The Sinister Silhouette-D2D, page 26
“Theo, please. Let me go,” I beg, my voice hoarse.
He pulls his face away and the look in his eyes is feral. It makes my fear skyrocket. Something is seriously wrong with him.
“Let you go?” he asks. The laugh he releases sounds demented. He leans his face closer to mine and spit flies from his mouth and lands on my lips when he snarls, “I’ll never fucking let you go. You’ve always been mine, Jules. Not fucking his.”
I try to turn my head away, but he holds me in place by my hair. His hold is so tight it feels like he’s ripping the strands out. When I start to struggle against him and dig my nails into his sides as I continuously try to push him away, a frightening growl leaves his lips.
I open my mouth to scream, but then I’m shocked momentarily silent when he quickly turns me around to face the mirror. My pelvis hits the sink when Theo shoves his hips into mine. I cry out at the pain in my hip bone. I lock my eyes with his in the mirror, and I see his intent. Before I can scream for help, pain explodes in my head when he slams my forehead against the mirror. My vision goes blurry and I’m dazed, but I feel warmth trickle down my face.
“Theo….” My voice is weak, and I trail off when another wave of dizziness hits me. I try to hold myself up by putting my hands on the sink, but they’re wrenched behind me.
“You’ll learn soon enough who you belong to,” he growls. “Now I have to fuck his stench off you,” he finishes on a mutter.
My leggings and panties are ripped down my hips to my knees. Some of my strength comes back, and I try to yank my hands away from him, but his grip is too tight. I jerk and pull and struggle until another wave of dizziness hits me, and my vision blurs.
Looking ahead through the hazy fog, I notice the glass in the mirror is shattered, but I still manage to see Theo in the broken shards. He looks deranged as he works to unbutton his pants using only one hand.
My head pounds and tears leak from my eyes, mixing with the blood still running down my face. Fingers probe at my opening, then pain shoots through me when he shoves one inside.
“Oh, God, Theo. You have to stop. Please, don’t do this.”
“Fuck you, bitch. I tried giving you time, but you were so fucking against having anything to do with me. It’s time I do what I should have done from the beginning.”
When I feel his dick poking at my core, I cry. I cry so hard that I know my soul is fracturing into tiny little pieces that’ll be impossible to put back together. I cry until my heart splitters and starts weeping, bleeding out just like the blood that’s steadily flowing from my face and into the white porcelain of the sink.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Luca
I CLENCH MY JAW AND wait for Dad to finish showing me the used bike he bought off a friend that he’s going to rebuild. My patience is wearing thin, but I’d hate to burst his excited bubble. He’s been wanting a bike for years.
We’re in the garage, which means we’re not in the backyard where I can keep an eye on Jules and Theo. When I saw Jules talking to Aria and the expression on their faces, I knew something was wrong. I wanted to go to them, but Jules’s small headshake told me she had it under control and she didn’t need me. I still kept my eyes on them, so I saw the shift in their mood and was relieved when they both went into the house with smiles on their faces.
My eyes immediately tracked Theo as soon as they were gone, making sure his ass stayed outside and nowhere near the house. I’ve seen the way the motherfucker has been eyeing her. Like he wants to hurt her just as much as he wants to fuck her. And he says I went off my rocker all those years ago when I attacked Jules. That may be the case, but the looks he’s been shooting toward us both seriously make me doubt his sanity. I want nothing more than to pound his fucking face into the concrete patio, but I’ve kept my cool for the sake of everyone here.
The air has been tense, and I know my parents, Ella, and Vicki have felt it. They know something went down between Jules and Theo, just not what that something was. Ella has more of a clue than the others, but none of them have said anything yet. I’ve kept my distance from Jules as much as possible to not alert anyone, but fuck, it’s been hard. I can feel the anxious vibes coming off her, and I fucking hate not being able to reassure her.
“Dad,” I call, interrupting his spill about the engine he plans to buy next. “I’m gonna go check to see if Mom needs any help. The turkey should be done soon.”
