Page 129 of Lilies from Hell

“As long as you live in this house, you will. You will inform me every single time you go out. And forget about seeing your damn boyfriend again.”

“You can’t tell me who I can and can’t date, Dad.” I say the last word with a hint of sarcasm.

“Of course I can! He’s going to marry someone else, and there you are, his second choice. Aren’t you ashamed?” As soon as his words hit me my stomach churns unpleasantly, my throat goes dry, and I feel like I’m about to collapse, but I still find the strength to speak.

“That’s not true,” I say. My eyelids burning from the tears I’m holding back. “You’re lying.”

“You’d rather believe him than your own father? That family has been plotting our downfall for years! I was stupid not to realize it sooner, but you…” He smiles bitterly. His mouth is full of venom and resentment. “You’re even more stupid than I am for getting involved with that devil’s spawn. You’re all the same. They say four words to you and you’re already on your knees, sucking cocks.” I blink as tears threaten to spill. The way he speaks to me now and his insults hurt more than his revelations. He’s never acted like this before. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but I’ve no reason to pay for someone else’s mistakes.

“I’d rather believe him than believe a phony like you. I don’t believe a word you say.” I murmur despite his threatening look.

“Make no mistake, Lena. I’m not one of your stupid friends, I’m your fucking father, so you respect me.” I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re going to talk about respect? After you’ve fucked up the whole family?

“What are you talking about?” His attempt to play dumb makes me angrier.

“You’re disgusting, Ray.” As soon as the words leave my mouth his hand strikes my face.

I bring my hand to that spot when I feel a metallic taste. I probably cut my lip. I look at him with teary eyes. My confusion now being much greater than my anger. For a moment I think I see some remorse in him, but it is gone as quickly as it came.

As tears start to wet my cheeks he throws an envelope at my feet. It’s a wedding invitation and Bianca’s name is written in gold letters next to his.

“That’s the damn wedding invitation. We got it yesterday.”

I gasp as a sharp pain shoots through my chest. The air is heavy and hot, and I’m suffocating. My feet move involuntarily towards the exit. My vision is still blurry, but that doesn’t stop me from seeing my car keys on the small table near the door. I ignore my father’s orders to come back and run away before he can stop me.

I stop the car at the entrance to the building. When the bodyguards see me, they point in my direction. I ignore them and enter the apartment, going to the top floor. I came alone, but I know he wouldn’t dare do anything to me. Not yet.

I ring the bell and wait for someone to open the damn door. On the other side, my father smiles drunkenly from the sofa. The first thing I do is kick out the prostitutes that are with him, who are wearing nothing but g-strings.

“What the hell are you doing!?” I sit down in an armchair far away from him. “Do you have any news for me?” I curve my lips into a sly smile as I nod. Then I get up again.

I’m nervous. Restless. And not even the packet of cigarettes I smoked before coming here help me.

“Yes. I have news for you about what a fucking fool you are, in case you hadn’t noticed. I guess you hadn’t.” I move my piercing from side to side, enjoying those blue eyes that look at me as if they want to shoot bullets into my head. “Do you know who the fucking snitch was in the end? Lizzie. Your fucking ex… Ex-slut, or whatever the fuck she was to you,” I say with my smile widening. “And do you know why? Because she wanted to use the money the police offered her to run away with that motherfucker of Ray. Aren’t you going to thank me?” I spoke again when he didn’t say anything. “After all, I saved you from everyone finding out what a fucking cuck you are.”

The look on his face made it worth seeing him today. I start laughing hysterically, throwing my head back before I could hear him.

“That gives me more reason to rip Ray and his little girl’s heads off. Can you imagine how many things I could do to her before then? In one day, I’ll show her what a real man is.”

“I suggest you spend your energy protecting your ass instead,” I say dismissively, heading for the door.

I know he would take that as a threat. As the beginning of a war between us. Where blood ties were worth shit.

“And don’t worry, I'm not angry with you for not inviting me to your wedding.”

41

“He’s a fucking piece of shit,” Grace mutters beside me. Her hands are still on my back, making me feel even worse, but I’m already dry inside. I have no more tears to shed. “I didn’t receive an invitation, and Sergei didn’t even mention it to me.” She seems so lost in her own world that she doesn’t notice my confusion when I hear Sergei’s name on her lips.

“Sergei?” I ask. She whispers a curse under her breath before looking away, her cheeks flush.

“Sergi and I have something damn good going on, we just sleep together. It’s not serious.” She bites her lip, still nervous. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, we want to keep it between us. No one knows. Well, except for Alekei, but that’s because he caught us together that day at the bonfire.” Aside from cheating on me, he’s hiding information about my best friend too.

“That’s great, Grace,” I murmur with a feigned smile, ignoring the twinge in my chest at hearing his name. “I thought you two hated each other.”

“Well, it turns out he goes to the same hotel as me on Friday afternoons to play poker.”