Chapter 9

• My Apology
• Mandy’s POV
• Sarah turns away from me and starts a conversation with Marco. “We are very sorry Marco; I swear we didn’t mean any disrespect towards you. She still doesn’t understand our way of living. Please don’t hold it against her.” He doesn’t respond to her at all. That only makes the stream of tears that is running down her face get harder. The SUV comes to a stop and I peek out the window, we have arrived at the salon. The doors to the back seat open and we climb out.
• Just like when we went in the department store, the three men surround us as we go into the building. There is a team of six workers standing there greeting us as enter. Sarah and I are led to a chair and a beautician clip the cape around our bodies, then gets to work. She sprays my hair with water and begins to cut it. I think to myself. ‘What the hell this bitch didn’t even ask me how or what type of style I wanted.’ I clear my throat and hold up my hand so she will stop. Which she does.
• “Excuse me, but I would like to know what exactly you are doing? I haven’t told you what I wanted or you haven’t asked me any questions. So, how can you already be cutting my hair without knowing anything?” She looks taken back by my accusations. She answers me in a sarcastic way. “I’m sorry but I have been told exactly how to do your hair. It would seem that you are the one who is left in the dark. Mr. Rossi sent me a photo with the style and color that he wants. Now if you wouldn’t mind to please sit still so I can finish we are on a time schedule.”
• ‘I can’t even pick how I want my hair! Is there no decision that this oppressive asshole is going to let me make on my own. Fuck what Sarah told me; all my life I have been brought up to stand up to bullies. That if I ever let one person bully me then everyone else would start. I’ve never been one to start a fight, but I haven’t backed down from one either. If I just let Matteo run all over me, then he will keep doing it. I have to put my foot down sometime to show him I’m not a push over. If he wants to play dress up, he needs to buy a barbie doll.’ I go to stand up from my chair, when I hear the ding of a bell alerting us that someone has walked in.
• I glance to the door and I see a fuming Matteo stomping my way. I sink back in my seat when our eyes meet. All my bravo I had not even a minute ago about standing up for myself is out the window. When he reaches me, he doesn’t say a word just grabs me by the hair of my head and yanks me up onto my feet and over to Marco. Before we make it to him the door dings again. With the way Matteo is holding me I can’t see who came in. We stop walking when A pair of shiny shoes comes in sight. I’m pulled to an upright position where I can see clearly who just joined us. I gasp when I see my father on his knees kneeling on the floor with Carlo standing over him.
• I struggle to get away from Matteo and over to my dad. This action only makes Matteo’s grip get even harder. I’m lost in my own mind until Matteo’s voice brings me back to the present. “So, doll face you and your father need to be taught a lesson, and no matter how bad I want to teach it to you. I can’t have my bride walking down the aisle all bruised up. With that being said I’ll just have to put your hands on session off until our wedding night. That only leaves one of you who can be taught today. I would hate for you to miss out on the consequences that your actions bring. I suppose your wondering what your pops did to deserve retribution on my wrath. That answer is easy he didn’t instill respect in his daughter while she was growing up. Not only is his child a smart mouth, disrespectful little bitch, she also isn’t that smart. Any other woman who has come to the conclusion not to piss me off. Not you though, oh no. Your defiance will cost your dad physical pain and agony. Plus, now we won’t be able to attend our wedding because he’ll have two broke legs. How will he ever manage to make it back and forth to work. He's going to lose everything that he has worked so hard for, just because you couldn’t keep that fucking trap of yours shut. You are going to stand here and watch what we do to him, and if you close your eyes or look away the beating will last that much longer. Seeing what is about to happen will hopefully give you a glimpse of what is to come after we are wed.”
• Matteo shouts “begin,” and all of his men in the room stalk towards my father and start beating the shit out of him. Angelo has a base ball bat in his hands that he swings over and over at my pop’s knee caps. I can hear him screaming and crying from the abuse he is being shown. I don’t dare look any where other than in front of me like Matteo demanded. My legs give out on me and I drop to my knees. My vision is blurry from the tears that are pouring out of my eyes. My dad’s screams get louder and louder than all of a sudden, he goes quiet. I fear the worse, but these savages don’t let up at all they just keep throwing lick after lick at my now unconscious father.
• I can’t take the sight before me any longer, knowing the only way for it to stop is if Matteo gives the order for his men to halt. I place my hands together in a prayer style and beg Matteo with all my might to please let this nightmare come to an end. “This is all my fault; I’m so sorry Marco please forgive me. I’ve learned my lesson please, please, please Matteo tells them to cease. I take full responsibility. I deserve this not him. I’ll do anything if you just finish this, please.”