My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Gianna | Age 5 | Toricelli Estate, Chester County, PA

The room was very big and very quiet, except for the sound of the clock on the wall. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I sat in Daddy’s big leather chair. It was so huge that I felt like a little bug lost. The room smelled like the spicy brown water Daddy drinks. In front of me was a book with a lot of tiny black marks on the pages.

“Again, Gianna,” Daddy said, “Focus, my little Donna,” he stood behind me, and his big hands felt warm on my shoulders, “You are going to rule everything one day. You’ll be the Queen of Philadelphia. And Queens have to know what the paper says.”

His voice was like a big, warm hug, but his eyes were very serious. He stood right beside me, his hand resting on the back of my neck. I loved Daddy more than anything. He was the strongest man in the whole world, and he always told me I was his princess.

But I wanted to be a Queen. I wanted to make Daddy proud so he would pick me up and spin me around and tell me I was his best girl. I squinted at the page. I tried to catch a spider, but it turned into a circle, and then the circle grew a tail and turned into a different spider.

“I… I see a ‘B’?” I whispered.

Daddy didn’t move, “There is no ‘B’ on that line, Gianna. Look again. Do it for Daddy.”

I tried so hard. I stared until my eyes felt itchy and hot. The scratches started to dance. They hopped over each other. It made my head feel like it was full of bees. I picked up the heavy pen to try and draw the scratches, but my hand made them go the wrong way. They looked like sticks.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” I said, “The spiders won’t stay still.”

I heard the click-clack of his shoes on the floor. He walked to the front of the desk. He wasn’t mean, he looked sad, like I had hurt his feelings. He picked up the long, thin wooden stick.

“Hands on the table, Gianna,” he said softly, “We have to clear the cobwebs out of your brain. We have to get the spiders out. Discipline is love.”

I knew what to do. I wanted to be good. I put my hands flat on the desk and I closed my eyes tight.

WHACK.

“Ah!” I tucked my hands under my arms, my eyes filling with big, hot tears.

“No, hands back,” Daddy said, “If you don’t focus, the world will beat you harder than I ever will. I’m doing this because I love you, Gianna. I’m fixing you.”

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