AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I just can’t seem to make myself do it.
“If you’re having trouble,” he says, “then I have something that will make it easier on you.” He walks to the kitchen, expecting me to follow. I hate myself for it, but I do.
Grabbing a glass vial from the back of one of the shelves, he hands it to me. “Just slip this in Antonio’s drink, and that will be that. So simple.”
I don’t grab it. “Won’t he detect it?”
“It’s odorless and tasteless. It’s like water. As I said, simple.” He thrusts it at me, but I still don’t take the vial.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
His eyes darken, and a subtle sneer crosses his face before he smooths his expression out. “All right.” He pockets the vial before walking out of the kitchen. I follow him into the living room, where Anna still sits. But instead of watching videos, she has her phone positioned on the coffee table and is trying to recreate one of the dances she was watching.
“Anna,” he barks, making her jump. She stops, looking guilty.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing? Acting inappropriately?” He sneers at her phone. “Give me that.” He takes it from her and smashes it to the ground, making Anna jerk back. “Don’t act like that again. Do you understand?” She nods quickly. For the first time, she looks frightened. Maybe now she’ll start to understand what I’ve been trying to tell her.
“Now, clean this up,” he says, nodding at the broken phone on the ground. He turns to me and motions for me to follow him into the foyer. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg, daughter.” He keeps his voice low so only I can hear him. “I can hurt Anna is so many different ways. In much worse ways than breaking her phone. Do you want me to use my belt on her?”
I flinch back. “No,” I whisper.
“No? I couldn’t hear you.”
“No,” I repeat louder. “Please don’t.”
“Then use this.” He hands me the vial again. This time, I take it, even though my hands shake the entire time. “Just pour it in Antonio’s drink and things will be done. You’ll make me proud, Nina. I know you will.”
I nod and start to turn toward the door when he stops me.
“I need to hear you say it,” he says.
I know what he wants, and it’s the last thing I want to say. But I say it anyway. “I’ll make you proud, Father.”
“Good girl. Now you may go.”
I hurry out of the condo as fast as I can and practically run downstairs and outside, gulping in deep breaths of the fresh air. I put the vial in my purse, unable to look at it for a moment longer. I have to go home and use it on Antonio.
Someone … something … give me the strength to make it through this.
* * *
When I get home,Antonio isn’t there. For a moment, I’m disappointed. I want him to see the vial in my purse and grab it, demanding answers. I’d tell him everything, I know. He’s the one who could help me.
But could he help save Anna from my father? He hasn’t saved his family from Franco. And if he can’t even save his own family … How would he save mine?
I rush over to the cupboard, take out a glass, and fill it with water. Then, with shaky fingers, I pull the vial from my purse. Staring at it, I know my father is right. It would be so simple. I can pour it in this glass and give it to Antonio to drink.
And yet, when I open it up and start to angle it toward the cup, I pause. Can I really kill Antonio? This is eating me up inside.
The tiniest drop lands in the water when the front door opens. I jerk and close the vial, turning toward the door as Antonio walks through. He gives me such a warm smile; it breaks my heart.
“Hey,” he says, coming over to me. “How was your day?” He kisses my cheek, making me feel even guiltier.
“Um …”
His eyes slide over to the vial in my hand. “What’s that?”
