Lissy Romano

118| Turn bad.

Lissy Romano

Maybe I imagined it all. Maybe my father—the kidnapper—wasn't as bad as I think.

I think about him often. Maybe he wanted what was best for me. Maybe he wanted to love me but didn't know how.

Maybe he cared for me, and that's why he sent me to a good, expensive school. He wanted me to be educated, smart, someone who could thrive.

He cared about me as if I were his own daughter, only because he loved me.

Or maybe I'm just being stupid. Maybe it was all my fault.

What did I ever do for him? Did I ever show him love or affection? No. I was selfish, egocentric—a bitch.

"He kidnapped you, Lissy," Paolo said calmly.

I shook my head slowly. But he did it because he loved me.

"He hurt you, Lissy," he said again.

Maybe I deserved it. I wasn't a saint either.

"He wasn't a good man," Paolo reminded me.

"I wasn't a good daughter," I whispered.

"You can't blame yourself for his actions," he said softly.

"Why did he kidnap me? I don't even know why," I asked through tears. "I wasn't perfect. I wasn't even good. Why did he want such a horrible person in his home? Why didn't he just kill me?" My chest tightened as the tears kept coming.

"It isn't true, Lissy. You were just a kid," Paolo started. "Your brothers once revealed why, but I'm not sure if you're ready to hear it," he added gently.

"I want to know everything," I said quickly, almost desperately. "Please," I begged.

"He had some business with your dad. They knew each other. After some misunderstandings, your father left, never to return." He continued. "When you were kidnapped, your dad did everything to find you—but he never suspected Miguel was involved."

"But why?" I asked, tears blurring my vision.

"Because he was a sick man. Only a disgusting man could do what he did to you," Paolo said, his voice filled with sadness.

I remained silent, looking at him.

"We all have good and bad in us," I tried to explain, wanting him to understand.

"No, Lissy," Paolo said firmly. "Not everyone is like that. I'm sorry you had to experience such trauma, but not everyone is as sick as he was."

Anger surged within me, frustration bubbling up. "How can you lie to my face like that? I've seen so many people, and even the good ones can turn bad," I said sharply, blinking back my tears.

"Your brothers are good," Paolo said quietly.

"Don't bring my brothers into this," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "And they're in the mafia. They have their bad sides too."

"Lissy, people are different, but not all of them are as twisted as Miguel," he said, trying to reason with me.

"Don't talk about him like you know him. You don't," I snapped.