“No.”
Simeon’s voice could cut steel.
“You will be in worse pain than this by the time your life is allowed to end.”
“In your dreams, asshole.”
Morgan giggles like a crazy woman.
“You see, the Monza mafia has agreed a hit on your miserable lives and they don’t back down. I’m guessing they’re approaching as we speak. Then there’s my family also heading your way, not to mention your precious Sister Agatha whose head will be sent to you in a box, gift-wrapped with a note of condolence.”
“No.”
Alice sobs as I step forward and say coolly, “Actually, you’re wrong on all counts.”
“What are you talking about?”
She sneers and I say calmly, “Please, may I have some scissors, Joseph?”
“Scissors? What’s this? Do you plan to cut me free or stab me in the heart? Either way will be most welcome.”
“Neither.”
From out of the medical box, the guard hands me a set of scissors, and I approach Morgan from behind and say casually, “Do you remember when you cut off my hair and blamed me. My father punished me while you stood by smiling smugly.”
“Wow, hold a grudge, why don’t you? What a stupid girl you are to hold that against me. It was just a bit of fun.”
I lift her shoulder-length hair and proceed to hack it off. She says nothing. There is silence in the room and not until I have cut every strand possible, do I lean down and whisper, “I’m guessing your father will be equally disappointed in you when your head is delivered to him in the ribbon-tied box.”
Her sharp intake of breath tells me my threat has hit home, and Joseph grins, his approval strangely endearing.
I flick my gaze to Alice.
“What about you, Alice? Do you recall when Morgan locked you in the cupboard and blamed me? Weren’t you punished by our father for playing tricks on her?”
“You’re right.”
This time, Alice steps forward and unwinds a scarf from around her neck.
“I believe I passed out through lack of air. I may never have survived if she hadn’t opened the door and pretended it was my fault.
She stuffs the scarf into Morgan’s mouth, pressing it against her airway, effectively shutting off the oxygen, holding her down while she jerks in her seat.
“It was terrifying in that closet, waiting to die. Air deprived and slipping into unconsciousness. Only to wake to a punishment and recriminations for something I didn’t do.”
She presses in harder, Morgan turning blue before her eyes, and then Simeon says, “Now, Alice.”
She pulls away and Morgan gulps in huge bursts of air, a little of the color restored to her face as she struggles to breathe.
Alice wastes no time and slaps her hard around the face before she can recover, mirroring our punishment, our father’s preferred method, every time.
Tears are falling down Morgan’s face as she suffers the sins of the father and Rose says in an emotionless voice, “I want her to hang.”
My heart breaks for my sister because knowing that is exactly what her mom endured must be haunting her, knowing this woman ordered it.
“Please, let me go. I can stop this. I will sign the company over to you. I’ll walk away. Please. Tell me what you want. I’ll call off the hits and tell my family to back off. Money. We can give you money. Just walk away now.”
“No.”
