Sempre (Forever) (13 page)

He pulled away a bit, letting her take a deep breath, before pressing the gun to her throat again. Her chest felt like it was going to burst as he spoke. “Shall we see what happens if I pull the trigger? I think we will.”

She tried to cry out as she braced herself for the pain. It was the end. She was going to die. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the explosion, and jumped when there was just a loud click. The pressure against her neck disappeared. She collapsed to the ground in sobs, unable to stand on her feet.

“Look at me,” he demanded. “You’re lucky it wasn’t loaded, or you'd be dead already. Understand?”

She nodded frantically, hyperventilating.

“Good. Now go to your room for your punishment. It’s time you learn what happens when people forget their place.”

Dr. DeMarco unlocked the door and walked out with the gun. His words bounced around her frightened mind. Images hit her, flashes of dead eyes gnawing at her aching chest.
That’s what happens when people forget their place
.

Death happened. Number 33 happened. Frankie told her to remember, and she was sure she'd never forget. How could she?

She pulled herself up on shaky legs and made her way to the third floor. There was a brief moment where part of her screamed it was a mistake, but all logic was overridden by her fear. Bolting straight for Carmine’s room, Haven tore open the window and climbed through it. Running along the balcony, she held her breath and forced herself not to look down as she scampered into the tree and shimmied down to the yard.

The moment her feet hit the ground, she ran. Trees and brush scratched her limbs as she navigated the dense forest, knowing it was too dangerous to take the main road. She moved as fast as her legs would carry her, having no sense of direction as she once again ran for her life. Her body trembled, her breathing labored. All she knew was she wasn’t ready to die.

Eventually, the forest started to thin. Haven heard the sounds of cars just beyond the trees and turned in that direction, shoving branches out of her way. Hope washed through her when she reached the tree line, but the feeling disintegrated as soon as she broke through to the road. The squeal of tires made her stop in her tracks. She turned toward the noise, gasping when she saw the familiar black car. She started backing away, crying and shaking her head, but it was too late.

Dr. DeMarco grabbed a hold of her, dragging her toward the car. She started begging him when she saw the open trunk, but he ignored her. He picked Haven up without much effort, throwing her in the back with no regard. She started at him, horrified, and his dark eyes bore into her for a moment before he slammed the trunk.

Haven flinched at the sound as she was encased in darkness.

She could hear the slam of the door as he got into the car, and he accelerated right away. The force sent her flying into the side of the trunk, her head slamming against it. Sobbing, she frantically felt around for some way out. A small light came on whenever he hit the brakes, illuminating the trunk enough for her to faintly see.

She found a small lever and pulled it, stunned when the trunk popped open. She was jolted again as Dr. DeMarco slammed the brakes, but she managed to climb out quickly. Her feet moved on their own again, carrying her a few feet down the highway before she was seized from behind. An arm circled her throat as a hand roughly pressed against her head. She flailed around, but his hold was too strong.

In a matter of seconds, her vision started to fade.

*  *  *  *

When Haven regained consciousness, she was back in her bedroom at the house. She noticed Dr. DeMarco standing a few feet away and tried to shift position, realizing she was bound to the post of the bed. She let out a sob as reality slammed into her, but Dr. DeMarco raised his hand to silence her cries. “Where did you think you were going?”

“I, uh… I don’t know.”

“Did you really think you could get away? Didn’t you learn your lesson last time you tried to run?”

She stammered, but he didn’t wait for her to actually respond.

“You couldn’t have honestly thought that was wise,” he said. “I’ve told you before—you can’t outsmart me.”

“I didn’t… I, uh…” Her cries muffled her words. “I don’t want to die.”

Dr. DeMarco grew rigid for a second before snatching a roll of duct tape from the table beside him. She shook her head frantically as he tore off a piece, but it didn’t deter him from covering her mouth. “I want you to think about how good you have it here,” Dr. DeMarco said. “Think about how lucky you are to still be alive.”

