Explosive ( Bloody Heirs #1 )

Look mother, I'm your favorite son

AIDA

"You're okay," Karina soothed, brushing my hair away from my face, her touch so light I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks once again.

My chest shook as I dragged a breath inside, my nostrils filled with the scent of blood and burned flesh. "I'm sorry," I whispered, tightening my hold on Karina's forearm.

She placed a kiss on my forehead. "You don't have to be sorry for anything," she murmured. I nodded rapidly. "I do, I'm so sorry for not saving you that night. I'm so terribly sorry I didn't try harder."

Her sharp intake of breath was the only response I got. Time stood still, my harsh breaths the only sound in the room.

I wondered what would've happened if I had died all those years ago.

Would Natalya be better off?

Would Ivan act like a normal child without having to put on a show?

Would Karina be happier knowing I had suffered a worse faith?

I heard them then. Footsteps. Heavy footsteps heading our way.

The door on the side of the room burst open, Domenico strode in, closely followed by Romero, Stefan, Cain, Fiorella and some guys I didn't recognize.

"Karina!" Domenico called, not noticing her propped against the bar with me on her lap.

My sister's body began shaking. "I'm here," she called out softly. His head snapped around, his posture relaxing when he saw her then tensing again once when he noticed me.

He started toward us, Romero following him closely. Anger burned in both their faces, turning them into hideous masks of fury but they didn't know anger.

I slammed a hand down on the ground, pushing myself up on unsteady feet. I'd rather shake my way through life than have anyone look at me like I was weak.

Karina's worried frown deepened, her eyes widening when she saw my bloodied clothes closer.

Domenico cradled her face in his hands, stealing her attention from me as he moved her toward the stools.

Romero stood a few feet in front of me, arms crossed over his chest, his anger making his eyes flash. "Talk already," I snapped, my heart pounding against my chest, anger coursing through my veins at the worried gazes Stefan and Fiorella were throwing me.

He ran a hand over his face, the other dropping to dangle by his side. "What did you do?" His voice was a low, accusing rumble.

I stared at him, disbelief giving way to the rage I'd stored in all my life. "What did I do? What did I do?" I asked. He glowered at me.

A laugh bubbled out of me, my fingernails digging into my palms, my control slipping away.

"Let's see, what did I do?" I gestured to myself. "I was born. I never got the chance to play with dolls, make fashion shows for my mother, never felt what a child should. Then I was 11 years old - eleven - and I was woken up in the middle of the night, my father saying "it's time". I didn't know what time it was but I knew I heard my sisters crying and I couldn't think straight."

Hot tears fell down my cheeks. I grabbed the hole in my dress and tore it, revealing my scarred skin. "I didn't know it was time to go pay my father's debts with my body, I didn't know it was time to be half shredded like a piece of meat." I gestured to Karina. "I didn't know my twin sister, the person who'd sneak in my bed and hide under the covers with me, who'd drawn flowers on my bandages, would be gone when I woke in our room the next morning!"

I was screaming now, my voice hoarse. "I didn't know I was a pawn until my mother came in and saw me crying and bruised what little clear skin I had. If you were a boy your father and I wouldn't have to do this, then left me there, brushed and bleeding. But I never cried since."

Romero's face had morphed into one of agony as he looked at me. I spread my arms, pointing out the mass of bodies lying around us. "If this was done by a man, you would've clapped them on the back and congratulated them. But because I'm a woman, you're going to act like it was a temper tantrum and blame it all on how sentimental I am." I swallowed, more tears falling down my cheeks.

My heart beat fast against my ribcage, blood pounding in my ears as dizziness threathened to shake me to my knees and force me to bend to it's will.

I lifted my eyes, meeting his sour gaze head on. "It doesn't matter though right? Because I'm yours, so if you see fit you'll punish me, won't you Romero? You'll do with me whatever you see fit." His name on my lips felt like heaven in the hell my life was and I wished - how I wished - I could tell him that.

My hands shook as I raised them and gestured to myself. "This is what you bought. Broken, terrible, scarred and filled with feelings I won't ever be able to tell you about." I dropped my eyes. "I'm never going to be more than what I am now. I'm never going to be what you dreamed of when you thought of me."

I cocked my head, a wry smile playing on my lips. "What will you do now? Kill me? Send me away? Lock me away?"

"No," he murmured, stepping closer. "I'm going to take you home. I'm going to run you a bath, wrap your wounds until morning when the doctor can look at you and then we'll do whatever you want." His eyes searched mine. "That sound okay?"

Whatever resistance and strength I thought I had, wore out as I grabbed his arm to steady myself and nodded.

He didn't say anything as he bent and picked me up in his arms, cradling me against his warm skin. From the corner of my eye I saw Karina sobbing against Domenico but I couldn't bear the pain I caused her so I closed my eyes, allowing Romero's heartbeat to lull my thoughts to peace.

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hi stars!! it's been a while since I updated ( I'm so sorry ) and I will blame it all on school but when I miss a few updates, I'll try either making the chapters longer or publish more of them in the same day :) i hope you had your tissues ready btw.

i hope you all enjoyed this as much as i did writing it! don't forget to comment and vote and i will see you in the next chapter 🩶

- bex ⭐