“Ethan, earn your keep. Fuck her,” Vinny says.
“No,” Ethan scoffs. “I didn’t want to hurt her before, and I’m not going to now.”
“Now, Ethan,” Vinny growls. What the fuck is happening right now? I go to move, but Conrad subtly shakes his head at me as ifto warn me of danger. It is not commanding; it is genuine worry. I’m so fucking confused right now, so I sit still.
“No,” Ethan shouts. “I’m not hurting my fucking sister again.”
“What?” I ask, looking at Ethan.
“We share the same biological father. He told me. Your dad is alive, and when he finds out that Vinny is trying to hurt you again, he’s going to fucking kill him,” Ethan says.
“Hurt? Son, she’s a witness. She’s going to fucking die.” Vinny laughs. “But first, I’m going to make her wish she never fucking remembered.”
“Ethan, just fuck her,” Conrad says, almost pleadingly.
“No,” Ethan says. “I won’t hurt her. I won’t do that again.”
“Such a brave big brother.” Vinny chuckles. “Last chance, Ethan.”
“Fuck you,” Ethan growls; he drops down to his knees and smiles tearfully. “Dad will save you. I’m so sorry, Arianna.”
“Ethan, don’t get yourself killed for…”
I don’t get to finish my sentence before he suddenly pulls a pistol from his waistband and puts it in his mouth. When the gun goes off, and the back of his head is blown to pieces as he collapsesto the ground in front of me, I go into a state of shock that I can’t shake free from. I don’t know how to process the fact that the man who helped brutally rape me just blew his brains out to prevent having to hurt me again. I am screaming, and I can’t stop. I don’t know how to stop. Chaos breaks out, and more gunfire sounds as arms surround me. My entire body is shaking, and I can’t breathe through the panic.
“What the fuck happened? Get your fucking hands off her,” Dad booms as I am pulled away from someone.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I tried to keep everyone alive,” I hear Conrad beg. “He’s going to hurt her. I can’t let her suffer again. Please! Let me do it quickly!”
“Look at me,” Jovian says softly, holding my face. My entire body is shaking, but looking into his eyes and realizing he is okay calms me a little. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” he asks.
“What happened? I… is everyone okay?”
“Ethan shot himself, you panicked, and Conrad practically tackled you to the ground to cover your body with his. I don’t really know. Vinny was going to shoot you, but he didn’t want to shoot Conrad, so he ran. It happened so damn fast… Then we sat with Conrad. He had you sitting in his lap. He was completely out of it, but had a gun to your head. He just kept mumbling about not wanting you to suffer again. I think he was trying to hype himself up to kill you to prevent his father from hurting you.”
“I’m so confused,” I say. “He is the one who hurt me to begin with.”
“Conrad came into the locker room and essentially told us that Vinny wants to sell you, but he didn’t want that to happen. He confirmed that he was trying to kill you, and it was Ethan he was talking to. He didn’t want Ethan to say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble with Vinny. He said that you were going to get sold off, and it was a more compassionate death. He’s definitely out of his goddamn mind, but… I think years of abuse made him insane,” Elijah says. Kip helps me stand as they all take turns hugging me. Dad has a gun to Conrad’s head as he kneels, but he’s watching me. Ray and Mom are at the door with Rogers behind them.
“Dad,” I say carefully.
“It’s up to you,” he says simply.
“What is?” I ask.
“He’s dying either way. Vinny will kill him for protecting you from him, so it’s either I put him down, or Vinny gets him and kills him.”
“Please shoot me.” Conrad sniffles. “Please. Arianna, please. I’m begging you.”
“Why did you hurt me?” I ask.
“I tried so hard to get you to just leave before Dad noticed you. You were too kind for his cruelty… Ethan didn’t want to hurt you. He tried to convince me to just tell you… I don’t know, Arianna. I don’t know. I’m sorry. I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind. Every time I think I have it under control again… He wants to keep you. I thought with you having the scar, he’d leave you alone… Please, let him shoot me. I can’t go back to him. I can’t do it again.”
“What does he do?” I ask.
“He hurts me the way we hurt you,” he says quietly. “I’d rather die than feel his anger again. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Rogers?” I ask.
