RISE: THE PREQUEL NOVELLA TO THE SIN AND SECRETS COLLECTION

by Shanna Swenson

  “I’m not allowed to buy books because this is just a placeholder. Once I get pregnant, all this goes away. He picks out all my clothes and a personal shopper delivers them to our apartment.”

  “Jesus Christ, this is worse than I thought,” Eden mumbles.

  “Still nothin' on the baby front?” Everleigh asks softly.

  “No,” I whisper. “Is it...is it bad that I secretly don’t want it to happen because I don’t wanna be tied to him forever, but at the same time I just want it to because I just want all this to stop? I want to stop the shots, I want to stop the sex, I just...I want to be normal.”

  I tighten my lips, trying not to cry but remembering Giacomo’s drunk rough hands all over me last night. I scrubbed my body raw after he passed out, crying in the shower until the warm water turned cold.

  “Baby…” Eden pulls me towards her as I keep it together, only letting one lone tear drip down my soft cheek. “Do you wanna start pullin' away from him? Tell me if you do because I can get you a job and you can start makin' your own money, preparin' yourself for when you’re on your own.”

  I think about it for a second, knowing that Giacomo always has eyes on me and I would have to lie, saying I was at class or with Everleigh or Eden while I was working.

  “I don’t know,” I sigh, “It’s hard for me to do anything under Giacomo’s eye or my father’s.”

  “We can handle it. I’ll get that good for nothin' brother of yours involved so he can help out when you need some coverage. Where do you work, Eden?” Everleigh asks.

  “A...a strip club,” Eden says quickly, taking a sip of her drink, eyeing both Everleigh and I above the rim.

  “A what? Eden, I would be killed if my father or Giacomo found out about that!” I whisper yell.

  “I’ve seen you dance, Lia. You’re so hypnotic. I-I uh...know the owner and you would be up on stage, not gettin' groped like the new girls, I promise. No one would touch you, no one would hurt you, I can give you my word on that.”

  Her tone is hard and filled with conviction as she speaks and the thought of performing on stage, even though I would be doing it half naked and to a crowd of most likely disgusting old men, seems appealing. Becoming someone else on stage like I do in that studio pulls me towards the possibility and I find myself slowly nodding.

  “Okay, but I need to be sure no one will recognize me. I need to have your word on that, Eden.”

  She nods again.

  “I can convince him to let you wear a mask, Hell I even will too, I think he’d actually go for that.”

  Everleigh laughs, putting up her hands.

  “Okay, hold on just a damn minute. Lia! Are you seriously considerin' this? I am not even gonna touch upon you keepin’ that little tidbit a secret from us, Eden, that is for another time and place but Lia, come on!”

  “You’ll make an insane amount of money, Lia,” Eden continues. “You could be on your own in months if you want to. Money is the key to anything in life. If you have enough to make it on your own, your father and Giacomo can’t hold that over your head.”

  I nod again and reach over to grab Everleigh’s hands.

  “Ev, for once in my life, I have to stick up for myself. I can’t live my entire life under Giacomo and my father’s thumb. I am miserable and I’m barely eighteen. I cannot survive a lifetime of this, I just can’t.”

  My voice breaks at the end and Everleigh’s eyes gloss over.

  “Oh, Lia. I’m so sorry. I hate that this is what you have to resort to.”

  She shakes her head, squeezing my hands and Eden puts her hands on top of ours.

  “I promise, I’ll keep her safe.”

  I stand in the back room, the music loud and the smell of stale beer and smoke slithers into my nostrils. I fiddle with the strings of my blue lace bra, my garter belt straps and then my stockings, trying to pull the booty shorts down, covering the bottom of my ass cheeks. It’s no use, this is what it is...lingerie.

  It’s only my second night at the club, but already I’ve made more in one night than I have my entire life. The owner of the club, Vincent, gives me the creeps, but he was intrigued by my dance last night and even my voice. I’ve never sang in public before, but after asking if I have any other talents besides dancing, then belting out “Rise Up” by Andra Day as my “audition” he put me on stage to dance and sing and the crowd of men went wild.

