Chapter 35 #2
I squeeze her hand. "Listen, this is important. These men are monsters, but you have protection built in. You're a Marino."
"But I'm not."
"You are. For all intents and purposes, you are.
You are, anyway, but..." I drag in air. "But here, you are Marino flesh and blood.
Anyone tries to bring up so-called evidence or hearsay, cut them down.
Your father loves you and will come for you.
He'll be more lenient if they haven't touched you. Your brother, too."
She frowns. "But—"
I pull her closer, forehead to forehead. "Promise me. This is your armor, so stick to it. Be a bratty mafia princess. You know your family is rich and important."
"I know, but—"
"Lyndall!"
"I can take care of myself. I'm a Marino, and my father and brother will fuck you up if you mess with me."
"Excellent."
Her eyes get big and shiny. "Even though they already did mess with me. This is the second time."
I shake inside. "Did he touch you the first time, when he found out who you are?"
She frowns. "No. I think he was figuring out how to do a trade."
I make myself smile brightly, but her eyes narrow like she can see through me.
She probably can. Lyndall's smart.
I hug her. "Then I'm betting you're a bargaining chip now. He'll try to make a deal."
"And what if it doesn't work like that?"
"Then we'll think of something, okay? We are staying right here, together."
I hope we aren't staying right here, though. I hope Enzo and his cavalry turn up soon. But if not, then...she'll be the one leaving safely. I'll make sure of it.
The sight of the two men raping poor Gretchen twists in my head. Am I a monster for not trying to get the gun?
I don't know. And it is something I will have to live with. I will try to get her out, too.
I realize with horror I'm not including myself in these little scenarios. Because this man wants to marry me or keep me like my father promised.
And if it means these two women getting out, I'll stay.
But my mind and stomach rebel.
I blocked Squish out, but thoughts of my baby come rushing back. And this time, I race to the bathroom to throw up.
When I'm done, I lie on the cool tiles as the terrible truth hits me.
I didn't do anything, and I wouldn't have done anything downstairs because if someone shoots me, they kill my baby. And if I stay...
No. We have to all get out of here. Somehow. Me. Lyndall. Gretchen.
Lyndall stands over me. "Is this what we will be doing here together? Puking?"
I start laughing, not that anything is funny.
Then the laughter dies. "Lyndall. We need to be nice to Gretchen, okay?"
"She's like a robot."
"For good reason. I saw what they did."
She sits on the floor next to me. "What did they do?"
Lyndall's owed the truth, just like she's owed a nightmare-free childhood. Or what remains of it.
I know she's three years away from being an adult. But at the same time, she's young and innocent and should hang on to that.
And suddenly, I understand Enzo a little more.
Lies are sometimes the only answer. So, do I do that? I lie. "They were mean, they hurt her. Hit her. We need to get out of here, but we have to take her if we can."
"I'm into that. We'll be girl heroes, rescuing trapped women everywhere."
Despite the nausea, I laugh.
She looks at my tummy as I sit up.
I frown. "What?"
"Can... can I touch?"
"There's nothing to feel."
Lyndall shrugs. "So? I wanna. Please? Girl power."
"Okay."
She puts her hand on my tummy. "We're getting out of here, little girl. And then we'll be a family."
And something in me cracks open. A sob escapes.
I try to swallow it. "Sorry. I'm just...I've wanted a sibling for so long. It got lonely growing up."
"You'll never be lonely with me, Lola." And she smiles.
I hug her. "I'm so lucky. Squish is lucky."
She huffs. "We have to give her a better name than that."
"But that's what Enzo named it."
She rolls her eyes. "He's an idiot." Then her voice drops. "And I wish he was here."
"Me, too," I whisper.
"You know the best thing about finding out you have a half-sister and you already know her?"
"What? Stealing clothes?"
"I don't think yours will fit me."
"Please."
"I'm taller than you," she says smugly.
Behind the banter lurks the scrabbling and whispers of the darkness waiting just outside this room. It's where the nightmare turned reality lurks.
But I just smile. "You wish."
"I am. And the best thing about it all is that I already wished you were my sister."
"I did, too."
We hold hands, and she rests her head on my shoulder.
It's a sweet moment.
The door bangs open.
And the moment's gone. Two big men, not Paolo or his friend, come in. They see me and grab me.
Lyndall screams, "Wait—"
They ignore her.
They ignore the pleas and cries and just slam and lock the door after they march me out.
