Page 18 of Broken

“What the fuck, Ava? Did you enjoy that little game that you just played? How fucking dare you dress like a whore in front of my father and then make it sound as though it was my fault. You will be punished for that, is that understood?” He pauses, clearly waiting for me to acknowledge his threat and, of course, I do with a mumbling affirmative. There’s not really much more I can say. What I wanted to say included telling him where he could shove his apology and his punishment. But I can’t. I’m stuck here and I have no idea what he means by the word punishment, but the sick look of glee that he has plastered on his face is not helping.

“You will stay up here in this room only. I will be locking the door. You will spend the day thinking about how much trouble you caused this morning and how you can make it up to me this evening. I will be having a mini cocktail party for a variety of my friends where I will be announcing my new fiancé to them. This is your chance to make up for what you did today. I will pick what you wear this time, since you clearly cannot be trusted. Be in your best lingerie, looking perfect, like someone who I would consider to be worthy of being my wife, when I come up here at six tonight. Am I making myself perfectly clear?” I can feel shivers crawling all over my skin, not just at the thought of him seeing me in my underwear but also that he is going to see my armour. The tattoo I keep hidden because it is for me, gives me strength and I only share it with people who are special to me. That will be on display for him to see and judge. I know he will not like it, but I do not care. I never have because this tattoo was made specifically for me. I do contemplate telling him, but what the fuck can he do about it other than cover it up and, to be honest, that’s how I prefer things. I know I don’t have a bad figure and my curves look good, but I’m still not someone who walks around showing off lots of skin. I might let my legs show with a short skirt on a night out, or wear a thin vest top like this, but that's it. I rarely show anyone, and I’m pretty sure that nobody’s response will ever top the way Ryder looked at my skin like I was a work of art. His eyes definitely gazed over every section of my skin, taking in not just the tattoo, but me too and he liked what he saw. I've always struggled with my confidence, which was the reason for getting the tattoo in the first place. It’s my armour that lets me know that no matter what, I really am beautiful. But last night I didn’t need it. Ryder made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world even before he laid his eyes on me. So it’s that feeling and those thoughts are what I am going to have to hold on to later tonight when Grant is the one ogling my body.

“I understand. What exactly do you expect me to do in this room all day? There’s no form of entertainment, not even a book. Am I at least allowed down the hall to the TV room?” I ask as politely as I can manage, but even I can hear the hint of sass in my voice as I speak to him. I can’t help it, I've spent my entire life being a strong, independent girl and I’m hardly going to fall in line because of one bitch slap. I know he can hear the back talk in my voice too, but what surprises me is the harsh laugh he lets slip out.

“Wow, I knew you were poor, but I had no idea you are thick as pig shit, too.” I stand there, open mouthed at the audacity of this prick. I can’t believe he is questioning my intelligence.

“Excuse me? How fucking dare you speak to me like that!” I screech at him. No matter how much of a big shot he thinks he is, I can assure him that holds no weight with me. All I see in front of me is a very small man.

CRACK! This time the slap hits my other cheek and a combination of it being more forceful and catching me off guard results in me losing my balance and falling to the floor in the middle of the room. The pain is radiating through my cheek and my jaw from the force of the contact. As he hit me, the ball of his palm connected with the corner of my lip and caused the flesh to rip open. Beads of blood begin to pool on the corner of my lip and not knowing what else to do, I lick them away, tasting the rich copper taste. My ear is ringing and my head feels a little dizzy from the impact. Obviously, my brain is not too keen on being smacked around even if it is protected by my skull. It's funny like that, isn’t it?

My hand repeats the process from earlier by pressing against my cheek in an attempt to soothe the discomfort I am feeling from the slap. My hand is met with moistness at both ends. The blood from my lip on the lower part of my hand and the tears I hadn’t even realised were falling on my fingers. I never wanted this prick to ever see me cry but that slap hurt and I couldn’t control the way the pain brought tears to my eyes. It suddenly starts to dawn on me exactly what type of a relationship this is going to be. Grant is going to beat the shit out of me until he has turned me into the girl that he sees in that crazy head of his. If he thinks he can break me, he is very fucking mistaken. He has picked the wrong girl.

Before I even have the chance to get my bearings and work out how to get up off the floor and begin pulling myself together, Grant must have sensed the change in my demeanor. It’s like he could tell the exact moment I had decided I refused to be a victim because he crouched down in front of me with a sneer on his face. Then, before I even realise what is happening, he has my hair fisted in his hands and he is pulling my head close to his face. He twists his wrist, forcing me to look him in the eye and causing the stinging pain on my scalp to worsen into a pain.

