We arrive at Trance, the club Dante originally stole me from, and head through the back exit. The bouncers nod at us to go into the VIP area. The whole area is filled with black and gold balloons, and the gold tables have black runners. Bottles of expensive champagne adorn every table.
I stare at the sign right in front of me. “Congratulations Rosa and Dante.” And it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
The room is buzzing with people. It’s just a swarm of them, all sipping their drinks and laughing away. Celebrating the end of my life.
He yanks my elbow. “Smile. Be the good fucking liar I know you are.”
The clicking of stilettos overshadows the chatter, followed by an irritating voice, one I recognise. Maria.
“Dante, lovely to see you.”
I watch as she wraps her arms around him for a friendly hug.
She turns to me, looking me up and down and turning back to Dante. Oh my god, is she ‘M’?
I scan the room, searching for the one person who can get me through this. Luca.
My eyes lock with his as he leans against the bar. He nods at me, and I blush. I watch as he gives his order to the bartender, not taking his gaze off me as he does.
Anger flashes over his face as he looks past me.
“Rosa,” Dante hisses behind me. He bends down so his head rests on my shoulder, his hands locked on my hips. I stand still, not even breathing.
I push myself out of his hold and he drags me back into him, my back hitting against his hard chest. He laughs.
“Silly, silly, girl.”
He thrusts a phone in my hand. “Press play, baby girl.”
The room starts to spin as I hit the little triangle.
A flash of white and copper is all I see at first. The view pulls back and focuses, making my stomach drop.
The bare body of my sister, mottled with marks and bruises. Her red hair is a wild mess down her back as she sits reversed on a wooden chair. Naked and tied.
She begins thrashing against her ropes, turning her face to reveal her mouth covered with white fabric. I can’t take my eyes off the blood dripping from her forehead and the tears streaming down her face. Bile burns in my throat as Dante’s face fills the screen. “Say hi to your big sis, Eva.” He grins into the camera, yanking off her gag.
“Rosa!” Her voice is hoarse and cracks as she screams.
I suck in a breath as the camera zooms closer. Her face is full of pure fear as Dante swipes his fingers across her swollen lips.
“I’ll be back for you later, gorgeous.”
“Fuck you,” she spits back at him.
I gasp as he slaps her across the face, making me drop the phone to the floor.
“You monster!” I turn to him. “What have you done? Why are you doing this?”
He chuckles, bending down and collecting his phone.
I hit my fists against his chest, which vibrates as he laughs at me.
I can barely see straight. My heart beats at a hundred miles an hour and my chest is heaving.
“You asshole. I hate you.”
He wraps his rough hands around my wrist and holds it up to restrain me.
“This is no way to speak to your fiancé.” He pulls me into him. “Calm the fuck down. ”
I push against him, and he holds me to him, my face squashed against his black shirt, blocking my airways.
“I warned you, Rosa. I told you what I would do. This is all your fault; everything that has happened to you has always been the consequences of your own actions.”
“Why did you rape me?” I barely manage to get my words out.
“Let’s just say your father took something from me. It was only fair I took something from him. You. You enjoyed it. I remember. I still have the claw marks on my chest from your nails. Once I’ve had you checked over and clean, I’ll be taking you again. Every day until the day you die.”
“I can’t breathe,” I struggle to even choke the words out.
He releases me, and I stumble backwards, hitting the leather booth behind me.
My lungs burn as I claw at my chest, pulling at my dress, trying to loosen the constricting fabric. “I hate you. I will never love you.”
He towers over me, a darkness consuming his eyes. “And I’m here to torment you for the rest of your life.”
Clutching onto the seat, I stumble around the front of it, away from him.
My throat is closing in on me, my ears are pounding, and as I look up, everyone starts to swirl into one blur.
The room tips as I fall back onto the cool bench, gasping as stars burst behind my eyes.