He walked out, and she stared at the door as it latched, leaving her all alone. That odd feeling she’d woken up with still lingered. Her biggest mistake that day, she realized, was climbing out of bed.

*  *  *  *

Nine years. It seemed so long ago, but the time had gone by swiftly for Carmine. Nearly a decade had passed since the fateful day that changed his life—the day none of them ever talked about—and it still affected him like it had just happened. No one knew it, though. No one knew he cried, or that he still couldn’t sleep at night. No one knew, because no one cared to.

But for the first time in nine years, he wished someone did.

The moment Carmine walked in the door from school, he knew something had happened. It was a feeling in the air, a stifling silence. It was a sense of danger that made his adrenaline pump overtime, charring his nerves as it ran through his veins.

Carmine headed upstairs, looking around, and froze on the third floor when he saw his bedroom door was open. Cautiously, he approached, and he thought he was going to be sick when he stepped into the doorway. A cool breeze swept through his room, the window wide open and curtains shoved aside. His heart rate spiked, the blood rushing through his veins. This was bad. Real fucking bad.

The voice behind him was cold, detached. “How did she know?”

Carmine turned around, seeing his father near the stairs. He nonchalantly leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and his silver revolver tucked into his pants.

“How did she know what?”

“How did she know your window opened, Carmine? Because it’s my house, and I didn’t even know!”

Carmine turned back to the window. He was sure now. He was going to be sick. “What did she do?”

“She touched my gun.”

“Your gun? Where’d she get it?”

“My dresser.”

Carmine’s took a deep breath. He knew she was going to put his laundry away this morning. “What did you do to her?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

His father stared at him hard. “Why?”

Carmine blanched. Why? “Because it just does. You're a lot of things, Dad, but... Christ, this? I didn't think you were
this
fucked up!”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have something to say?”

“Yeah. Nothing's gonna bring her back.”

Vincent's calm mask slipped. “What?”

“You heard me. It’s not gonna change anything! She’s still gone!”

The moment the words left his lips, Vincent snapped. He grabbed his gun and cocked it, aiming at Carmine’s head.

Carmine stood there, refusing to shy away. “You won’t shoot me. I look too much like her.”

Vincent didn’t lower the gun, but his hand shook, confirming it. He was rattled. “Stay away from the girl.”

He meant the words as a threat, but all Carmine felt was relief. Haven was still there, somewhere, and he had no intention of keeping his distance from her.

*  *  *  *

Time went by torturously slow for Haven. Every second felt like an eternity as her muscles ached, nothing alleviating the tension.

She’d been beaten beyond recognition before, but holding her position, alone and in the dark, was the most excruciating thing she’d endured. She cried to herself until exhaustion took hold and sleep whisked her away.

Something startled her awake later, the pain explosive the moment she regained consciousness. She heard a noise across the room and her head shot up when she realized she wasn’t alone. Squinting, she faintly made out a form standing in the shadows. They took a few steps forward, her brow furrowing when she made out the sorrowful green eyes.

Carmine knelt in front of her and wiped away her tears before running his fingertips across the duct tape covering her mouth. “
La mia bella ragazza
, I needed to make sure you were okay. I’m so damn sorry. I tried to warn you, but he got you anyway.”

She studied him, her head tilted as if it would help her understand, and he sighed. “It’s the anniversary of, uh… fuck! Why can’t I say it? It’s the day my mom...”

He trailed off, leaving her just as confused as she’d been before. None of them ever spoke of Carmine’s mama. Haven didn’t even know her name.

“I wish I could let you go, but he’d kill me. He told me not to come near you, but I had to know you were okay. But Christ, look at you! What’s wrong with him?”

He wiped away more of Haven’s tears and tucked her hair behind her ears, his fingers grazing over the duct tape once more. “I’ll be back in the morning. Stay strong,
tesoro
. I’ll never let anything like this happen to you again.”

He stood up and headed for the door. It took a while, but she managed to drift off to sleep once more.

*  *  *  *

“Are you awake?”

