LENORA
I didn’t saygoodbye to Rocco. I didn’t say goodbye to him inside the Greyhound, because I was too caught up in my feelings about him killing Dad. Outside, I couldn’t risk saying goodbye just in case people were watching. I felt his eyes on my back the entire way inside the building. I tried hard to stay strong on my way to Dad’s penthouse. Thankfully, Rosie and Dominic were with me. The story was that I’d called Rosie when I got back, and Dominic was so worried that he rushed over to bring me. We’d gone as far as calling mom to assure her I was fine from a new phone we’d picked up on the way. When I stepped foot in New York, I had to assume I was being monitored. By my dad. By Adriano. Tomorrow, I was supposed to have a day at the spa for my bachelorette, and even there, I had to continue the ruse that I didn’t want to marry Adriano but was trying to make peace with it. It wasn’t too far off from the truth.
My stomach flopped when the elevator doors opened up in his penthouse. The guard by the elevator, Ronny or something, gave me a stern look, but that was the norm. At least, that was what I told myself. Rosie must have noticed my hesitation, because she held my hand in hers and squeezed. I was shocked that she wanted to come along. When I voiced that, she said, “I’m going to treat him the exact way he treated me all this time,” she said.. We were almost in the kitchen when my father popped his head out, smiling as he met us in the hall. He said hello to Dominic and Rosie before turning to me.
“Welcome home, Lenora,” he said. “You gave us quite a fright.”
“I’m sorry about that.” I looked at the floor. His smile looked more like a grimace when I looked at him again.
“Dominic, Rosalyn, thank you for bringing her home,” he said, still looking at me. “Lenora and I have important things to discuss.”
“Dad,” Dominic started, walking around him so he’d look at him. “Can I have a word?”
Dad exhaled and walked back to the kitchen with Dom. “Sure.”
I covered my face with shaky hands and hoped Dom could convince him to let them stay over. Their voices rose as they argued, but I couldn’t hear much with my pulse roaring in my ears. Whatever was said didn’t work. Dom walked out of the kitchen with a hard look and grabbed Rosie’s hand. She turned to say goodbye to Dad, who smiled at her like nothing was wrong. Dom ignored him and walked over to me.
“If you need anything, call me,” he said, setting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. He looked like he wanted to say more but couldn’t.
Rosie hugged me. “Stay strong for us, okay?”
I nodded and watched them walk into the elevator, leaving me alone with my father. I’d never been afraid of my father. I’d never had reason to be. The person here right now was not the father I knew. With that in mind, I put up my shield and turned to face him.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” I said quietly. “I was always coming back. I just needed time.”
“You said that but you’re not sorry you left,” he said. I shook my head. “And you’re not sorry you stole from me.”
“I thought I could make you change the wedding.” Tears covered my vision.
Before I could think, he was on me, his hand gripping my hair tightly as he pushed me into the wall behind me, his green eyes cold as he got in my face. I whimpered, tears streaming down my face. Dad squeezed harder. My skull felt like it was on fire.
“You thought you could steal from me and get away with it because you’re my daughter?” he seethed. “You thought you’d be able to get away with this?”
“I-I-I just wanted time,” I said through tears.
“I’ve given you time,” he roared, pushing my head against the wall with a thump before letting go of my hair and pacing away. My hands went to my head as if that would alleviate the pain. “I’ve given you everything you’ve ever wanted. I ask for one thing and you can’t do it.”
“I’m sorry.” My lip wobbled. “I’m sorry.”
“You are not sorry.” He walked back over.
Before he even got to me, I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself. He slapped me so hard, my head turned to the completely opposite side. I gasped loudly as I opened my eyes, holding my burning cheek. He’d never hit me before, even when I used to get on his nerves when I was a kid. A sob bubbled in my chest as I held my face with my right hand and set my left over my chest. He grabbed my hair again, squeezing. I tried to take a deep breath between sobs, but his hold never eased.
“How do you think this has made me look?” He pushed my head back and roared, “How do you think you made me look in front of all of the families?”
“I said I was sorry,” I managed to gasp out. “I can’t take it back.”
He let me go and stepped away, eyes narrowed. “Did you show anyone what you stole?”
“No!” I shouted, desperate to get out of this. “I didn’t even see what was on it!”
“Are you lying, Lenora?” He stared harder.
“I swear. I swear on everything. I hooked it up to the computer and took it right back out because I. . .” I tried to get myself out of control, but my words came out as a wail. “I was scared I’d see you as the monster everyone said you were.”
My entire body shook as I cried into my hands. “I’m sorry. I mean it. I’m sorry.”
“Are you going to continue causing trouble for me?” he asked, his tone much softer, more like the dad I knew.
