SWNOVELS Chapter 84
I run down the hallway, sobbing as the elevator descends.
Nova not stopping me.
I’ve lost him.
I’ve lost my entire world.
The doorman calls out my name as I rush past him but I don’t listen. My vision blurry as I make it to the waiting cab. Unlocking the door, I slip into the back seat and tell him Bianca’s address.
I’m still going to out my father.
Nova is safe. No way I’m letting my father come at him or another person ever again.
“Didn’t believe you, did he?”
Fear paralyzing my body, I sharply look up into the malicious eyes of my uncle. He sits in the passenger seat, pointing a gun at the driver’s head, who appears seconds from pissing his pants.
Our palpable fear mingling.
“Did you really think I’m stupid enough to let you sneak out, kid?” he sneers before shaking his head. “At the first chance of freedom and who do you run to?”
Words escape me while terror takes ahold of me.
With the threat of the gun, I don’t make the mistake of reaching for the door. He won’t hesitate to shoot either of us.
Shrewd gaze on me, he barks at the other man, “Drive.”
I stare longingly at the window as he switches on the ignition and watch the building disappear. My gut screaming to jump out, but where am I going to run? As if he can read my mind, he hits the driver. “Faster.”
“Pity about his mom, isn’t it, Rosalie?” he muses once we’re on the highway and he relaxes against the seat. Weapon still drawn on our companion. “Did you know she called Mihir to inform him she was coming to meet you?”
His admission penetrates past the fright.
No. No. No.
“Shame she never made it.” His creepy grin expands at my expression. “You missed your chance to say goodbye. Or perhaps after tonight, you might just meet her. I always hated she slipped all those years ago but I had my fun with the boy before he ran.”
Turning around to face the front, he whistles a random tune.
Oh my god.
Bile rises in my throat and I feel dizzy. Silent tears fall as I digest the heights of their barbarity. They killed Nova’s mom. It was true they were behind Nova’s kidnapping, actually intended for his mom. Orchestrated the accident.
Everything is my fault.
I never should’ve kept my mouth shut.
How many more innocent lives will they hurt before they stop? If these are the last hours of my life, then I’m going to make sure they die with me.
It all ends tonight.
Once and for all.
I jerk against my seat when the car comes to a halt outside the tall gates of our property. The guard allows us inside. The moment the driver parks, Uncle shoots him point-blank in the head.
“Ahh!” I scream when blood splatters on my face. I’m shaking when the door to my side is ripped open and a fist curls in my hair. He pulls so hard that I fall to my knees on the gravel. Heartless and cruel, he drags me to the short set of stairs until I’m scratched raw and bleeding. “Stop.”
Wrenching me upright while I drown in unimaginable pain, he shoves me past the threshold. I fall to the floor, right at my father’s waiting feet.
“Why do you never learn, Rosalie?” he spits out. “Stand up!”
When I take too long, Uncle once again take holds of my hair and jerks. I won’t be surprised if he pulled out a chunk of my locks.
My face whips to the side as a sting registers when Dad backhands me. A dull ringing remains in my ear when I meet his irate features. His violence doesn’t surprise me. He’s made me numb to it all. I’m nothing but a means to an end for this man.
“You bloody spilled to him, didn’t you?” he demands, eyes furious.
“What?”
“Don’t act coy, you spoiled cunt. I’ve lost all the files.” He paces back and forth. “There’s nothing. Years of patience and you’ve thrown water all over it.”
I smile.
He stills as a statue upon noticing it.
I don’t even tell him that Nova found the drive all on his own. Dad’s old-fashioned ways finally cost him his mighty revenge. Tomorrow, he’ll be nothing but a joke after his wife’s affair becomes public. Maybe it’s for the best. Jasmine and Mom deserve to be free of his shadows and dictatorship. Danish and Nova might be corrupted and flawed but they protect their own.
Whether I live or die, there’s no undoing my father’s downfall.
The thought makes me smile brighter.
It’s my uncle who slaps me, splitting my lip. The coppery taste filling my mouth.
“Take her upstairs to my study,” orders my dad. “Then go get rid of the body outside. I’m going to deal with her.”
“You heard your father.” Uncle shoves my shoulder. “Move.”
I quietly climb the staircase while he follows. Just when we reach the room, he slams me into the wall and squeezes my throat painfully. I slap at his hand, but my strength is no match for his. He dodges my knee aiming to kick him in the balls.
“No,” I yell, terrified when he spreads my legs and slips his hand underneath my skirt. “Let go! I’ll kill you!”
“It’s been a while since my parting gift,” he grins, flipping my skirt until my panties are bared. His gaze drops to the inside of my thigh to the cigarette burns and he licks his lips. “Did Nova see my handiwork? I bet he did. No way he didn’t fuck you day and night.”