  I’ve spent the last hour learning pole routines from Eden and it’s quickly become my favorite routine. It’s difficult, so insanely difficult, but my body is in impeccable shape from all my years of dancing. I have a few videos saved on my phone to watch later on at night, making sure my skills are perfect for my time on the stage. The better I am out there, the more money I can leave with, the sooner I can leave Giacomo.

  I slip my heels on, walking down the dark hallway as I hear soft cries from a door next to me. I crane my ears to listen and Eden’s voice comes through the doorway.

  “Enough, please,” she cries.

  Crap.

  I open the door on instinct, not sure what I’m going to walk in on and Eden is on her knees, hands fastened behind her back as Vincent stands before her, his pants around his ankles.

  “I...I heard. I’m...I’m s-sorry,” I mumble, keeping my eyes locked on Eden’s.

  Her eyes are glossed over as black mascara streaks fall down her cheeks and her gaze is worrisome as she looks up at Vincent.

  I pull my gaze away from her, looking at the owner of the club and he smiles, an evil, sadistic smile and I back up on instinct.

  "Magnolia Giordano! Daughter of Luca Giordano Sr. Wife to Giacomo Cervelli?” he asks slyly, turning towards me as he lifts his pants and buttons them back up. “I didn’t realize you were that Giordano when Eden brought you to us the other night. How far the mighty have fallen, hmm?”

  I gulp, not liking the look on his face or his words.

  “P-please, they’ll kill me. You...you can’t say anything to them.”

  “Vince!” Eden yells. “Finish with me, leave her alone.”

  She struggles to get to her feet with her hands tied behind her back but she finally does, running towards us.

  “You intrigue me, Magnolia. Your voice, your dancing. Like a siren, pulling me towards the deadly rocks. You wouldn’t do that though, would you? I bet you'd go to great lengths to keep this a secret."

  He drags his rough finger down my cheek and I flinch, suppressing a whimper.

  "Anything," I whisper. "P-please don't tell them."

  "I'll hold you to that, Topolina."

  I furrow my brows, wondering if I made a big mistake in taking this job. Only Giacomo ever calls me that stupid nickname, how did Vincent know about it?

  Baby mouse. How I wish it wasn't so accurate. I sure as Hell keep my mouth shut like one.

  “Vince, please,” Eden begs. “I’ll do anything you want. Don’t touch her. Please.”

  He smiles again, turning to face Eden as he pushes her chin up and unties her hands. He whispers something in her ear and kisses her cheek softly as I furrow my brows with confusion.

  “Anything for you, my sweetling,” he says to Eden as he walks out of the room and closes the door behind us.

  “I...I’m sorry, I thought you were in trouble. I didn’t know you guys were a thing. Are you a thing? Are...are you okay?” I stutter, now embarrassed to interrupt a moment between Eden and her boyfriend if that’s what it was.

  She wipes at her face and nods, shaking out her hands.

  “Our relationship is...complicated. He’s...just tell me if he gets out of line with you, okay? He can get a little...handsy.”

  She squeezes my shoulder and I nod as she walks out of the room and I follow. That didn’t look complicated, it looked toxic. What the Hell have I gotten myself into?

  A few months later…

  * * *

  Leaving the club with Eden, I stuff the wad of bills into my inside jacket pocket and we link arms as we walk to her car, her bodyg
uard Marco at our back.

  “I know you’re with the boss and all, but the bodyguard is drooling over you. I noticed it the first night I started,” I whisper to her.

  “He’s like a brother to me,” Eden mumbles, unlocking her car. She puts her hand on my arm and stops walking. “Are you okay? I know tonight was a rough one but—”

  I shake my head, squeezing her hand.

  “I’ve almost saved up enough to pay for my own place for a whole year, Eden. Nothing those men do or say to me can be any worse than what I get when I go home to Giacomo.”

  "He's getting worse?"

  I nod, holding back the tears.

  "He's gotten obsessed with getting me pregnant. I don't know what I'll do if he does."

  "We'll figure it out, I promise. I just don’t want you to hate me for bringing you here.”

  Her eyes get sad and I bring her in for a hug, squeezing her so tight.

