Page 113 of Coercion

“Gunnar has taken over.” I spit.

“Gunnar isn’t a threat.” Jett says waving his hand. “He never was. The man’s a thug, a coward. No one would follow him.”

“Yeah?” I say, taking a step towards them as my fury turns to icy rage. “You know what else he is brother? You know what else that man did?”

He frowns, shaking his head slightly.

“It doesn’t matter.” My mother says, talking over me like what I have to say it’s even worth their time. “It’s over. All of it is over. We have won.”

“It’s over?” I repeat. “That man raped me for years. He brutalised my body in the worst ways…”

“Enough.” My mother says, drawing herself up, clapping her hands together. “Enough. I don’t want to hear it. It doesn’t matter.”

I don’t think. I don’t even care about the consequences, I launch myself at her, clawing at her face. “You did that. You allowed that to happen.” I scream as she tries to fight me off.

Jett wraps his arms around my body, pulling me back and I kick hard, trying to throw him off.

“She’s feral.” My mother says, standing back, staring down at me like I disgust her. She has a long scrap down her cheek from where my nails made contact and I can see the blood beading up on the surface.

“What do you expect?” Jett says, tossing me back onto the bed. “She’s been living with Preston Civello.”

I land in a heap, my heart is racing, I’m panting as the adrenaline floods through my body. I know I’ve moved too much, that I’ve torn through whatever tiny bit of healing my back has done.

“Get the doctor.” My mother barks.

I don’t try to get back up, I just lay there as what feels like a lifetime worth of grief and despair hits me.

“What has she done?” A man says walking over, grabbing hold of me.

“Don’t touch me.” I hiss. I’m sick of them all manhandling me, touching me as if I’m just an object they can pass around and treat as they see fit.

Jett tuts, grabbing my arms, stopping me from getting away as the stranger starts undoing the bandages.

“I told you her skin needs time to heal. She needs constant bedrest until it does or she risks infection.”

“Tell that to my sister.” Jett says, meeting my gaze as I glare at him.

My mother leans down, squatting in front of my face as second by second the man strips me back to topless.

“You used to be such a good girl, Ruby. You used to be so well behaved.” She says.

I bite my tongue, thinking about all the other things I used to be too. All the things that were stolen away, all the things I endured while she picked up her skirts and ran like a coward.

“You’re not to speak of the past.” She continues. “I don’t want to hear what you went through. I don’t want to know about any of it.”

“Too hard on your conscience, mother?” I spit.

She grabs my mouth, squeezing my lips together and I cry out as my battered flesh once again protests. “Shut up, Ruby. You will shut up and you will behave.”

I jerk my head back and the doctor makes a loud comment about my needing to stay still.

“I’m not a child anymore.” I say, ignoring him entirely. “You don’t have any power over me.”

She snorts. “You’ll find you’re wrong there, baby. I’m still your mother and I’m the head of this family.”

“Our father was the head and this family ceased to exist the day he died.” I shout back.

She folds her arms, looking at my brother who scowls.