Page 46 of Downfall

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask.

He laughs. He laughs so loud it sends a shiver through me. “Oh you’re going to find out.” He clicks his fingers for the driver to move. The engine roars to life and I fall against the backseat as the car jerks away.

For a few minutes I don’t talk. I don’t even breathe. I just sit there, frozen. Paralysed. But then something makes me look out the window.

“Where are we going?” I ask. I wouldn’t say I know most of Verona Bay but I know our usual areas and where we’re headed right now is somewhere entirely new.

He throws me a look, full of hate, full of loathing. “You Capulets, you think all your money puts you on an equal footing to us but it doesn’t. It doesn’t even come close.”

“I don’t think that.” I reply. “I’m not like them. Not like the rest of my family only you’ve never paid enough attention to recognise that.”

He scoffs. “If you’re so different why is it you’ve stayed huh? You could have walked away years ago. Could have disappeared into the night and no one would have found you. Only you couldn’t. You’d be a nobody. You’d be poor too. You thrive off this life Rose. You thrive off me.”

“I hate you.”

He laughs. “But you’re happy enough to spread your legs when I want it.”

“No I’m not.”

“No? What about all the jewels? Happy to exchange your body for them too.”

I pull a face and look away. He’s twisting it. Acting like I’ve intentionally whored myself out for him and it’s not him forcing me to do things I don’t want, then forcing me to take his apology gifts like blood money after.

“If you didn’t want to marry me then why bother to pretend after?” I ask. “Once the ring was on why not simply put a show on in public and leave me alone in private?”

He leans in. I can smell his aftershave, that thick musky scent that I once used to actually quite like. “I had to get something out of this arrangement didn’t I? Might as well make it worth my while.”

I scowl. “You fucking prick.” My hand lashes out slapping him hard across the face and his eyes widen for a second.

“You will never do that again. Never raise your hand against me.” He states. “From now on, you’re going to take everything I give you, and I mean everything, without complaint. In fact, you’re going to thank me for it. Thank me for every scrap I throw your way.”

“Like hell I will.” I spit.

His hand grabs my throat. I can feel his fingers digging into my muscles and I gasp, half clawing at him but as he leans his weight further in something screeches.

The car jerks.

Paris falls on top of me, his entire body engulfing mine and his weight pushes me out of the seat and into the footwell as the car tips onto its side, skidding across the tarmac.

Roman

The truck rams into the car with such accuracy even I’m impressed. The air is punctuated with the sound of crunching metal and screeching tyres, and then there’s nothing.

Just silence.

It feels almost poetic. It feels like I’ve just witness an opera performed solely for me.

The man in the truck gets out quickly. Disposing of any last bits of evidence and saunters over to where the second car is. He gives me a quick nod, job done, and gets in. He’ll no doubt have a few bruises but we’ve paid him more than enough in danger money to cover it.

I get out of my car, gun in hand, and twist the silencer into place. I don’t need it but it’s the middle of the day and though this area is secluded enough I don’t want the sound of gunshots to bring any unwanted attention.

Besides we’ve made enough noise as it is. No need for anymore.

I cross the road. There’s a good chance the bastard is already dead but I want to make sure. I have to make sure. I need to see his body.

The car lies on its side. The entire length concaved from the impact and there’s a steady pool of something leaking out from the engine. I can smell that sharp acrid stench of burning. I don’t think the car is on fire though, I’m pretty certain it’s just the airbags and residuals from the crash.

The door is hard to open. It takes all my strength to wrench it free.

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