Her father stood in the center of the room, on the tan-colored carpet, feet planted firmly apart,, looking massive and frightening. His shirt was open to his waist, exposing his heavy muscled hirsute chest and he was breathing hard. Although Piers and James Schwartz were also present, she took one look at their faces, appealing silently to them but knowing that they were helpless.
The Don’s head was lowered, narrowed grey-blue eyes on them and then before Philippe could utter a word, the Mafia Don had stepped forward and sent him flying across the room, with a punch so hard, Ria thought she could hear the bones cracking.
He had not given them a chance to explain, she thought blindly.
*
“Pappa!’ she screamed, struggling to get free from the hands that were gripping her; her twin brother, Piers, she realised. He glanced down at her, pity and sorrow on his face as Lucien went for Philippe again, his fist connecting with the young man’s jaw.
Philippe sank to the ground, blood flowing freely from a broken nose and Ria struggled wildly, screaming. She saw James Schwartz, his face a mask of sorrow as he came to her and took her in his arms, holding her tightly, trying not to let her look at how her father was beating up poor Philippe, kicking him, pummelling him mercilessly; the Mafia Don was uttering the most vulgar abuses as he did so and Ria shuddered. Was this her father? This raging beast from Hell?
Philippe was slumped, on the ground not offering any resistance whatsoever.
“Uncle James,’ screamed Ria, sobbing as he hugged the man who was more than a relative, “Please, please, do something’.. Stop Pappa, please stop him, Uncle James, he will kill him…’
And she wept loudly as she looked at her father. Lucien sent her a look that made her come to a halt but it was just for a minute. The Don was already across the room, kicking and punching Phillipe who did not retaliate. Every time the younger man stood up, the Don hit him and she sobbed as she saw the way the young man was giving in, never trying to hit back.
Why doesn’t he stop Pappa? , thought Ria and pushing herself free of Schwartz’s restraining arms, she flew at her father, trying to hold his arm, to block the hard kicks and blows raining upon the hapless Capo.
But Lucien Delano was having none of it.
“Get out of my way, daughter!’ he roared and hit her hard across the face, sending her sprawling. She fell down, shocked. Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at her father; not because he had raised his hand on her, no, that was a first alright . He had never spoken harshly to her and as for hitting his children, only Claude had got a severe thrashing but that had been well deserved.
Now , she half sat on the floor, weeping as she stared at her Pappa , her cheek throbbing as her brother and Schwartz stepped forward silently, helping her to her feet.
Philippe rose and swaying, he coughed, his mouth bleeding, his hands outstretched in a plea as he said, his voice hoarse, from having been beaten like a dog, he cried,
“Sir, don’t… please… she did not, Boss…’ And then Ria screamed for Lucien took out his Glock and aimed it at the youth.
Proserpina
“Out of my way,’ I cried at the man who stood uneasily blocking me as I approached the door, Claude behind me.
“Do as Mumma says,’ growled my son and the man obeyed, a look of panic on his face. The screaming, the shouting, was audible as we hurried down the corridor, and as we entered, I saw Lucien pull out his gun, and aim it at Philippe. Without thinking, I stumbled forward and grabbed my husband’s arm. He whirled on me, gripping my hand and twisting my arm behind my back painfully as he snarled,
“Who the f*ck let this pregnant bi*ch in?’
“Lucien, I cried, “please, please, for the love of God, for the sake of your children, please stop!’
“Your daughter was whoring with this dog!’ he thundered and lunged at Philippe, crazed with anger.
Gripping his arm, digging my nails into his muscled arm, I shouted,
‘Our daughter,’ I replied fiercely, “OUR DAUGHTER. Loves this young man. And I support her in that!’
*
My voice trembled with passion as I faced up to the man I loved, the father of my seven children. He could intimidate me all he wanted but I was not going to stand by and look at him hurt my daughter and the young man who was on the ground, bleeding profusely, whose brown eyes watched me with an unspeakable expression.
*
The silence in the room was loud enough to be heard. Only the sound of my lover’s harsh breathing, my daughters’ muffled sobs, broke it.
Lucien stood, stopped by my outburst. His big body was shaking with the effort of controlling himself but the eyes that bored into me were attentive, although hard and hot with rage.
Stepping closer, my voice lowered so that no one else could hear me, I went on, my body trembling with fury as I spoke, my breasts against him, my large stomach prodding him, as I glared at him, chest rising and falling in rage,
“And who are YOU of all people to speak about wh*ring, Lucien Delano?’
I could not speak further, my throat seemed to close in and I met his eyes, anger and pain in my eyes.
*
For a long moment, there was silence. Lucien gripped my upper arms, painfully as he stood, wrestling with his emotions. Ria was sobbing softly and Philippe was kneeling on the floor, his head bent, his face covered in blood, swaying slightly.
“Take the mother f*cker away.’ He growled, his eyes on me, but I knew he was addressing his men.
‘As for her,’ he jerked his head in Ria’s direction, “get that wh*ring bi*ch out of my sight or I shall strangle her myself.’
Ria cried out in anguish; her father had never spoken harshly to her.
“I need to talk to my wife.’ He went on, his voice cold and I saw Schwartz and Piers hesitate.
“ALONE!’ he barked and they trailed out, both men glancing over their shoulders at me, fearfully. I felt the fear in my heart as I watched them go, the hard hands of the man before me digging into my flesh, unrelentingly. But I straightened my shoulders and glared back at him proudly.
I had always submitted to his wishes before. But this was one time I was going to fight him.
His hand went to my throat and I met his eyes bravely but he gripped my hands behind my back so that I was totally under his power.