Page 40 of Deceptive Union
“I know. You just told me. But you’re not the blonde one he has sex with anymore. I am.” This sudden possessiveness scares me. I don’t know where it comes from.
I brush past Joanna before she can say anything else and hurry out the door. I flag down a taxi and head off in the direction of my father’s house.
When I get there, I let myself in and head straight for his office, where I know he’ll most likely be. I don’t bother knocking. I just open the door and walk straight in.
My father is behind his desk. He doesn’t even look surprised as I barge in. It’s his annoying little trick. Never show any weakness.
“Nina? What are you doing here? This is my office. You don’t get to just waltz in here like you own the place.”
I slap my hands down on his desk. “I’m not killing Antonio. You can send someone after him. After me. But leave Anna alone. I’m done. I’m not going to kill Antonio. I refuse to.”
He’s silent for a moment, sitting back in his seat, with his fingers steepled under his chin. The image of calm. It makes me want to punch him. “Interesting you say that. I never agreed to leave Anna out of it. I can send someone after Antonio, yes. But you’ll still need to be punished for disobeying me. Shall I call Anna in here?”
My heart lurches. “Leave Anna out of it.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do. Anna!” He calls out for her.
“Don’t do this,” I whisper, my bravado slowly disappearing.
“Anna, get in here!”
I hear her scamper on the wooden floors as she comes into the office. “Yes?” The sight of my baby sister makes me want to cry. My father can’t hurt her. He can’t.
Father turns to me. “Nina, did you have something to say?”
I remain quiet.
He stands up and grabs a ruler from his desk. “Anna. Place your hand on my desk.”
Anna looks between Father and me but does as she’s told. “What’s going on?”
He whips the ruler down, straight onto her hand, in one quick motion. Anna screams and clutches her hand to her chest.
“No!” I shout, pushing her behind me.
Father slicks back his hair—the one tick that shows he’s not fully in control. “Did you have something to say, Nina? Or do I have to hurt Anna again?”
Anna whimpers behind me.
“Do it to me instead,” I say, putting my hand on his desk.
Fathertsks. “No. That’s not how that works. Do you still want to disobey me, or will you do what I want you to do?”
“Yes, yes,” I blurt out, my voice ragged. “I’ll do what you want.”
He points the ruler at me. “Good. Don’t try to disobey again.” After he sits back down and puts the ruler away, he tells Anna she’s dismissed. Anna shoots me a wild look before scampering out of the room.
“Nina.” My father’s voice makes me flinch. “You don’t get to come in here and demand anything of me. You are going to kill Antonio. And that is final.”
I’m dying inside. That’s the only way to explain who I feel.
I walk numbly out of his office. I tried to be assertive, and it got Anna hurt. Sure, it was a small pain but that was my father lying down the line. He could do so much worse to Anna. He and I both know it.
I keep walking until I’m out of the condo and in the hallway of the building.
“Nina?” Antonio’s voice makes me look up.
Antonio is here.