Tears of humiliation spill as I try to divert my mind when he cups me boldly.
The sound of footsteps approaching saves me from being raped.
Throwing open the door, he pushes me inside and I slam hard into a nearby table. The edge of it hitting me in the ribs and digging in painfully.
When he leaves, I don’t hear the lock click.
As if he’s arrogant enough I won’t try to escape twice now that I’m subdued.
I want to crumble to the floor and shake the memory of his filthy touch. Before I lose the fight and curl into a ball and cry, I shake myself out of the stupor. Time is ticking. I glance around the room and zoom in on the burning fireplace.
I watch the orange flames, licking higher and spreading warmth, not that I feel anything other than cold and numb. I eye the small bar in the corner hosting several expensive bottles of liquor. Two windows with curtains hanging over them.
Without wasting a second, I run and grab the first bottle and begin spilling it around the room. I keep going until most of the space is reeking of alcohol. The desk, the bookshelves, everything wet. It won’t be enough.
Cautiously, I approach the door and twist the knob.
My heart leaps to my throat while every inch of my body aches. I peer around the corner and the hallway is empty. I slip out and make my way to the garage on the opposite end. When I reach downstairs, I go straight for the large can of gasoline Raghu, my old bodyguard, kept in the back.
It’s heavy and I have to drag it to the bottom of the stairs. When I lift it, pain shoots up my spine. So, before I lose the last of my strength, I ascend the stairs. My luck continues when I still find the hallway deserted. Quickly, I hurry to the study, some of the liquid spilling onto the floor.
I spread the flammable liquid on the furniture and wall opposite to the burning fire in the fireplace. I won’t have much time. One wrong spill or splash, it’ll only be my burned-alive body they find. Rounding Dad’s desk, I find his cigar lighter in the second drawer. I’m playing a suicidal game, but I’m done.
Everything ends tonight.
Without Nova, there’s nothing in this world for me anymore.
I stay hidden in the corner next to the door. The only exit. The clock strikes four in the morning over the wide desk when I hear footfalls creak outside, coming closer. I switched off the lights so they won’t notice the liquid on the hardwood floor. Although, the scent might give it away.
My heartbeat picks up as seconds pass before the knob turns.
My dad enters first.
Behind him my uncle.
“What are you doing, Rosalie?” snaps Dad.
Uncle, who I hear sniff loudly, walks in farther toward the switch board near the bookshelves. The second the lights turn on, blinding them for a second, I use it to shove Dad away from the door.
They whip around to face me, gaze homing in to the lighter in my hand.
The smell of alcohol sinks into their senses and understanding dawns.
Satisfaction burns at their nervousness.
“Rosalie,” swallows my dad, eyeing the fireplace in the corner. The flames are burning brighter and a whooshing sound pierces the air. The curtain flies in its direction, barely missing from catching on fire.
In my peripheral, I see Uncle approaching me.
“Say goodbye to your reign, Dad.”
I flip on the lighter and throw it toward the fireplace. Mayhem occurs at once as a loud blast goes off and the orange glow reaches the ceiling. The curtains at last in flames, then the books and the papers. Smoke billows all around.
Running outside the door, I pull it close to lock them inside.
Except, a hand curls around the edge to stop me.
I put in all my strength and my body weight but it’s futile. Letting go, I race toward the stairs as fast as I can.
“No!” I scream, my hair being wrenched back.
I land on my back with a thud.
My father staring down at me murderously. Behind him, I see Uncle lying on the floor, howling in pain and slapping at his burning arms. My momentary distraction causes Dad to bend and fist my hair, pulling me toward the smoky room.
“I should’ve killed you a long time ago, you worthless bitch,” he barks. “You’re no better than your whore mother, spreading your legs for those D’Cruz men.”
“You won’t get away with this,” I yell, fighting with all my might. Leaning up, I bite down on his arm. He lets go with a hiss. The fire is spreading fast, reaching the railing in the hall now.
I dash once more.
He’s faster and his body lands on top of mine.
Flipping me on my back, his fist swings at my face. The force of the punch almost knocking me out while a light dances behind my vision. I block his next few punches with my arms, a coppery tang filling my mouth as I cough to the side.
Suddenly, a stabbing and blistering heat licks up my leg.
With horror, my eyes zero in on the fire reaching at the top of the landing. With a shove and a kick, I push Dad off and crawl toward the stairs. His cry of pain rings when my ankle connects with his jaw as he tries to haul me back.
Using the banister as leverage, I rise to my feet while smoke and mist surround the ceiling. Just as I take the first step, a push twists my ankle and gravity pulls me under.
I fall down the flight of stairs.
My scream disappears into the night, mingling with the blaze as darkness captures me into its clutches.
It’s over.