Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ROSALIA
The sun feels fucking glorious on my face, and I am incredibly happy to be outside in the world. I’ve escaped the house, with the help of Nico, and I’m making the most of our time together.
We found a band playing at a bar and took a seat on the outside patio. The water stretches out behind me, allowing me to simply soak up everything I love about my city.
God, I’m going to miss it when I have to leave after my wedding.
Nico hasn’t pressed me for any more information, and let me take the lead as I weaved our way through the River Walk. As soon as I found somewhere I wanted to sit and grow roots, he followed me.
I can feel the worried glances from him, but I ignore them. If a few hours of freedom is what I’m gaining from his company, then I’ll be grateful for it.
The band announces that it’s taking a break, and I debate moving on.
“Rosa,” Nico murmurs, leaning forward to press his lips to the shell of my ear. “Have you eaten at all today?”
“Just this disgusting smoothie my father forces me to drink,” I sigh. “I’ve been drinking one every day since a little while after I turned eighteen.”
“What’s in the smoothie?” Nico frowns as he leans back to gaze at me. His green eyes remind me of jewels and I shrug helplessly.
It’s not a good idea for him to get too concerned about my wellbeing, though that ship may have sailed.
“Vitamins and shit. I honestly have no idea, because no one tells me anything,” I shrug. “I’m also not in a position to ask.”
Nico growls under his breath, shaking his head as he leans back in his chair.
“And you still have no appetite?” he asks.
Biting my lip, I think about it. My stomach hurts when I think about real food, but I would kill for some fucking gelato.
“There’s a place that serves gelato not far from here. Can we walk there?”
Nico snorts, standing as he offers his hand to me.
“I will never say no to gelato, mia piccola. Let’s go.”
My eyes widen at the way he said that as I rise to my feet.
Don’t take him too seriously. I can’t trust him, despite the various nice things he’s done for me. Allowing him to hold my hand, I have to admit it’s kind of nice.
I still want him to keep the rest of his body parts to himself though. My body hasn’t quite recovered from my father’s brutal punishment the day I met Nico. The very thought of a penis makes me break out into a cold sweat.
“Deep breath, Rosa. There’s nothing to hurt you here.”
I find myself sucking in air simply at his suggestion, and I glare at Nico.
“I didn’t force you to, don’t blame me for being a good girl,” he says with a smirk.
“Whatever.” Rolling my eyes, I walk slowly beside him, enjoying the breeze as it ruffles my hair. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get all of the bruising with my makeup, so I plan to cover problem areas with my curls if necessary.
I’ll happily continue to ignore the fact that he affects me. My stomach does a little flip flop as his thumb rubs absently against my hand, and I tell myself it means nothing.
“We’re causing a stir in certain circles in Savannah apparently.
Typically, there are a lot of filler events for couples before they get married, even if it’s an arranged marriage.
It’s so people can congratulate the couple, and also allows the bride's family to flaunt their wealth. Your father is refusing to do any of them due to the escalation in our wedding date,” Nico explains.
“People think you’re pregnant and we’re rushing to hide the baby. ”
“Ha!” I snort, shaking my head. “The only way I could be pregnant is by divine intervention. As far as the chatter about our marriage, Savannah is a small town. People talk, especially about my family.”
“I’d say that all families have their issues, but most don’t grind women into the ground the way yours has.” Nico appears angry at my lot in life. I squeeze his hand since there’s nothing I can do about it, and signal where the gelato shop is as we get nearer to it.
“What are your issues with your family?” I ask. “You haven’t spoken much of them outside of your stepbrother.”
“I live with my two brothers and stepbrother. I moved out of my father’s house shortly after I found that I had feelings for my stepbrother, merely to keep myself from having to have any awkward conversation,” he explains.
“My father would fuck anything that walked and was female. He also actively encouraged others to partake in their perverse behavior by supplying them with underage children.”
Nico says this so nonchalantly, I almost trip on air as I turn toward him in shock.
“What…” My jaw practically unhinges as it drops and Nico smirks without mirth as he opens the shop’s door for me.
“Opening your mouth is a good start for eating your dessert, Rosa.”
I find myself speechless as I struggle to process what he just told me. Leave it to a man to tell you nothing about their life and then overdose you with the truth. Holy shit.
I don’t think this is common knowledge, or Papa wouldn’t have agreed to the wedding otherwise. As he’s said before, he’ll deal in some really shady shit, but kid stuff isn’t his thing.
