Protect

[Chapter 9]

We all sat around the table. My mother introduced herself and we all continued talking. 

"I wasn't expecting you to come back so soon" my father voiced to me from across the table. He grabbed Ace's attention as well as mine. "Oh yeah, I decided to come visit" I shrugged as I watched my mom. "It feels like nothing's changed" My father smirked evilly knowing that what he said would hurt me. 

I glanced down at the table. 

"She's made a big difference in my mafia so I'm surprised there's no difference here" Ace announced as he lit his cigarette. My father's face instantly dropped from an evil smirk to a blank expression. "Everyone wants my wife" Ace pressed his lips against the smoke, savoring it. "But no one can have her except me, she is mine". It's like Ace was subtlety threatening my father even though nothing he said was true. 

"Excuse me, I have to use the bathroom" I smiled politely as I stood up. 

I strolled down the hall into the bathroom. I shook my head as I stared in the mirror. I checked my stitches, to make sure they were still intact. 

The handle of the bathroom door started wiggling like crazy. I unlocked it, thinking it was Ace, only to realize it was my father. 

"What the fuck did you tell him?" My father to pinned me to the wall with his hand around my throat. He shut the door with his foot. 

I gasped for air as his hand tightened around my neck. "Nothing" I squeaked as I struggled to speak due to his tightening grip. "He abuses me too" I gasped for air as I clawed at his wrist. The only way to get out of this situation was to lie. If my father thought Ace abused me, he wouldn't be as paranoid. 

"Ace hates everyone" I begged him to believe me, feeling like I was on the brink of passing out. My father released his grip. "I believe you, only because I know how unlikeable you are" my father grumbled and shut the door as he walked out. 

My breathing was heavy as my hands shook uncontrollably. I glanced in the mirror to see the shape of my fathers hand imprinted into my neck. I shut my eyes and wished to be anywhere but here; Anywhere but home. 

"Hey, Sofia" I heard Raul day from behind the door. I opened the door as I greeted him with a fake smile. "Hey" I smiled slightly, hoping he wouldn't notice my discomfort. "I was just checking up on you plus Ace is just glaring at everyone" Raul smiled at me. "Yeah, he does that a lot" I admitted as I stepped out into the door. 

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Me and my family talked for awhile before I decided I wanted to go. 

My father reeked of alcohol but what do you expect from an alcoholic?.

We were all sitting in the living room watching tv and the only people who were really talking was my brothers. Stefano and Marco hadn't come back yet. 

Ace was sitting on the couch with me. "Can we go" I whispered to Ace. He looked a bit surprised. "You were so excited to come and you want to go already" he asked slightly worried. "I just don't feel the best" I muttered, lying. "Ok we'll go now" Ace stood up. "I have to go so me and Sofia are leaving now" Ace announced to my family. 

I said goodbye to my family as I felt sort of guilty for leaving again. I mean it's not my choice but I think I feel guilty because I'm happy being at Ace's house . Yeah, he doesn't show much emotion but atleast he doesn't punish me for things I do; Maybe his dad will though. 

Ace said he'd wait in the car for me as I said goodbye to my family. 

"Bye bye my princess" my dad grinned happily with a cheeky tone. "You reek of alcohol" I whispered under my breath as I hugged him. He froze when he realised I had said something back to him. No, no, no, me and my stupid mouth. "What did you say" my father put on a chilling tone. 

"N- nothing... I didn't say anything" I almost pleaded with him to forget it and let me leave alive. Fear ran through my veins. "Did you just make a remark about me?" my father gritted through his teeth. "N-no" I responded pulling out of the hug, my eyes watering due to the fear of what he would do to me.

"You have fallen out of line" my father shouted at me, catching all my family's attention.

"You need to be punished" he grabbed my wrist tightly as he pulled me towards the house. "No father please" I shrieked, yelling at him. I cried out as we approached the door. I shut my eyes as best I could. All my family looked away, ashamed that they couldn't do anything.

