“Hashtag, Melody Callahan,” she whispered. “You’re trending. You’re always trending, and you don’t even know it.
“Anytime we step out in public, you’re on Fashion Police, or some other random magazine, being praised. But you don’t care because you’re a fucking Boss. So of course, I was jealous. The stunningly beautiful, always fashionable, deadly frightening Melody Callahan? How the fuck are any of us supposed to stand next to that?”
Why won’t you go away?
“I shouldn’t care right?” She sighed. “But I do care. You’re everything I wanted to be and then some. The object of every man’s desire, and yet never a person. I was born beautiful, and I don’t mean that in a cocky, ‘I love myself’ sort of way. I was born beautiful, and guys always liked me for it. But there was one guy who liked it a little too much. I was a freshman in college. I was actually saving myself for the one, and I knew he wasn’t it. So instead of paying attention in school to those stupid flyers and posters that all read ‘No means No,’ he . . .”
She sobbed, and I just wanted to sleep.
“He pulled me into his dorm room, and no one did anything because I was the pretty girl who most likely did get around. His friends were there and they all—” She stopped, staring at her tattoo, running her finger over it so many times I stopped counting. “When they finished, they laughed at the fact that I was the loosest virgin they had ever had. When I got home, I had never cried or scrubbed myself so hard. The next day I pulled out of all my classes and finished the rest of my college career from the safety of my bedroom.”
I wasn’t sure what she wanted from me, but I enjoyed the silence as she lost herself in her thoughts. Sadly, it was short-lived.
“I got this tattoo a month before I found Neal. A Dara knot, I wanted to be strong again and it made me feel that. I think that’s why I found Neal, I wasn’t broken anymore.”
If you are in this family you are broken, don’t kid yourself.
“He made me feel safe again, happy again. But there is still this part of me that I can’t fix. I hate people. I hate men . . . all men outside of this family.”
That is the very definition of broken!
“And I hate women in some ways, because I hate myself. So when I saw you walking as if you were on water, I hated you the most. Neal tried to knock some sense into me. He said you’re the queen and I’m the princess. After that, I was able to handle it until Evelyn told me you were pregnant.” She laughed bitterly.
You are insane Olivia. Leave me alone.
“I wanted a child of my own. Neal and I tried over and over again, and here you, the woman dripping in blood and sin, were going to have a child. So I cursed God. I told Him that He was an egotistical, bigoted asshole. Where was the justice? All the shit I had gone through and I just wanted a child. You kill, you steal, you lie, and yet, He gave one to you. But here I am regretting it so badly, Melody,” she whispered the last part.
“I never ever meant to hurt you, and I swear from this day forward I will always love you like I should have from the very beginning.” If she knew me at all, she should have known I didn’t want or ask for her love and that I knew it was bullshit. She wanted to make herself feel better not me.
I was tired of listening to her. So I just slept.
LIAM
“What’s your name dear?” my father asked the young crackhead before us as I drank my brandy.
“Whatever you want it to be.” She winked, and I almost puked.
My father on the other hand just leered. “I think Julia Roberts is the only one who can do that line.”
“Redheads your thing?” She pouted, which was also sickening, as she twirled her brown hair.
“My wife’s my thing,” he replied, taking a seat before her. “And your life should be your thing. You see, the only thing that is keeping you alive right now is the thought that you may know something. If you don’t, well . . .”
He just stopped, and the whore began to shake. “I need something to get the edge off.”
Rolling my eyes, I forced myself not to snap her neck.
“What’s your poison?” Sedric said, walking over to the tray of drugs Fedel laid out for him.
That got the girl to perk up like a bitch in heat. “Heroin and Cocaine.”
“Somebody’s a rock star,” my father said. “But let’s not get greedy. Pick one.”
She pouted once again, and once again, I was torn between puking and ripping her lips off.
“Heroin,” she said, and my father grabbed the injection before handing it to her.
“Do you need help?” he asked.
But the girl just shook her head untying her halter-top and using it as a tourniquet with no shame that her breasts were exposed to the world. Moaning out as though she was at the peak of a climax, she rode the wave of poison in her veins.
“Druggies man,” Monte whispered in disgust. This was a constant reminder why none of them were allowed to do any shit.
“Where’s your boss, dear?” Sedric asked her softly.
“I don’t know.” She smiled, and I felt myself losing control. “They said they were going to Finland. No one ever checks Finland.”
“Did they tell you this?” Sedric questioned looking back at me.
She shook her head like a child “Nope. Vance had just finished fucking me. He’s an ass. He left me high and dry. I was almost begging. But nope, he was done and wanted me out. So I went in the shower and heard him talking to some redheaded bitch. Ha-ha, you both like redheads.”
“Do you know anything else?” Sedric asked her. “This could save your life.”
“I’m horny. Can I get a last fuck instead of a last meal?” She grinned reaching for my father’s crotch.
I was tired of her. Nodding over to him, he held a gun to her skull. “This isn’t jail. You don’t even get a last prayer.”
Her body slumped over the table with the fucking needle still in her arm. Sedric just looked at her in disgust—the mask of kind smiles was gone—the man who stood in front of me was the same man who made me who I was today. Shaking his head, he put another two in her before handing the gun over to Fedel.
“Such a fucking idiot.” He frowned, pulling out his electric cigarette. It was the only compromise my mother would allow him.
“So Finland then?” Declan asked me.
“No, not until we know for sure. I don’t believe we have any men there but double-check and pull them out. I don’t want them catching on. Besides I still need to talk it over with my wife,” I replied as I opened the door.
“Is she speaking yet?” my father asked, but he knew the answer.
“No, no she isn’t, but she will.” I had to believe she would snap out of it.
“Don’t give up hope, son.”
Easier said than done.
MELODY
Day 14
“I had a crush on you,” Declan whispered from his spot at the foot of the bed. “Crush is such a stupid word. It was more like lust. I shouldn’t be telling you about it, but I’m hoping you will get pissed and kick my ass. You know, like Bloody Melody would. I know Liam would skin me alive. No seriously, he actually had us skin one of the Valero. It’s like he is going through a historical Roman torture manual and just picking shit. I wouldn’t be shocked if we crucified someone next.”