I heard his voice as soon as my heel touched the last step at the top of the stairs.
“How do you think you ended up in Miami? Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”
I ran as fast as I could…
“She was never your Madam.”
I stood behind her ready to yell and do whatever I had to do to stop him, but when he looked at me…for the first time after all these decades…I had no idea who he was, and that knocked me on my ass. I was at a loss for words or even movement. His vacant eyes were like looking into a stranger, and he sensed it because he smiled.
“She is your grandmother.”
I thought this day would never come, and if it ever did, I imagined it playing out so differently, and never from the mouth of the man that owned my body, heart, and soul. In that moment, I knew what every woman talked about with having their heart shattered. I actually heard it and felt it erupt. It was like a bomb that went off in my body, leaving me cold and broken.
She turned and looked right at me and I swear I was ready to get down on my hands and knees and beg for forgiveness.
“I never knew you at all, did I?” she choked.
“My beautiful—”
“DON’T FUCKING CALL ME THAT!” she screamed, loud enough to break glass.
“Let me explain—”
“Explain what? How you had me raped? Let’s start there!”
I put my hands out in front of me, trying to bring her toward me, but she simultaneously backed away. My heart was bleeding, pouring all over my designer suit. I would be nothing after this.
I vigorously shook my head. “No…that’s not what happened. He was supposed to scare you—”
“And that makes it okay? You’re fucking crazy!”
“No…no…no…Bella Rosa…I made him pay! I swear, I made him pay,” I sobbed.
Was I crying?
“You said you loved me! You said you would never hurt me! You promised me that you would be like a mother to me and I believed you! I believed every fucking lie that came out of your mouth!”
“I did everything for you. It was all for you. You have to understand—”
“NO! YOU DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU! I NEVER HAD A CHOICE!”
“Yes…you did. You chose me. You chose this.”
“You manipulated me. Everything was a game. Oh my God.” She shook, putting her hand up to her mouth and leaning over. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Bella Rosa,” I whimpered, putting my arms on her shoulders.
She immediately jerked back. “Don’t fucking touch me! You have no idea what you did to me! I don’t know who I am because of you! It’s all been a lie. All of it! MY WHOLE FUCKING LIFE HAS BEEN A FUCKING LIE!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
“Please…please…” I got down on my knees, putting my hands in a prayer motion. “Forgive me… I can fix this…”
“You’re evil. I really did sell my soul to the devil. I fucking hate you. I hate you so much!” she bawled.
“You don’t mean that. I’m in your blood, I’m your family you don’t mean that.”
“Oh my God! I have to get out of here.”
I instantly wrapped my arms around her legs, holding her as hard as I could. “Please…don’t go…please…I love you so much. You have no idea how much I love you,” I wept.
“You don’t know anything about love. You have no idea what kind of monster you are. How could you do this to me? How could you make me believe all those lies? I’m so fucked up because of you. You ruined me!” she yelled, hitting me repeatedly in the back to try to break free.
I wouldn’t let her go.
Mine.
“Please…please…Mika…help me! PLEASE!” she shouted.
I felt his strong grip around me, prying me loose and away from her like I was nothing more than a ragdoll.
“NO! NO! NO! NO!” I bellowed, watching her reach the doorway. “I LOVE YOU! YOU CAN’T DO THIS!” I fought as hard as I could for him to let me go.
And like that, she was gone.
“Angel…stop…calm down…” I heard him say.
I reacted and turned my hate on the person who deserved it, kicking, scratching, punching, anything I could to make him fucking bleed like I was.
“I FUCKING HATE YOU! YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!” I stopped and spit right in his face and he retaliated by shoving me to the ground, holding me down.
“I’ve told you since day fucking one, Angel, I give you what you need, not what you want!” he roared.
I rolled over and closed my eyes.
Wanting nothing more than to die.