A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

VIOLA

Nothing happens.

The chamber clicks like it’s empty.

I try again.

Click, click, click.

My father takes me in as he puts his phone down. “My ever predictable, useless daughter. Did you steal that pistol from Dante?”

My senses heighten. Adrenaline rushing through me in waves. I eye his desk. There’s a fountain pen next to his notepad. I could throw the gun at him, snatch the pen, and shove it into his throat. That would stop him from talking. There’s nothing to stop me from doing all that, so why do I feel like this is a trap?

The gun hasn’t jammed. It has no bullets.

He follows my gaze. “Are you thinking of using the pen?” He leans back. “Well, go ahead. Take your best shot. But I warn you, it’ll be your downfall.”

Reluctantly, I lower my aim and glare at him. “What am I missing?”

“You’re smarter than you look,” he says nodding, eyes averting to look over my shoulder as the door opens behind me. “But not smart enough.”

I know it’s Dante behind me because he doesn’t make a sound after the door closes shut. Still, I can’t help but turn around to make sure.

Yep. It’s him. The fuckwit.

I glare at Dante, and he cocks a brow when he sees the gun dangling in my hand at my side. “I told you not to do this alone, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“Fuck off,” I snap. My one chance at killing Adrien just got smaller. Minuscule, in fact.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s get down to business. Sit.” My father orders, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. I don’t move. I’d rather stand. “I said sit, the both of you.”

Dante walks past me and takes a seat. After a few minutes, I do the same. I keep the gun in my lap even though it’s empty of bullets. I hate guns, but they’re a comfort when you’re surrounded by snakes.

I glance at Dante. He appears relaxed, but who knows what’s going on inside his head. Why ever did I think he was hot?

“Do you know what I’ve always said?” Adrien says.

“I’ve no fucking idea,” I retort, and I don’t.

“Loyalty is what makes family,” Adrien says. “And as much as I would love to embrace my own daughter as family, it seems you still have a lot to learn.”

“We were never a family. You made sure of that.” My father has always seen me and my mother as tools, assets, things to be owned and used. Family is a fucking illusion.

Adrien frowns, pressing his lips together. “Have you quite finished?”

I stare back at him coldly. “Just tell me what your game is.”

He sneers. “My game? You think this is a game, child?” His use of the word child makes me snort. “What’s so amusing?”

“Children are innocent. I never have been. Now tell me what the fuck is going on or I walk. Fuck family.”

He regards me with blank eyes, leaning back. “This was a test,” he says finally. “Dante here trained you, but I believed you to be weak. Ethan branding you was to see how you’d react.” He looks to Dante.

“She killed Ethan, and stole my gun,” Dante shrugs.

My father considers this. “Just Ethan?”

When Dante affirms, he returns his focus to me. “Why didn’t you try to kill Dante?”