“She’s a traitor,” Enzo says stiffly.
No help there.
But it does feel good to hear Santo argue on my behalf. I catch his eye and shake my head slightly. I don’t want him to get in trouble. He shouldn’t stick his neck out. I made my choice, and I will pay.
He doesn’t need to make his life any harder by trying to help a traitor.
Santo looks at me with a crestfallen frown and spreads his hands.
“Siena, come on. Tell Papa you’ll do whatever he says. You’ll take whatever punishment. Do whatever needs doing. Please, Siena.”
“Santo.” His name brings tears to my eyes. “Don’t.”
“She’s guilty, enough with this,” Enzo says, snarling. “Let’s kill her and be done with it. We’ll make an example for the rest of the men and rebuild what we’ve lost.”
Papa stares at me and says nothing. The tension is thick and my knees are shaking. Santo is such a good brother, and even Franco seems to hate all this. Only Enzo’s pushing for my death, and I’m not angry with him for it. I knew how he’d react, and he didn’t disappoint.
“There is one problem with killing her,” Papa says and everyone leans toward him.
Just one problem with killing me? That kind of hurts, but okay.
Papa continues, “I have no other daughter. Siena is my only girl child, and although you three boys are important to this family, women are necessary in their own way. Your mama’s been gone now for ten long years, God rest her soul, and if we kill Siena, we will have no more blood women. What she did was evil and wrong and broke all the bonds of this family, but she still has her uses.”
Santo lets out a long, relieved sigh. Franco seems to relax and glances up at me with a shy smile. Good Franco. I knew I loved him.
But Enzo steps forward. “Papa, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Papa raises a hand. “This is what I propose. Siena will be stripped of everything. Her life is over as she knows it. She will be moved to The Velvet Rope, and there she will spend her days mopping seed from the floors, bathing the whores when they’re too spent to do it themselves, and doing whatever else needs to be done. She will debase herself for the women she apparently cares about so deeply until the day I decide to sell her or marry her off for the good of the family. She will suffer there and suffer deeply, and she will never return here until her dying day. Is that understood?”
Nobody speaks. His words echo through my brain.
I’m not going to die?
They’re not killing me.
But this might be worse.
The Velvet Rope. Papa’s biggest and best brothel. My family controls all of the whores in this region, and The Velvet Rope is the most popular establishment for miles and miles. If what he’s saying is true, then I’ll be thrown into a nightmare hell and forced to work like a slave.
But I won’t be killed.
“I understand,” Santo says and glances at me. I see pity in his eyes.
“Yes, Papa,” Franco says. “Whatever you think is right.”
“This is bullshit,” Enzo says through his teeth.
“Enzo,” Papa snaps. “Your Don has spoken. You dare speak against me?”
Enzo stiffens. He hesitates, but he drops to one knee and bows his head.
God, he’s so damn dramatic.
“No, Don Bastone. I obey your will.”
“Good. Rise, son. Take Siena to her room and pack her a bag. Send her with only what she needs to survive.”
“Yes, Papa.” Enzo glares death at me and I have a feeling that bag’s not going to contain much.
“Papa?” My voice comes out like a harsh scrape. “Can I speak?”
Enzo grabs my arm and squeezes. “We don’t listen to traitor bitches here, Siena.”
“Enough,” Papa says. “Say your words, daughter, then go.”
I nod at him. “I’m sorry for betraying the family. I love you all.” I look at Santo and Franco. They nod back at me. “I love my family, even if it’s been hard for me, the only girl. But I don’t regret helping Tianna. I regret letting her speak to the police, but I don’t regret saving her.”
Enzo throws me to the floor with a snarl. He kicks me hard in the ribs and I suck in a gasping breath. Papa comes around the desk and hovers over me, frowning down as I curl around my throbbing midsection.
“You are no longer my daughter,” Papa says. “You are a traitor and a mistake. You will suffer until you bring me profit, and if I never find a suitable match, you will die in misery. Goodbye, Siena.”
Papa turns his back.
“Let’s go,” Enzo growls, dragging me to my feet.
I glance at Santo and Franco. They look pained as Enzo tears me from Papa’s office, and takes me to my new life, my new nightmare.