Page 80 of Keeping My Girl

The tallest guard brandishes a knife. In a few quick movements, he saws through the rope, and Aria’s body falls to the concrete floor in a crumpled heap. She yelps in pain, and my teeth clench together and tears fill my eyes as I imagine the kind of pain she’s in right now from that hard fall.

“No! Please!” I scream. “I’ll do anything you want, Constantine! Kill me for your son. Take my life. Just let her go!”

Constantine doesn’t even spare me a glance as he instructs his guards, “Hold her down. I’m going to take what I want from the little bitch before you two get your turn.”

One guard throws Aria to the cold, unforgiving concrete and pins her arms down. She struggles with all of her might until the guard who cut her loose holds a blade to her face. Then, she suddenly stills as an anguished sob escapes her lips.

“Don’t make him carve into that perfection,” Constantine warns. He goes to his knees, prying her legs apart.

I scream and twist against the ropes, my arms and hands crying out in agony. “No, Constantine! Please don’t do this!” I cry out. “I’ll do anything you want. Anything!” I scream out, begging, pleading.

I can hear his belt buckle and the zipper of his pants going down, and I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t stop this from happening. And I also can’t watch this horrific act, the same exact thing that happened to me so many times over the ten years. I can’t.

My breathing becomes labored as I struggle through a panic attack. My heart feels like it’s hammering its way out of my chest. I haven’t had to deal with the harsh reality of Constantine’s sick ways in a long time. I always had the pills to help me get through the worst of it. But right now it’s just me. It’s just me.

I’m expecting to hear Aria’s cries as Constantine violates her, but instead I hear her scream out, “No, no, no! Please! Please! I’m a virgin!”

My eyes snap open on the last word. I hope I only heard them in my head, but when my stare meets Aria’s wide, innocent eyes, I know she actually said it.

Constantine immediately stops. He slowly tucks himself back into his pants and stands up. I can see the look of confusion on Aria’s face and then the relief as to what is happening. She thinks she’s safe. But little does she know she just sealed her fate.

“No,” I whisper right before Constantine announces, “Take her to the doctor and get him to examine her. If what she said is true, put her on the next boat to the island.”

The island.The place I’ve heard Constantine bragging about numerous times before. I struggle in my restraints, desperately trying to get to her, to save her from that awful fate.

The men wrestle Aria into a standing position. “Where are you taking me?” she screams.

“Why, you’re going to auction, my dear,” Constantine explains with a sneer. “Your virginity is about to make me a lot of money. Some retribution for my son’s death, if you will.”

Tears stream down Aria’s cheeks, and she fights the men as they lead her away.

“Aria!” I cry. “Aria!” I wish I could go with her, protect her somehow. “Please, Constantine,” I beg him as he walks over to me. “Don’t do this to her. Take your anger out on me, but don’t hurt her. I’m begging you.”

“Oh, don’t worry, pet. I will be taking my anger out on you. But nothing is going to stop me from selling that little Vitale bitch to the highest bidder. Let’s just call it compensation for everything her family has stolen from me over the years…including you.” An evil smile spreads across his face that makes me shiver. “A big fuck you to the Vitales!” he announces with his middle fingers up in the air. Then, he turns to walk away, throwing over his shoulder, “When you’re ready to give me the information I require, then I’ll cut you down and we can finally go home where you belong, my little pet.”

The light is turned off before I hear a door close. I’m left in the dark silence where the only sounds I can hear are my screams.

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