because they thought I was a joke. They laughed at my actions. They knew I was willing to sleep with my rapist, but they didn’t spare a thought as to the reason why. Maybe nobody else will, either.
I dig my fingernails into my palms, pressing harder and deeper, attempting to lessen the emotional torment with something physical. When that doesn’t help, I climb from the boat and use the sharp pebbles of the trail to punish me from my soles upward.
I walk with hard steps, increasing the pain. I stomp. I twist. I don’t stop until the faint shriek of male torture leaves me motionless.
For a second, my excruciating thoughts cease, my suffering placed on pause.
My breath remains trapped in my lungs as I wait for more of that rewarding sound. My heart pounds with yearning. My palms sweat with impatience.
I have to hear that cry again. I want Otis to wail and scream and blubber. I need it to help ease my anguish.
I run for the house in search of the sweet comfort, sprinting around the pool to pull the glass door wide.
Keira waits in the kitchen, her eyes widening at the sight of me. “Are you okay?”
I ignore her in my trek for the hall.
“Wait.” She hustles after me, cutting me off before I reach the archway. “What happened? Nobody has told me anything. Did your friends get to safety? I overheard Cole—”
“Three of my sisters are on their way home.”
She huffs out a relieved breath. “I’m so glad to hear it.”
“Three,” I repeat. “When there were five of us. Not to mention all those who died previously at your father’s command.”
Her relaxation vanishes. “I’m so—”
“I wish I had a definitive number to give to you because I’m sure you guys have some sort of family death tally, but I gave up counting a few months after I arrived.”
“Penny, I…”
“What?” I raise my brows. “You’re sorry?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. For everything.”
“Do you feel sorry when you’re putting on your designer clothes? Or those expensive shoes? Because you know where your family’s money came from, right?”
She pulls back, clearly offended.
“And are you sorry when you’re sleeping with the man whose family you destroyed? Are you sorry when you’re fucking my brother?”
“Penny.” She raises her hands in placation. “I didn’t do anything wrong. We didn’t know what was happening here and as soon as we found out we took action.”
“You found out three days ago?” I wave away my heavy sarcasm, not entirely sure why I’m trying to pick a fight. This woman means nothing to me. I don’t care what she says or thinks. All I want from her is instructions on how to find Otis. I need directions to help stop the insanity beating down on me. “Do I turn left or right down the hall to find them?”
“Please don’t blame me.” Her face crumples. “I haven’t gotten through this unscathed either. We’re all suffering. Some more than others.”
I should have triggered tattooed on my forehead for the number of buttons she simultaneously pressed. “Wow.”
“Listen.” She reaches for me, then thinks better for it, her hand falling to her side. “The perversions weren’t contained to the Greek islands. They happened at home, too. And I was a victim.”
It’s my turn to pull back, my retreat made in confusion. “What sort of victim?”
“One like you. I was only a child when I lost my innocence to a man.”
“Luther?” The name whispers from my lips.
“No. Not my father. But it was someone he knew was a monster and he allowed them access to me anyway.”
My punishment increases. The anger I had for her moments before escapes in a vacuum. One minute, it’s there. The next, it’s gone, being replaced by more choking guilt.
Every time I think I’ve become accustomed to how shocking the crimes of men can be, the world teaches me differently. I’m repeatedly shown that there’s no escaping the misery.
“What I was put through is nothing in comparison to what you’ve endured.” She holds my gaze, now backing away from my scrutiny. “But I’m not clueless to your suffering. And I struggle every day knowing I could’ve put a stop to it sooner if I didn’t think I was the only one. So I’m sorry.” Her eyes begin to water as she sucks in a deep breath. “I’m sorry for my ignorance… I’m sorry for the actions of my father…” Her lips begin to tremble. “And I’m sorry for falling in love with your brother, but Sebastian is the