“You won’t, because this time we are going to hurt you.”
For the first time Dave whimpers but doesn’t protest.
“The next time I will cut off your hands.”
As my father threatens Dave, I picture all my emotions, the redness inside me has grown, it’s always growing. I grab it and the blackness, taking everything else just like my father taught me, I push it into the box. I don’t know what my father sees in me when I look up, but he smiles and gives me an approving nod.
“Don’t hold back.” He instructs and I don’t.
I hit Dave’s body with so much force that I hear a rib crack on the first punch. His roar fuels me. His screams become my music, his body my punch bag. I don’t stop until my arms tremble and my body is coated in sweat. I’m breathing heavily, my eyes trained on the blood on the concrete floor. I don’t look fully up at Dave, his head rests on his chest.
“Discipline will keep them all in line. It’s not easy my son, but necessary.” My father pats my shoulder and I don’t linger in the room with my destruction. I take off the leather gloves to find my hands a bloody mess, all my previous wounds have reopened.
When I leave the room my father’s gaze flickers to my hands. Annoyance fills his face. “You will have to wear gloves tonight.”
Tonight?
“I have set up a dinner for all the ladies to finally meet me.”
My stomach twists as I think of Ella. We had dinner planned. I push down the emotion. I can’t let my father see anything, so I nod.
“Good.” He stops before climbing the stairs back up to the shed. “Sandra will strengthen this family again, we will become the family we once were.”
It’s like a punch in the stomach, or seeing a face that you haven’t seen in years. He mentioned it, he mentioned the past. He must see it on my face. I want to ask about her. This is a perfect opportunity. I’ve never been given one before, and as a kid if I asked about my mother I was shot down.
My heart is pounding a mile a minute. “Is she…” I trail off when his eyes flash in warning.
“She’s fine. Now you need to get ready for this dinner.” He climbs the steps and each one I take, I try to piece myself back together and not think of my mother locked away in a madhouse.
I don’t shower when I return to my room. I change my clothes and find a pair of gloves to cover my battered hands. I try not to run to Ella’s room. When I reach the landing, no one is in sight. My stomach twists painfully and I clamp down on the emotion and knock on Ella’s door. She doesn’t answer. I turn the handle, knowing it won’t be locked. Her room is empty. Stepping in, I take in the chaos of her room. I wouldn’t have thought her room would have been like this. Dresses are thrown across the bed, I nearly trip over shoes on the floor. Her vanity table is littered with makeup. Stepping over to a table that is drowning in books, I pick up one. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. A small silver book mark is placed in the center. I put the book back down. The room smells like Ella, soap and something so feminine that even with so much on my mind my shaft grows hard.
“Hello.” A soft female voice that isn’t Ella lingers at the doorway, not stepping into the room.
Sandra Crowley, my future wife, smiles at me. “Have you seen Ella?”
She frowns like she’s thinking. “I can’t say I have, Master Lucas. Can I give her a message?”
A pencil and pad sit on the bedside table. I pick them up. I wasn’t sure what to write. She would know that I wouldn’t be having dinner with her since everyone was.
My hand hovers over the notepad. This is dangerous. It is leading down to a dead end. I glance up at Sandra who still stands in the doorway waiting for my answer.
We will reschedule dinner.
Lucas
I scribble and hesitate not handing it to Sandra. “No. There is no need.” I turn to Ella’s bed and place the piece of paper on her pillow. Sandra watches my every move and when my eyes meet hers she smiles. She knows that she will be picked. No doubt my father has already had a conversation with her.
I step out of Ella’s room forcing Sandra back and close the door.
“See you tonight, Master Lucas.” She sings sweetly after me as I pass her without a word. Blood is refilling my gloves as I clench my fists and leave to get ready for the charade tonight.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ELLA
The sky has dimmed as I walk back to the house. I keep looking over my shoulder, expecting Henry to be behind me. Another shiver assaults me and it has nothing to do with the weather. The house is quiet as I enter the foyer and make my way up the stairs.
My skin crawls again when I think of Henry. He had really left me with an unsettled feeling. I wanted to scrub my skin and wash him off, even though he hadn’t touched me, it felt like he had.
My room is still messy and the surroundings that were becoming familiar made me settle a bit. The dresses are still thrown across my bed, the tight black one sitting on top of the pile. My stomach squeezes.
I needed to shower and get ready. A small square piece of paper sits on my pillow. Picking it up, I unfold it and my heart instantly pounds when I see Lucas’s name at the bottom.
Meet me at eight in the main dining room.
Can not wait.
Lucas x
I’m staring at the x. His handwriting is neat and precise. I read it again and smile.
I am doing this for Vicky. I tell myself while stripping off my clothes to get into the shower.
My mind flickers from Henry to Lucas and when I get out of the shower I feel dizzy with my thoughts. I try to push them all aside as I start to get ready. My stomach flips when I stare in the mirror. The dress is tight, like my mother would drown me in holy water if she saw me now.
I shift, thinking maybe I should change and go for something ladylike. Something that she would approve of.
Wear something tight.
Lucas' words have me applying makeup. When I brush the red across my lips and smack them together I meet my eyes in the mirror. I look so different, older. I grin. Sexy. Very sexy.
I keep second guessing myself but I also want to be late but not to the point he thinks he has been stood up. Slipping my feet into high heels, I take one final look in the mirror before leaving my room. Once again I’m aware of how quiet it is. I had thought Hannah and Jessie would have been waiting in my room. Maybe they were watching TV in the drawing room. I was passing it so I would pop my head in and see if they were there.
I’m nervous.
So nervous.
I have decided I will tell Lucas about Henry so it won’t be something that can come back and haunt me.
The drawing room is empty. I don’t have time to look for them. I’m sure they will pounce on me the moment the dinner is over. My stomach churns and I push my hand against it, asking it to settle.
This isn’t a date. I repeat, trying to settle my nerves. The main dining-room doors are closed, they are normally open and I’m surprised to see George standing at the door. His eyes widen when he sees me and he reaches for the door to open it. There is something in his eyes that passes quickly before he pulls the door open fully. I keep my head bowed as I step into the dining room.
My head spins when I focus on the table, and everyone is focused on me. The blood in my veins turns cold and I stumble in the heels. Sniggers, a chair screeches, I hear every noise as I find my balance. My face flames. Everyone is here, all the ladies. Everyone is staring at me. Lucas’s dark eyes are empty as they meet mine. He’d set me up.