“Listen to me, you little bitch. You have no idea what I have had to give up for you to be my wife. It is a great honour and it is one you will be thankful for. You will do your duty as a wife and you will show me respect. Everytime you don’t, when you let me down or anger me in general, you will be punished. Let me be very clear, this is not a punishment. This is merely my way of getting you to hear exactly what I have to say. I am giving you one chance to learn from your mistakes, but rest assured, you will never get another. You have until six tonight to become the wife I expect or you will be severely punished. You will not be allowed to leave this room because I believe you need to be in here, thinking about how you can make me happy and then making it come true. You think you won today by getting my father to take your side, but you are wrong. All you did was make me accountable for your appearance and behaviour. So, if you are a disgrace, it will be me who is punished and let me tell you right now, that will not happen. You will behave and you will show me the respect I deserve because if you don’t, I will personally blow a hole in your father’s head. Now, do I make myself clear?” I start nodding as quickly as I can, even with his hand still fisted in my hair. I’m not sure if he actually wants me to speak or not. The feeling of dread that filled my stomach at the mention of him shooting my papa was worse than any slap he could have delivered. The pain that I felt at hearing those words is etched into my soul and I know that no matter what, no matter how much it goes against my nature, I have to behave. I have to become the well-behaved, quiet piece of arm candy Grant wants. The thought that this is my life now leaves my body feeling incredibly hollow. It takes me a few minutes after that awful interaction to realise Grant has actually left the room and locked the door, leaving me laying there on the plush carpet. I physically cannot get up. Now that I am alone and I know that he will not be returning, I drop my barrier and allow the pain and despair I am feeling after that encounter consume me. Tears stream from my eyes and sobs wrack my body. I cry, not just from the pain and the threats. I cry for everything I have lost and everything that my life has become.

Chapter Eighteen

Grant

Fuck me, this evening is most definitely not going how I wanted it to go and I really fucking hate when my plans go wrong. First, Ava comes down dressed like a tramp. I mean, there was no denying that she looked amazingly gorgeous, but that is not how I wanted her to meet my father. I wanted to show him she has agreed to be my wife willingly, and that she has changed for me and wants to please me. So when she came down, rebelling against all of that, I saw red, like I could literally hear my heart pulsing in my head. I wanted to ram my fist into her face, but I restrained myself. Then when my father came in and I introduced him to Ava, making sure I announced her surname clear enough for him to know who she is, he didn’t flinch. I know my father is an expert at wearing a mask, but this was ridiculous. He has spent years protecting and defending this girl without anyone realising it. I have seen the books, he has paid off Manny’s debts when he hasn’t been able to afford a payment, multiple times. He protects him from other rival gangs, even coming close to starting a massive brawl over it. Not that we wouldn’t have wiped out their whole crew if it had come to it. But I just do not understand what is so special about Manny Delgado. Why is my father protecting him? So, naturally, I figured the best way to find out is through Ava.

Coming up with the plan to marry Ava and find out exactly what the Delgado family meant to my father seemed easy. I had Eli do a deep dive to find me all the information he possibly could on the family. Then I found exactly what I had been looking for and I wished I hadn’t. I have always hated my father and I never thought I could think less of him, but I was wrong. That was the moment I decided to step up my plan and make it happen no matter what.

When I introduced Ava to him as my fiancé, I expected a reaction. I know he arranged this meeting yesterday when he found out that she was here. People talk, which is exactly what I wanted, but I suspect Manny was the one who went to him, begging to get Ava back. I knew my father would walk in this building with a plan, I just hadn’t expected him to be so nice to her. Especially when she is blatantly flouting all the rules I have taken numerous beatings for throughout my pathetic excuse of a childhood. But no, perfect Ava is far too special to do anything wrong. That was all I kept thinking during that whole fucking interaction. My hands were shaking and I was actually sweating through rage. I was so angry. After getting Ava alone in that room, I just couldn’t help myself. The first slap felt so fucking amazing. I needed to show her how much it pissed me off that she was allowed to get away with breaking the rules and how that will not be the case with me. Being my wife means she will obey me and she will fall in line with whatever I expect of her, even if it’s not what she wants. The second slap was to ensure she took me seriously. I am not playing around. She has to know I have a plan and if she thinks she is going to ruin it, she is very much mistaken.

Feelings of pleasure are swirling around my body and I have to admit, I am getting hard just thinking back on what happened in the room. I humiliated Ava, made her cry, slapped her, and it felt so fucking good. Normally, I would never hit a woman, not unless she begs for it, but with Ava, a red mist just comes over me. I am reminded of my father and the pain, which makes me take it out on Ava. The plan is to break my father but to do that, I have to break Ava first. Hearing her muffled sobs on the other side of the supposedly soundproof door reminds me that tonight, I have taken a step in the right direction. Just for a second, a small voice whispers in my head telling me maybe this isn't the right way to do things and I shouldn’t take the rage I feel towards my father out on Ava, but I quickly quiet this voice. Now is not the time to develop feelings. Now, I have to go down and face my father.

