I know that I may have been hard on her, but Anthony was one of the most dangerous people I know. Coming in second, behind father. He kidnapped the most beautiful girls he could find. And he tortured them. The week before was the first time he let a girl escape, but he killed her before she could tell anyone. I couldn't let that happen to Rosa.
She'll have to live in fear if I want her to stay safe. I just have to keep her away from Anthony- A heavy arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me out of thought. "How did you manage to cage such a beautiful creature?" Anthony asked, malice dripping from his voice. I opened my mouth to say something but he ruffled my hair. "I'm so proud of you." He said. His words were genuine. He let go of me and headed to the kitchen, where Mrs. Stone, our personal baker, was.
Mother walked into the hall and went directly to Rosa. I don't know what she said, but it made Rosa's hands clench into tight fists. She nodded stiffly and mother walked over to me. "She's not allowed to have breakfast today. Keep her out of the dining room. Oh, and drop her by my office after you get something to eat."
"She needs to eat. She'll-"
Mother cuts me off with a harsh slap. She grabbed my chin. "She'll starve today, and it's your fault. You'd rather she ate last night."
I walked Rosa to mothers office. Her hands trembled at her sides. "What did she say?" I asked, taking one of her hands. I squeezed it tightly.
She jerked her hand from mine and picked up pace. "Nothing."
"Little flower, get back here." I demanded. She froze in her place.
She clenched and unclenched her fists. "She'll kill everyone if I refuse to marry you. And if you refuse to marry me." She continued walking. Until she was out of my sight.
"You can't just let her family get killed. Let me have the sister, then kill everyone else." Andrew said as he shuffled out cards.
"She's eleven you sick fuck." I sneered.
"So? Girls are girls."
I went quiet. He just smirked at me. How was I related to that monster? I loved my brother, but I hated him. I hated the way he smiled at young girls. Joked about touching them in ways that no one that age should be touched. It made me want to gag.
"What's wrong? I bet she's as beautiful as your young bride." He continued. He leaned back in his chair. "I bet sisters have the same grip around-"
"Who are we talking about?" Rosa asked from the doorway, cutting off Andrew's vile remarks.
"Oh, look at that. It's the grip of the hour." My brother said, smirking at me, before turning to her. "Oh, no one, babe. Just some family matters."
I noticed them. The little creases between her brows. I saw the recognition and disgust in her eyes. Then it quickly turned into hatred. She opened her mouth but Andrew cut her off.
"Why don't you come on over here, love. And while you're at it, how about you show us what my little brother's in for?"
That was the last straw. The last vile thing he could say that tipped the scale. Before I could control it, I was on him, punching my own brother into a bloody pulp. The only thing that stopped me was the sound of Rosa's scream.
I looked between her and Andrew. Her face contorted in horror. I looked down at my brother. His face was covered in blood. I could hardly tell it was him. His nose was smashed, his lips were split, his jaw was crooked.
Father and mother ran in. "Get off him!" Father yelled. He ran over and shoved me off Andrew. He cradled Andrew's head in his arms. "My son… stay with me. Do you hear me?" There was no response. Father checked for a pulse before looking up at me with wild eyes. "You killed him! You killed your brother!"
Rosa moved between us. Her back against my chest. "He was just protecting me. Don't punish him for it."
Father looked down at Rosa before smacking her. My heart dropped as he stumbled sideways, holding her head. "Shut up, you little bitch!" Father yelled at her.
I watched as she pulled her hand away from her head. Blood rolled down her ear. I took a step towards her, but father grabbed me by the arm. His grip was bruising as he sunk his nails into my skin.
Mother grabbed Rosa by the hair, jerking it down harshly. Rosa cried out in pain. My heart pounded against my ribs. "No! You're hurting her!" I yelled, trying to fight my father's punishing grip. "She did nothing-" Father cut me off when he held a gun against Rosa's neck.
"Say another fucking word, and we'll paint this room red with her blood." Father threatened.
I locked eyes with Rosa. Hers were begging me for mercy. Begging me to stay quiet, to spare her life, to keep her safe from the lead that could kill her instantly. I looked back at father and nodded.
Mother let go of Rosa and smacked me. "Go to your room. You're not allowed out until the funeral." Mother sneered. She turned back to Rosa. "You will be in my office in ten minutes."
A few weeks passed without any word from mother and father. Rosa would come in, sleep, get dressed, leave, repeat. She would sometimes bring me food, and when she didn't, she would have a handprint either on her cheek or around her throat. It was proof that she was trying to feed me.
Just the night before, she snuck me some food, before the door swung open and she was dragged out. I wasn't able to sleep that night. I could hear her screams and sobs and the sound of different materials on flesh. Leather, wood, metal, etc.
I stood in the gardens, in my black suit. Rosa stood beside me in a knee long black dress. We watched as the gardeners buried my brother. Mother cried while father stood, stone faced. He looked over at me and narrowed his eyes.
Rosa shifted uncomfortably. The bruises on her collar bone peeked out from under her collar. They were massive dark purple spots. A few of them were yellowish green.