I sat in my chair whimpering. My sister, Emily and I were being held captive by famous Italian mobster, Giovanni. We're here because our dad owes them money, but even if he's paid off, we have a death sentence.

'NO! NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! NO!'

'SHUT UP, BITCH! DON'T RESIST ME!'

I sat in my chair helpless as Emily was savagely beaten in the other room by Mario. Tears streamed down my cheeks. They didn't stop.

'IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR DAD, YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE!'

Another blow landed. Emily shrieked with pain. I couldn't stop crying.

'I think the slut needs to be punished, Mario,' said Luigi, 'what do you think?'

'I think she does,' said Mario, 'hold her still.'

I knew what was coming next. After we were beaten we were raped for punishment. It was horrible.

'Hold still,' said Mario in a fake, sugar-sweet voice, 'this won't hurt a bit.'

Emily screamed as Mario stripped her. I screamed.

'EMILY! EMILY!'

'SHUT HER UP IN THERE!' roared Luigi.

Wario, another one of the mob fuckers, grabbed a cloth and gagged me with it. That didn't stop me from screaming.

I could hear Emily crying in the other room. She was hurting, and that killed me.

'I'm done,' said Mario, spitting, 'get the other slut. It's her turn.'

Just as Mario and Luigi rounded the corner, the front door burst open followed by the sounds of an Irish brogue.

'Peek-A-Boo, motherfuckers!'

I didn't have time to breathe. Gunshots fired everywhere.

Everyone ran and tried to duck for cover. I wriggled myself free from my chair and ran into the other room.

Emily was lying on the floor. She was naked and crying. I kneeled down next to her.

'Hey,' I whispered, 'it's okay. I'm right here.'

Emily sobbed and sat up. I held her in my arms and whispered to her in French.

Bullets flew everywhere. Emily screamed.

'It's okay,' I whispered, 'I'm here, Emily.'

'Rebecca…' sobbed Emily.

I stroked Emily's hair. Finally, the gunshots died down. It was quiet minus the sounds of footsteps.

The footsteps came closer now. Emily continued to sob. I hid in the other room.

One set went into the room where Emily was. The other came to where I was.

'Look at you,' said a voice to Emily, 'you're hurt.'

'I can't move…' moaned Emily, 'it hurts too much…'

'Connor!' called the voice, 'where are you?'

'Other room!' called the other one, 'I have the other one!'

I looked up at the man with fear in my eyes. I wanted to run away.

'Hey,' said the man, moving closer to me, 'it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm here to rescue you.'

I sobbed. The man gently scooped me up in his arms. I winced.

'Oh!' said the man, 'are you okay?'

'My rib…' I whispered, 'I think it's broken…'

'Connor!' called the voice, 'how is she?'

'She's bruised,' said Connor, carrying me into the other room, 'and she has a broken rib.'

I looked down at the other man. He was kneeling next to Emily with a look of deep concern in his eyes.

'I wanna go to the hospital…' I whispered, 'it hurts…'

'We'll take you to our dad's first,' said Connor, 'you need to be washed. You're filthy.'

Emily curled up in a ball and sobbed. It killed me seeing my sister in that much pain. I silently sobbed in Connor's arms.

'Tá gach rud ag dul a bheith ceart go leor,' whispered Murphy, stroking Emily's hair, 'geallaim.'

Emily nodded slowly. I could tell it hurt her to move.

'Tar anseo,' whispered Murphy, gently scooping Emily up in his arms, 'Tá sé ceart go leor, sweetheart.'

'Let's get them to Dad's,' said Connor, 'come on.'

Connor and Murphy carried us outside. The summer air tickled my skin.

'You got 'em?' said the man, 'they're dead?'

'The bastards are dead,' said Connor, 'we got the girls.'

'Oh…' said the man in a sad voice, 'those poor girls…'

Emily buried her face in Murphy's chest and sobbed. My rib was throbbing.

'We're taking them to Dad's first,' said Murphy, 'then we're taking them to the hospital.'

'Okay,' said the man.

Murphy gently climbed into the car with Emily in his arms. The man closed the door.

Then came Connor with me. After the doors were shut and the man started the car, we drove off.

I sat in Connor's lap and sobbed. I was in so much pain but I was so happy that I was free.

Connor stroked my hair gently, kissing my head.

'Tá gach rud ag dul a bheith ceart go leor,' whispered Connor, 'geallaim.'