Chapter 8 #3
Turning on my computer, I begin by hacking into the cameras closest to the Accetta property.
It shows cars returning to the estate, and I hum under my breath as I continue working.
It takes me a full thirty minutes to break into Don Accetta’s security system, and that’s because he left a small back door open.
If he hadn’t hired in house, I’m sure that wouldn’t have happened. It’s a rookie mistake, one that could have been avoided, but it benefits me.
My morals aren’t the best. I’m not an ethical hacker, though I only do it when it’ll profit or protect my family.
I never thought to look at my stepfather for dirt because he scared the shit out of me, but now that he’s dead, I’ve found a ton of damning evidence on his computer.
Nico is still working through the information, while I threatened to bleach my eyes after staring at the registries of children he had for a small group of his friends to fuck and abuse.
My shudder is soothed by Nico’s hand rubbing my back and he murmurs, “Don’t think about Dad. I’ll work through the records myself.”
“I…want to help,” I sigh. “Even if it’s setting up some kind of charity to support children who have been assaulted and abused. I stick my head in the sand when things get difficult, and I don’t want to be that person anymore.”
“Really?” There’s so much shock in his voice that I flush with embarrassment.
Ugh, I really am fucking useless. “Shh. That’s not what I meant, Pablo.
It’s a happy surprise that you want to help.
I’ve been a little overwhelmed with the correct steps to help those affected by my father.
I’m aware some of these children are now adults, and it’s almost more complicated to approach them.
I don’t want to rip open wounds that they’d rather keep closed. ”
“I also doubt they have any idea your father was in charge of setting up these events with the Taylors. These are things out of a nightmare instead of real life…”
My voice trails off as I look through the video feeds, finding that after twenty four hours, the recordings are wiped.
However, it’s saved to another drive on the internet that’s supposed to be secure, but isn’t from me.
I track down the day I’m looking for, flinching as I’m bombarded with dozens of feeds.
“Don Accetta is truly paranoid to have this many cameras on his property,” I rasp.
“That’s an understatement,” Nico agrees. “Did you find something?”
“Possibly. I just have to find which of these is what I want. Here, I see Rosalia arriving in a car. I can follow her through the house by the video cameras, but…shit. She disappears into her father’s office and I can’t see her anymore.”
“Do the video cameras outside of the room have audio? Maybe we can get an idea of what happened that way.”
It takes a little trial and error before I can get the correct audio working, and then Don Accetta’s voice comes through loud and clear as he berates his daughter.
“He pretends she’s his shining star, and then treats her like this?” Nico asks, disgusted as he listens.
“No, Papa. Please, no!”
The scream makes me shudder, and the very air gets thinner as I listen to her panicked screams. Nico moves closer to me as it continues, and the sound of a heavy bottle hits the desk.
My father used to drink, and I know exactly what this means.
“Don Accetta is a mean fucking drunk,” I whisper, watching as Rosalia exits the office hurriedly. She’s clutching her stomach as she braces herself on the wall, and I shake my head as a man teases and verbally abuses her.
It’s only when she’s forced to the ground that I clamp my hand on my mouth, my heart racing as her own fucking father gives his permission for his men to violate her.
“No.” Nico’s voice breaks as he listens to the don give his men strict instructions to ensure his daughter remains a virgin. “I didn’t think he’d use that addendum so literally. I wanted a loophole in case…”
Nico doesn’t get cold feet, if that’s in fact how he was going to end his sentence. I pull in a breath to attempt to calm myself, before breathing out my nose as his anger washes over me.
Even the fucking air feels ultra warm.
“You…didn’t know,” I rasp.
“I should have,” he bites out. “Her father’s forced her to kill people and beat the fuck out of her. He’s responsible for the death of her mother, why didn’t I think he was responsible for… Oh God.”
Don Accetta just alpha barked Rosalina to stop fighting.
“Do you think Dr. Walsh was called in after this happened?” I ask, a tear escaping my eye as I mourn for a girl who deserves so much better.
I’m watching the death of her innocence, and know I’m going to have nightmares over this. We need this information to better understand both the Accettas and Rosalia, yet these are not the skeletons I was expecting to uncover.
“He recognized her and told us he was her family’s physician. I’d bet money he sewed her uncle’s fingers back on and then treated Rosa. Fuck. Don Accetta plied her with alcohol. That’s why she was stumbling earlier. Fucking bastard.”
“Do you think he planned this?” I ask, shuddering. Dario is right. They all fucking have to die. Brutally and without remorse. I may need to help.
“The Don is always several steps ahead when possible.” Nico looks away as he gasps in a breath, and I squeeze his hand. We’re both crying as we witness the exact moment I think Rosalia broke.
I doubt I’d want to live after this either.
“Stop the video,” Nico whispers. “She’s passed out. I just…I need to know how long it lasted afterward.”
Nodding, I ignore how hard my fingers tremble as I fast forward the video, tracking the length.
“Half an hour. They took turns…” Bile rises up my throat, forcing me to gag as I stop talking. “The doctor showed up soon after, Nico. It’s Dr. Walsh.”
“I need to see how much damage there was. I misunderstood her so badly…”
“You can’t punish yourself—”
“The fuck I can’t!” Nico screams, sagging after the outburst. I can feel his remorse through the bond, so I wave it away. We both have big emotions, which means we’ll lash out and make up.
It’s just how we work.
“Then let’s watch.”
Nico and I hold each other as we watch the rest of the feed.
We flinch at every stitch, and note the way the doctor struggles to remain calm and professional throughout it.
I make it a point to move to the outside video camera to catch the way Dr. Walsh kicks at the gravel and screams once he’s alone, and I decide I like him better for it.
He helped Rosalia where he could, and now we’ll take it from here.
She deserves to be free from the evil of her family.