rt

s. I don't smell anything but musty dampness. I swallow hard to keep from re

of cars moving

uck up, yo

curl away from it, turn my face the other way,

gr

you don't get the hell up from th

. You'd think after years of getting whipped, slapped and battered by him, I would've gotten u

s not the one who put us

rother. The slightl

en if she unlocks our cuffs,” h

snarls before digging his toe into my ribs. I hiss at the pain. “Up

r alone,

ly, the pain sharp at my neck and back. I bring my hand up to my

shards of mirror crunching underfoot as I took flight.

d I couldn't be more thankful. My terrible wedding day.

e musty dampness... it's not only in this room. I trace the smell t

t is still str

ness passes. When I open them again, a tall, dark shadow lo

nc

t, and look who's up

s the room, his back against the far wall, his head tilted to th

e looks so different. Smells like a wreck. He's been beaten like never before, sporting a cut lip

s must be as well. They're behind him. I'm the only o

cause I'

falling to the ground too delicate in this dungeon room. That's what this is. A cell in a dungeon room. The walls are four, stoned, and the fourth is a wall of bars. The window Vincent is pr

n passed out s

we in the cellar of the compound I was imprisoned in the basem

he inches his neck forward. I'm sure that if his hands weren't tied, he would have

eful eyes. His black hair is to

feeling a stab of self-loathing. What the fuck is wrong with me?

heard in his voice, resigned. Like there's no hope of living anymore in him. His face is also dec

lip before I ask.

than all of us, and we treat him like a

egory says, looking d

't these fucking ropes o

snort internally, shiftin

going on

re bet

do? Oh my

shaking his head. “H

announces with a disgusted look. “He put

eetheart,” I say sharp

of us. Now move it.” H

ing open nearby. Light infiltrates the space just outside the cell. Heavy footsteps follow — brooding thuds and a man's voice

s, awkwardly shuffling to his

nd chills do

of them carrying a heavy-duty flashlight. They insert a key into the lock and open our ca

eady terrified. His gaze flits between my brothers and my sleeping cousin. He's clean-shaven for once, hair

imbecile,” Vincent bristles, spitting in his

en as though he's inviting Vincent in for a

zy ol

s aside. Three more soldiers, another man I know isn't a soldier j

, and I would recognize those eyes anywhere. I will never forget those eyes. Tha

king up most of the entrance, sucking up more

ing a hand to my chest, I star

It's a foreign language, alright. Italian. I'd have known that these weren't Esmeralda men from anywhere. He's wearing a red suit that looks just

others in turn, and I try my best not to shrink

's a scar running along his right cheek. It does nothing to take away from his features. Instead, it achieves the opposi

girl, and my life was far from

brothers do. I see the fear in their eyes. Feel it in the anxiety wafting

going