  “You’ve given me an out, E. I could never hate you for giving me a way out of this terrible life.”

  She gives me a smile that she probably thinks it’s convincing, but it’s not.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, cupping her cheek.

  She's always there for me, making sure I'm okay, who does she have?

  “As okay as I’m gonna be, girl. Let’s get out of here.”

  My hand is on the handle when a horn beeps loud, making me flinch.

  “Get in the car, Magnolia.”

  His voice makes me shiver as I slowly turn around, seeing Giacomo getting out of his car and walking towards us. My worst nightmare comes to life as I try to scramble for an explanation as to why I'm in the parking lot of the Devil's Playground.

  “Marco!” Eden yells.

  Marco steps up between Giacomo and I and I quickly try to get around him.

  “No, no, it’s fine,” I say, my voice shaky and nervous. “G-Giacomo, this is Eden’s brother, Marco. We were just—”

  “I know what the fuck you were doing, Magnolia. Get in the car right now or so help me God.”

  “Magnolia. Don’t get in that car,” Eden says from behind me, pulling at my arm.

  I can smell the alcohol on Giacomo’s breath from here, but not getting into his car might be more dangerous for me in the long run.

  “Okay,” I relent, ”Okay. Let’s just go. Don’t do anything crazy, G.”

  I brush past Marco who seems like he wants to pull me back but doesn’t when Eden’s hand comes down on his arm.

  “Magnolia, you don’t have to do this,” Eden begs.

  I turn to look at her over my shoulder and give her a sad smile, following Giacomo to his car.

  “Baby, let me drive,” I coo, slipping my hand into his to try and take his keys.

  He tightens his grip around the keys and opens the passenger door for me as I reluctantly slip inside and shuts it behind me as I buckle up. I say a silent prayer that he’ll pass out before it gets too far tonight, but the second he gets into the car I know I won’t be that lucky.

  “I do everything for you, you ungrateful little bitch. Dancing for other men? Parading around and displaying what’s mine? Have you fucked any of them?” he growls, his foot slamming down on the gas as he speeds down the street.

  “Giacomo, it isn’t like that. I swear, none of them have touched me.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “I’m not, I swear. How...how did you know I was there?” I briefly wonder if he’s been following me the whole time. I made sure to wear my mask on stage, careful not to let anyone recognize my face.

  “I heard you,” he whispers, his voice dangerously deadly. “I heard you singing, I watched you on stage tonight. I saw those men touching what is mine. You don’t think I’ve had someone follow you on your late night ‘study dates’? I watched every man in that fucking club and saw in their eyes what I see in mine every damn day. No one touches what’s mine!”

  “Giacomo, p-please, slow down. It’s only been you, I promise you. Please, just slow down,” I say in a panicked voice.

  I’m shaking. My adrenaline is still at a high from dancing, being caught by Giacomo, everything is firing off and I feel nauseous.

  “You’re not leaving our goddamn bedroom until you’re pregnant. Fuck school, fuck your friends, fuck everything!”

  He presses the gas even harder and the tears start to flow down my cheeks.

  “Giacomo, please! Slow down. You’re drunk and—”

  “And I need a fucking baby, Magnolia! You’re a disappointment! You’re a fucking sad excuse for a fucking woman!”

  I cover my face, hoping to just make this quick. His words, my whole life, every situation I’ve had to endure flashing before my eyes.

  Just take me. Just make it quick and take me.

  The car comes to a screeching stop and I slowly lift my head, trying to get my bearings. I glance over at Giacomo and suddenly, the back of his hand swings across the car and connects with the side of my face, causing my head to snap against the headrest.

  “Fucking hell, look what you made me do!” Giacomo slurs, shaking his head as he runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “Fuck! Fuck, Magnolia! I’m sorry. I...I’m sorry.”

  He takes the keys out of the ignition and gets out of the car as I press my fingers to my lip, tasting metallic and seeing the deep red of blood. I gasp, feeling more tears stream down my face as I angrily wipe them away and get out of the car.

  “Fuck you, Giacomo!” I scream through the tears. Hearing those words come out of my mouth, the freeing, angry emotion spiking and flooding my veins. “Fuck! You!”

