The Fall

"We need to leave."

Diro's voice cut through the tension as he reached for Beverly's arm. "We have somewhere to go."

Riko looked up from calming her crying baby, looking confused. "But you just got here, brother. Mother's been planning this party for weeks-"

"The Kent crime family is moving drugs through our docks," Diro interrupted, his voice getting that dangerous tone that made everyone freeze. "Business doesn't wait for birthday parties."

Beverly felt his fingers dig into her arm as he pulled her toward the door. She didn't fight back - she never did anymore. The chance to escape, even for a little while, was too precious to argue with.

"Let's go," he said without saying goodbye to anyone as he dragged her through the fancy entrance hall. "I'll drop you at work."

The restaurant. Beverly's one safe place in this awful world, the only place where she could pretend to be normal for a few hours. She had begged him for months to let her work there, desperate to talk to people outside the toxic Carter house.

The car ride started quiet, but Beverly should have known it wouldn't stay that way.

"About what my mother said," Diro's voice sounded casual as he drove through traffic. "About children."

Beverly's whole body got tense. Her hands twisted in her lap, something she did when she was nervous.

"She made it clear she doesn't want another mute," Beverly signed, her hand movements sharp with pain. "Let's not upset her."

Diro's jaw got tight. "That last time we... I didn't use protection."

The memory hit Beverly like a slap - his hands on her, taking what he wanted without caring about her feelings. She forced herself to stay calm as she signed back.

"I took Plan B. And my regular pills, like always."

The car jerked as Diro gripped the steering wheel tighter. "So you really don't want my children." His voice sounded hurt, but she knew better. "You would rather poison yourself than have my baby." huh?

Beverly stared at him in shock. How could he not remember? How could he forget that it was his own mother who forced those pills on her, who made her end the pregnancy she had wanted so badly?

"And another thing," Diro continued, his voice getting harder. "You're not working at that restaurant anymore. I don't want you there."

Beverly's heart sank. The restaurant was her lifeline, her only connection to a world outside the Carter nightmare.

"And stop wearing makeup," he added, looking at her in the rearview mirror. "It makes you look cheap. Ugly. I don't like my women painted up like prostitutes."

Beverly's hand went to her lips, where she had carefully put on lip gloss. The small act of making herself pretty had felt like fighting back, like taking back some tiny piece of herself.

But even as he spoke, Beverly thought about Faye. Faye with her perfect makeup, her bright red lips, her dark eye makeup that never seemed to bother Diro. Why was it only Beverly who had to look like a ghost?

"You don't need that job anyway," Diro was saying. "I can take care of you without you showing yourself off to strangers."

Beverly reached up with shaking fingers and wiped away the lip gloss, the action feeling like giving up. Another piece of herself erased to make him happy.

"We're going home," Diro announced, already changing lanes to turn around.

But before he could turn, a familiar voice called out across the parking lot.

"Hey Diro, sweetheart!"

Beverly's blood turned cold. Through the windshield, she watched Faye walk toward their car, swaying her hips on purpose. She looked amazing in a tight red dress, her makeup perfect, her smile mean.

"Faye?" Diro's voice sounded surprised and pleased. "What are you doing here?"

"It's your mother's birthday, darling," Faye said sweetly, leaning against the car door. "I'm a guest too. I just came out for some fresh air and saw your car."

Her eyes looked at Beverly like a snake about to strike. "I should have known you would have your little mute bitch in here with you."

"Yes," Diro replied without hesitation.

That one word hit Beverly like a punch. He didn't defend her. Didn't tell Faye she was wrong. Just agreed with casual indifference, like Beverly's feelings didn't matter.

Beverly's eyes filled with tears, but she forced herself to sit perfectly still. She wouldn't break. Not here. Not in front of them. She had learned to swallow her tears, to hold in her pain until it became part of her.

"You know what?" Diro's voice suddenly changed, becoming almost happy. "Beverly, get out."

Beverly blinked, sure she had heard wrong. Her hands moved in confused sign language. "What?"

"Get out. Go to work. I thought you always wanted to go to work?" His smile was cruel and mocking. "I'm changing my mind. Get out and go."

Beverly's heart beat fast. Something was wrong. Diro never changed his mind, never gave her what she wanted without making her pay for it somehow. But the restaurant was her safe place, and she desperately wanted to escape.

She reached for the door handle with shaking fingers, opened it, and started to step out onto the parking lot.

That's when she saw it - Faye's expensive high heel, positioned perfectly in her path like a hidden trap.

Time seemed to slow down. Beverly's foot caught on Faye's leg that was placed there on purpose, and she started to fall forward. The pavement rushed up to meet her, hard and unforgiving. She could already feel the impact, could already taste the blood that would come from split lips and scraped hands.

But in that moment between standing and falling, between safety and humiliation, Beverly's world hung in perfect, terrifying balance.