Page 4 of Bittersweet Endings
“No time. Now listen closely, little doll. You’ll be my fucking eyes and ears in that house. Every closed-door conversation. Every underhanded deal. All of it. If someone takes a shit, I want to know about it.”
“Not a chance in hell.”
“Hell? Funny you should say that. Because I could very easily make your life a living hell. You think a little bit of starvation, a lack of clothes… was hell? Try being locked in that basement with just your thoughts. Around-the-clock beatings to remind you who owns you.”
“You wouldn’t,” I gasped. Though his smile told me hewould. “I won’t do it. You might as well kill me now. I’m not a rat.”
“You will. Or I’ll kill everyone you love. Starting with your little nephew—Nico, I believe that’s the kid’s name, right? Just look at how easy it was for me to take you… You know I can and will do it. Now, do we have a deal? Your life, your family’s… for a little intel.”
“I fucking hate you.”
“Not as much as your family is going to hate you.” He stalked closer. “Think about it. We never used protection. Not once.” His eyes dropped to my stomach before flicking back up to me. “I hope I knocked your ass up. That your parents won’t be able to bear the sight of you with a little Ragetti in that womb of yours. Now stay the fuck out of my way until it’s time to leave.”
“I hate you!” I screamed at his back. It was the only thing I could think of in the haze of my growing rage.
“Make sure you’re nice and pretty for Daddy.” He grinned, then slammed the door behind him.
***
They thought they couldn’t trust me and maybe they were right. Because Carmine was a man capable of far more than any of them realized. It was only a matter of time before he came to collect.
Would I continue to suffer and protect the only family I had?
“Can’t sleep?” My father’s voice was warm at my back.
I lifted my wineglass. “I was parched.”
He walked over and reached out an arm. “Do you mind?”
I took the bottle from the table and filled a glass for each of us before we walked over to the outdoor sofa in the sunken firepit enclosure. He lit a fire and draped a blanket over my shoulders. Burrowing into the warmth, I hadn’t noticed the chill in the air until now.
“You can’t sleep?” I asked, taking a large sip.
The fire danced shadows across my father’s face but did little to hide his tired eyes. His guilt was silently torturing him. When the devil came for payment for the life he’d paved for you, you’d better be ready.
And my father was paying for his sins through his children. We were all affected by his actions and it was taking its toll on him.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I should’ve told you sooner. I should’ve let you in.”
His eyes searched mine, but I could see he was hurting. I know the family didn’t understand how I could hide all this from them.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t trust you.” I took a sip of wine. “God, I did. I do. But… everyone always looked at us like we were invincible. Like nothing could touch this family. And for a long time, I believed that too.”
“I would’ve protected you. Hell, I should’ve protected you.” He paused, and I swallowed hard.
“But it all shattered that illusion. It made me realize we weren’t untouchable. I hid it because I thought… if I carried it alone, maybe I could keep everyone else safe. Maybe the illusion could stay intact, even if I was falling apart underneath it.”
“Baby, I am so sorry.” He held me tighter.
Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t look away. “I know it wasn’t fair. To you, to me. And I’m sorry for that. I really am. I just didn’t know how to be the crack in the armor.”
“I should’ve seen it. Should’ve realized how evil myfriendwas. I didn’t realize… I never saw it, for fucking years. How he… And Serafina… And…”
I reached over, grabbed his hand, and squeezed. “Sometimes,monsters bury their true selves so deep they don’t even know they’re there. He deserved everything I gave him in the end.”
“I will find that other bastard.” My father’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he stormed to his feet. My heart broke because I had no plans to follow him.
If he couldn’t face what had happened to me, how did he expect me to?
