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My mouth goes slack as I’m struck with a flood of emotions all at once. Sadness, anger, pain, guilt, shame—they all bleed into one as the one woman who is supposed to love and protect me above all else casts blame upon me for seeking solace in the wake of my abuse.
“Whatever you have going on with that boy stops now. I mean it, Daphne. I have entertained this nonsense far longer than I should have. I expect you at the hospital as soon as you’re able to make yourself presentable, supporting your fiancé in his recovery.”
I’m shaking my head before she’s even finished her demands. “I’m not going back to him.”
“You will,” she asserts. “Or you will be cut off. And then what are your other options, hmm? Stay with Daniel Conners? I hate to be the one to tell you this, but he doesn’t want you. It’s time you woke up and realized that. Lord knows the way you’ve thrown yourself at him over the years, the man’s had more than enough opportunities to claim you if he did.”
I look off to the side, fighting against the fresh sting of tears pricking at the backs of my eyes in my refusal to let her see me cry. I hate her. I hate how she always knows exactly where to stick the knife to cut me deepest, only to take pride in the resulting hemorrhaging of my heart.
“I don’t need a man.” I sniffle, swiping at my cheeks even though the tears have yet to fall. “Or you or Dad, for that matter. Graduation’s just around the corner. I have some savings. I’m more than capable of starting life on my own, Mother.”
“Listen to me, you ungrateful little wench,” she seethes, her voice dripping with disdain. “You will get up, you will fix your face, and you will be at the hospital within the hour. Or, so help me God, I will personally see to it that Daniel Conners is in police custody by the end of the month.”
I gruff out a laugh. “You’re delusional if you think you have the ability to do such a thing.”
“Am I?” The self-assured smile that slips into place sends an icy chill racing through my veins, saddling me with a sense of unease. “How do you think Elliot Devoreaux will react to finding out his future daughter-in-law embarrassed his family by screwing one of his clients? Can’t imagine he’d take that lightly. Between his access to Daniel’s finances and your father’s contacts at the commissioner’s office, I’m sure they could uncover some highly incriminating material.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying.” A nervous twinge skates down my spine, coiling around my midsection to settle deep in my stomach.
“You know exactly what I’m implying, Daphne. But in case you need it spelled out for you, hear me now. You will go home to your fiancé, or I will have your father and Elliot bury Daniel. I don’t care if they have to fabricate each and every allegation against him. By the time they are done, the DA won’t even have to build a case. It will be delivered to him on a silver platter. And, just for good measure, I will make sure your father pays off every politician, juror, and judge to ensure that boy never sees the light of day again.”
“You don’t have enough money to pull that off.” She couldn’t possibly. Nicky’s easily worth ten times what my parents are. He could double, even triple any bribes they attempt to issue.
My mother’s face remains neutral, seemingly unaffected by my claims. “The sacrifice of one’s morality doesn’t cost nearly as much as you’d think. Not to mention, you’re severely underestimating the number of people who would be all too eager to witness that boy’s downfall. It’s probably difficult for someone as enamored with them as you, but not everyone believes the Conners family walks on water.”
“And just who would those people be, Mother?” I snap, knowing exactly the type of people she’s talking about. “The middle-aged businessmen who’ve spent their lackluster careers not working half as hard as Mitch, but then are somehow pissed he’s twice as successful? The self-absorbed housewives that are still jealous how some woman who didn’t have two pennies to rub together managed to be the one to steal his heart? Or maybe it’s the boys like Luc, who navigate life riding off the coattails of their parents’ accomplishments and wealth, while forced to stand in the shadow of men like Nick who have amassed an empire to call their own.” I know these people well. I’ve been surrounded by them my entire life. They are petty, ugly, and cruel… but they do exist.
My outburst does little to rattle my mother, who simply shrugs in response. “Motive is of no concern to me. All that matters is there’s no shortage of individuals willing to aid me in my cause.”
“I don’t believe you.” I force out the words, hoping if I say them with enough conviction, I can convince myself they’re true.
“Then you have nothing to worry about. Do you? I’ll give you until tomorrow morning to decide. If you believe my threats are empty, then take your chances, Daphne. We’ll see who comes out on top.”
The screen goes dark, leaving me alone to contemplate my options. She’s bluffing, I tell myself, attempting to ease my nerves. She has to be. Nicky didn’t get as far as he did in life by leaving himself at the mercy of others. I’ve seen his brilliance in action firsthand. In the way he governs his organization. In the way he orchestrates those around him. Nicky’s a king. And kings cannot be overthrown by pawns such as Belinda Burke.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Rico booms from somewhere in the distance, snapping me to attention.
“Keep your voice down!” Nick hushes, his command dropping the conversation to a level I’m barely able to make out.
Arching my neck to the side, I strain to listen in on the disagreement unfolding downstairs, though grow frustrated when I’m only catching every fourth or fifth word. Slipping from the warmth of his bed, I tip toe from the room, down the hall to the top of the stairs. Pausing just shy of the corner so I remain out of view, I lower myself to the floor where their voices now rise to meet me.
“Nick.” It’s JP who speaks this time, though his words hold no hints of his typically playful tone. “I spoke to our contacts at the hospital. They said Lucian’s face looks like a bag of ground beef. What did you do?”
“I did what had to be done.” His explanation comes out flat, devoid of any emotion.
“Bullshit,” Rico spits, the loud clanging sound that follows suggesting he’s thrown something across the room.
“Yo!” Nick snaps. “I told you to be quiet. She’s asleep.” He pauses for a brief second, his tone softer when his words resume. “You didn’t see her face, JP. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.”
“I saw her face,” Rico interjects, “and that is exactly why I was so hesitant to let you see her when she showed up here tonight. I knew you couldn’t handle it.”
“Fuck you, Rico.” The sounds of a muffled scuffle ensue, culminating with a series of grunts before JP can be heard scolding them both.
“Enough! What the fuck is the matter with you two? Seriously? I’m the voice of reason now?”
“Get off me,” Nicky huffs, a brief silence descending over them once more. The tension in the air continues to grow thick, its discomfort easily detected even all the way up here. “First off,” Nick continues, “you don’t let me do shit. I am head of this family, and it would serve you well to remember that. Second, the fact that you saw the damage he did and are still able to stand here and lecture me over the punishment I doled out has me really fucking concerned where your head is at.”
“You think I didn’t want to slaughter him the second she stepped through our door?!” Rico somewhat shouts. He must either catch himself, or receive another warning from Nicky, because when he speaks again, his words are hushed. “I’ve known Daph almost as long as you, Nick. She is like a sister to me. But I also understand the sensitive situation we’re in. There’s a reason we use Elliot Devoreaux to oversee our finances. He’s the best at what he does.”
