Chapter 2

I turn for the door.

Lucas's voice locks me in place.

"Walk out that door, Vivian. They bury Lily in three different states."

I turn back.

He's already pulled the sheet off her. He's holding a paring knife.

He drives it into her chest. Right through the sternum.

I scream. I throw myself at her. He kicks me off like a stray.

Ravenna loops her arms around his neck. Presses up against his back.

"That's my man. You know how to play."

My hands shake. I make my voice small.

"Lucas. Just let me take her. Don't touch her again."

He smiles. Like he's brought me to heel.

"Vivian. We're not getting divorced. And you don't open your mouth outside this house. Not to anyone. Not your brother, not a priest, nobody. This stays in the Family."

The first half lands wrong with Ravenna. Her face twists.

She rips the knife out of his hand. Drags the tip across Lily's cheek, slow.

"Such a pretty face. Needs a little something extra, doesn't it?"

"Please." My voice tears open. "Lucas. For what we had. Don't let her touch my niece."

He looks away from me.

Ravenna giggles.

"Relax, sweetheart. We're burning her after this. Ash doesn't care what's carved into it."

She thinks for a beat. Her face lights up.

She presses the blade in.

W-H-O-R-E.

One letter at a time. Across Lily's cheek.

Sal Romano slow-claps. "Damn, Ren. You got a real artist's hand."

Ravenna grins. Tosses the knife back to Lucas.

"Your turn, babe. Show us what Don Langston's golden boy can do. Use this little piece of trash as your canvas."

"NO—"

I lunge for Lily.

The lunge isn't a performance.

The lunge is the only honest thing I've done tonight.

Lucas stomps down on my shoulder. The bone goes. He pulls his belt out of the loops and lashes my wrists to the iron rack above me.

"Lucas. Please. Please don't—"

He doesn't look at me. He walks to Lily.

The crew starts cheering. Whistling.

Lucas glances at the bruises blooming across Lily's chest. His mouth curls in disgust—at her, like she's the dirty thing in this room—and he flips her over.

Then he starts cutting.

Long, sure strokes. He's done this before.

I scream until my throat shreds. I beg him to stop.

Ravenna grabs a dirty napkin off the table and shoves it in my mouth.

When he's finished, the whole room claps.

Whatever was left of me—whatever still loved this man, whatever still believed his lies—dies in that second.

He swaggers over. Cuts the belt off my wrists.

"Vivian. Ren and the crew forgave you. Don't pull a stunt like that again. You hear me?"

He leans in to kiss me.

I slap him so hard his head whips sideways.

"You're not a man."

His jaw locks. For a second I think he's going to hit me back. Then he sees my face—white, dead-white—and stops himself.

He presses his lips to my forehead instead. Whispers, low, only for me:

"Vivian. I'm protecting you."

My mouth pulls into a cold smile.

Say it again. Say it on tape.

Five years I've eaten this.

The first time Ravenna met me, she "accidentally" hit me with her Maserati. Broke my leg in two places. I spent three months in a cast. He spent three months with her in the south of France.

I let it happen. She needed to think I was harmless.

Wedding night, she called him. He picked up. I sat in the bridal suite till sunrise.

I let it happen. He needed to think he was the smart one.

Same line every time: Ren's a hothead. Keep her happy. I'm protecting you.

Every time, I smiled and forgave.

Every time, I sent the recording.

But Lily.

I didn't plan for Lily.

"I don't need your protection anymore, Lucas. We're done. You'll be hearing from my family."