Chapter 3

"An upgrade?" I repeated, the word tasting foul. "You're unbelievable, Sarah. The sheer cruelty."

My voice was low, shaking with a disgust so profound it almost choked me.

Sarah suddenly swayed, her hand flying to her forehead dramatically. "Oh, I feel faint. The stress..."

Before I could react, the apartment door burst open.

Alessandro. He must have been waiting in the hallway, or just outside.

He rushed in, his face a mask of feigned concern that quickly twisted into something else.

"You upset her," he snarled, his accent thick. He moved towards me, fast.

I tried to step back, but my body was slow, heavy with fatigue and shock.

He didn't hesitate. His fist connected with my jaw.

Pain exploded in my head. I stumbled, hitting the edge of the coffee table.

Another blow, to my ribs. I gasped, falling to my knees.

He kicked me. Once, twice.

"Darling, that's enough," Sarah's voice cut through the haze of pain. She sounded almost bored. "He's learned his lesson. I'm yours."

She didn't even look at me, crumpled on the floor.

She walked towards Alessandro, taking his arm. "Let's go. I need to get checked for stress. This has all been too much."

They walked out, leaving me there.

The door clicked shut.

Silence.

My head throbbed. My side ached with every breath.

I lay there for a moment, the cold floor against my cheek.

Then, a surge of adrenaline, of pure survival instinct.

I fumbled for my phone, my fingers clumsy, slick with a bit of blood from my lip.

911. I managed to whisper my address, my condition.

Then, another call.

"Elizabeth," I choked out when she answered. "I need help."

Her voice, usually so strong, so prosecutorial, softened with immediate concern. "Michael? What's wrong? Where are you?"

"Home. Sarah... Alessandro... he attacked me."

"I'm on my way."

The line went dead. I let the phone slip from my grasp.

Help was coming. My sister.