“Fuck. Was I too honest and ruin your craving for gelato?” Nico asks. “I don’t even know why I told you that.”
“I’m fine,” I rasp, my mind racing. “You haven’t inherited his proclivities though, correct?”
“Guns and sex are what I deal in,” he says. “Drugs are a pain in the ass, so I’m not interested in peddling it.”
We’re standing in an empty store having a very difficult conversation and I nod as I swoon. Shit. The world is a little fuzzy as well, probably from stress.
“I don’t like women and anything to do with kids isn’t acceptable.
Children should be cherished, as ours will be,” Nico adds.
“I am not my father, and I only recently learned about his side business having to do with children. I’m currently paying reparations as I track down anyone who was affected by this. ”
“You’re throwing money at this?” I ask, appalled.
“More like offering to pay for their therapy. If money is demanded for their emotional distress, I’ll provide that as well. It’s another reason we have to get married. I’m only in control of my father’s legitimate businesses if I comply with the will.”
“Okay. I need a second, Nico. Will you get me something with strawberries, please?”
“Yes. Where are you going?”
I don't respond, knowing his eyes are tracking me as I pull away and walk to the restroom. I need to splash some cold water on my face and regroup. I don’t blame Nico for his father’s actions, because I know what it’s like to be the child of a bastard.
My mind is simply reeling at the realization that we’re really not all that different.
Gazing in the mirror at how pale my features are, I wonder at the evilness in the world.
Sticking my hands under the cold water, I dry them before pressing them to my face.
If I wash my face, I may fuck up my makeup.
I didn’t have a chance to use my setting powder, and had to hope the heat wouldn’t melt it off my skin.
Deep breaths, Rosa. I repeat Nico’s previous words to me as I inhale in and out with my eyes closed. Shit, I think I’m having a panic attack.
“Rosa?”
Whirling around at the soft voice I would know anywhere, I open my eyes to find Vero standing inside the bathroom with me. I can’t think of a single thing, yet my body throws myself at her as I sob.
“Oh, sweet girl. I’m here. I’m so sorry I’ve been gone for so long.”
“Are you okay?” I ask, crying. “Don’t go home. Please, please, it’s not safe. Papa might kill you if you do. Or worse…”
The unspoken words that I might be forced to do it hang in the air as Vero holds me tightly.
“What’s changed? Rosa, you’re shaking so much. Who is that man waiting in the ice cream parlor? He’s just staring at the bathroom door, barely moving. It’s creepy. Shh. Fuck, you’re scaring me.”
“That’s Nico. I’m getting married on my birthday to him,” I gasp. “I don’t know what changed, but Papa decided you and I couldn’t continue to be together. A part of me wondered if he knew, but I think someone may have sent him photos of that day.”
“We kissed,” Vero remembers. “This is bad. What’s underneath your dress? It’s so hard.”
Her hands move over my dress, and I realize what she’s talking about.
“A corset,” I murmur, getting myself together as I pull back to look at her. “They’re for what I believe are broken ribs. At the very least, they’re bruised. Papa didn’t think it was important to have them x-rayed.”
“Ribs…Rosa, what the fuck?!”
“I can’t see you again,” I confess, tears blurring as I stare at her. “Vero, I’m leaving Savannah after I get married. You should leave too. It’s not safe. If Papa gets his hands on you…”
“I know. He’ll kill me,” Vero grunts, blowing her bangs out of her face.
She looks rumpled, her hair is tangled and a mess, and I decide my next words don’t matter.
“There are things worse than death. Trust me. Where have you been? Did things go badly at your grandmother’s?”
“The old bat forced me into the crawl space under the stairs, and then left me there. I pissed myself while waiting to get out, and she finally let me out complaining of the smell so I could shower. I escaped out the window of my room as soon as everyone was asleep,” Vero grumbles, tears also trailing down her face. “Rosa…What’s worse than death?”
“Wishing for it and not getting it. A lot has changed since I last saw you. I don’t…think I can fight anymore, Vero. I’m trying, but it’s really fucking hard.”
“Fuck.” She hugs me tightly, and I hug back, knowing this is probably the last time I’ll ever see her. There’s so much I still don’t know about how she is, and I get the feeling our time is running out.
A sharp knock hits the door, making us both swallow back screams as we cling to each other.
“Rosa, are you okay? I have a weird…feeling,” Nico growls.
I shudder, knowing there’s this odd connection neither of us understand.