family, our family, is. All your lives I've taught you family first. There's nothing more important than family and everything I do, I do for this family. All these nice things you have, those nice cars, those fancy clothes, and your fancy college education,“ he says looking directly at me. “Those things cost money. I don't want it ever said that Vinnie Manarchy didn't take good care his family.“
Bile rises in my throat. I don't know what's coming next but I know it's going to be bad. A wave of nausea clenches my stomach. I cover my mouth and will myself not to vomit.
“Well, the time has come for both of you to give back. You,“ he says looking at Jans “will throw this fight for us. We'll make millions. You,” he turns to me, “are going to marry Sammy Costa.“
“What!“ I yell.
“Oh, baby, isn't it so exciting?“ my mom exclaims.
“You can't,“ Jans says.
“Oh, fucking shit,” Axel blurts out.
“I can do whatever the fuck I want,“ Vinnie says. “And this is what I want. It's gonna form an alliance between our two Families. That's good for all of us, good business.“
“She's not just some piece of meat you can trade off,“ Jans says. “Why don't you get the fuck out of the fifties?”
“I don't give a fuck what they think out there,” Vinnie says pointing at the wall. “This is the way we do things here, in this family. You know that.“
“What if I don't want to?“ I squeak.
Vinnie turns towards me slowly. His eyes narrow as he takes a puff on the cigar. He removes it from his mouth, taps the ash off, then points at me with it.
“You seem to be confused. All this,“ he motions around with the cigar “has a price to it. You're going to pay that price.“
“Like hell she will,“ Jans says.
“Jans, I like you, son, but I've always tried to hide from you the fact that you're not smart. You're a damn fine fighter and that's it, so stick to what you know,” Vinnie says.
I can see Jans bristle but he doesn't say a word. I open my mouth to say something else but out of the corner of my I see Jans subtly shake his head. My mouth snaps shut and I put my faith in Jans. I have more now to think of than just the two of us. Vinnie leans back in his chair as if he's waiting for further arguments. When no more come, he smiles, a satisfied king, and leans back in his leather chair. I lock eyes with Jans and hope his plan is good. We have to get out of here, not just for us but for our unborn baby.
FOUR YEARS AGO
"Leave me alone, Danny," I say, trying to push the bully away.
I’m pinned against the lockers and his cronies gather behind him shielding his actions from view of any teachers.
"Come on, LeAnne," he says, his hand trailing along the side of my breast over my shirt. "You know you want me."
"I do not," I say, still trying to push him off.
"You know you want him," one of the boys behind him chimes in.
Danny grips my tit hard and it hurts. I'm starting to panic. Kids move up and down the high school hallways and no one is paying any attention to what's happening to me.
"I saw your mom last night," Danny says, leaning in close to whisper in my ear. "I hear for twenty bucks she’ll give you head. You can't be as experienced yet, so will you do it for ten?"
"God!" I say, pushing with all I have against his chest. "The hell is wrong with you Danny?"
"Nothing wrong with me," he says, grinding his hips against my leg and I can feel his erection.
"Get the hell off of me," I scream, struggling on the edge of panic.
"Come on, LeAnne, I know you put out just like your whore mommy," he says licking down my neck with his rough tongue.
"Gross, I will not," I push him back with everything I have then slap his face.
The boys with him gasp in surprise. I can see the imprint of my hand on Danny’s face. He touches his cheek and I see rage in his eyes. He hits me with the back of his hand so fast I don't see it coming.
"No whore talks to me that way!" Danny yells.
I hear a