“But you’re not wrong,” my sister said, placing the unlit cigarette to her nose and inhaling its scent. “She des erves to die.” She turned to a bodyguard. “Go on. Cut off her hands and feet. And stuff a few firecrackers ir her mouth. She likes putting cigarettes in other people’s mouths, doesn’t she? Let her have a taste of it.”
Roxy was dragged away like a sack of meat.
Jessica breathed a sigh of relief and carefully tried to curry favor. “Boss, I suspect the people who set me u to lose all that money were connected to Roxy. That’s why I worked with her so many times!”
My sister nodded noncommittally. “Makes sense. Roxy did use to run casinos back in the day.”
A flicker of hope crossed Jessica’s face. “Exactly! So she set me up to sell my own boyfriend, never imagin ng it would be your brother… Boss, I failed to protect him. I only did it because I believed her lies. I beg you and Leo, to forgive me!”
She crawled to my bedside, gazing at my face in repentance. “Leo, I know your dream was to marry me.
was even getting ready to propose, I have the ring right here. When you’re better, let’s get married, okay? I’
take care of you for the rest of our lives. I’ll love you no matter what you look like.”
As she spoke, she pulled a diamond ring from her pocket.
My sister stood up, seemingly moved. “You were really going to propose to Leo?”
Jessica’s face was a picture of sincerity. “Yes! I’ll take care of him forever!”
Just as she thought this would save her, my sister’s leg shot out, kicking her squarely in the face.
‘Who the fuck do you think you are to say something like that?!”
Jessica was stunned. “Boss, Leo and I truly love each other!”
My sister laughed and snatched the ring from her hand. “You? You think you’re worthy of my brother propos ng to you?”
At that moment, I slowly drifted back to consciousness. The sight of the ring in my sister’s hand brough back a torrent of painful memories, and a low moan escaped my lips.
Hearing me, my sister rushed to my side, grabbing my hand. “Leo, my sweet brother, are you feeling any bett er?”
I struggled to speak, reaching for the ring in her hand. “Sister… I worked part-time… to buy that. She wanted big diamond, so I sold… I sold my blood so many times…”
My sister’s face contorted with rage. “You son of a bitch, you forced my brother to sell his own blood!” She slapped Jessica again, and her pretty cheek swelled up instantly.
“Leo, you said we share everything! I was deceived by Roxy, please, forgive me! I love you, I really do love you!” Jessica pleaded, ignoring the pain in her face.
“Sister… my face… she’s the one who cut it…” I managed to tell her the truth, piece by painful piece.
7/11
16.09
Chapter 2
She had always treasured my face because it looked like our father’s. Her obsession with it was pathologic- al. A simple bee sting was enough for her to send men to destroy the entire hive.
