8. Melissa

8

It's the thud that wakes me up, followed by the grunt that leaves Xander's unsuspecting body. My ears feel like they're ringing as I jump out of my sleep. Xander is laying on the ground shirtless in black sweats I stole from Daniel last night, and Daniel is on top of him wearing gray slacks and a white button-up.

Daniel is throwing blow, after blow without reprieve. "My fucking little sister, Xander!"

His voice is raw, and Xander tries to shield himself, raising his arms to block the onslaught of punches to his face.

"Daniel!" I scream, my voice cracking as I scramble out of bed, almost falling as I wrap the sheet around my body. I watch the strain on Xander's face, the way his muscles tense under each swift blow.

"Stop it! Get off of him." I fall to my knees, but Daniel either doesn't hear me over the sound of fists meeting flesh, or he doesn't care. I launch myself on Daniel's back pulling him off of Xander with all my strength. When Daniel looks back at me his eyes are crazed, and I jerk away from him in fear. The security guards burst into my room with an alarmed look on their faces.

"What's going on?" one of them barks, pulling Daniel off of Xander. Daniel fights back, jerking towards Xander like a deranged man. Xander has blood dripping from his nose, and his left eye is swelling.

"Sucker punching someone in their fucking face while they're sleeping is an asshole move, Daniel." Xander spits blood out onto the floor, a murderous glare in his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, Xander, or I swear to God!" Daniel tries to shake the grip of the security guard but fails, directing his attention to me. "Melissa, how could you?"

Betrayal flashes in his eyes, but I ignore him looking at Xander who looks distantly at an irate Daniel. I crawl over to Xander, my hands hovering over his injuries. I don't know where to start to take care of him.

"Get him out of here!" I snap looking back at the security guards, just as Gianna walks up rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"What is going—?" She pauses as Daniel is pulled out of the room cursing. "Melissa?"

I ignore her, cupping Xander's face and bringing him into my chest. He pulls me in tighter and lazily smiles at me. "Don't worry baby. I'm okay."

I can see the beginning of angry purple swelling around his eyes, and I shake my head, not disagreeing with him. "No, you're not fine. I'm so sorry."

I rock him against my chest, tears streaming down my face. Gianna takes one look at him and runs back downstairs. She returns and kneels next to me with a bag of frozen peas in her hand. She silently hands me the bag and I place it on Xander's eye, shushing him when he flinches at the contact.

Gianna leans in, whispering in my ear. "Melissa, he needs to get out of here before Papa comes, or this is only going to get worse." I shake my head no, but Xander lightly holds my wrist, looking into my eyes softly.

"Sole," he whispers. "Gianna is right. I have to go." I only hold him tighter, but he sits up and cups my face between his hands. "Listen to me—no matter what, I will come back for you. Okay?"

I nod holding onto his hands as they cup my face. "Okay." I sniffle.

Xander kisses my nose, and both my cheeks before pulling me in for a tender kiss. My breath catches in my throat because of the way he kisses me as if he will never kiss me again, and I relish his touch as if it is the last time.

We all sit in Papa's study in silence. Daniel is sulking in the back, with a frozen vegetable variety pack on his right cracked knuckles. Gianna sits next to me, holding my hand, but Papa just stares at me. His face is blank and unreadable. He leans back in his chair with his hands folded over his stomach and his eyes on me.

"Papa, I don't think Mel meant to—" Gianna starts, her voice filled with faux confidence.

"Shush," Papa cuts her off sharply, keeping his eyes trained on me. "Xander Amory." He states the name evenly as if it is a curse. "All the men you could be with, and you decide to be with Xander Amory. How could you Melissa?"

I want to respond but my response is caught in my throat, and I end up drily swallowing, my eyes dropping to look at the chipped pink polish on my fingernails. Papa leans forward, his voice low and menacing. "Do you understand what you've done?"

I can feel my eyes glossing over as I look into Papa's disappointed gaze. "He's using you to bring down the family. You are a pawn, Melissa."

"No, Papa, you're wrong." My voice trembles as I speak but I hold my ground. "Xander is not like that. He is not using me. He loves me."

Papa's eyes flash with anger, as he sharply smacks the table causing me to flinch. "Loves you? You're na?ve, Melissa. He does not love you."

"It doesn't matter, Papa. I love him," I say firmly, lifting my head to meet his gaze. "I love Xander, and h-he loves me."

Papa laughs, looking around the room incredulously. "Do you hear this, Daniel?"

"Loud and clear," Daniel speaks plainly, his voice sharp and low. My eyes fall back to my lap as the room settles into silence once more, suffocating me, but Daniel's next declaration almost kills me. "You're not seeing him again." I turn in my chair, my eyes widening as they land on Daniel.

"You don't get to make that decision, Daniel." Gianna barks, malice dripping in her tone. Daniel rolls his eyes but I jump out of my seat growling.

"You can't keep us apart."

"Melissa, we will send you to a convent, and he will never see you again," Papa states this as if it is a novel idea.

"Papa, you can't do this!" I cry.

"And why not?" he snaps, adding all of the authoritative fire to his voice.

"Because I'm pregnant." The words hang in the air, and for a moment no one touches the topic as if it is the plague. "And it's Xander's."

Daniel's face goes white, and his knuckles turn even paler as he grips the frozen vegetable pack tighter. Papa's expression hardens into something unrecognizable.

"Pregnant," Papa repeats, his voice deadly calm. "Then you have signed your own fate, Melissa. You will have this baby far from here. Away from him and this life."

"No." I bark, tears stinging my eyes as I shake my head vehemently. "Xander will protect us."

Papa leans forward, disappointment crowding his features. "Melissa, I thought you wanted more in life. You were studying economics at Stanford. I donated money to Stanford in your mother's name, and made sure you had every opportunity to succeed, and you throw it back in my face."

My heart sinks and I can't stand to look at Papa any longer. I let Mamma down, she wanted so much more for Gianna and me. Mamma had Papa promise he would let us explore our talents before any family obligations were brought on us. But now that I've met Xander, I want him...and so much more.

"Papa, I can still accomplish all that at the University of Chicago. I can be with Xander and pursue my dreams."

His eyes narrow in on me. "Your safety comes first, Melissa. You will stay away from him. Xander is about to be head of the Amory family; he will not be able to complete his duties and take care of you."

Tears fall from my eyes as I whisper, "No I don't believe you."

Papa rises as he rounds the table. "Cara figlia." His voice softens as he retorts to the endearing name he calls me in Italian and takes my hand in his. "I hate the Amorys and want to destroy him. Since I love you more, you have to do as I ask."

"Dad, please…" I start to plead but he cuts me off.

"What happens if someone thinks Xander is not fit to run the family, huh? When he is weak, they will kill him, and nothing is weaker than a man freshly in love with a baby on the way."

"No, Xander will keep us safe."

"And who will keep Xander safe, Mel?" Daniel whispers, and I look at him, my bottom lip trembling and my vision blurry with tears.

"You cannot have this baby here, love or not," my father whispers, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"It is your job to do what is best for your baby, but it is my job to do what is best for you, Melissa." I fall into my father's arms, and he smooths down my hair as he whispers to me, "This is what is best for the both of you."