My father drops the heavy bottle on the desk, and begins to play with a lighter as he sits on the edge of it. He glares at me as I kneel before him, flicking the flint wheel of the lighter with his thumb in thought. Leaning forward, he grabs the skirt of my dress, pulling me toward him as I swallow back a scream.
The yellow-orange tip of the flame heralds a very painful death if he allows it too close to the liquor soaked material of my dress, and I’m not entirely sure I’d be able to get out of it without being burned.
Burn marks would ruin my value in my father’s eyes, even if he was responsible for it.
“You will not embarrass me, daughter, or it’ll be the last thing you ever do. I will relish in your screams as I kill you, even asI mourn the income you’d bring me by suffering your existence. Do I make myself clear?”
My heart slams in my chest as I see myself explode into flames. Except, it only happens in the fucked up imagination of my mind, and I scream out something that resembles my assent. Burning to death is up there with some of the worst ways to die on my list. I think it may even be worse than being raped to death.
The liquor slides through my veins, making me feel drunk and stupid when I need to be smart and sharp. I don’t know how I’m going to be sober enough to deal with Nico’s visit later, but I’ll have to make a solid effort.
Fuck, what if he thinks I’m a lush? I doubt that’s something he wants in a wife right? In my mind, Vero and my safety hinges in my marriage. She’ll leave the house once I’m no longer here. We may both be broken, but she’ll be alive.
I’ll merely exist as a semi sentient baby incubator. Maybe I’ll love my children, maybe not. I don’t have much experience with positive family relationships. I’m in love with my stepsister, and my family wants to fuck or kill me.
Lovely, huh?
“Good.” Papa removes the flame, and tosses the lighter onto the desk. “Go clean up, and don’t fucking embarrass me.”
My legs feel like jello as I attempt to get up and fail. I would crawl like a fucking dog, but that’s just begging to be kicked or set on fire. My chest heaves with every hard won breath as I move, and my stomach threatens to evacuate all the liquor I was forced to swallow down.
Finally on my feet, I stumble out of the office, collapsing against the wall once I’m out of my father’s sight. I really hope Vero doesn’t come home tonight. I don’t want her to fall victim to my father’s cruelty, and I’m not in any shape to protect her.
My hand trembles as I pull the knife from the holster on my thigh, despising how weak I feel. My father’s men are like a pack of vultures, they’ll happily fall on me simply because I seem like easy prey. The door to the study slams shut, a sure sign Papa no longer gives a shit what happens to me for the next three hours.
After all, I’m technically still a virgin if my other holes are fucked. All my father cares about is his reputation at this point, and my uncle’s smarmy grin tells me he knows that.
“You look like shit,” he says helpfully, watching as I push myself off the wall.
I say nothing as I force my legs to carry me on their own steam. The only thing keeping me going is desperation, spiritual duct tape, and the promise of a shower when I get to my room.
“It appears that the princess is out of favor with the king,” Tony chuckles. He’s my father’s current favorite enforcer. It’s not always a blessing to be Papa’s favorite. Sometimes, it can be a death sentence.
“I have to go upstairs to get ready,” I wheeze, my hand tightening around my knife.
“I heard what he said, we all did, didn’t we boys?” Uncle Elio asks with a shrug. “All I heard was that she had to stay a virgin and be able to walk.”
Adrenaline dumps into my bloodstream so quickly, I almost fall to my knees.
“No. I won’t go easily,” I promise, glaring at the two versions of my uncle as he steps toward me. My vision is blurring as the alcohol sinks into my system, betraying me with a warm glow I have no business feeling.
The odds are not in my favor.
“I’ve waited a long time to have you suck my cock,” he snarls.
“I am your niece, you gross old man,” I say, forcing myself to breathe. I cannot pass out.
I have to stay present for as long as I can.I promised Vero.
“You’re related in some way to almost everyone in this room,” Elio laughs.
He lunges for me and I react without thought, slicing down to dig my blade into his arm. I manage to remove a few of his fingers as well as I continue to drag the knife until it’s free again.
“I’m also more of a pain in the ass,” I rasp.
“I’ll gladly show you a pain in your ass,” one of the men laughs, palming his cock through his pants.
It doesn’t matter who is who to me, because they’re all my enemy. I have few happy moments with my family, and the one memory I remember of my mother is that she used to sing to me. Even that was right before she tried to drown me.
