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Chapter 50

Valeriana's pov

Aurelio and Trey went to retrieve Janessa after everything happened. The rest of my brothers took me and Papà Santorelli home. We had gotten checked out by the doctors and we were ordered to be on bed rest to have time to heal and not cause any more stress to our bodies.

It's been two days since everything happened. Devyn and Kian were torturing our guests while I was away. I didn't mind them doing it without me as long as our guests were in pain. Everyone was asleep. It made it easier for me to leave my room without them pestering me to take it easy and go lay back down. I head down stairs and grab a snack bag of chips. As I looked around the room I ate the chips quietly. My ears pick up on the sound of light footsteps descending the stairs. I walk out of the kitchen. Miss Wells was walking down the stairs.

"The walk of shame usually happens the morning after not during the night," I break the silence of the night. Miss Wells jumps. She placed her hand over her heart. Her breathing was heavy.

"Gosh, V, you scared me. Also we fell asleep watching a movie," Miss Wells says. I flick the light on causing her to squint her eyes.

"Mhm, Right. We'll both act like I believe that," I state. Miss Wells gave me a look. I smile at her. "Relax, I'm messing with you. I know what someone looks like after being railed... you don't look the part," I smirk at her. She didn't react to what I said. Miss Wells' eyes roam over my torso and stomach. I had on a loose sports bra. It was the most comfortable thing I could wear that didn't hurt my wounds. I no longer had bandages on; they were just open stitches and burn marks. I had a cast on my arm since it was broken. On my other arm there was still a bandage wrapped around my forearm.

"Are you ok?" Miss Wells asked, looking into my eyes. She was trying so hard not to stare at my wounds too long.

"Yes, I am," I say.

"When will you be returning to school?" Miss Wells asked.

"Hopefully Monday. If Aurelio lets me. My brothers are acting like this is a big deal. I'm functioning aren't I?" I asked rhetorically.

"This is a big deal, V. You were hurt. Tortured for a week. This isn't some scrape on the knee where it goes away after a few days," Miss Wells says stepping towards me. A frown took over my lips. She was right.

"I know it doesn't just go away. It's just they are acting like I'm going to break any moment. I'm not, I'm fine," I say. A pit in my stomach formed. "Alright that's a lie, but I will be fine," I state.

"You will be fine someday but don't rush it. Take time to heal physically and mentally," Miss Wells says. I take a breath before nodding. "I have to let Wiggles out. I wasn't supposed to be gone this long. I'll see you soon, ok?"

"See you. Drive safely," I say before turning the light off before walking towards the stairs. Miss Wells walks out of the door. I turn around and look at the door. Take time to heal physically and mentally. That's going to take a while. After getting into my room I shut the door and lay down in bed. I put the chips on the nightstand after making sure the bag was closed.

My eyes widened when my oxygen was cut off. Mother had her hand wrapped tightly around my neck. Chris tilts his head to the side with a smirk on his face.

"She looks like me doesn't she?" Mother says looking at Chris. Chris nods his head. "Go ahead you know you want to taste her," Mother motions with her head for Chris to get closer. He does. His face inched closer to mine. I turn my head to the side. Mother still choked me. Chris gripped my cheeks with his index and thumb. He forced my head back towards him. He forced his lips onto mine. My lips clenched close as he kissed me. Pain shot through my side causing me to hold back a gasp. I will not open my mouth for him. This disgusting fuck will not win. Mother removed her hand from my neck. I breathe through my nose, still refusing to let him into my mouth.

Mother pinched my nose close. She was determined to get me to kiss her husband. My vision starts to fade. Chris pulled away from me. Causing me to inhale quickly. Before I could realize my mistake Chris already had his lips back on mine. I bite his lip hard. Blood pools in my mouth before he pulls away. I smile wickedly at him.

"You fucking bitch!" Chris shouts. I spit his blood at him.

"Fucking try that again and I'll make sure I bite your damn tongue off. Do you hear me!?" I shout at him. A knife was lodged in my side by mother. She removed it before stabbing me again. She knew all the spots to create enough pain but not be fatal. She's had years of practice.

My hair was jerked backwards. My scalp burned. Chris latched his bloody mouth onto my neck. He made sure to harshly mark my neck. Mother continued cutting me. My arm tightened when pain shot through my arm.

"Aah!" I scream. Mother was skinning my arm. Blood dripped from my arm. My fist clenched as I continued to scream. Chris finally moved away from me. Searing pain shot through my side. He was burning me with a torch. "Aaahh!"

"Ahhh!" I scream. I grasp my forearm in pain. I push myself up from the bed. As I scramble to get out of bed I fell out of bed. Another scream leaves me as I land on my broken arm. It happened to be the other arm that wasn't skinned. I push myself up. I cradle my arms to my chest. I'm ok, I'm safe. Nobody is going to hurt me here.

The door slammed open and light flooded the room. I continued my pacing. I'm ok, I'm safe. Nobody is going to hurt me here. I repeat in my head.

"Valeriana are you ok?" Aurelio asked. His voice was soft enough to not startle me. It didn't work. I jumped anyway. I jumped away from him when he got closer.

"Don't touch me!" I shout.

"I wasn't going to," he says. I shake my head. He's lying, he has to be. No he wouldn't lie. He respects my boundaries. He's proved that to me already. I'm ok, I'm safe. Nobody is going to hurt me here. My arm hurts. My hand runs over my cast. I know I can't soothe my arm but it made me feel better. My hand catches on a crack. I broke the cast when falling on it.

"Are you hurt?" Santino asked. My head shot up. All of my brothers were in the doorway. Some were in the room while the others were behind them. Trey and Papà Santorelli stood in the back. My breathing gets heavy. What did Santino ask? Hurt? Was I hurt? Yes, that's it. My attention was brought back to my arm. I was hurt. My arm hurts.

"No," I lie, my head shakes from side to side. I didn't want to be around anyone. If I admit my arm is hurting and I cracked my cast I will have to see the doctor. But I needed a new cast. And I think I need my arm checked. The bone feels like it isn't in the correct spot. For my health I need to admit the truth. I'm honest so why am I lying? "Yes," I say. I show my broken arm with a wince when pain radiates through my arm. "I cracked my cast and I think I need my bone reset," I said softly. Aurelio nods his head.

"I'll take you now. Is that ok with you?" Aurelio asked. I shook my head immediately.

"No, I'll go alone," I snapped.

"Valeriana, I'm not letting you go alone or drive yourself to the doctors when you are in pain," Aurelio says sternly.

"I don't fucking care what you want!" I shout. Aurelio took a step back. "Out! Now! Get out! Get the fuck out!" I scream. I don't want to see them anymore. They are in my safe domain. Why are they intruding?

"4-7-8," Nazario says. My eyes shoot over to him. He gives me a smile while nodding his head. I do what Nazario says. I could feel myself relaxing. "That's it, V," Nazario says when my body relaxes.

"Verena has to come with us," I tell Aurelio. He nods his head.

"Anything you want, to make you more comfortable," Aurelio says. I nod my head. Papà Santorelli tells the rest to go back to bed before they all disappear. Aurelio was the only one in the room. "She's on her way. Do you want to get dressed or is what you're wearing fine?"

"It's fine," I say. He nods while looking around the room. I walk over to Aurelio before wrapping my arms around him. He stiffens before relaxing. His hand touched the back of my head lightly. I flinch away from him. "Don't," I mutter.

"Sorry," he says. He held his arms up so he wouldn't touch me, causing me to smile at his awkwardness. He didn't want to make me uncomfortable.

"Just wrap your arms around me lightly," I say. Aurelio does what I said.