Page 65 of The Viper

“I’m to keep you safe.”

“I want to be alone.” His simply shrugs as if to say, too bad. “Whatever,” I grumble and walk down the sidewalk. I cross the street and find a tiny, decrepit old park nestled toward the back of two buildings with an alley running between them. There’s a dilapidated bench that I walk to and sit on. It’s clear this park is used by the local drug addicts, because I see several abandoned needles on the ground. Thankfully, there are no kids playing out here.

Eliza must feel completely alone and isolated. I hate knowing that I don’t have enough money yet to be able to help her escape. I have maybe a thousand dollars in the bank, but with no car and no place to go, I feel like I’m stuck, which means she is too.

I close my eyes and exhale a long sigh as I try to figure out a way to help my sister. “Rosa,” Dominic’s low, taut voice forces me to open my eyes and look up at him. “This is filthy, get up.”

My shoulders sink in as I exhale a frustrated breath. I look to Marco and Frank, who are both a distance back though close enough in case anything happens for them to be here in a nanosecond. I don’t move. Instead I look up and shield my eyes from the sun beaming behind Dominic. “My sister is being hurt and I can’t do anything about it. Do you have any idea how much I hate myself for that?”

Dominic looks back to Marco and Frank, then sits beside me. He screws his mouth up with disgust as he looks around. “I’ll speak with Adrian.”

I guess that’s a start. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Do you condone domestic violence?”

Dominic clears his throat and takes a moment before he answers, “No, of course not.” He adjusts his tie as he stretches his neck. “I’ll speak to him.” He stands and offers his hand. And just like that I’m supposed to let it go.

I will for now, but there’s no way I’m not going to step in if I see more bruises on my sister.

“Rosa,” he adds as he helps me up.

“Yeah.”

He looks around once again before shoving his hands into his pockets. “I...” Dominic stalls, clearly uncomfortable with what he wants to say. “I don’t like the way my brother treats your sister either. I will speak to him.”

I want to scream that he should do more, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. It also tells me Dominic knows more than he’s telling me. What does he know?

“Good,” I reply. Until I can save more money and make an exit plan for Eliza and myself, I’m going to have to try and keep the lines of communication open with her.

This is a fucking mess.

Chapter seventeen

Dominic

“Mr. Sacco,” Jackie greets as she opens the door. She steps aside and allows me in. “Mr. Sacco is in the office.”

I give Adrian’s young house keeper a nod as I head down to his office. I open the door to find Adrian doing a line. He lifts his head and sits back on the seat. “What are you doing here?”

I close the door and head over to pour myself a drink. “Why is your house keeper working so late?”

“Because that’s her job. Anyway.” He leans forward and inhales another line. There are several more waiting for him to snort. “Here.” He holds the rolled up bill out to me, and I shake my head. “You’re so fucking soft.”

“We sell it, not use it, Adrian.”

“What’s the fun in that?” He snorts a third line. He lifts his head and clears his nose. “What do you want?”

I look around the room as I lift the drink to my mouth. “Where’s Eliza?”

“I don’t fucking know. She’s had a pretty good workout, so she’s probably asleep, why?” He lifts his arms and places his hands on top of his head. “You wanna borrow her? I don’t mind sharing with you as long as I can get a taste of that fucking pussy you have at home.” My fingers flex around the glass. “We can trade for a night.”

“No.” My teeth grit together. If I don’t calm down I’m going to lay him out on his ass.

Adrian laughs. “You scared she won’t want to return to you because she prefers a real man?” He clears his throat before leaning forward and snorting yet another line.

My pulse quickens as my muscles strain beneath my dress shirt. “Rose needs to see her sister more than she does.”

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