  I turn away from him, taking my phone and texting Luca to come and get me. I hear footsteps behind me and turn as Giacomo charges towards me, grabbing my shoulders.

  “Don’t you dare do this, Magnolia. Forget the last five minutes. I didn’t mean it. We can still make this work. You don’t want to do something you’re going to regret.”

  “Are you serious?” I laugh, wiping at my lip again and holding up my hand. “You don’t get to keep taking whatever the hell you want from me anymore, Giacomo. I’m done with this life. I’m done with you. When my father hears about what you did to me, you’re finished!”

  I turn away from him again and my brother pulls up to the curb, parking the car and gets out, his face red, his fists tight at his side.

  “What did he do?” he yells, pointing at Giacomo.

  “Stay out of it, asshole,” Giacomo retorts.

  “Let it be, Luca. Bring me home.”

  I pull on his arm as Luca nods, but not before turning towards Giacomo and punching him square in the face. Giacomo grunts, dropping to the street and Luca and I walk back to his car, taking the ride back to my childhood house in silence, the only sound is my sniffling.

  “Was that the first time he hit you?” Luca asks softly.

  “Yes. I mean our whole marriage was abusive, though, let’s just be honest,” I snap, wanting my brother to feel as much pain as I do.

  He knew Giacomo didn’t treat me like a husband should treat his wife, but like a good little Italian son, he did what was asked of him and nothing more. Not now though, for once he was there for me and it softens my bitterness a little bit.

  We pull into the driveway to our house and I walk right in through the front door to my father’s study.

  “Daddy…” The tears start up again as my lips quiver, my cheek now throbbing in pain.

  “Magnolia Marie Giordano. You are lucky I don’t throw your ass out on the street!” he snaps, getting to his feet.

  “What? Daddy! Giacomo just hit me. He was drunk and speeding and then he—”

  “He said he caught you at the Devil’s Playground! I didn’t raise a whore, Magnolia! We should press charges on that boyfriend of yours. He nearly broke his jaw!”

  “What?” I gasp. “Luca hit him! I don’t have a boyfriend! Daddy, he’s lying to you!”

  “Infidelity? You’ll drag the Giordano name through the mud, Magnolia! I’ve never been so
disappointed in you!”

  “Dad, she’s telling the truth. I punched Giacomo. He was sloshed and driving with her,” Luca chimes in.

  “You saw Giacomo hit her?” my father questions.

  “Well, no but—”

  “Did you see where he picked her up from?”

  “No but—”

  “Then leave this office unless you too want to be cut off from this family!” my father booms, interrupting Luca.

  I glance over my shoulder, pleading with my brother to have my back but he falls short, just like he always does. He gives me a sympathetic look but I turn away, keeping the tears from falling.

  The office doors close and my father’s eyes could burn holes right through my skin.

  “You are to beg forgiveness to your husband and stop going to school. You will not leave that apartment unless Giacomo approves of it,” my father snaps.

  “Daddy! How can you ask that of me? He hit me! He’s been abusing me since our wedding night! I can’t take it anymore. Please. I’m your daughter!”

  “No daughter of mine acts like a floozy, Magnolia. You either apologize to him and continue on your marriage and give us an heir or you can walk your ass out that door and never come back.”

  “What?” I whisper. “You...you’re kicking me out of the family?”

  The office door opens and my mother walks inside and my tears start up again, running to her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

  “Mama...please, talk to him. Giacomo h-hit me and I...I can’t…”

  She stiffens, not hugging me back and I lift my head, looking up into her face.

  “Mama?”

  “Listen to your father, Magnolia. You know what is expected of you.”

  She untangles my arms from her body and walks over to my father’s side, putting her hand on his shoulder.

  “F-fine,” I growl, angrily wiping my face as I turn towards the office door. “If that’s the kind of life I’m supposed to live, I don’t want it. I’ll pack my things here and then the apartment and—”

  “You’ll leave this house and the apartment with the clothes on your back, Magnolia, nothing more.”

  My mouth drops open and I quickly close it, not allowing either of them to see me break.