Chapter Twenty Four
Nina’s POV
The sound of the slap rings in my ears before the pain even hits.
My head snaps to the side. My cheek burns like it has been set on fire. For a second, everything goes white and sharp and loud. I hear my own voice before I even know I am screaming.
I grab my face, fingers pressing over my cheek. Heat spreads under my palm. My eyes sting. My ears buzz.
“You slapped me,” I shout, my voice shaking. “You actually slapped me!”
Nana gasps behind me. “Nina, mija—”
Something in me snaps.
I am tired. Tired of being hit. Tired of being punished. Tired of being treated like I am less than everyone else. Tired of pretending I do not see things. Tired of being the one who always bleeds.
Before I can think, my hand flies.
I take my palm off my cheek and swing it
