Chapter 40
Elena
MY HEAD IS POUNDING. I’M STARVING AND THIS PLACE FUCKING STINKS.
My eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness yet but I can make out a large open space, concrete walls all around.
There are boxes piled high on one end filled with God knows what.
I sit up on the musty mattress; the sound of metal clinking together draws my attention to my wrist.
Handcuffs. I groan. Not my wrist.
I have no way of knowing how long I’ve been here. The bastard drugged me, I know it. I can still feel the effects of it in my head. I need to get out of here.
My left wrist is circled with one cuff; the other cuff is attached to a chain which runs from it to the bolted leg of the bed. In between the bed and the other cuff link is about two meters of chain, giving me enough slack to reach the toilet in the corner.
This wasn’t here before; he’s been planning this.
I’m in the basement of our old house. What the hell does he want with me? I try to think back to the coffee shop where I decided to meet him after reading his letter.
My head hurts with the effort but I squeeze my eyes shut and try to remember.
We spoke, I told him that I have a life here now, well in Chicago, so I have a life there. He wanted me back, said he’d be willing to move to Chicago with me and of course I said no. He wasn’t happy. I remember the look on his face when I rejected him… again.
Then I remember feeling dizzy and him helping me up… then… nothing.
“Son of a bitch!”
I wince. The sound of my own voice spearing through my skull.
Nobody knows I’m missing. Enzo has no idea where I stay, so he won’t even know I’m missing. Tony only calls me when he arranges a meeting with Angel and I. That leaves Evie.
Surely, she would have raised the alarm by now?
I can only pray.
Pressure builds in my abdomen, my bladder feels like it’s about to burst. I drag myself of the musty mattress and make my way to the exposed toilet in the corner.
The sound of chains scraping against concrete and metal makes me wince.
I really have the worst luck with the male species.
Perhaps I should cut my losses and give up on men altogether.
If I make it out of here alive, I might just marry Evie.
I chuckle at the thought while I finish my business and flush.
“When life gives you lemons...”
I rinse my hands at the sink, at least there is hand soap and the facilities are new so it’s clean. I would have preferred some walls and a door but beggars can’t be choosers I suppose.
Heavy footsteps outside the door grab my attention. I immediately freeze, flashbacks of our last encounter flooding my vision. The wooden door groans in protest as it’s pushed open.
Not even locked. Cocky much?
“Aaah, you’re awake. Thank God! I was starting to think I’d given you too much. How are you feeling?”
“What am I doing here Matt?” His name is poison on my tongue.
“Isn’t it obvious? I brought you home… where you belong.”
“This is NOT my home. You can’t just kidnap me. People will look for me. I have a life; Enzo will wonder where I am. My boss will wonder where I am. Evie WILL look for me.”
“Enzo doesn’t even know you’re gone Elena. That man you left me for isn’t one for the finer details. Last I checked, he was too busy growing his empire to even bother about you.”
“That’s not true. How would you know anyway?”
“I’ve been in Chicago for months. I’ve been watching the two of you prance around with your ready-made family, complete with his little brat.”
“He’s ten times the man you’ll ever be and don’t you dare speak about Angelo again.”
He’s in front of me faster than I dared to take my next breath. Rough hands grab my cheeks squishing them together. His hot breath fanning my face, blowing my bangs away from my eyes. My emotions betray me as tears spill from my eyes, leaving tracks down my cheeks.
“He’s nothing Elena. You may have had your fun fucking him but you, are, mine. Make no mistake about that. You will wear my ring. You will take my name and you will bear my children.”
The man is delusional. When exactly did this happen? Or was I so blind that I missed the signs? He never paid me any attention when we were together. I shake my face free of his brutal grip, flexing my jaw.
Shit, that’s going to bruise.
“You’re insane! Do I need to remind you that you cheated on me?”
“A mistake on my part, I admit. I am sorry for that Elena. It was a lapse in judgement. That bitch made herself so available and I…”
“You fucked her. While you were still with me you FUCKED her.”
“I said I’m fucking sorry. Fuck Elena, what do you want from me?”
“For starters, undo these cuffs and let me go.”
“Very funny. Not happening sweetheart.”
“Unsurprising. You never were the giving type, always one to take… never give.”
“Oh, I’m going to give you something alright. I’m going to give you something so good, you’d never even think of Lorenzo Marino again. I’m going to give you something he can’t.”
I snort. Not lady like I know, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be a lady for this fruit loop.
“Really?” I chuckle. Now I’m just being a bitch to him. But he deserves it so I don’t feel bad.
“Yeah… really.”
“Please do enlighten me on what exactly you can give me that he can’t?” This is going to be good. What could it possibly be? Another ugly ass ring?
He leans over me; the nauseating scent of his axe body spray invades my nostrils. His breath against the shell of my ear makes me tremble.
“My child.” It comes out in a whisper. The revelation strikes me with the force of a pick axe. Disgust twists in my gut as I pull away to look at him.
The smirk on his face and the evil glint in his eyes tell me all I need to know. He’s serious. He plans to impregnate me.
“I would never have your child you fucking nutcase.”
“Yes, you will. You won’t have a choice baby.”
“Are you seriously going to rape me?”
“I would prefer not to. One way or another you will have my child, how that happens is entirely up to you.”
