My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 616

Chapter 616

Gianna

Something was pulling me upward, not gently but slowly like I was trying to swim through thick, black water.

My eyelids felt too heavy.

My head…

My head hurt.

A deep, dull ache spread through my skull, pulsing behind my eyes. Every beat of my heart made the pain throb harder.

I frowned, the smell reached me first. It was something sharp and sterile. A hospital, maybe?

No…

The blanket beneath my fingers was too soft.

Home.

I opened my eyes a little, the room was blurry. Everything looked washed together, the ceiling melting into the walls.

I blinked hard twice and the room slowly came into focus. My bedroom. I stared at the ceiling, trying to understand why I was here. My mouth was dry. My body felt strangely light, almost like I wasn’t fully inside it. Every thought came slowly like someone had wrapped my brain in thick cotton.

I swallowed, “…Raphael…”

The whisper barely left my lips and silence answered me. I turned my head. The movement sent a sharp stab of pain through the side of my skull.

I winced.

My fingers lifted on their own and touched something wrapped around my head. Bandages. Why did I… My hand froze.

A picture flashed inside my mind, blood, a basement and Mama D, riddled with blood and telling me she loved me. Then, a knife in her throat.

No…

Raphael… his hand, his blade driving into Denise’s neck. The horrible wet sound and the blood pouring down her throat. Her eyes widened, the sound of her choking.

My stomach twisted violently.

I sucked in a shaky breath, “No…”

Then another memory came back, Morgan, Emma and Brianna. Their faces filled with fear, crying, terrified. Then Cole’s screaming and another gunshot ringing in my ears. Everything became tangled together until I couldn’t tell which memory came first.

I squeezed my eyes shut. It hurt. Thinking hurt and remembering hurt even more.

I had to find Raphael.

He would explain it. He always explained things. He would tell me Morgan was okay, Emma too and Brianna… what if Vincenzo killed her for… Oh my God, what if he killed her for hitting me?

I pushed the blanket away. The room tilted, “Oh…”

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