“Yeah, yeah. I guess you’re right,” he mumbles, then covers the bike back with a tarp.
When we walk back through the gate leading to the backyard, my eyes scan around looking for Jules. I spot Aria talking with Ella and Vicki, but don’t see her. When I don’t find Theo either, warning bells start screaming in my head and my blood runs cold.
“Where’s Theo?” I bark to Mom as she puts a roll of paper towels down on the patio table.
“He went inside a few minutes ago to check on the turkey.” She frowns. “Why? What’s wrong?”
I don’t answer her because I’m rushing up the steps to the back door. He’s not in the kitchen or the living room when I look, and neither is Jules. I jerk my head around when I hear a noise in the back of the house. My feet are moving in that direction when I hear my dad call my name. Ignoring him, I pound down the hallway to the bathroom where there’s a light coming from beneath the door. I try the knob, but it’s locked. I’m just about to knock when I hear a whimper, then a muted growl.
Rage, pure and unencumbered, fills my system as I realize Theo’s in there with her doing God knows fucking what. I step back, and without warning, ram my shoulder against the door. It splinters open and what I see has my blood running so fucking hot with a violent need to murder my own brother.
He has Jules pinned to the sink, her arms held behind her back. Blood’s running down her pale face so fast that she can barely keep upright, while he has his sick fucking dick in his hand trying to push it inside her. The mirror in front of her is shattered, and I see specks of blood on the jagged pieces.
The shock hasn’t left his face from me busting the door in before an animalistic roar leaves my lips, and I grab the bastard by the back of his shirt, jerking him away. My fist connects with his nose and warm blood immediately starts rushing out. I hear screams behind me, but I pay them no mind as I land another punch to Theo’s stomach. He tries to double over in pain, but I hold him up by gripping his neck. When I have him standing again, I look into his eyes, showing him with mine that he’s made a big mistake. Blood drips from the corner of his mouth and his face is pinched in pain. When my face comes into his line of sight, he bares his blood-covered teeth.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” I seethe at him and squeeze his throat, cutting off more of his oxygen.
The little fucking asshole smirks. “Do your best, but it’ll never change the fact that I’ve already had her,” he wheezes out.
Rearing back my fist, I ram it into the side of his sneering face. There’s more screams behind me, and I feel an arm trying to tug me back, but I’m so far into my rage that I jerk it free and smash my fist over and over into Theo’s face. No matter how many times I hit him, the need to do more damage grows. I want him dead at my feet. He’s my twin brother, but I want him fucking lifeless for touching Jules.
His weight drops, and I follow him to the floor, his head hitting the bathtub. Arms band around my chest and pull me back. I snarl and fight against them, but this time they manage to hold me. I kick out and gnash my teeth when my boot connects with his ribs. It’s not fucking enough though. I want more.
“Let me go,” I snarl to who I know is dad when I see his tattooed arm.
He pulls me out of the bathroom and slams me against the wall. “Goddammit, Luca. Stop!” he barks at me, his face red and the veins in his temple bulging.
“He fucking touched her,” I grit. “He fucking hurt her. Was going to rape her.”
“And he’s paying for it,” he growls back.
“Not. Fucking. Enough.” I pronounce each word slowly.
I’m wired as hell and my chest pumps up and down as I glare at Dad.
“This isn’t about you or Theo anymore. It’s about Jules.”
It’s her name that has me closing my eyes and trying to rein in my furious need to go back and finish what I started, but when I do, all I see is her face. The blood, the fear, the pain, and the helpless fucking look in her eyes. I shake my head, pushing the images away before anger takes over again. I pull in a deep breath, open my eyes, and meet Dad’s incensed gaze. Vicki’s standing beside him now, her expression no less irate than Dad’s.
“You need to go get Theo out of there,” she tells Dad. Her eyes move to me. “I’ve got him.”
Under different circumstances, her statement would be funny. She and I both know if I wanted in that bathroom, nothing, especially not her, would stop me. The only thing holding me back is knowing Jules is in there too.
