in tua voce

What duh duck?

    She was an intriguing girl. The first thing I noticed about her were her eyes - a deep brown I couldn't quite place. I could tell she was intuitive, or at least just intelligent, from her loose ponytail to her over sized black-framed glasses. She was tiny, too. Maybe it was just the juxtaposition of burly, rough men to her tiny feminine frame, but I swear she couldn't have been more than 5 feet tall. A few wisps of dark brown hair framed her heart shaped face, making me feel self conscious of my square jaw and terrible jar-head haircut. She looked to be my age - actually, I think I had a class with her - she was in my grade! I could tell she would've been pretty, if not for the bruise forming on her cheek and the panic in those intense brown eyes. Her gaze flitted around the room, searching for an ally, a way out. I looked down quickly before her eyes could meet mine, and especially before my father caught me looking. Good thing I was at the back of the room, behind some burly guys who did who-knows-what for the organized crime cartel my father owned, managed, and I think expected me to take over some day.

    My father, who was leading the new girl into the dim, windowless basement, growled, "Listen up. This girl here has come too close to us yet again. I'd seen 'er walkin' along the fence one time too many already and then today whadda I see but she's INSIDE THE FUCKIN' FENCE!" The girl flinched. The head honcho took a breath to compose himself. "So now she's made herself a guest here..." he trailed off and chuckled menacingly. The girl's eyes flashed in fear before she closed them and took a deep breath through her nose. I quickly averted my gaze when my father glanced my way.

    He continued, "What I mean is she's gonna be staying with us." A few guys cracked their knuckles and their mouths curved upward into sinister grins. Before anyone could say a word, he shouted, "As a guest! I already said that ya dopes."

    I could feel the air in the room deflate as a collective sigh escaped those gathered. Sickos.

    He spat, "Creeps. We're not in the business of committin' unspeakable acts of crime."
Everyone stared back at him blankly. He elaborated, "We're not rapin' or killin' anybody!"

    He then yelled, "Jackson!"

    "Yes sir," I replied quickly.

    "Take 'er to the guest house and git 'er settled. There's already a guard there."

    I stood in my place, feet frozen to the floor. Why do I have to do the dirty work? What, just because I'm the youngest, I have to "show her around"? Hey Dad, ever think she's my age? We definitely go to school together, and you still want me to lead around and become best friends with this girl you randomly kidnapped on the whim that she just won't be a problem if we push her in the corner. Sure. That's a frickin' flaw in your plan, Mr. Mucho Fucking Macho Nacho. If I could get my hands on yo —

    "Earth to Jack! Git over here, you great big lump," Dad hissed, causing the uncouth thugs surrounding me to guffaw. One guy even started tearing up, he was laughing so hard. You would think that after over a decade of ridicule and insults it wouldn't be funny, but no. They laughed like it was the funniest joke in the world. Which it probably was, to their tiny peabrains.

    I grudgingly plodded to the front of the group, keeping my eyes glued to the floor. When I did look up, I glanced at the willowy girl with her hands tied behind her back. Our eyes met, if only for a second, but I saw all I needed to see. Pity. This vulnerable girl was pitying me, the man in power's son, when she was the one trapped, spinning herself into a web a thousand miles wide. I glared at the floor, feeling suddenly angry at her.

    I turned my glare to my dear old dad. "Well, are you gonna show 'er the guest house or not?" he demanded.

    I simply nodded in reply. I made as if to leave the room in all of my truculence, but my dad stopped me.