How long is he going to leave me sitting here? I could open the drawer. I know there’s a gun inside. I could end it all. I could escape the pain. But then I’d be leaving them behind. My children.

I won’t do that to my boys. I can’t.

Five hours. That’s how long it takes for the door to open and my husband to walk in. Except he’s not alone. Three of his men are dragging something behind them. Henry. His lifeless body drops to the floor and his dead eyes stare up at me.

“You did this to him, Mary. You are the reason he’s dead,” Giovanni says. His voice calm, even, quiet as he glances over a shoulder. “Leave us.”

I hold my breath. I know what’s coming, the pain, the beating that I’m about to get.

“What am I going to do with you? You selfish fucking bitch. Did you really think you could take them? That you could steal my children? That you could run off with him?” Giovanni paces up and down the length of his office. “I knew it,” he says. “I knew Vin wasn’t mine. I knew you cheated. That’s what I get for marrying a cheap whore.” My husband stops in front of me. Reaching out a hand and wrapping it around my throat. “Admit it. Admit that baby isn’t my blood.” He screams at me as my body is raised from the sofa, my feet barely touching the ground.

I shake my head. “He is yours, Giovanni. I swear it,” I choke out.

“You whore. Don’t fucking lie to me.” He tosses me back down onto the sofa.

I knew this would happen. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to leave…

Chapter Eleven

The Past

I didn’t know how many hours of physical abuse I could endure. It’s not something I ever wanted to find out, but my husband has been beating on me for hours now. I know this is going to be the end of me. I know I’m not going to kiss my children again. I won’t get to watch them grow up. I won’t get to comfort them when they’re hurting.

I should have fought back. There are a million things I should have done differently. It’s funny how you never realise those things until it’s too late.

Please, God, let them be okay. Please watch over them. May they grow into men, kind men. May they find happiness. May they find love. Because you and I both know, if I’m taken away from them now, they’re not going to know that their mother loves them.

My prayer is silent. I can barely keep my eyes open as the ground beneath my feet spins.