With a final look at me, Dad stalks away and into the bathroom. It grates on my fucking nerves hearing Dad shuffle around in the small room and hearing his mutters as he talks to Theo. A minute later, Dad walks out first, his gaze shooting to me, before a limping Theo comes out. Dad tries to block my view of him, but I see the bastard anyway. His back is to me, but I still bare my teeth and a growl emits from my throat. When Theo stops in the hallway, I silently dare him to turn around.
Dad shoves him forward. “Keep fucking moving, boy,” he growls.
My glare stays on their retreating backs until they’re out of view. I look down to Vicki.
“He doesn’t leave this house with Aria. Got it?”
It only takes her a second before she’s giving me a tight nod and walking down the hallway in the direction Dad and Theo went. I twist my head from side-to-side to help relieve some of the tension in the muscles, take another deep breath, and go to the bathroom. What greets me has my stomach feeling like it’s full of razor blades. Ella is in the bathtub, her legs spread open as she holds Jules in her protective arms. Her face is in Ella’s neck, her knees drawn up to her chest, and she’s got a death grip on Ella’s shirt. I can see the blood on Ella’s shirt from the cuts on her head.
Never in my whole fucking life has something hurt so damn much as watching Jules cling to Ella. My chest feels like someone just ripped a hole in it and is gouging out my heart with a dull blade.
Ella’s eyes lift to mine and the heat in them makes the blue orbs blaze bright, but underneath the anger is an innate sense of pain. She’s angry but also hurting for what Theo did to Jules.
Jules pulls her head from the crook of Ella’s neck and her eyes lift to me. Her face is covered in smeared blood and more starts seeping from one of the cuts right above her left eyebrow. I grind my teeth together to hold back the agonizing noise wanting to break free from my throat.
“Baby,” I whisper hoarsely. The pain and tears in her eyes shred my insides.
Before I’m halfway to the bathtub, she’s already lifting her arms to me. Ella watches as I bend down and carefully scoop up Jules. Her arms snake around my shoulders and she grips me tight, burrowing her face against my neck. She’s shaking like a fucking leaf.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” I croak against her hair.
I need to take her to the hospital to get her head checked over, but there’s something else I need to take care of first. I step back from the bathtub to allow Ella to step out.
“Grab some gauze and peroxide,” I tell her, and she nods.
I hate to do what I’m about to, but there’s no way around it. I’m not letting her out of my sight.
I carry Jules out of the bathroom, down the hall, and into the living room. Fresh anger sprouts in my blood when I see Theo sitting on a chair with a blood-soaked rag held to his face. Vicki is standing with her arms crossed behind the chair, her expression dark. Dad is standing a few feet in front of him, his glare glacial as he stares down at his son. Both Mom and Aria are nowhere to be found, and I’m grateful she must have taken Aria someplace where she can’t witness what’s going on.
I set Jules down on the couch and squat down beside her. I cup her cheeks so she’s looking at me. Her red-rimmed eyes stab me right in the fucking sternum.
“It’s almost over, but there’s something I’ve gotta do first. Can you hold on for a few more minutes?”
She licks her trembling lips but gives me a nod.
“Good girl,” I murmur, then kiss the uninjured side of her forehead. Ella comes back into the room with my requested items and sits beside Jules.
I stand and turn to face Theo, making sure I’m in front of Jules so she doesn’t have to look at him or have him see her. Only iron will and the woman behind me keeps me from pouncing on him again. His eyes are trained on me, and the sinister ire he’s feeling is palpable.
“Vicki, call the cops,” I say without moving my eyes from Theo. She pulls out her phone to do what I asked.
“Tell me, brother,” Theo sneers tauntingly, “is her pussy as good as you remember? Or was it only good when you had to force her? You’re just as fucked-up as I am.”
I ignore his jabs to provoke me. Jules is more important that fucking up his face further.