"Fernando" Ace snarled from the bottom of the garden. My father froze, forgetting who my fiancée was but I had also told my father that Ace abuses me..... which was a lie. Ace didn't abuse me, in fact from what Ace had shown me so far is that he is against the idea of abusing me. Or atleast I think.

My father let go of his grip from my wrist. I ran into Aces arms. Ace wrapped his arm around me protectively as I buried my face into him. "You told me he abused you" my father scowled, shocked at the fact I had lied to him. I don't know what disgust him more; the lie or the fact I had the courage to lie to him for the first time in my life. "I'll be taking my fiancé home and if you ever lay another finger on her, you won't ever see the sunlight again, only the light of the flame that will be burning your skin" Ace added an evil smirk to the last part.

My brothers looked shocked and confused but they also looked relieved. "You can't do this. She needs to put in place" my father roared, losing his mind as he pulled at what was left of his hair.

Ace kept his arms around me as we walked to the limousine. He opened the door and helped me in before we drove away.

Ace's POV :

I sat in the living room, staring at her. She didn't seem as happy as earlier; It's ever since she left the table. Her father's an asshole like mine. I have my suspicions that she's abused but you can't exactly just tell her she's abused, even I know that.

She was beautiful. I have never dated girls, I use them for pleasure and then I kick them out. Marrying one is whole different lifestyle for me. I haven't made up my mind if I want to try with her or not. I could just be unfaithful, it seems like the choice I'm leaning towards right now.

I don't like how my fathers treating her; He stares at her likes she's a punching bag waiting to be hit. If he hurts her I swear..... I noticed my hand was clenched at the idea of her being hurt. I'm not going to lie, I thought it was a bit weird.

I find her, interesting. She likes going to school.... I've heard it's miserable but then again, I wouldn't know. She flinches everytime I raise my hand. What has been said about me to her?. There's not much to say; I don't tell anyone anything about me for a reason.

She has to know I get called the devil at least, it's been my nickname since I was 15. I'm not actually the devil...... atleast I don't know for sure yet.

She would glance over at me every so often to make sure I was ok. How is she a virgin?.

That thought baffled me. I shouldn't be thinking of her like that. I tried desperately to shake the thoughts out of her out of my head.

Today I watched her laughed and enjoy atleast some of her time with her family but she was constantly walking on egg shells around them due to her father. He is definitely the one who abused her.

I glanced around the room. Raul seems like a coward who protects no one but himself. They all are cowards for letting their little sister be abused when there's 5 of them but she doesn't see it that way; she blames no one but herself for what happens to her and it drives me insane.

A few hours had gone by and she surprisingly asked to go home. I thought I'd have to drag her away. I waited in the car as she said goodbye to her family. I flicked to through my texts, making sure the Mafia was still in check. Stocks are good, we have too much money.

I was interrupted by a cry for help. I cringed at the horrible, pleading sound; It was Sofia. A rush of adrenaline flowed through me, hearing her cry in fear. I immediately hopped out the car. Her father had a tight grip on her wrist, making it impossible for her to escape. I felt like killing her father right there and then. She knew she was going to be hurt if she stepped through that door but she did it anyway. Her brothers and mother just stood there, doing nothing.

"Fernando" I roared, grabbing everyone's attention. He let her go; If he hadn't, he would've wished that he had.

She instantly ran to me with tears rolling down her cheeks. I felt..... empathy for once. I wrapped my arms around her instinctively. I felt a rush of relief once she was next to me. She buried her face into my chest and she was shaking with fear.

I wouldn't call this a hug, more like I had a protective grip on her. I had this natural instinct to protect her, I don't know where it came from or how long I've had it, it just appeared out of thin air.

"I'll be taking my fiancé home, and if you ever lay another finger on her, you won't ever see the sunlight again, only the light of the flame that will be burning your skin" I smirked at the last bit because I knew I'd love to hurt him. Hearing his screams after making her scream would be music to my ears.

I'd love to hear Sofia scream but not for that reason. I shook the thoughts out of my head once again as brought her to the car. Why didn't she tell me this stuff happened to her?.