CHAPTER 9 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
“WHY WOULD I want her here?” Luca turns to Matteo. “You said yourself that Arianna is the preferred choice for genes, and I agree.”
I stop myself from flinching as Luca runs his fingers through my unwashed, tangled hair but can’t hold back the wince when he snags one of the many knots. I’m still far from coherent, but the latest round of drugs has worn off enough to take in the conversation going on around me to some extent.
It’s not too hard to keep the vacant look in my eyes and give my captors the impression that I’m oblivious to what’s going on.
As much as I want to scream, shout and attack them both, I stand more chance of getting somewhere by acting dumb and allowing them to speak in front of me like I’m an unhearing piece of meat.
Which, in their eyes, I am.
But even if I get the chance to escape, where would I run to? Back to the father who I now know never loved me? Or to the man who I believed loved me and made me love him back: fiercely and wholly, when the only thing Red Bateman wanted was to wreak revenge?
With both options no longer valid or anything I would want again, I will escape if I can because the time before Luca succeeds in impregnating me is running out.
The thought of that bastard’s child growing inside me makes me want to vomit.
“She’s looking rough this morning.”
Matteo grabs a handful of my hair and yanks my face up to inspect it. I blink groggily, murmuring something incomprehensible.
“Yeah, definitely queasy. I wonder if you’ve knocked her up already?”
“I don’t think it’s possible in five days!” Luca scoffs, pushing Matteo’s grip off my hair.
“Of course it is!” Matteo laughs. “But whether she’d show symptoms so early is disputable, so you’d best get a move on and ensure the job is done. No exceptions.”
Luca bristles. “I’m more concerned why you’ve agreed to this meeting!”
My face remains blank, my brain churning to find some sense from the conversation. A meeting with who?
A glimmer of hope flickers. Have they found someone else instead of me?
But then, would I wish this on another woman?
Absolutely not.
“What if it’s a trap?” Luca growls.
“There’s no fucking trap! She just misses me, that’s all. Maria’s not like this one.”
I ignore the sharp prod of my brother’s finger in my neck.
“But I don’t want Maria! I’ve already told you! Arianna is mine!”
“I’m not suggesting swapping them! Besides, Maria doesn’t know Arianna is here. Why would she? Unless you’ve told her...?”
My skin tingles. Maria? My sister, Maria, has asked to see Matteo?
“Of course I haven’t told her!” Luca barks. “I’ve only seen her for the usual token dinner and thank God that will stop when Emiliano joins my father in his grave! I don’t want Maria. I never have! Arianna is my true destiny, and how this has worked out shows it.”
“Arianna isn’t going anywhere. She’s too physically useful to the cause. Maria, however, is obedient, and being as she worships me and Papà, she’ll do whatever I say. That’s why I’ve agreed to meet her. She’s coming later, but she won’t return to her daddy. She’ll remain here.”
Sickness brews in the pit of my stomach. “N-Not Maria! She...”
“She’s listening!!” Matteo yanks me forward by the hair.
Pain explodes as the metal cuffs on my wrists cut further into my skin. Lowering himself inches from my face, I meet Matteo’s deep blue eyes, hating him more than ever.
“Our little sister is an obedient woman, unlike you. You’re the main producer, but it won’t do any harm to have Maria as backup.” Straightening up, Matteo releases his grip and chuckles as I slump backwards. “Two wombs are better than one, after all!”
“Yeah, maybe,” Luca agrees. “But Arianna remains mine.”
I stay silent, but from under my heavy lids, scan the room for anything to hit these bastards with.
Maria is coming here?
I can’t let them use her too.
Not my little sister.
Not her.
Not anyone!
How could Papà stoop to this level and allow this to happen to us? He must know what’s going on. And where is mother? Does she know, or is this another brainwashing?
I can hear her now: “It’s just what is expected of us, Arianna. It’s for the greater good. For our heritage...”
Well, fuck the heritage! What was so important now holds no bearing.
I broke away once and stood my ground. Now that I’ve been abandoned yet again, I’ll break away for a second time.
Except this time, I will be alone.
Always.
My head spins, my grip on myself and reality swirling faster and faster out of my reach. “You’re not having Maria!”
It’s only when my brother lurches towards me, syringe in hand, that I realize I’ve spoken out loud.
My head is twisted sideways to expose my neck. “No!” I scream, putting my last reserves of energy into bucking and twisting, but I’m no match for Matteo’s strength.
This time, it’s more than a scratch as the needle rams into my vein.
As my struggles cease and I tumble into blackness, I hear Matteo’s hateful voice stating he’s meeting Maria here later, and that Luca has time to fuck me a couple more times before she arrives.