Page 26 of His Queen
I drop the note to the floor. I don’t know what I am going to do. I can’t stay here. I can’t marry him. I won’t. I need to get out of here. I can’t live like this. I can feel the panic as it creeps up my throat. I don’t know how I will, but I have to find a way.
I slowly make my way into the bathroom and gaze at my reflection in the mirror. I can’t even recognize myself anymore. No amount of makeup can hide the truth. My face is swollen, and one of my eyes is completely shut due to the swelling. I don’t even want to bother trying to conceal it. Let them all see the damage that my father has allowed him to inflict upon his only child, his daughter.
Stepping into the shower, I desperately attempt to wash away every trace of him from my body. I scrub my skin so vigorously that it becomes raw, but I don’t care. I just need to feel clean again. The tears flow freely down my face, a testament to the pain and betrayal I feel. My father is a monster. He willingly handed me over to another monster. He has never cared about me, only about money and power.
I get out of the shower and dress in black jeans, a black sleeveless shirt, and black boots. I pull my hair up into a ponytail and look at my reflection in the mirror. I want them to see all the marks on me. Marks cover my neck where he strangled me. I wear a shirt that shows the marks on my chest and arms as well.
I limp slowly out of my room and down the stairs. Everyone is staring at me, but no one says a word. Good. I don’t want to talk to any of them. I want to leave. I walk into my father’s office so that he can see the damage he has caused. I don’t even bother knocking. I just open the door and walk in.
My father is sitting behind his desk with a cigar in his mouth. He looks up when I walk in and I see him tense up. He knew what Sal did, but seeing it is another thing altogether. But he doesn’t care. He just stares at me.
“Father,” I say as I walk in and sit down in the chair across from him.
“What happened?”
I laugh a completely unfeeling laugh at his question. “You don’t know? Why don’t you ask your pet, Salvatore?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Don’t you? I don’t know what is worse. The fact that you sold me to a monster or that you let him do this to me in your house. You know what I am talking about.”
“I am sure he had a good reason.”
“A good reason? A good reason! What the hell is wrong with you? Did you forget I am your daughter? Your flesh and blood? I am the only child you have. And you just gave me away to a psychopath. You let him beat me and rape me and you say he had a good reason! I hate you, father.”
“You don’t hate me. You are just upset. Someday you will understand in time what this means for our family.”
I stand up and stare at him in disbelief. “I will never understand this. Never. I have no idea how you can look at this damage and say anything warrants this abuse. I want to leave. I’m going home.”
“Home? This is your home.”
“No, this is not my home. I will never think of this place as my home ever again. You let him beat and rape me in my childhood room. Your daughter. The one you are supposed to protect. That you are supposed to love. I hope you are happy with your decision. I hope it was worth it and that it makes you feel powerful. I will never forgive you. Never. I’m leaving and never coming back. I won’t marry that monster.”
“You will do as you are told, Rose.”
I laugh “No, I will not. I’m done doing what I am told. I’m done with you and your bullshit. You have never given a fuck about me. Well, fuck you. I will never marry that psycho. He has already beaten and raped me. What more does he want?”
“You will marry him or I will kill you right here where you stand.”
Fuck this, I’m calling his bluff. I would rather die.
“Go ahead. Kill me. Kill your only daughter. Your flesh and blood. But I will never marry him. I will never let him touch me again. I am not yours anymore. I belong to no one. Kill me and put me out of my misery.” I stare him down. I almost wish he would, but he is too much of a pussy.
He looks at me with cold eyes. He presses a button on his desk and four of the security guards walk in.
“You are to escort my daughter to her room and you are to keep her there until the wedding. Do you understand?”
They nod and I scream. “You pussy! You can’t do this!” I turn to look at my father. “You can’t do this to me! You piece of shit!” I scream at him in fury.
“You gave me no choice, Rose. You will marry him and you will give him his heirs. No matter how you feel about it.”
Shaking my head in refusal, I quickly turn and attempt to flee. Determined to prevent this from happening, I sprinted with all my might. Unfortunately, they proved to be faster, taking advantage of my injuries. They seize hold of me, forcefully dragging me back to my room. A painful blow to my stomach causes me to double over, gasping for air. The agony intensifies as it aggravates my already bruised ribs, prompting me to cry out. Struggling to regain my breath, they forcefully haul me up the stairs and forcefully throw me back into my room. The sound of the lock clicking echoes as the door slams shut.
I scream and throw things around the room. I hate him! I hate them all! I can’t believe I ever wanted to please him. He is a monster, just like the rest of them. I don’t want to marry Salvatore. I can’t marry him. I don’t love him. I don’t even like him. He is a monster and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with him. I don’t want to have his babies. I don’t want to live in this house anymore. I need to get out of here. But how?
Chapter 18
Rose
