...

"N-nothing. Never mind." He stammered, not meeting her eyes. "I was just..."

...

Kai was silent for a long minute. "M-my father...As you know, he's the Vitelli family leader and I'm supposed to follow in his footsteps. H-he....hits me when i'm not on t-time or baically whenever he feels l-like it..." Kai stuttered, yanking off his shirt and turning around, bearing the knife and whip and belt marks to her, the scars and fresh scabs littering his back like a tapestry. "Look closely" He said, tapping a tattoo that had the hidden initial V with a dagger going down through it and a knife scar next to it. "He did this to me and my mother before she died..."

...

Kai began feeling the tears roll down his face once more. "I didn't want you to hate me...I'm so ugly with them....I always wear long-sleeves and black t-shirts to cover them up..."

...

"You need to see that I'm not what you need, Lorelei, I'm not good enough for you..." He whispered, crying still

...

"I love you. I don't deserve you..."