I jumped out of bed in a fit of rage and started pacing. There had to be a better way to handle all this. I paced and paced some more, until I came to a decision. I was going to get revenge myself. I wasn’t going to roll over and allow men to take control. I wasn’t a weak female.
I quietly started going through Jamie’s drawers and closet looking for things I’d need. I found a loaded pistol in his nightstand, a pretty sick switchblade in his dresser, handcuffs and zip ties in a bag in his closet. I put everything in the bag before creeping out into the living room.
Jamie was in a deep sleep. I could tell by his even breathing and soft little snore. Moving as quietly as I could, I collected my shoes and scooped up his car keys from the coffee table. I spotted his phone and grabbed that, too. I didn’t want him calling Stefan the moment he noticed I was gone.
I backed up slowly, never taking my eyes off him until I reached the front door. I turned the deadbolt to unlock it and twisted the knob all the way before I pulled open the door. The door made a little whoosh noise when it opened. I cringed but Jamie was still sound asleep, none the wiser. I slipped out into the breaking dawn and closed the door most of the way, but not all the way because I was too afraid I’d wake him.
I didn’t take a deep breath until I put his car in reverse and I pulled onto the main road.
It was evening when I parked Jamie’s car in front of my house. Everyone was there. I didn’t know if it was because I'd been missing all day or because of Stefan’s weekly family meeting. Only one way to find out.
I walked into the house and was immediately intercepted by Brody, looking ready to strangle me. “Where have you been, young lady?” he roared, until he noticed my beaten face. His eyes widened. “My God, Maura! What happened?” He went to touch me, but I flinched away, stepping backward. His hand jerked back at my reaction.
“Where’s Stefan?” I asked.
“He’s in his meeting.”
That was all I needed to hear. Nothing more was said between us because I was already walking in the direction of the enclosed secret room known as the chamber, located in the center of the house.
I passed the guards in the hall with my head held high. I got a few double takes from them, but no one uttered a word to me as I entered the chamber without knocking. Everyone stopped talking abruptly as heads turned my way. My eyes landed immediately on Stefan sitting at the head of the table at the other end of the room. He was surprised to see me and even more so when he noticed my face.
“What the hell happened?” He jumped to his feet.
Before he could step away from his chair, I walked further into the room and pulled out the empty chair at the opposite end of the table, where my grandfather had sat when Stefan had first taken over. I silently took a seat, refusing to wince as everything sore smarted. My eyes shifted to Jamie, who was sitting to the left of Stefan, in his late father’s chair. He was pissed, eyes filled with scathing rage as they bored into mine.
I pulled his pistol from the big front pocket of his hoodie I still wore and I placed the gun on the table in front of me. I purposely avoided looking at anyone else as I watched Stefan stare at the gun before looking back at me.
“Last night I went to a party with Becca. When I went upstairs to use the bathroom, two guys from my school shoved their way into the room, cornered me, and raped me.”
The room echoed with gasps and heads turned to look to Stefan. Without removing his eyes from mine, he slowly sat back down in his chair.
“I fought but it wasn’t enough. They outnumbered me. They were jocks, they were a lot stronger. After it was done, I told Brody I was going to spend the night at Becca’s place, but I didn’t. I spent most of the night pulling myself together until I decided to break into Jamie’s condo. He wasn’t there. Probably out with Louie again. I took some of his clothes to replace mine that were ripped and borrowed his gun, along with a few other things.” I sounded monotone and factual. There was zero emotion behind my voice as I told everyone what happened. They all silently listened. All men. My uncles, cousins, and their men. The room was filled with nothing but men and all of their attention was on me. It didn’t matter because at this point, I was completely numb. Too numb to feel ashamed. Too numb to care.
“I was able to get Tyson first. He about pissed himself when he saw I had a gun and begged me to let him go. I lured Zack out by sending him a text from Tyson’s phone. I started with Zack because Tyson seems to have a thing for watching.” I paused as the memories flashed behind my eyes. “It went on for hours. Their cries. Their begging.”
A deafening muteness overtook the room as everything I said sank in. I stood from the table and walked over to Stefan. His eyes never wavered from mine as I approached him.
I reached into the front hoodie pocket again and pulled out Jamie’s switchblade and a sandwich bag that contained Zack’s penis. It was the first thing I'd done to him as Tyson watched. I tossed the switchblade in front of Jamie and placed Zack’s penis in front of my father. Everyone stared down at the penis.
“Please send this to Zack’s mother. She should have taught her son how to treat women better,” I mumbled before turning to leave. “What’s left of their bodies is in the old warehouse off of Stone Street just before the highway. You know, the place you all like to take certain individuals to ask a few questions,” I informed them
over my shoulder just before closing the door behind me.
The house was silent for days. I didn't see or talk to anyone other than Brody, and even those interactions were one-worded. I barely ate or drank. I just wanted to sleep. Stefan hadn’t come to see me after I'd crashed his meeting and I was beginning to feel ashamed. He was probably angry with me for letting this happen. He blamed me.
Five days had passed and Brody was getting on my last nerve. He wanted me to eat and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“What’s the fucking point? Just leave me alone!” I yelled at him and he stalked off, exasperated.
Later that night, while I numbly stared at the ceiling, my door opened. I didn’t care enough to see who it was.
“Brody says you’re refusing to eat.” It was Stefan. I turned my head, finding him standing next to my bed. Shock pulled me from my numbness as I took in his appearance.
My father was always put together, dressed nicely, and oozing self-assurance. Even when he came home covered in someone else’s blood. The way he held himself, he made it seem like blood was meant to go with his Armani suit. The man who stood before me now was anything but. This man was unshaven, clothes wrinkled, hair disheveled like he’d run his hands through it too many times. There were dark bags under his eyes. He looked miserable.
“Do you blame me?” I didn’t mean to ask him, but I was dying to know.
My question was answered when he looked completely defeated by it. “I blame myself.”
“Why?”
Stefan kicked off his shoes, climbed onto the bed next to me, and wrapped his arms around me. I was so surprised, I couldn’t move. Is he comforting me?
“Because it’s my job to protect you and I failed.”
He is! He cares. He’s not mad at me!