Chapter 4

Kiara's pov

Seb was called for urgent business back in New Orleans and was leaving today in a few minutes. In the last few days, he was what I clinged to. He made my worst days bearable and drove away the loneliness that was woven into my being, even for just a little while. And now, he was leaving but I wasn't selfish enough to expect anything less so I pushed past the sadness and hugged my brother goodbye.

“Oh how I'll miss you, kie. I was really hoping I could stay longer,” he said mid embrace

“It's not your fault Seb I understand. But you can stay longer. I'm sure they'll manage without you for a few days,” I replied almost jokingly, although I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any truth to what I said. My brother's response to that was patting my head and with one last look, he climbed into his Audi and drove away. The air seemed to shift and a chill spread throughout my body. I knew who was there before even turning towards the looming presence. My father watched with a disapproving glare that was a preamble for nothing good. My heart raced with dread and a million questions as to what I did to deserve the scornful look he was giving me.

“Meet me in my office upstairs Kiara. Right now,” he stated in a calm voice that was completely at odds with the anger etched across his visage. I knew better than to defy his orders so I forced my feet to move instinctively as a cold weight lodged beneath my ribs. I twisted the door knob to his office and everything went muffled as my ears rang out. A blow unceremoniously landed on my left temple making me lose my balance. Alejandro took that as an advantage and hit the side of my ribs repeatedly until my legs gave out and I was lying on the floor. The blows came one after the next hitting any area he could reach. I tried to cover my face and hunched covering my chest and stomach bracing for the blows. I don't how long this went on until they stopped when he was depleted of energy leaving me on the floor gasping and choking on my cries.

“You don't get to be a whiny little bitch stopping your brother from actually doing something useful just because you are bored. Is that clear?”

So that was what this was about.

“Yes, father,” I forced the words out of my mouth and staggered to my room after he left the office. I lay in my bed and let my tears soak my pillow. Is this all my life will amount to? Walking on egg shells to not put my life at risk. I felt the weariness taking over my body and shut my eyelids to evade feeling anything. I needed to be stripped off my consciousness for a while.

I am woken up by a loud knock on my door. I jolt awake all my instincts on high alert. I find Alejandro on the other side of the door who doesn't even spare me a glance.

“Greta will come up with a dress for you. Get ready and come down for dinner and cover all those marks on your face,” he says dismissively and walks to the stairs away from sight.

I know better than to argue or try to put up a fight so after a few minutes I've done what he's asked to the latter and make my way to the dining table. Only, it's not only father that I find sitting at the table. There are two other men adorned in well fitted suits sitting near my father. My eyes are involuntarily drawn to one of the two guests. There was something almost magnetic about the way he carried himself. He was huge like he could crush me without trying. Broad shoulders that seemed to want to burst out of the seams of his tailored suit. Part of me wanted to look away and disappear but another part couldn't stop staring. He was like danger wrapped in some weird kind of beauty. But I have been in this world long enough to know those are the kind of people you should be more cautious about. I dropped my gaze and walked over to the only empty seat opposite the huge stranger.

“There she is, my beautiful daughter,” my father announced as he looked up from his plate. Was it foolish to admit that I craved to be shown this side of him when we were alone and not during company only. I greeted the guests with a warm courteous smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. It was practiced and polished, perfected over years of playing the role I was born for. My father later introduced one of the men as Luca, the don of the Italian mafia and the huge guy on his right as the enforcer of the Italian mafia,Dante. I had heard tales about the feared enforcer. He was a legend in our world known for his brutal methods of torture and most importantly he was infamously named ‘the tormentor’, courtesy of his clandestine ways. My fear of him was renewed and I berated myself for staring at him earlier. I kept catching the man in question looking in my direction and I couldn't help but wonder if I offended him somehow. His attention on me made me jittery with nerves and I pretended to study my plate and adjust my fork but none of it was helping. I tuned out most of the conversation because I was laser focused on this being done with this appalling dinner so I can finally isolate myself in my room. My father stands and the Don follows before they excuse themselves to continue the conversation in my father's office. Dante and I are the only ones left on the table and I knew I would be welcoming another lashing if I left without being dismissed by my father. I was compelled to sit across from the intimidating stranger but luckily he seemed to have stopped noticing me altogether.