what I’m doing. He freed something within me, and I saw myself for the first time. I saw what I could be when I wasn’t buried alive by this house and its secrets.”
“He’s the goddamn enemy, Tave—” Lucky tried again.
“I know who he is!” I barked. “And I know how deep his hate for this family runs! He took me to start a war, because he thought he’d break me. And maybe...maybewe both broke. Maybe we blurred lines no one wants to admit exist.”
“And what lines are those?” My brother’s olive complexion burned bright red.
“He won’t get what he wanted. Not through me. Not again. Because I spent years being quiet. Letting silence eat me alive to protect everyone else. Now…now,I come first.”
“We would’ve protected you,” he said, and I laughed.
“You couldn’t even protect me in the same house. And for the second time, I got hurt because of you.” I leaned forward. “But not anymore.” I stood, and Rocco immediately flanked my side.
“Is that a threat?” Lucky stepped closer. I paused, and he prompted, “Well, little sister, is it?”
“A war has been brewing since before we were born,” I reminded him. “It’s now knocking at your door, dear, dear brother. Are you going to answer it?”
“The fuck are you saying?” Lucky took another step forward, but Rocco moved between us.
“Scared? Worried your wife,your son, might get caught in the crossfire?” I goaded. My brother was close to snapping and I wanted him to do it. “Hope you protect them better than you everprotected me.” I turned and added over a shoulder, “I’ll try to keep the war off your doorstep… but no promises. You know—mysyndromemight get in the way.”
“Hello, darling.” My mother walked out of the kitchen, pausing when she saw everyone trailing behind me.
“Sorry. I can’t stay, Mama.” I stopped at the door. “I’m not a traitor. I’ve protected this family better than most. But keep testing me... and I can’t guarantee where I’ll stand in the end.”
The door shut behind Rocco. No hesitation. I’d drawn the line. They no longer controlled me.
I climbed into the car. “Why can’t they see that so much has changed?”
Rocco turned to me. “I don’t know.” He sighed.
I leaned in. “Look at me.”
He wouldn’t. “Don’t make me do that.”
What was going on with him?
“I’m here,” I said flatly. “You earned that much. But I need your head screwed on straight. No panic. No collapse. When things go loud, I’ll need all ofyou.”
A pause. Then a shaky nod.
“Good.” I leaned back again. “California’s next. No chaos. No blood. I have actual business to handle.”
Rocco kept his focus on the windshield, and the rest of the ride went by in silence. My family was eating away at me, but I was going after my dreams.
Chapter Eight
CARMINE RAGETTI
