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Bash
Smack.Smack.Smack.
“Where is our money, Bash?”
“I told you, I will have it.” I cough, sputtering up blood. “I had to marry the girl first, and then her inheritance will be mine.”
“Why is it taking so long? Didn’t you marry her weeks ago?” Smack.
“Yes, months actually, but it still takes a little while after that to process through. Once it’s completely finalized, you will have your money.”
“If you’re lying to us, you and that bitch will both die.” Punch. “You owe us more money than you are even worth, and I don’t know why we still keep you around.” Fabrizio grunts. “Your son has more balls than you ever will.” Punch.
I do nothing but groan as they continue beating my already battered body to a pulp. I take every hit they deliver like the man I am, because not even they will know what I stand to lose if this falls through.
Athens has no idea that we are married, just like she is clueless to the fact that her parents were rich and left every single penny they earned and are still earning to her. She is the second wealthiest woman in the world, and I’ve conned her into being mine. Sure, I love her, but I’m not in love with her.
I’m in love with the money, and that’s what got me in this predicament in the first place. A few, well more than a few bad investments, some illegitimate children, and a few deaths on my hands, and this is where I’m at.
“Now that you’ve taken yet another punishment like the failed Devil of Cliffside you are, run home to your beautiful piece of ass and run us our money.” He says, throwing me down and spitting on me to humiliate me even more.
I swear if I knew I wouldn’t be killed for taking out the mafia’s number one son, I would have killed that mother fucker right after he gave me the money to bail me out of my first sticky situation.
When I make it home, all this pent up rage will be taken out on my unsuspecting bride.
That’s the last thought that crosses my mind before I black out.
Chapter Twenty Three
Athens
Iturnontomyside and smell rain seeping through my open window. I love the smell of rain, but not what comes along with it. Daddy has been coming into my room more and more, each time there is a storm. I hate when a storm happens, because I know he will always be there.
I hear a creaking noise as my door starts to open, and I see his huge silhouette standing in the doorway before he comes in and closes the door with a soft click.
“Sweetie, are you asleep?”
I try to ignore him, but I know it’s no use. Whether I pretend to be asleep or not, the torture still happens. I like to let my imagination take me away each time it happens, but lately, it’s getting harder and harder.
“I know you aren’t asleep, darling.”
“I was asleep, daddy, and I’d like to go back now.” I don’t dare turn around to see the frown I know is on his face, because I almost never talk back, but I don’t like it when a storm comes… Because so does daddy.
I sit up in bed so quickly that I get a little dizzy.
“Oh no.” I whisper as the tears begin welling in my eyes. A storm is here, and I just had another one of those bizarre dreams.
I’m about to get out of bed, when a loud crash of thunder shakes the windows around me, causing a scream to bubble up and out of my throat. “No, no, no, no. Please, no!” I shout, throwing the covers over my head as my door flies open.
“Athens, are you okay?”
“Karter?” I whisper, peeking around the covers. When he sees the tears, he wastes no time coming to me. Once there, he takes the covers off me, kisses my forehead, and gets in bed with me. He tucks my head under his chin and starts rubbing my back.
“It’s okay, brat, I’ve got you.” As soon as he says that, the water works come, and I don’t know how to stop them as he just keeps repeating it’s okay, and he’s not going anywhere.
Wyck
I’m pulled from sleep by the sounds of a thunderstorm and shouting. Quickly hopping out of bed, I take off in the direction of Athens’ room.