Desperation starts to creep in and my armour is cracking. I need to get out of here. I need to stall him, to make him see reason, but how do you reason with a lunatic?
“Matt please. This is a little extreme don’t you think? We could… talk about this… right? Yes, let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about Elena. I already tried to talk to you back in Chicago but you made it clear that you were not going to come back willingly. So, I had to take matters in my own hands.”
“That’s why you drugged me?”
“Yes.”
No remorse… not a shred of regret.
“How did you even know where I was?”
“I saw a picture on social media of you and that fucker all cozy. Some post about a hot spot in Chicago. You were leaving a club. I believe it was your birthday. Didn’t peg you for the clubbing type.”
He licks his lips as his eyes take in the length of my body. He reaches out, tracing his finger along my cheek and I flinch. My body is trembling violently as his stray finger travels along my jaw, down my neck… lower.
“You were wearing a tiny little number, hair wild, makeup done flawlessly and those boots…”
His hand wraps around my throat, his thumb pushing my chin up so I have to look up at him. He has the corner of his lip between his teeth, eyes smouldering with lust.
“Fuck! babe you looked so hot. I want that. I want you to dress like that for me. I’m going to make all your fantasies come true. I didn’t know you had it in you, but now that I do… you’re going to give it ALL to me.” He leans in closer and licks the side of my face.
“Matt please, don’t do this. Please let me go.”
“Sorry babe, I already let you go once. I’m not doing that again.”
“Why? Why go through all this trouble? You barely acknowledged me when we were together. What changed?”
“I love you, Elena. I’ve always loved you and I know that you don’t see it now, but you will.
I’ll make you happy this time. I know I was a jerk to you before and I’ve paid the price for that.
I can forgive you for leaving me and being with that man.
I can forgive all of it. We can pretend it never happened; but I can’t lose you again. ”
My God, he almost seems sincere. I almost believe him… almost. But this is the same man who attacked me, he hurt me. I have the scars to prove it, memories I never asked for and now he’s kidnapped me and plans to rape me.
He obviously suffered some sort of mental breakdown after the breakup but I can’t let that effect my own sense of self preservation. He may need help; but I need to get the fuck out of here.
“When you left; my whole life went to shit. I missed you so damn much. I know I took you for granted, I know I hurt you. I know I fucked up and I’m so fucking sorry babe. You’ll never know how fucking sorry I am.”
Tears streak his face, eyes shining with remorse.
I do believe he is sorry in his own messed up way.
He moves closer to me till he’s standing in front of me and then he drops to his knees.
Matt presses his forehead to mine and sobs.
Sobs like a baby, this grown ass man is on his knees in front of me sobbing.
He rocks his forehead against mine; side to side.
“I’m so sorry baby. Please give me a chance to show you how sorry I am.”
“Matt; stop. I can’t…”
“I can’t lose you again Elena. No! I won’t!”
He reaches behind him and pulls a gun out from the waistband of his jeans. Still shaking his head NO, he rubs the muzzle of the 9mm against his temple muttering words of how he’ll never let me go and how we are going to start a family together.
Tears are streaming down my face too. I am terrified he might actually kill me if I resist him. Panic and fear wash over me and I too am shaking my head No but for a different reason. I don’t want to die here today.
“Matt, please put the gun away. Don’t do this.”
As if drawn back to reality, he pulls away from me, his gaze moving from me to the gun then back at me.
“I uh- Elena, I.”
Big ugly sobs leave my throat.
“Please Mat, I’m begging you. Please don’t hurt me. Put the gun away.”
He drops the gun to the floor with a deafening thud and launches at me. I instantly flinch, pushing back against the bed but I am too slow. We both drop on the mattress, Matt’s weight on top of me, expelling the air out of my lungs.
“I’m sorry babe, I would never hurt you again. Not after that day. The gun… I’m so sorry. It’s not meant for you.” He says each word between wet sloppy kisses he plasters all over my head and face. All I can do is take it from fear he might snap if I resist him.
I’m relieved when he says the gun isn’t for me. Good, so he’s not going to kill me… just rape me then? I’d much rather die. But I can’t think that way, not when-
“Then who’s the gun for? If you’re not going to kill me; why do you have a gun?”
“Just a precaution, in case Romeo decides to actually come looking for you. I doubt he has it in him but that bitch of a friend of yours will come around sooner or later and I have a bone to pick with her.”
He wants to kill Evie. Oh my God! And just like that, I hope she never comes here looking for me. My heart sinks a little at the thought.
“But first, you must be starving. What would you like to eat?”
“Nothing, thank you. I’m good.”
“Nonsense, it’s been three days, all you’ve had in between consciousness is water and soup. I need you healthy and strong for our baby.”
“Our baby? Did you-” I can’t even complete the question.
“You think that low of me? No Elena I did not fuck your unconscious body. Necrophilia isn’t exactly my thing. But you will want me… eventually.”
I barely manage to nod. I say nothing further grateful that he hadn’t violated me in that way.
“Okay, since you won’t tell me what you want; I’ll just make a quick store run and get you your favourites. I won’t be long.”
He plasters a hard wet kiss on my mouth, his tongue trying to breach the seam of my lips. When I don’t reciprocate, he backs off, winks at me and then he’s gone.