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The idea of losing them hurts me, so I prefer to be part of their group, even if deep down they might not like me or think I fit in.
“Hey!” Remi yells, and relief washes over me because finally someone interrupts the silence, only for it to be short-lived when he shouts, “Let’s swim in the lake!”
Oh, no.
Fear travels through my entire system, my fingers curling on my pants while Santiago and Remi remove their shirts, ready to swim. Florian gets up, glancing at me. “Let’s go.”
“No. I don’t want to.” If I take off my T-shirt, they will see my scars, various hideous bruises from the belt buckles, and endless kicks until my bleeding body couldn’t stand it anymore and I passed out.
Once, he used a cane on me and pushed a sock into my mouth so no one would hear my screams as he delivered blow after blow.
While everyone stood around and acted like nothing happened, especially her. As long as she got her jewelry the next day, everything was all right.
Florian’s brow furrows. “You love to swim. You’re the best swimmer among us.” I groan inwardly, cursing that trip to the water park two years ago, where I had to show off my skills. One thing I excelled at, and now it is a useless talent anyway.
Wayne changed my wardrobe too, from shorts and T-shirts to long sleeves and pants so no one would see any scars. Besides, he knows when to deliver his hits, either during the week or on vacations where no one would see me much.
If I’m meeting with the boys, I usually get slapped or kicked around, but he won’t leave a bruise on my face or hands.
Antonio bought me a concealer. I’m not sure what it is, but people use it to hide imperfections on their skin. It helps me sometimes to camouflage my bruises.
Two days ago, Wayne beat me really hard, and some marks ended up on my collarbone. I used a lot of concealer, so even those bruises would be visible if I get wet!
“I just don’t feel like it. I’ll watch from here.” I muster up a smile, reaching for a pack of nuts and shake it. “I’m hungry.” That’s not a lie either. Wayne loves to starve me for days just to see me curl on the floor when my stomach hurts.
The staff is forbidden to feed me and whoever goes against his orders usually gets fired, so they just allow for this to happen.
Once I even picked up crumbs from the floor in the kitchen rolled under the table because I was so hungry.
He opens his mouth to say something, when the guys run back to us. Santiago shakes his head, splashing water from his wet hair all over us. “Come on, guys!”
“Octavius doesn’t feel like it.”
“Que pasa?”
Remi says nothing. However, his silence is very telling. Several scars mar his body, but he doesn’t hide them since the boys know about his father.
“Just drop it, Santiago, and go. Let me eat in peace,” I tease, but my friend is having none of it.
“Come on!” He pulls me, my knees hitting the grass, and starts lifting my shirt. “We can play the Four Horsemen in the lake!” Excitement coats his voice as I try to wiggle free from his hold. “It’s going to be fun.”
“No!” I shout just as he pulls at my shirt so hard, it rolls up, and they all freeze, a collective sharp intake of breath filling the space while they all stare at me in shock.
Even Remi covers his mouth, blinking several times because his bruises aren’t as bad as mine.
“Who hurt you, Octavius?” Santiago asks, getting on his knees as all the boys come closer to me, creating a circle. “Some of them are still fresh!” Anger drips from his every word. “Tell me!” he demands, and I bite on my lip. “Is it Wayne?” He mutters something under his breath. He’s never liked my cousin. “I’m going to tell Dad!”
This snaps me out of my stupor, and I grab his arm. “No,” I whisper, panic swiping over me and penetrating every bone in my body at the prospect. “He’ll hurt Estella. You can’t tell anyone!” I look at them all. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” I lie through my teeth, and judging by their expressions, they don’t believe me. “It’ll be worse.”
“Dad will help you. They have all the power,” Florian speaks up, an odd note lacing his tone. “You know that.”
“No. There is no proof of him hurting me. No one will speak up. And he’ll find a way to make me pay. He’ll stop eventually.”
At least I hope so because if he doesn’t, he’s going to kill me someday.
“Your mom—”
“She goes to the other room when it happens, and then he buys her gifts. Mostly expensive diamond rings that she shows off to people so they know she married a great husband.” Santiago gasps, and my mouth twitches with a sad smile.
