I promised my mother

With one swift movement, Mr. Snow tosses me onto the bed. My head slams against the iron headboard and the sound of the impact reverberates in my head for a few seconds. Bile rises in my throat from fear of what might happen next. This man terrifies me. His hatred for me is so strong. I know he plans to take his pound of flesh from me for the murder of his wife. My father's actions have driven his former best friend and business partner crazy.

"He thinks he belongs to Eliot . That's what he's been told since he was twelve years old. When you were born, your father and I joked that you would marry each other, but that was when we were on friendly terms. I needed Eliot to believe you were his. He was more than happy to accept because he hated your family. Your father was an evil genius. He was a liar, thief and murderer, and his sins will come back on you." I can no longer make sense of what he is saying to me.

I try to move on the bed to sit up and defend myself against the accusations he is throwing at me. I hardly knew my father. He died when I was still a baby. How can I be responsible for his actions? My legs and head hurt. All I can do is lie here and suffer this onslaught that is the result of years of frustration and pain.

"He murdered my wife and stole my money. He tied it to all kinds of contracts and bequests, but the most despicable thing he did was to make your inheritance conditional on the birth of a child. I have only been able to access the money he set aside for you until your child is born. That is why I am disappointed that my son has not yet taken you and married you. We need a son from you. You are but a vessel. A means to an end. Eliot will do his duty, and he will do it in a week or there will be consequences. I'll have what's mine. I will have my revenge. I will become the most powerful man in Las Vegas. I will rule, and you will be a slave to our plans. Get ready, Revean. You made the wrong decision coming with Eliot. The life you left in Pharr was better than the one you're going to have."

Without another word, Eliot's father leaves me alone on the bed. I am trembling. Terrified. Eliot has been playing games with me. Making me believe things, convincing me that pleasure can come from intimacy. Why would he do that if all he wants to do is use me for money?

Use me for money.

I am my mother.

The betrayal hits me deep and I close myself off.

ELIOT

"What are you doing here?" I demand angrily as my father walks out of Revean's room .

Mery is at my side and Andrew puts his arm around her to keep her from trembling. A moment ago we found her terrified at the door and desperately trying to call out to us.

As soon as Mery told me that my father was with Revean , I headed for his room. I don't trust my father with Revean or any woman, really. Since my mother died, he seems to have lost all compassion.

"Eliot , it's good to see you. Why aren't you married?" He is quick and to the point.

"What have you done to her?" I question my father and, with a flick of my wrist, gesture for Mery and Andrew to go check on Revean .

When they disappear into the room, I push my father away. I don't want to talk to him. Even though I've spent the last week trying to forget Revean and how he makes me feel, I'm desperate to check on him to make sure my father hasn't hurt him, but first I have to get him out of the house.

"I just put him in his place." My father laughs.

"If you've touched it," I warn him.

"Don't forget your place, son." My father's face goes from smirk to fury in an instant. "I'll do whatever I want with that little bitch. Her father killed my wife."

"And my mother," I retort. I'm in no mood to back down today.

"Then why the hell didn't you marry her and get her pregnant with your child? She doesn't have to consent. That's not in the will. Do it today!" My father yells at me.

I shake my head.

"I told you I'd settle this my way."

We stand in front of my front door. I open it and wave my father away. But he doesn't get the message. Instead, he stands there, clearly wanting to argue with me because, for once in my life, I don't do as I'm told.

"And I've had enough of you doing it your way. That's enough, Eliot . I want what's mine."

My father leans toward me. I remember the days when that scared me, as he was taller and bigger than me, but as we have both aged, I have surpassed him in size and stature, just not in power, yet.

"And you shall have him, but in my own good time. It is I who must marry this woman." I run my hands through my hair, frustrated.

"I'm sorry, Eliot , but it's time to force your hand. Revean will be presented at the annual Myriad ball next week. I hope you'll be married or at least engaged by then. We'll show the rest of the Vegas underworld who's boss. I've been avoiding rumors for a long time now."

I shake my head.

"Not going to happen, sir. Revean won't be at that dance."

My father growls in frustration.

"I'm not asking you to take her, Eliot . I'm telling you. She'll be there. If you don't bring her, I'll go get her myself and tell everyone assembled that you are married and she's carrying your child . I'm sick of your stalling tactics. I have had to wait a long time to get what is rightfully mine, living with the stigma of what her father did to our family. The shame he caused by not only murdering your mother but forcing us into this stupid wait for our money. I will no longer be the laughing stock of the Las Vegas elite, because of that man. I will get what is mine...what is owed to me. Now do your part and fuck that woman. Or aren't you man enough to do right by your family?"

"Don't." I raise my hand toward my father. "Don't question my commitment to get what is rightfully ours. All my life I've stayed away from any woman I could have fallen in love with because I've always known I couldn't choose who to marry. I have a duty, and I will fulfill it. I will get what is ours, but I will not hurt Revean in the process. I may hate her and the genes that created her, but I will not force any woman against her will. I may be a cold-hearted bastard, but I'm not that kind of man. I don't need to rape her to get what we want. She's already about to give it to me freely."

I feel bad saying these words to my father. Respect for women is the only thing I learned from my mother. Yes, I have slept with many, but it has only been those who love sex and were willing, and there are plenty available in Las Vegas. I don't need to rape anyone, and I can't. I won't break them like my mother. She was too young to get married and get pregnant. I can't do that, not even to Revean . I stroke my mother's ring on my little finger. A memory of her comes to me.

"Eliot , come here, my little boy." She holds out her arms, I run into them and she strokes my hair.

I can't be more than six years old, I'm wearing shorts and a T-shirt. It all looks so familiar.

"Yes, Mom."

"I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always be with you and love you. There will be many hard times in your life, but always think of me and what I would do. It will help you make the right decisions."

"I will, Mom." I look at her. She has tears in her eyes and looks sad. "Don't be angry, Mom. I will love you always. I'll be good."

"I know you will. But don't be nice just to me, Eliot . Be nice to all women, whatever your father says. He has a different view of how women should be treated." He runs his hand down my cheek before pulling me into a tight embrace. "I wish I could explain it better. When you're older, I will. Promise me you'll treat women the way you'd like your mother to be treated."

"I promise, Mom."

I don't quite understand what my mother is saying, I wish I did, but I'm too young. But I make a promise. I promise to make sure she is always treated like a queen because she deserves it. She is my mother, my everything, and she will always be by my side.

"This is not a love affair. You're sounding like a wimp. This is a means to an end, and I'm glad I informed you of that before you get your hopes up that there might be something more. We have to get the child, and then we can get rid of Revean . She'll make a small fortune in the sex market. She's pretty. Too bad she'll be used merchandise and won't have a tight pussy. You don't need to make it romantic for her, Eliot. Fuck her tonight. Take her and get her pregnant. I want that kid. Even nine months is too long to wait. I wonder if we can get the baby out of her as soon as it's viable. I'll ask my doctor.