Page 172 of His Reckoning

Kayla shifts closer on the couch. “Why didn’t you tell your dad?”

“I thought about it.”

“But?”

I run a hand through my hair. “But Tony always said the same thing.”

“What?”

“That no one would believe me.”

Kayla’s expression darkens. “That’s what abusers say.”

“Yeah.” I stare at the whiskey in my glass. “And part of me believed him.”

“Why?”

I shrug. “I was the kid who didn’t want to work in the restaurant. The one who kept telling them they should change everything.”

She nods slowly. “So, he made it sound like you were the problem.”

“Exactly.”

Her voice is careful. “The scars. Were those from him?”

I nod once. “Yeah.”

She exhales slowly. “How?”

I stare at the wall for a moment. This is the part I’ve never said out loud … not once.

“The first burn happened during an argument.”

Kayla’s fingers tighten around mine again. “About the restaurant?”

“About leaving.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “You told him you didn’t want to take over?”

“Yeah. Once he realized what I was able to do with the systems, he wanted me there but under his control, taking all of the credit.”

Even now, the memory hits with uncomfortable clarity.

“He cornered me in the kitchen after closing.” My jaw tightens. “He had a cigarette in his hand.”

Kayla’s voice drops to a whisper. “And he …”

I nod. “Pressed it into my shoulder.”

The room goes quiet again.

Kayla’s face has gone pale. “Oh my God.”

I shrug slightly. “He said it would help me remember who ran the place. Then he said if I ever tried to leave or tell anybody, he’d do worse.”

Her grip on my hand tightens. “That’s insane.”

“Tony had a talent for being insane without letting anybody else see it but me.”