Walking into the living room, I see that my father, Len, and Ryder are all seated in various seats around the room. My father is typically in the leather armchair he knows is mine. Ryder is on the sofa nearest the door, his usual spot. I know he takes it so that he can monitor the rest of the room, see all entrance and exit points and be closest to the door in case of emergencies. His brain is one of the most organised I have ever seen and when he tried to explain to me on one occasion how he manages risk and assesses situations in the blink of an eye, I was genuinely in awe. When my father paired us together, I resented him. Then when I found out he planned on using Ryder as the leader and me as his puppet, I fucking hated him, but then we bonded. We got to know each other and Ryder is actually a good guy. I have tested him on multiple occasions and I know that he works for me and isn’t some spy for my father. It’s strange because I don’t think he actually wants to run the business. He wants to work his way to the top, but I don't think he wants to rule the way I do, I think he wants to be the top of the security chain. That is why he is sticking with me and working for the old man, so he can learn everything he can to get us to the top. I should hate him, but I don’t. He is the one person in this world I actually consider a friend, but even he didn’t know about the plan. Maybe I will fill him in and get him to help take my father down with me, but only after I have tried several things myself. I may have said that I trust him, but that doesn’t mean I fully trust him. The one thing I learnt from my father; never trust anyone

“You’re here at last. Good of you to finally join us, Grant. Now sit down, we have much to discuss,” my father abruptly says the second I enter my own living room. I nod to him and sit down on the same sofa as Ryder, but at the other end, closest to my father.

“Of course. So, what brings you all this way today, Father? A congratulations on your engagement card would have sufficed.” The smirk I have on my face at my own sarcasm lets my father know I am not messing with him any longer. I have spent my whole life being afraid of him, but not anymore.

“So, you are serious about being engaged to that girl?” he spits back at me.

“Marriage is hardly something to joke about now is it, Father?” I can see his hands ball up into fists and he begins to grind his teeth, making it very obvious I am affecting him.

“She is not a suitable candidate and you did not seek my permission. That is totally disrespectful,” he replies, raising his voice more everytime he speaks. I am enjoying this. It might actually be the first conversation I have ever had with my father that I’m enjoying.

“I never meant any disrespect. We fell in love and it just happened. If we are in love, how can she not be right?” The sing song tone to my voice sounds like something straight out of a rom-com. I think I even hear Ryder try to hold back a giggle.

“You know the rules, Grant. She is not part of our society and will not take the Blakeman name.” He actually stamps his foot as though he was standing up and having a tantrum. It looks a lot harder to stamp your foot when you are sitting down. This time, it's my turn to hide the chuckle.

“I know that, Father. But I thought that an exception could be made for love. Besides, you saw her before and you liked her. She is beautiful and with the right clothes and training, she will fit into our society.” I make sure to include the subtle dig that earlier he had seemed engrossed by looking at her. Then again, there really is no denying she is a beauty.

“I was being polite. Of course, she is beautiful, but she is not from a good enough background to be part of our family.” Bingo, he walked straight into it. Exactly what I wanted him to say.

“How could you possibly know that? You just met Ava five minutes ago. How could you know her family?” I see the red start to creep up his face and this time, I actually hear his knuckles crack as he makes his fists. Normally, my father is very cold and controlled, particularly in front of other people. He loses his shit in front of me all the time, but with Ryder and Len here, this is unexpected. I must have struck a nerve and I can feel my own body humming with excitement.

“Don’t piss about this, Grant. We both know that Ava is Manny Delgado’s daughter. I sent you there yesterday to do a job. Then I find out that instead of doing the job, you have essentially kidnapped the girl, and are now marrying her. What the fuck do you think you are playing at?” He’s up now and pacing the floor in front of me, getting more and more annoyed. Len is looking down at the floor, obviously wishing he was anywhere but here. I cast a glance over at Ryder and he looks nervous. I can almost see the cogs working in his brain as his eyes shift around the room. He is assessing the best way to soothe the problem or to get us both out of here unharmed. But, I’m not worried about that. For the first time, I have the upper hand and I very much plan on using it.

“Love at first sight is a thing, Father. Besides, your dealings are with Manny and not Ava. When we marry, I will allow Ava to pay off her father's debt, so it will all be sorted then,” I reply with a smile.

“No, I forbid you to marry this girl,” he yells towards me with spittle flying everywhere and a feral look on his face. I’ve done a lot of shit in my life to piss him off and I can happily report that this is the worst. Wow, he really doesn’t want Ava married to me. That is a shame!

“Look, I’m sorry, but I have always followed your rules. I have always done as you have asked, but this time I can’t. I love Ava very much and knowing she feels the same way is the most amazing feeling. You said that having a wife by my side when I take over the family business would be beneficial. Ava is ideal for that role. She is beautiful and with a little adjusting, she will be perfect. You have seen her, she follows all of the society rules for women. She takes good care of her body, skin, and hair. She does not smoke or have any ridiculous piercings. She has no tattoos covering her perfect skin. She can be made into a society girl. I know that if she doesn’t meet those standards, then I am not allowed to marry her and I would honour that.” I begin trying to justify to my father, planting the seed to let him know that I am doing this no matter what he says. As I am explaining the rules I have to follow if Ava is to ever be accepted as a society girl, I am interrupted by Ryder, who begins coughing and spluttering.

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