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It puts my whole life into perspective.

My father was never making me a leader; I was a pawn in his game and an outlet for his fury.

And I am nothing but the weak little bitch he always said I was, because I’m still not fighting back.

For some fucked up reason, I thought I loved my father. But this isn’t love. Instead of regret. Instead of sitting and taking his beatings. Rage fuels me. I’ve got Colten’s voice telling me that I don’t lie down and take anything from any man.

Before his foot can land again, I roll away, pushing myself onto all fours.

“I’m not done with you, Gianna. Get the fuck back down,” he bellows.

I spit blood onto his glistening white floor and stand. “No. If you want to hurt me, you earn it, Father.”

He laughs, and it hurts somewhere deep inside my soul. And then he swings. I duck out of the way and return the favor, smashing my fist into his ribs. As he lunges back at me, I grab the crystal decanter from the side table.

“Fuck you!” I scream, smashing it into the side of his head.

It doesn’t smash, but the thud from his skull makes him stop in his tracks, his eyes wide, not with anger. With something much worse.

Hatred.

I drop the glass, and it crashes against the floor, sending shards flying, and his hand shoots out, grabbing me by the throat so hard I can’t breathe.

He shoves me against the wall with force strong enough to shake the pictures.

“You don’t get to fight back, Gianna,” he hisses. “You’re my little pet, and you’ll take your beatings to learn your lesson.”

I shake my head. “I hate you, and I’m going to take everything from you, Dad.”

“Little bitch!” he bellows, tossing me across the room like a rag doll, sending me skidding across the sparkling marble tiles.

I fought back. For the first time in my life, I stood up to him. Even if he damn well kills me, I can die happy knowing I finally did it.

I found the real Gianna.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

Colten

Song- The Basement, Catch Your Breath

My world tilts as I push open the door. Vito’s foot hurtles towards her ribs. My Gianna, balled up on the floor, blood smeared on her cheek. Before his kick lands, she lets out a scream as she shoves some sort of glass into his thigh.

He stumbles backward. A red-hot anger floods me as I run at him, tackling him to the ground before he can hurt her again.

I don’t waste a second; I can’t even see straight as I roll him onto his side and hold him down with my weight, and let my fists slam into his face over and over.

Bone crunches beneath my hands, blood spraying from his nose.

His feeble attempts to push me off do nothing. Each hit is harder than the last.

“Stop! Colten! You’re going to kill him!” Gianna screams, yanking at the back of my shirt.

“Good,” I grunt, punching him in the jaw.

That’s exactly what he deserves.

She puts me in a headlock and squeezes tight enough to make me wheeze.