There's no mask this time.
I'm dragged down the stairs, through the great room, and into a big room that's like an empty drawing room.
The men slam the door shut, and I'm not alone.
Gretchen.
I hurry to her, but her gaze is stone. "Don't."
"I'm sorry—"
"For what? Being forced to watch?"
"I..."
"Just don't." And she turns away from me.
Then I see where she's going. To the other end of the room.
And hanging there is a long white dress.
And I balk.
"A wedding dress?"
Gretchen nods. "For you."
I shake my head and start to back away. "No. No."
She grabs me and shakes me.
"Yes. Or things will be bad. Very bad. Now get ready. There's lingerie and makeup. Do it." Her words whip me, leaving welts.
But I slide off my clothes and pull on the lingerie.
I'm not an exhibitionist, and I'm burning all over with being naked in front of her.
It's better than if the guards were here, but still...
She had to get abused in front of me. I'm aware this is nothing.
Wearing lingerie, she makes me sit and hands me a bag of what looks like expensive makeup.
There are primers, foundations, and powders. There is mascara, eyeliner, lipsticks, shadows, and blush.
I don't wear much makeup. I don't know where to start.
"Lipstick and mascara, a hint of pink for the lids."
I stare at Gretchen.
She sighs. "Looks pretty and innocent. And maybe he'll take it easy the first few times. Maybe not."
I start applying the makeup. "At least you didn't say I'll get used to it."
"You get used to anything."
I finish the makeup in silence, and then she helps me with the dress and a pair of spike heels.
Gretchen then pins my hair and puts a veil on me. "Ready."
"I..." I swallow.
The guards barge in and rip me away from Gretchen.
"Filthy slut maid. Get the fuck out," one of them spits.
The other looks at me as he flings me forward through a pair of doors and out onto a vast patio that has been set for a wedding.
I almost throw up again, and my legs shake as my stomach protests.
I look around for Lyndall, but thankfully, she's been left upstairs.
The guard who is holding my arm says, "A slut like you should consider herself lucky that someone as powerful as Dominic Rebecci wants to marry you. And when the FBI releases your father's stuff, his money, the encrypted files, he'll have it as his."
I don't get to speak as he marches me down the patio, which has empty chairs set up on each side and a man standing at the end.
Another guard. Holding a Bible.
"We don't have a—"
"This is a mafia wedding." Dom steps out from the side in his suit, a nasty, hungry look on his face. "You don't need shit."
He laughs and motions for his man to let me go.
Then Dom looks me up and down.
His gaze lingers on my breasts.
"I can't wait to fuck you. After the wedding, we'll consummate it. I'll even give Gretchen to the men to celebrate. Keep you to myself for a while. Don't worry, they'll be fucking you, too. After you have my baby."
"No, I can't. Please..."
"Shut your fucking mouth, whore, or I'll face-fuck you as part of the ceremony." And he smiles.
Bile rises fast.
He nods to the man holding the Bible. "Let's get this show on the road."
Inside, I shout out for Enzo.
But there's no answer.
"Promise me something. Lyndall Marino will be safe."
He frowns. "Darling whore, she's my safety net. I'm not about to screw with Mario Marino. Or his dangerous son. They can have her back, safe and sound, when we're married and you're knocked up."
I choke back a sob.
He makes me turn and face the man who smirks and lowers his eyes to the Bible in his hand.
As his mouth opens, the night suddenly explodes in gunfire and shouts.
There are men everywhere.
I scream and try to run to hide.
Dom pulls out his gun, stepping on my dress. With his free arm, he pulls me into him, that arm sliding around my neck in a chokehold.
He hauls me back to the house as bullets fly.
I struggle as he shoots back.
He is yelling, "Kill them. Kill them all. Paolo, the car."
And then he drags me inside.
"Let me go," I cry as he squeezes my throat tight with his arm.
I'm pressed against him, and I can't get free.
He chuckles. "The only way you're getting free, my love, is in a body bag."
Oh God.
This is my only chance to be saved. And as far as I can tell, unless death is merciful and takes me now, I'm never getting free of this monster.
"There is no way I'm letting you go before I have my fill of you. I'd rather kill you myself."
And to prove it, he shoots someone and drags me across the room.
As I avert my eyes from the body that has just crashed to the floor, my eyes fly to the people coming in.
And there, in the middle of them, is someone I know.
Someone I couldn't be happier to see.
Enzo.