“Charles<b>, </b>you need to calm down,” Ken tells him, taking him by the arm.


    An arm he yanks away, snarling. “No. I need to break every fucking bone in this bastard’s body for what he <b>did</b>. He’s never going to change,” he insists to Caterina. “This is what love is to him. It’s lies and control. Maniption. Come home with me.”


    I want to tell him he’s wrong, but he’s not. In the past, all wanted was to be able to control Caterina, <b>to </b>make sure she couldn’t leave me, and parts of me still have a deep–rooted desire for that, because the thought of losing her kills me, but I’m trying to do better, be better, and I refuse to let Charles think he can tell her what to do.


    “She’s a grown woman, capable of making her own choices” I remind him.


    “I wasn’t speaking to you.”


    “I don’t care. Caterina is old enough to make her own choices. I know it’s difficult<b>, </b>but you must learn to respect that.”


    “The only thing that matters to me is her safety, and if that means getting rid of you, then I will. II fucking kill you,” Charles growls–before lunging at me, pushing Caterina out of the way in his frenzy. She catches herself before falling, letting out a cry of dismay. I reach for her, but a fist connects with my jaw before I get to her


    Pain pulses across my chin. I don’t want to hurt this man, not in front of her. Even if my instincts scream for me to defend myself, the most I do is shove him back. “Enough of this.”


    “What? Don’t tell me you won’t fight me like a man?”


    “Don’t do this!” Caterina begs, and her voice is the only thing keeping me centered while Charles takes another swing.


    “Dad!” Tatiana cries out, rushing for me before Roger wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her back.” Charles, that’s enough,” Ken yells and tries to ce himself between us, but all that does is piss Charles off more, and he shoves him out of the way like he’s nothing.


    “This is all you’ll ever have with him!” Charles insists. “Don’t you see? Armed fucking men standing out in front of the house. This isn’t freedom. This isn’t a life! You have so much potential, you have a bright future ahead of you. Why are you wasting it on him?”


    “Boss, let me take care of this,” Roger growls, and I find Tatiana shaking her head at him when I nce their way.


    “No.” No, I don’t want him to take care of this. Because, goddamn it, the man is right. This isn’t a life for her. She deserves better. I’ve done so many things to keep her with me, to keep her close, all because I can’t live without her. And what can I offer? More of this? Sitting in my office, negotiating a deal that will lead to a man’s murder- out of revenge for what that man did to her. What I allowed to happen, all because she’s associated with me.


    The memory of the cell in which they held her keeps me from fighting back when Charlesnds another hit. His fitse quickly,nding repeatedly, driving me to my knees. Caterina lets out a terrifying scream before she starts to plead with her father, only he doesn’t listen. It could be that he doesn’t hear her, too intent on finally ending me the way he’s always wanted to do, or he just doesn’t give a fuck.


    “Stop, Dad, please stop!” She tries to put herself between us, to shield me, but I shake my head, spitting out blood from the corner of my mouth, well climbing to my feet.


    “Let him have what he wants,” I insist, swaying, moving her aside as gently as I can. “Let him hurt me, let him have this, because he can’t have you.”


    That did it.That hit him harder than my fist ever could. Something overtakes his features. <b>I </b>can’t tell what it is,


    1151


    <b>+15 </b><b>BONUS </b>


    <b>horror</b><b>? </b><b>Disgust</b>? Or maybe <b>it’s </b>a realization–cold, hard <b>truth</b>. Yeah, I bet that’s a hard pill to swallow,


    He pulls <b>his </b>fist back, eyes zing. “You fucking-


    Fireworks explode in my head when he makes contact with my jaw. A perfect punch all around, I fall back, this timending on my side while the world spins like a merry–go–round. I roll onto my back, and the first drops of <b>rain </b>from the storm that’s been threatening with rumbles all morning begin to hit my face.


    “Dad, no! Don’t!” It’s Caterina’s yell that warns me, but there’s no preparing for the burst of fresh agony that renders me breathless once Charles’s foot makes contact with my side. Fucking Christ. Pain burns across <b>my </b>flesh and deep through my muscles.


    My stitches. He tore my fucking stitches.


    He’s going to kill me. He won’t be satisfied until I’m dead.


    Considering I’ve never been anything but a curse to his daughter, I deserve this.


    GENT