My voice is calm despite the fire raging through my body. “You ever fucking touch her again, you mark my words, Theo, there’s nothing on the face of the planet that will keep me from killing you.”
He throws the rag on the coffee table and gets to his feet. His wince of pain is satisfying but not nearly enough. An evil grin spreads across his face and his teeth gleam with blood. “You think you’ve won, but you have no fucking clue.”
I ignore his provocation and cross my arms over my chest.
“Aria,” he yells.
“She’s not going with you.”
“Fuck you, Luca. She’s my kid, and I’m taking her with me or I’ll have you arrested for kidnapping.”
“Give it a try, you motherfucker. We can stand here until the cops get here and let them decide, but you know damn good and well they won’t allow that child to leave with you after seeing what you did to Jules.”
His hands bunch into fists at his sides. He’s pissed because he knows I’m right. No cop in their right mind, whether from this side of the tracks or the other, would allow a kid to go with someone capable of the things he’s done.
His eyes shoot daggers at me. When they move behind me to the couch, I take a step forward, my arms dropping in preparation to take him down if I need to.
We glare at each other with loathing for several tense seconds, until a small voice captures everyone’s attention.
“Daddy?” Aria says croakily. I look toward the back door and see Aria standing in the doorway, her eyes filling with tears and her face crumpled in pain. Mom’s standing behind her with a hand on her shoulder, her own pain evident on her face as her eyes move from me to Theo. When they land on Jules, her hand flies to her mouth in horror and her eyes glisten.
Theo completely ignores his daughter, not even sparing her a glance. After curling his lip up into a sneer, he turns and stalks to the door. Once he has it open, he turns back. “This isn’t over,” he says with venom. The door slams behind him.
My eyes slide over to Dad to see his jaw jumping as he looks at the closed door. I turn around and get to my knees in front of Jules. Ella is lightly swabbing at the cuts on her face.
Gently, I grab her chin. “Let me see,” I murmur.
There are several small cuts on her forehead, one on the bridge of her nose, and several more on her cheek and chin. The damage looks worse than what it is because they’re head wounds and tend to bleed like a bitch.
“After the police leave, I’m taking you to the hospital,” I tell Jules.
She shakes her head then winces with the movement. She’s no longer crying, but her eyes are swollen and red. “No.”
“What do you mean no? Baby, we need to have your head looked at.”
“I don’t want to go back there.” Her voice cracks. “Please, Luca. I don’t want to go back there.” She grabs my hand and if I were a lesser man, I’d cringe at the crushing grip she has on it. Her eyes are wide and anxious as she pleads.
I unwrap her fingers from mine and bring the tips to my mouth where I lay a kiss against them.
“We’ll let Vicki look over them and see what she thinks.” Relief fills her face. I hate to make the look fade away, but I add, “But, if she thinks you need to go, I’m taking you.” My voice is stern, while still soft.
After a moment, she nods.
Ella scoots over so Vicki can sit beside Jules. She takes over the task of wiping away the blood and cleaning the cuts, looking at each one carefully to make sure there’s no glass embedded in the wounds. I keep Jules’s hand in mine and every few seconds she squeezes my fingers against the stinging pain.
“She should be fine,” Vicki says as she applies ointment over each wound. “They’re superficial so none of them need stitches. Just watch over her tonight. If she shows signs of sluggishness or disorientation, take her to the emergency room.”
“Thank you,” Jules tells Vicki.
Vicki’s eyes turn hard for a brief moment before softening. “You’re welcome.” She leans closer and lowers her voice. “He should have paid more for what he did to you.”
Before Jules has a chance to respond, Vicki gets up, collects the trash, and walks away. I could not agree more with her assessment.
“I don’t want to press charges,” Jules says quietly.
Ella, who has moved back beside her, freezes at the same time my body goes rigid.
“Why?” I ask through a tight throat.
Her gaze stays steady on mine. “Because he’s your brother.” Her eyes flick to Ella. “And he’s your brother.” She looks back to me. “And he’s their son.” Her voice lowers even more. “He’s her father.”
