I’m thrown back down by this animal. I kick and scream at him to let me go with all of my might, hurting myself even more as I struggle to get free.
“Come over here and help me tie her down!” He roars.
“Fuck you, you bastard!”
Somehow I’m able to get one arm free. I bring it up and claw at his face with my nails. Blood instantly pours out, dripping everywhere.
“Leave her alone, Royal. Or would you prefer me to call you Scarface.
It’s Manny, his voice small and barely recognizable.
“Fuck off, little brother.”
My eyes go wide. I stop trying to get away. All I can hear is ‘little brother.’ I look closely at the beast towering over me. The resemblance is there; that single eye is identical to Manny’s. I’m going to be sick. These two are brothers. I don’t understand.
“So, now you know who I am,” he sneers, glancing down at me.
I recognize it in his tone, too. They sound so much alike. I’m in such a daze that I don’t even see or hear the other man come around to the opposite side of the bed until I feel a prick in my arm.
“No, Royal! Fuck you! It’s me you want, not her. Fucking leave her alone, God damn you!”
“Manny.”
Is that me talking? Whatever it is they just shot me up with has my head foggy. A euphoric feeling travels through my veins. My skin is burning up, itching everywhere, but I can’t scratch it. I can’t move. At least my body doesn’t hurt anymore. Are they tying my hands down? My legs? I can still hear someone thrashing about, screaming and hollering. I don’t know how long this lasts. Maybe seconds, minutes, hours? I’m alert. At least I think I am.
“Wake up, princess.”
A series of sharp slaps is delivered to my face. I become more aware of the stinging the more I come back to consciousness.
“You had quite a little nap. Now, up you go.”
I start to gag the minute he lifts me up.
“She’s gonna lose it! Toss me that bucket,” he says.
I start to heave. Some of it lands on the floor before the bucket is shoved under my face. I throw up until there is nothing left, and then I dry heave until I feel rawness in my throat. I swipe my mouth with the back of my hand. The acidy bitterness I taste makes me want to puke again. He shoves a glass of what looks like water in my face.
“Drink.”
My throat burns. It hurts worse than anything.
“I don’t want it.”
“It’s water. Believe me, I know you want it. Your throat is so tight, you can hardly breathe. So unless you want more of what Raymond gave you, you will drink this.”
I take a small sip and he forcefully pulls it away. It does nothing to help the burning sensation in my throat.
“Better?” asks the man I know as Scarface.
No, I’m not better, but I’m not about to tell him I want more water. Fuck him.
Then it all comes back. I heard someone say ‘brother.’ I can’t remember who, but I know someone did.
“Manny is your brother?” I ask.
My throat is so dry, it hurts to even talk. His intense orbs glare into mine.
“By blood, yes.”
“I don’t understand. If he’s your brother, then why are you doing this? Why hurt him?”
He chuckles that evil laugh again, his eyes turning cold as ice.
“I’m an outcast to them. The evil one. The fuck up. And he’s about to get what is rightfully mine. I can’t let that happen. He will die first, princess.”
Why he’s calling me princess has me perplexed. My mom is a princess, not me. I know very little about this life; only what I’ve been told. And no one has told me about him. I can see why. He’s an enemy who has obviously been waiting to strike.
“You look a little mixed up there, Calla.”
The sudden use of my given name shocks me; however, I will not show my fear. I’m the daughter of John Greer. No way will I let my fear be known to this man. I trust my family. Whatever reasons they had for banishing him from the family, I stand by them.
“You’re sick! That’s your brother! He’s my family. You won’t get away with this. Whatever vendetta you have, you may as well give it up now. My dad will find you, you son of a bitch, and when he does, you’re going to wish he hadn’t.”
“You mentioned family. I’m your blood, princess. You know, it really is too bad you and I are on opposite sides. A beautiful woman with a sharp mind can be very dangerous. I could see myself actually liking you.”
“Screw you. You’re not my family. If you mean nothing to them, then you mean even less to me.”
Malice is what I feel for this man, although he’s not really a man at all. I’m now within an inch of his face. His undamaged eye scans me meticulously, observing my strength. All of it comes from being the daughter of John and Priscilla Greer. I may not have known the true lives they have lead, but one thing they taught me was to never show your fear.
“You’re a snake. A cowardly one, at that. I promise you, cousin, you’re going to die from your own venom.”
“Snakes strike when you least expect, Calla. I want you gone just as much as I want my brother gone. And as far as John goes, I want him to come. It’s just too bad that by the time he does find us, my dear little brother will be dead and so will you. I have plans for you. You’ll be gone before they get here and if we’re not, I’ll take care of him. It’s about time he retires, anyway.”
“Fuck off. He’ll destroy you,” I spit at him.
“I’m going to let that slide, just this once. John’s good. Very good. But don’t think for one second that I’m not better. Now, you have a show to watch. Unless you want me to shoot you up with more of this?”
He pulls a syringe out of his back pocket.
“I’m not watching shit. And you can take that and shove it straight up your ass.”
He quirks his brows and shoves the syringe into his pocket again.
“Is my heroin not good enough for you? Do you want something better? Cocaine, perhaps? Crack? You name it, I’ve got it.”
I’m momentarily shocked speechless.
“No cocaine, either? That’s too bad. Did you know cocaine can heighten your sexual arousal? It delays your orgasm but it increases your sex drive. Raymond over there would like nothing more than to show you just how much it improves his sexual performance. Would you like me to let him show you?”
He grips my chin and jerks my head towards this man named Raymond.
“Go to hell, both of you!”
“You know, I’ve had it with your mouth. Raymond, bring me some tape and put that chair over there right next to my brother. She’s going to watch.”
I struggle against him when he lifts me up and carries me over to the chair. Manny’s head is now slumped down, the blood on his face now dried up. I squeeze my eyes shut as tightly as I can. I fight to get away. My hands are pulled severely behind my back. This time, I feel my shoulder pop. Pain shoots down my arm and I cry out. Neither of these unhinged men pay any attention as they tie my hands behind my back and tape my mouth shut.
“Secure her good, Raymond,” Royal firmly commands.
The minute he leaves the room, Raymond takes advantage of my situation.
“Very pretty,” he chuckles, running his dirty hands up my leg. Once he has his nasty hands on the inside of my thighs, he pushes them open. Tears form in the back of my eyes. My voice is muffled, incoherent behind the tape. He continues his exploration, sliding his hands up my sides, brushing the underside of my breasts. He stills, leaving one hand around my neck, the other one reaching for the tape on the floor. I continue to watch him, horror stricken, as he tapes my body to the chair.
Do not show fear!
He drops the tape back on the floor and spreads my legs again. That’s when I notice this dumb fuck hasn’t taped my legs. I could easily kick him with the heel of my shoe. I’ve never loved my six-inch Louboutins more than I do right now. These things are weapons, and somehow I’m going to use them. How they’ve managed to stay on through everything, I will never know. One thing I do know is, if I ever have a son, his name will be Christian.