Half-twisting in my brother's arms, I lifted my head to the balcony, but I couldn’t see anything. The strobing multicoloured lights made it impossible. I knew he was up there, though. I could feel him watching.
“I’m a grown woman, Gio.”
“You’re his slut.”
For several long seconds, I stared up into the face I had once idolized, and not for the first time since I had been here, I wondered when he had changed or if he had always been this selfish.
“Go fuck yourself, Gio. I’m leaving.”
“How about Lily?”
I froze. Turning back to him in shock. “What about her?” I couldn’t help it. My voice shook.
“It would be a shame if her father found out she’s out alive, wouldn’t it?”
Slowly, I turned back to him. “You don’t know who her father is,” I hissed.
At least, I hoped he didn’t.
“Oh, come on, Sophia. The kid is Matteo’s.”
The blood drained from my face. The world seemed to tilt off its axis, and I swayed. “It’s not. You…”
He couldn’t know that. Not for sure.
“Listen, little sister.” This time, he pulled me into his arms so we could continue our weird swaying back and forth dance that made us stand out like a sore thumb.
“The fact you were his little slut all those years ago doesn’t matter now. In fact, it makes things a lot easier. I just don’t need to have it thrown in my face. How do you think that makes me feel?”
How was I to answer that? My lips thinned. It was strange, because if anyone was listening in, they would assume Gio was an ex-boyfriend and not my brother. He sure did sound like a bitter, jealous lover.
Gross.
But I had to be wrong, right? Either that, or the drugs were making him act out of character.
Yes, that’s what it was. The drugs were messing with my brother’s mind.
“Gio, I think you need help…”
His glassy eyes flashed. “I do. Your help, Sophia, and you owe our family that much. Seeing as when our parents were being murdered, you were sharing a bed with the man responsible.”
“I wasn’t…”
“Yes, you were. Do you think I didn’t know? My sister whoringherself out…” His voice shook with anger. “He was using you, you know/”
I closed my eyes as old pain flowed through me. “I know.”
Sometimes it was easy to forget that. Especially when Matteo held me in his arms.
“He was using both of us, but you?” Gio’s voice dropped to a hissing whisper. “You were his pet project. He killed our parents, but what he did to you was so much worse because he fucking ruined you. You were worthless after he had you.”
My throat burned with the need to sob. I knew all of this. It wasn’t even the first time Gio had said something similar, but now that I knew he had always known it was Matteo who had fathered my baby and taken my virginity, it felt even worse.
The pain was so fresh.
I opened my mouth to tell him that I wasn’t worthless, but he spoke first and cut me off. “He needs to die.”
My head snapped back. Speechless, I stared at him.
