Chapter three

“If he moves, you blow his fucking brains out.” The car door slams, and I jump so hard the gun pushes Rico’s head forward. I can hear Arturo yelling in Italian, but I am unable to tear my eyes from Rico. Silently pray he does not move, and if he does Arturo does not see it.

“Your father has given you to the devil.” Rico talks with his head down, hands clenching the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were turning white.

“You don’t know anything. Shut up.” Arturo was facing us know, staring coldly into the darkly tinted glass, running quick hands over his slicked hair while talking calmly now.

“I know Arturo, a demon walking this earth and if you know what’s better for you, you’ll save yourself.”

My neck cracked with the force I used to look at him, “How?” Hope of freedom spoke before I could think. Suddenly Rico’s fist connected with the side of my head, my left ear started to ring, the gun was rung from my gripped and then the stinging traveled to the right side of my face.

“Dumb Bitch.” Rico’s hero facade quickly dissolved, the locks on the door clicked, through hazed vision I could make out Rico fumbling with the keys while Arturo was back to screaming on the phone, completely oblivious to the situation.

“Arturo is a selfish man, willing to take whatever he needs to succeed.” He was rambling now, looking to scared to turn the key but to angry not too.

“I have nothing to do with this. Besides, Arturo is going to kill you before you even turn that key, Pendejo.” My head was spinning but Arturo and my father’s ‘transaction’ terms have nothing to do with me, although I am the product, I refuse to act as such. Regardless of what happens around me, I am not property and they will not create me into something I am not.

If looks could kill, Rico would have buried me twice. “You have no idea who you are-” The space between Rico’s eyebrows suddenly explodes against the window, dashboard and unfortunately me. Blood splatters onto my face and smears in my hair, his slump, headless body falls limp against the horn.

The scream and vomit come up at the same time, I struggle to open the stupid door and hold everything in. Finally, the door falls open and I can release it all on the side of the highway. The vomit burns coming up but not as much as the scream that follows afterwards.

‘a demon walking this earth.’

I do not realize I am still screaming until Arturo amber orbs pull me in and I sink into silence.

My tongue suddenly like led.

“Calm down fiore, non-fare tante storie.” Both his large hands were holding my face still, I was covered in blood, sweat and many, many tears and he wanted me to calm down? The ringing in my head intensified so bad I felt deaf.

My fist was suddenly pounding against his stone chest, my throat raw from screaming was now numb to the pain.

“Calma ti? chì ci hè di tortu? Mi hai pigliatu da a mo casa è tombu un omu davanti à mè è vulete chì sia tranquillu? surtite da mè!” Arturo was desperately trying to dodge my attack, but I could tell by the look on his face he would not stand this much longer btu my anger would not allow me to stop, my chest was full of a hallow, empty void that only seemed to fill with pain.

My blind hurt was now directed to my chest clawing at the skin trying to spill out some of the pain that was swallowing me whole, my vision clouded with fears of my future.

“I’m sorry.” Encased in a tight embrace I am forced to hear the words whispered rugged but softly into my ear. My hysterics simmer to shiver and I do not know how long Arturo holds me, Rico’s words ring in my ear, maybe I did not know who I was.

I was supposed to be Avery Perez, only daughter to Don Felipe and Maryann Perez. But my father sold me, sold me to a man who seems to be even more ruthless than himself.