Page 19 of From My Past
“How do you feel?”
“Like I should have never let her go. And like I wanted to murder the son of the bitch that put his hands on her, but if I am going to do this, I need to do it clean. Probably call in the Clan and Kellan.”
“Are you sure that is a good idea?”
“I just want to get her out. However I can, and I’m going to.” I vowed.
Chapter Six
Talia
Ascuffling from the front door woke me up from my nap on the couch. A quick glance at the clock showed that it was after midnight and Luca still wasn’t home yet, but the scuffling meant that he was here and more than likely drunk.
Maybe the meeting went well after he sent me home. Dear god, I hope it went well. Otherwise, I was going to be blamed. I might still be blamed.
I stood up quickly as the door swung open and slammed against the wall.
“Stupid fucking idiot thinking he can intimidate me like that…lucky I didn’t shoot him in his face…too much attention…lucky.” Luca was mumbling under his breath, stumbling and tripping over his own feet as he tried to close the door. I hid behind the corner before he saw me, maybe if he didn’t see me, he would leave me alone.
“Oh, amore!” He called out through the entryway. His voice light and high like a demented hide-and-go-seek game we were going to play. I raised up on my tiptoes and ran as fast as I could without making any noise.
“You better be here! I don’t know how you got home, I don’t really care, but you better be here waiting.” He called out again, I heard athunkand a dragging. I didn’t answer, and climbed into the bed, pulling the covers up over my ears to wait for him to reach me. I hated nights like this more so than others because when he drank, I had absolutely no idea who or what I was going to get. Sometimes, he left me alone like he forgot I was even there. Other times, all he wanted to do was torture me. He’d hit me, he’d force me to sleep in the shower, he’d make me do things to him sexually.
“Wake up!” He said, stumbling into the bedroom and turning the light on. The room was flooded with light and the abrupt change made me squint to see. Luca looked awful; his hands were covered in what looked to be dirt and his knees were as well, his usually slicked back hair was all out of place and his cheeks were bright red with anger.
“Sometimes, I think I should just let you go. But then I think about how we used to be, back before I had to come up in the family business and I think maybe we can be that again.” He slurred as he left dirty handprints on the wall as he walked towards the bed.
“How did the meeting go?” I sat up and pulled the covers up and over my chest. Maybe if I got him talking, he’d leave me be.
“Good, good. Fine. Trent will be a fine addition. Although, he did seem a bit too concerned with you.” Luca approached me and it was like everything turned to slow motion as his hand came to my face and gripped my chin. Hard.
“What did you do?” His rank, stale alcohol breath fanned across my face.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did he care for you so much? What did you do? Did you tell him?”
“No! I didn’t, I barely talked to him.” I said as clearly as I could with my cheeks pushed together and my jaw in a stronghold.
“You better hope that is true. I will not have you go around and attempt to ruin my reputation with people. Get your shit together or you’ll pay for it.” He sneered and slapped my cheek once, the sound ringing out in the silent room. My cheek was already throbbing with the bruising from earlier and the slap pushed it even more.
“I didn’t.” I cried, holding onto my cheek and my eyes filled with tears.
“Stop your crying. Your tears are wasted here and very unwanted.” He rushed into my space and smacked the spot by my head.
Luca breathed into my face and I wanted to move away from him but was too scared that the next time that his hand came down it would be on my skin again. The rancid smell of his breath was enough to make me cringe, but I refused to move in case he wanted to hit me again. All I could do was make sure that I did what he wanted.
I tried to hold back my tears and make sure that none of them fell.
“I’m going to shower and when I get back, you need to be out of my bed.” He hissed in my face before ripping himself away from me and walking towards the bathroom.
Once the door was fully closed, I let myself cry for a few seconds. The tears ran down my face while I silently sobbed and left the room.
When I got to the living room, I felt slightly relieved because if he wanted me away, at least I wouldn’t have to do anything with him. That would be worse. I’d gladly take sleeping in the bathtub or on the floor before having to do anything with him.
At moments like these, I couldn’t help but think about Kieron and what he would think about me now. Instead of being the confident, sexual, ambitious girl, I was someone who was following every order and command to try and hide as best I could in plain sight. I hoped everyday to become invisible and free.
He wouldn’t give me the time of day.
