Page 50 of Psychotic Nightmares

“Where is Anya?” Dante growls. “That is the most important thing right now. We can work out feelings later.” He glides his arm around my back as he steps beside me. I look around for Pea, to see she has also disappeared. “If she is with thatstronzo,we need to get her away from him, now.”

“So you are the ex.” Julian holds his hands to his face and groans in frustration. “I should have fucking known when I saw the locket. I knew deep down though, I knew it was you.” His voice quivers. I want to hold him, to explain everything like adults, but there’s something I have to do first.

“Julian,” I reach for his hand, “where is Anya? We can talk after but I need to see my child.”

“I told you already.” Julian sighs, defeated.

“Can you remember where he lives?” Dante questions, I nod, “I’ll take you.” He picks up his keys and calls out to Pea, after saying she will stay with Nico and update Bull , Dante pulls me to the car.

And against my better judgement, I look back, the sight of Julian wiping away his tears makes my own eyes sting.

I’m so sorry, Mr Stalker.

As we get closer to the farm house where I spent the worst years of my life, my lungs almost stop working as I try and try to catch my breath.

“Breathe,gattina.” Dante tries to sooth me with one hand while keeping the other on the steering wheel. “I can go in alone, you can wait in the car.”

“No.” I shake my head. “She’s my child. I have to be the one to saveher.” I wheeze.

I made Julian cry. I never wanted to upset him.

“Okay,” he nods in agreement. “But I’m coming with you, and if anything happens.” He leans over and takes a pistol out of the glovebox. “I’ll shoot the bastard.”

I take the gun from his hand and slide it into Pea’s jacket pocket. “I will keep it until it’s needed. I can’t have you being all shooty for no reason.” I look back out the window.

“Kitten,” I shake my head. I can’t talk about it now. “I understand. I just don’t want you or Anya to get hurt.”

“I know, Dante. I know.” He twists his fingers through mine as we turn the last corner and drive up the gravel driveway. My heart stops in my chest at the sight in front of the house.

A young girl, her hair is matted and her eyes have no emotions in them as she glares at the headlights. I don’t wait for Dante to put on the handbrake before opening the door and jumping out the vehicle.

Rushing to her, she doesn’t flinch.

Stay still.

Be quiet.

Be a good girl.

She must have the same mantra burned into her head as it was mine. The top she wears is massive on her and fails to stay up on her shoulder, the shoulder with the fractured heart birthmark.Anya.My baby girl is alive, broken, but alive.

Stay strong, Natalie. Don’t cry in front of her. Be brave.

“Hey, don’t panic.” I say softly. “We’re here to help you.” She doesn't react. No show of any emotion, no attempt to move as I inspect the collar around her neck. You would have thought she was a statue if it wasn’t for the blinking and the visible breath in the chilly air, despite it being the middle of summer. “Do you know where the key is for this?” I tap the padlock attached to the collar and chain keeping her knelt in the sodden mud. She shakes her head no just once before going back to staring and blinking at the car. Not once has she looked my way yet.

I hear Dante open the door and her head starts to follow his movements, flinching a little when he gets closer. She was keeping an eye on him, just as I used to do with the ‘uncles’.

I hoped with all my heart while driving up here that she would be safe, that Pa only just got her here and she hadn’t gone through any of the torment I had faced. But by the panic on her face, she went through trauma.

I want to kill Pa.

I see red as pure rage fills me, my hands vibrate from adrenaline. But I know I can’t let her feel my anger. I have to keep calm until she is safe in the car. After that I can beat his ass. Julian’s earlier words are now lighting a fire under me.

It’s time to get angry.

“Anya, look at me sweetheart,” I gently turn her face to face me, yet her eyes stay on Dante. “I promise, we aren’t going to hurt you. We just need to find a way to break the lock.”

“I got it.” Dante whispers, holding up a small black case full of… something, and starts fiddling with the padlock. Thirty-two seconds pass in agonising silence before we hear a small click. The collar loosens from around her neck and she curls up into a ball on the floor. I notice she isn’t wearing anything other than the t-shirt.Nothingbut the shirt. Dante notices too as he covers her legs with his jacket before attempting to lift her. She whimpers and he automatically backs away, holding up his hands to show he’s not a threat.