A rough hand grabbed her wrist and whirled her around.
With a severe glare, her father pulled her into the hallway.He was in rare form tonight.He ground his teeth together, and his fingers threatened to rip her hand off.
“Did I not tell you to be here for dinner?”he snarled.
“I’m sorry, Papá.”Lo winced, wanting so badly to wretch away.“It must have slipped my thoughts, but I’m sure dear Juan Felipe doesn’t mind the wai—”
“Did.I.Not.Tell.You?”Her father leaned so close they were nose to nose.He didn’t yell, only because Juan Felipe was in the other room, but Lo wished he would.This quiet, seething anger made him even more terrifying.“You know what else I’ve told you to do?To stop spending your time with that disgrace of a Robles girl.”
“I don’t care.”The words came out before Lo could stop herself, but as soon as her father’s eyes widened, she knew she couldn’t take them back.
His hand crashed into her cheek.A yelp filled her ears.It was her own voice.Detached from her body.A stinging warmth raced across her face, and her heartbeat quickened as everything sank in.Her father had backhanded her.
“Don’t you dare talk back to me.”He yanked her shoulders, shaking her.She wanted to scream at him.
Wanted to slap him and shake him and—and—
“Apologize.Now.”His fingers dug into her flesh.
Her?Apologize?Lo wanted to laugh but all she could do was glare at the disgusting roach that was her father.
“I said apologize, you ungrateful little—”
“Papá,” Sera interrupted.If she saw the slap, it didn’t show on her face.“The servants are setting the table.”
He released Lo with a grunt.“Take care of your sister’s face.”
“Yes, Papá,” Sera said, unaffected by the bruise surely blooming on Lo’s cheek like a purpling rose.
Her father tugged roughly at his silver-trimmed jacket.A vulture preening after a slaughter.“And, Lorena?”
Lo closed her eyes.“Yes?”she managed.
“Do not embarrass me during this meal, and I’ll forgive your disobedience.”
“Yes, Papá.”But I’ll never forgive how you struck me.Her throat burned and all she could do was stand there until Sera came back with a washcloth and a bottle of Piel Perfecta.Sera soaked the cloth in the shimmering liquid, before dabbing Lo’s face.
The cool sensation bit into her cheek, numbing the rest of the pain.It did nothing for the storm raging inside.Pain, terror, and anger swirled and mixed into a concoction of pure hatred.Her father had most certainly spent thousands of gold coins to ensure he always had the strong potion on hand.The thought enraged her.Her fingers trembled, and her breaths came out in shaky puffs.
Sera wouldn’t look her in the eye.Her dark eyebrows knit together, and she chewed her lips as if this were a delicate procedure that took all the concentration in the world.“You know, if you would just behave, then Father wouldn’t—”
“Don’t.”Lo jolted away as if she had been slapped a second time.No, Sera’s words hurt even worse than that.They dug into her skin like splinters and burrowed to the depths of her heart.
“But I—”
“Justdon’t.”Lo pushed past her and made her way to the dining room.She didn’t need a mirror to know the elixir had already worked its magic.For years, Mamá had used it, not only on Lo’s cuts and scrapes from playing, but also on her own body.As a young child, Lo thought maybe Mamá secretly played outside at night.
But after Mamá left, the source of all the bruises reared his ugly head.
Mamá …
If everything went according to plan, in less than a day this would all end.For that exact reason, she put on her most contagious smile as she entered the dining room.This was her final performance, and she would make it the grand finale.“Oh!Juan Felipe!I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“Ah, Lorena.”Juan Felipe made a big show of standing up and kissing her cheek.The kiss was sloppy and much too close to the corner of her mouth.“I could never be upset with you.”
Sure, because his outburst on Centro Street certainlywasn’tanger.
“It’s such an honor to see your beautiful face twice in one day.”
