Page 5 of Bittersweet Endings
He strolled back over a few minutes later, a wine bottle in each hand, and I couldn’t hold in my laugh. He waited for my answer. Lifting my glass, he filled it quietly and we continued to drink in tempered silence.
“I never gave you enough credit,” he said, his voice rough. “You’re so strong. Look how you carried things none of us ever saw.”
“It’s okay.”
He shook his head. “You were always the quiet one. Always so steady. I thought… I thought that meant you were untouched by our world. But you were just carrying it in silence. I should’ve known something was wrong when I saw your light dim.”
“I’m here, Dad. I made it.”
He held me tighter. “I failed you. I was supposed to protect you. And I didn’t. I’m so damn sorry for that. But I’m in awe of you. You’re still standing. Still fighting. You’re more than strong, Octavia. You’re incredible. And I see you now. All of you.”
Curling my legs under me, I wrapped myself in the blanket and leaned against the pillow. I had nothing to say because I was scared I’d cry. So I let his words settle over me and I felt myself drifting off.
His fingers stroked over my hair and right before I was lulled to sleep, I smiled. He finally saw me—the real me. His little girl wasn’t this weak flower that was terrorized by a swift breeze.
I was a monster that buried that weak shell.
And I was unstoppable and unapologetic.
***
The next day, I could tell my father felt those bottles of wine just as badly as I did. Sitting at the kitchen island, I pushed my eggs around my plate. I’d had to take some aspirin and chug water before I could even attempt to eat.
He squeezed my shoulder as he passed, getting his own water before heading back to his office. I heard my brother moving in the hall to follow him. Apollo walked in and paused when he saw me. I ignored him as I tried to eat, but I could feel him staring at me.
“You can have it,” I muttered, going past him as I abandoned my eggs on the table.
Their stares. The silent accusations. It all pissed me off, but what seemed to make me snap was a singular question that was asked on repeat.
“Hey.” Sienna caught me on the stairs.
Holding on to the railing, I tried to smile. “Where’s Salvatore? Napping?”
She nodded. “You seem… Are you okay?”
And there it was.
Clenching my jaw, I tried to stop the tears from burning the backs of my eyes. My chest heaved with so much I wanted to say, to scream, to confess. But as usual, I swallowed it back.
What else was I supposed to do?
“Kill me, Sienna. Now. Because I cannot handle being away from him. It’s like the broken pieces he collected and put back together are obliterated now. And if you don’t kill me, he is going to force me to turn against you all. More than I already have.”
I shook my head. “Yes. Thanks.” I started climbing the stairs. “Just tired. I’ll talk to you later.”
I moved as fast as I could so I wouldn’t be forced to seeanyone else. Closing my door, I slid the lock in place and pressed my back to it as I allowed the tears to finally slide down my face. They were trying, but they weren’t listening.
My cell phone started ringing on my desk, snapping me out of it. I wiped at my cheeks, my head congested from lack of sleep and too much thinking. I was exhausted. A number I didn’t know flashed across the screen. I answered it anyway.
“Hello, little doll.”
I froze to the spot.
“Miss me, babe?” He chuckled.
“Screw. You.”
“That’s my girl. There’s that fire I’ve missed.” He sighed. “Miss that dirty mouth wrapped around my cock. That tight throat swallowing my head, sweet tears pouring from those icy eyes.”
