Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
I get what he’s telling me. Once the Vesuvios discover who sold Livia the poison, they will hunt us down until we’re dead.
This is why Papa caved to Fraternitas.
“Fraternitas found out I was involved, and now I owe them a debt,” he says quietly. “They will protect us, and in return, we do what they say.”
No. It can’t be this way. There has to be another solution. “We can fight back—”
“No, we can’t.”
I’m back in my father’s office, surrounded by Frateritas members in skull masks, feeling helpless, and I hate it. “You didn’t even ask me,” I whisper. “You didn’t give me a choice.”
“You don’t get to choose. Those weren’t the terms—”
“You could’ve made them the terms—”
“Kaiser chose you. You belong to him now.”
That gives me pause. I like that Kaiser chose me. Still… “I don’t belong to anyone.”
“You do now.”
“I’m not an object you can trade away.” He shakes his head, and desperation flares through me. This is why it rankles me so much; he couldn’t wait to give me away. “I thought you loved me. You’re my father—”
“I am your father, so you will do this to honor me. To honor your family.”
“Honor?” I grit my teeth so I don’t curse him out. Fuck his honor. Fuck everything.
My father’s face darkens. He has a temper, too, but unlike me, he channels it into a weapon. “You no longer have the luxury of being naive.” His voice is cold, like he’s talking to an employee who stole from him. “I’ve sheltered you too much. You don’t live in the real world. The Vesuvio family is dangerous. They’re one of the four families that rule Metropolis. They have an army. We have a reputation, a few employees and a bunch of plants. If we fight them alone, we will lose.
“I’ve sheltered you as long as I can, but I can’t shield you from this. It’s too big. We need allies who can have our back. Fraternitas will be those allies. If you were capable of strategy, you would understand this is the best move. The only move.”
“It’s not a move. It’s my life!”
He flicks his fingers, like he’s washing his hands of me. “Emotional,” he mutters, almost too low for me to hear. “Like a woman.”
Shut up, shut up, I want to scream. There’s a bitter taste in my mouth, and my jaw is locked like I’m going to throw up.
But I won’t. I refuse to get emotional.
My eyes burn, but I wait until I’m sure tears won’t fall, then loosen my jaw and fire my best shot. “If my mom were alive, she would never allow this.”
My father’s face turns to stone. The light from his eyes fades, as it always does when I mention my mother. “If your mother were alive, she would agree with me.”
“No, she wouldn’t.” My body aches like he’s punched me in the gut. “How dare you? How dare you say that?”
“You want the truth, Bella? Then listen to me. One day, I will die.”
My muscles freeze. There’s a voice in my head screaming no, no, no, don’t go. Don’t leave me. I’m five years old again, reaching for a mother or father who will never come.
“When that day comes, it is my final wish that you remain in an alliance with Fraternitas. Do not let your mother’s sacrifice go to waste.”
I knew it. I knew he blamed me for her death. “You never loved me, did you?”
“I do this because I love you.”
“No, you never loved me, and you never loved her,” I rave. “I know you didn’t. You never avenged her!” He wants me to be a mastermind like him. Uncaring. Unfeeling. Willing to do anything for power.
But he’s the one who refused to avenge my mother’s murder. For a decade. As soon as I found out, I did something about it. I may be reckless, but I’m not a coward.
My father’s face is purple. He could be having an aneurysm right now. I’ve done the equivalent of stabbing him in the heart.
I don’t care. He deserves the pain. He took my mother’s paintings down from the walls. He’s done everything to erase her from his life, and I will never forgive him for it. “That’s why you never speak of her. You can’t even say her name. You failed her.”
He stares at me. That’s right, Papa, I can wound you, too. But it doesn’t feel like winning. It feels like we’re both pulling each other down to drown in the mud.
After a long moment, he gets himself under control. My father is gone. The robot that’s commandeered his body since Shoshonna Bosco was murdered is here. “If you would grow up, you would understand. There are things more important than vengeance. I had a child to protect.”
My face splits into a bitter smile. “Good news, Benjiro. You don’t protect me anymore.”