Haven’s eyes opened at the sound of Dr. DeMarco’s voice, his tone not as cold as it had been the last time she saw him. Squatting down in front of her, he peeled up the corner of the duct tape. “This will pull a bit, but I’ll be quick.”

He ripped it off, and she winced, her lips throbbing. Dr. DeMarco freed her from the restraints, and she rubbed her wrists.

“Take it easy today,” he said. “I’ll bring dinner home.”

Her voice was gritty as she spoke her first words since yesterday afternoon. “Yes, sir.”

He hesitated, his eyes full of understanding again. Haven had to look away. She didn’t want his compassion. She wanted nothing this man had to offer her.

She sat there after he left, her head slumped forward. She wiped her nose on her shirt and flexed her fingers and knees, trying to get the cramps out, but she was terrified to move.

After a few minutes, there was a knock on her door. Carmine stepped into the room with a glass of water and knelt down in front of her. “You should drink this.”

She took the water and tried to smile at his generosity but couldn’t manage it. Everything hurt.

Carmine held out his hand, a small yellow pill in his palm. “It's a painkiller. The kids at school would eat this shit like candy if they could. Just wash it down with the water. It’ll take the pain away.”

She took the pill from him and swallowed it. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Do you think you can get up?”

He stood up and held his hand out to her. She took it, gripping the wall with her other hand as she got to her feet. The moment Carmine let go, her knees gave out.

He grabbed her before she hit the ground, his grip firm as he pulled her into his arms. A sob escaped her throat as she cracked, tears streaming down her face. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”

His face softened as he carried her to his room, laying her down across his bed. She was confused but lay as still as possible when Carmine disappeared into his bathroom, returning with his arms full of first-aid supplies. He dropped it all on the bed beside her and sat down, a washcloth in his hand. “I need to clean you up, okay? I don’t want any of this getting infected.”

She nodded, not knowing what to say. Carmine washed her cheeks, and the cloth was cold but felt good against her skin. He brushed it across her mouth, being extra gentle, and washed the dried blood from her wrists. Haven did her best to ignore the pain, keeping her attention on his face.

He rubbed ointment on her cuts before glancing up at her. He smiled when he saw she was looking at him. “Are you feeling any better?”

She nodded. “I think I can go back to my room.”

Hurt flickered across his face. “Is that what you want?”

“I don’t want to impose. I know you don’t like people in here.”

He sighed. “You’re not imposing. I chose to bring you in here.”

“Okay,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

He nodded and stood up. “I’m jumping in the shower. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

He disappeared into the bathroom, and she lay there, listening to the sound of water running. It soothed her, and she started relaxing as the drug kicked in, every ounce of pain disappearing from her body like a wave.

Chapter 9

Carmine walked over to the bed and paused beside it. Haven’s eyes closed, her face nuzzled into the pillow. He stared at her for a moment, baffled by his feelings. “Christ, what am I gonna do?”

Haven’s eyes popped open at the sound of his voice, a twinkle in them that Carmine had never seen before. “Do about what?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “So, you’re feeling good, huh?”

She nodded enthusiastically as he sat down beside her. “Aren’t you late for school?”

“Yeah, I’m not going again. You’re stuck with me for the day.”

“I don’t mind,” she said softly.

He smiled. She didn’t mind his company. “Do you wanna talk about what happened?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I survived. That’s what I do. I’ll keep surviving until I don’t survive anymore.”

“So, you're saying you're a survivor?”

She blushed. “Yeah, that didn’t sound very smart. I think I need a thes—uh, one of those books with words.”

He laughed. “A thesaurus?”

“Yes.”

Her words struck him. He wondered how much he could get her to say. “I’ll get you a thesaurus if you promise to use it.”

“Okay, I will.” Recognition flickered across her face. “You’ll have to read it to me, though.”

“You can’t do it yourself?”

She averted her gaze. “I can’t read, remember?”

“Truthfully?”

She hesitated. “I can a little bit.”