SUN #3
"You see, Sun," he says calmly, like this is just business, "we believe in collective punishment here. For your little games, sowing discord among my family and soldiers, both you and sweet Summer get to pay. That’s how it works. Just something to remember going forward."
He raises both whips in the air, takes his time with the swing, and then crack.
Hoooooooooooooooly fuck!
And he’s not even using full force, but the pain still rips a scream straight from my throat. Anzo knows how to hit, he doesn’t break the skin, but the sting radiates through every nerve in my body.
And Summer could defend himself, dammit! But then Anzo would know what Summer can do. And I get it. At least I try. But fuck, I wish he would do something!
Another strike. Both of us gasp. Then another. And another. It melts into a stream of pain…
I scream.
I beg.
I plead.
But Anzo doesn’t say a word. The blows keep coming, sharp and brutal. My back feels like raw meat. Even without drawing blood, the pain is blinding, like it’s chewing through my spine.
Finally, I start sobbing uncontrollably. I don’t even feel it coming, my body just gives in. And only then… do the strikes stop.
Anzo circles the table and looks down at my face, flushed and wet with tears. I’ve never looked at anyone with such pure hatred. If looks could kill, he’d be nothing but fucking free-floating quarks.
Instead, he smirks.
"How many more lessons do you need, Sun? Don’t worry. I’ll give you every single one. I won’t let you miss a thing."
Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to just break. To fall into that soft, quiet numbness. To accept that this is my life now.
"You know… I’ve been having some interesting chats with your dad," Anzo says suddenly.
My entire body locks up.
He pulls my phone out of his pocket.
"Your dad checks in every day, asking how you’re doing. Every fucking day! What a good parent he is… So I tell him you’re great. He doesn’t seem to believe it. He keeps trying to invite you home. Got me thinking, maybe we should stop by. You and me. So your parents can meet your new boyfriend?"
"No!" I scream before I even realize what I’m saying. "No, please, I don’t want them to see you! They’ll know something’s wrong!"
Anzo laughs. "Relax, pet. I’m way too busy to make house calls to the parents of my dildo boys."
Keep it down, Sun. Keep it calm!
He strolls behind us again, idly wrapping the whip around his wrists. "I’ll leave you with that thought. Remember, kitten, your life here depends entirely on how you behave. Play nice, and things stay bearable. Disappoint me… and I promise you’ll regret it."
Stay quiet, Sun!
I don’t.
"You can tell him no!" I yell, something snapping loose in my brain.
"Tell who no?" he asks flatly.
"Rocco! Tell him to stop taking your boys! You’re the one in charge here! And he’s coming for me, I can feel it!"
Silence. The kind of silence that chills the room. That turns it into an ice cave. For a second, I think he’s going to kill me. But then I hear his footsteps behind me.
"That’s your job, pet," he murmurs. "Make sure Rocco never gets the chance."
Holy shit. Did he just admit it? That Rocco really does this?
"My job?! You’re a fucking weak capo, Anzo!" I explode, my voice ragged. "They should fear you, not steal your boys like it’s a game!"
A jolt of electricity tears through my body, making my spine bow like an inverted ‘c’.
But my jaw doesn't listen! It opens and more venom comes out!
"You should protect what’s yours! I see now why betas aren’t the first choice for this job, they are cowards, second-class gender—"
Another jolt of shocks… I don’t even care!
Anzo leans down, growling into my ear. "Rocco never takes what I’m not willing to give, you stupid slut!"
I risk it, I fucking do!
"Wrong! He took Moon!"
The second jolt is so violent, everything goes black. But I don’t regret even a single word I said. He deserves it and more.
***
When I come to, Matteo’s arms are around me, dragging me off the table. He throws my hands around his shoulders, helping me stay upright.
"Get the trash out," Anzo says coldly. "But Summer stays. I’ve missed him."
He smiles, it’s disgusting. For one brief moment, Summer and I lock eyes.
What I manage to do is to put my lips into ‘I’m sorry’.
And then Matteo is hauling me away. I can’t help him. I can’t do anything.
But my soul, my body burns with pure hate. Those fucking bastards.
I stumble through the hallway, everything spinning, the walls the only thing keeping me upright. Matteo doesn’t really help, he’s just getting me out of the way.
When we reach my room, I collapse onto the bed, barely breathing. Exhausted. My mind is fried from the shocks. After some time, I can’t even feel anger anymore. All that’s left is static and… maybe, finally, some kind of surrender.
Perhaps that’s what Anzo wanted all along. What else can I do? I’m powerless. Under his control.
Except for one thing.
One thing that might cost me my life… and maybe the lives of people I love. Innocent people.
The only question is: will I be strong enough to resist the temptation?