Page 35 of Merciless Queen
“Lo so, Papà. Avevo bisogno di una moglie per tenere le altre famiglie lontane da me e dalla nostra famiglia. Ha bisogno di protezione.”I know, Papa. I needed a wife to keep other families away from me and our family. She needs protection.
“Protezione da chi?”Protection from who?
“Vincenzo.”
Harlow stiffened next to me and looked at the ground. Hearing that man's name was still hard for her. My father saidnothing more and nodded. “It is nice to meet you, Harlow. Welcome to the family.”
“T-Thank you,” she stuttered.
“I’ll want a dance later, my dear. Now I must find a redhead.” I rolled my eyes and kissed my father on his cheek, taking Harlow back into my arms. She seemed to like my comfort, and, in this crowd, she needed it.
“He is nice. After my mother died, it broke him.”
She nodded, leaning her head onto my chest. “W-What happened to her?”
I sighed. “Vincenzo. I was fifteen. He broke into our house when my father and his men were gone. He killed our guards, and before he came into our room, my mother made me hide. We had a hiding spot in our closet. I listened to him rape her before her stabbed her repeatedly. I watched the life drain from her eyes before she took her last breath.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. That’s why I took you. Ithought you were the key to destroying Vincenzo. He took my mother from me, so I took you from him.”
“I am his weakness. He wants me. I don’t understand why, but he is obsessed with me.”
“I’ll use it, but I’m not going to let you get hurt by him ever again. You’re safe now.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but instantly closed it again and nodded. She didn’t feel safe, even in my house. I could see it all on her face. She didn’t know what I could do. All she knew was the pain and misery inflicted on her because of Vincenzo Mancini.
“I need a drink,” she stated as she stumbled away from me.
CHAPTER 28
Harlow
“Give her this,”the man hissed as he handed the other guy a bottle of clear liquid. One held me down as the other forced my mouth open.
He tilted the bottle, and it felt like I was drowning in rubbing alcohol. Vodka got in my nose, and I choked on the liquid as some of it went down my throat. The man got annoyed and grabbed my jaw, shoving the bottle in my mouth and pouring it back. I was forced to drink it, or I’d asphyxiate.
When he pulled away, I felt sick. My head swam as I turned to the side and threw up. There was no food in my system, and the alcohol made me feel worse.
I was snapped from my flashback when glass hit the counter. Liquor had been my enemy for years, but right now it was my savior. I didn’t think this would be a healthy coping mechanism,but I didn’t care. The clear liquid burned as it slid down my throat, leaving a fiery sting that numbed me. It gave me a blissful escape from reality and the screaming chaos around me. I wanted to chase this feeling. This clear drink was my escape, and I wanted to keep going until I was peacefully numb in a cocoon of tranquil oblivion.
“Excuse me,” I asked the pink and black haired bartender. “What is this?”
“That, my dear, is tequila.” The woman poured another shot of tequila, and I brought it to my lips, cringing. “Do you want me to mix it? I can make you a cocktail.”
I nodded. “Please. Will it help me get drunk faster?”
She smirked. “I can make it to where you never taste the liquor, but feel the effects of it in twenty minutes. Is that what you want, doll face?”
I nodded. “Please.” She prepared the drink, sliding me a cup that looked like a sunset. It was sweeter than the liquor by itself, and I chugged it down.She made me another one when I was halfway gone.
The bartender slid me over a glass of water before leaning over. “So, what brings you down to this neck of the woods?”
I arched my brow and grabbed the glass of water. “An engagement party.”
“Ahh, you’re the fiancée?” For a moment, I thought she would be another ex-lover of Caterina’s and hit me, but she smiled instead. “You’re a cutie. I see why Caterina is marrying you.”
“Uhh, thank you?”
