LEY

te that refused to leave my tongue. My father's pat

home it would be

ldn't bring myself to care. My stubbornne

ont door like he was a polite gentleman. His steps were slow, c

a second too long before he looked away. It made the ha

spoke, his voi

is eyes were quick, but the lazy smile pullin

ers fit for the daughter-in-law of the prestigious Blackwood fami

I must have looked like

nd. This bastard. This arrogant, cold

in front of my father, to talk about m

mixing in ugly streaks. He laughed nervously, the ki

ther. "My apologies for her behavior tonight." He was all smiles, but

uld just drop dead right there on his marble do

ike they knew exactly what he was doing. Then he turned

..

ide home

smoke filling the car. The kind of silence that presses down

ways wore when I was with them. I wasn't about to show weakne

er palm was damp with sweat, her fingers tre

lips pressed tight, eyes staring into the

ng on his throne, his phone in his hand, thum

about me. Never once about her. I stared at him, wondering what it would fe

wouldn't be

like tiny rivers. The driver kept his eyes locked forward

t I drifted into a troubled nap, images of Santino'

..

mped into my throat. I stumbled out of the car, da

across the floor. It made shadows on my father's face, sha

his jacket. He just tu

Slap. Flesh on flesh. My mother's head snapped to the

e floor, one hand

ed!" My feet wouldn't move. Fear nailed me to the floor, heavy, crush

His hand kept ri

rder than the last. My mother

She always did. If she fought back, he

ways e

as-" slap "destroyed-" slap "by you!" His words came between

er across the floor like she was trash. He

mach t

my vision but I couldn't stop

was hoarse, breaking. But he didn't stop. He

ered with blood. My mother lay still, too still, i

eye was sw

d stop being so ungrateful." With that, he s

's side, falling to my k

sobbed,

to touch, too afraid to hurt her more. My heart clenc

it twisted into a grimace. Blood spilled from he

aw, loud, shak

wollen face turned toward me. "Don't cry, my lit

d seemed t

... beneath what he shows. Do what your fa

ld smile, the strange moment at dinner when

wo monsters. My father, cruel and twis

ld break me first? I didn't know.

he devil and th