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I tossed the knife back down, not finding it to my liking. Next, I grabbed a pair of pliers. I opened and closed them while I spoke. “I’m sure you know he’s devastated by his uncle’s betrayal. It’s his goal that something like that never happens again.” My lips twitched as my gaze locked with his. “Loyalty is everything in this life.”
Sweat broke out along his brow. “I’ve always agreed. But I’m not sure what that has to do with us.”
“You don’t?” I sighed as I tossed the tool back. I moved to stand directly behind Gio. I dropped my hands to his shoulders, absorbing his panic. “Come on. You had to know this was coming.”
He shrugged me off, turning to face me. I got sick pleasure out of his bravado. His attempt at scaring me like he had the young man he’d known before. “What I know is I don’t like games.”
“It’s not a game. I’m here to assess your value to the family.” I pushed past him towards the door again. I really enjoyed our little encounter. I looked forward to similar ones. To watching him scurry like the rat he was.
“What?” He yelled, anger vibrating through his pores. “That’s completely unnecessary.”
“You let a junkie steal his drugs and then almost kill his wife. I’d say some supervision is necessary.”
I turned back to see his ruddy face. His bald head shining with sweat. His mustache twitching. Maybe this job would be fun after all.
5
Ariella
Iwinced as I realized I’d been digging my fingers into the flesh of my arm. I consciously pried them from my body as the car drove through the city. My mind flooded with memories as we passed the familiar streets and places I’d grown up with. The beach my mother used to take us to. The museums I visited on school trips.
But not all the memories were good. Not everything in this place was.
In fact, most of it wasn’t. The happy families on the beach were a lie. The bustling streets full of businessmen and tourists hid the real truth of what Sayton City was.
It was full of death and darkness. Filled with some of the worst crime syndicates in the world. Sure, it looked like any average Midwest city, but in reality, it was a criminal underworld.
Maybe most places were like that. Pretty on the outside but hiding their true nature. I suppose most people were like that, too. Always scheming, looking out for themselves. I had experience in both. They were all I grew up knowing.
My heart beat a staccato rhythm as the car pulled into the circle driveway of my childhood home. It was just on the outskirts of the city. More houses to one side and woods to the other.
My gaze lingered on the landscape. My chest tightened as I looked at the tree line. Remembered all the times I’d stared at them from outside my window. Waiting for the moment to make my escape. I found comfort in those woods. In the moonlight. In him.
I turned my head away, walking towards the house. Those days were over. All I had now was myself. He’d made that perfectly clear.
I no longer had the bitter taste on my tongue when I thought of it. We’d been so young. Too young for what we were facing.
“Ariella.” My sister ran through the door with all the exuberance of a child. I barely caught myself as she yanked me into a hug. “I’ve missed you.”
I inhaled deeply, pulling her familiar scent into my lungs. It brought with it childhood memories. Us laughing as children. Baking with the nanny. Twirling in our dresses.
“It’s been too long.” I sighed as she looped our arms together, directing the driver to bring my bags inside. As soon as we were through the threshold, her face morphed. Gone was her sweetness, replaced by the serene mask we were forced to have.
Never let them see you, our father would say. Not your pain. Your happiness. Your weakness.
It was also our best defense against him.
I steeled my spine as Zara led me to his office. She’d told him I was coming, and I was surprised he hadn’t called to ensure I didn’t. Not that he would keep me away from her anymore. Not when she begged me. When she needed me.
I’d stayed away mostly for myself. Because I didn’t want to face the memories here. The regret. The pain.
“How are you feeling?” I asked as we walked down the hall. My mind tried to shove me back in time. Tried to make me the scared little girl who feared this hall. The one that only led to misery.
But I wasn’t that person anymore. I was stronger. The worst had happened to me, and I lived. There was nothing more my father could take from me now.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Her hand tightened on my arm. “I knew this day was coming. But now that it’s here, I just feel numb. What if he’s like father?”
Our biggest fear growing up was that we’d be trapped in a marriage like our mother’s. It wasn’t just that it was arranged and loveless. It was violent. Our mother had walked around with more bruises than clear skin.
