Page 28 of DeLuca: The Devil

The truth is I’m not punishing her. For the first time since I met her, I’m thinking of her, instead of myself. I did what I did because of my needs and never fucking considered Giada. I didn’t care. When I told her she deserved everything good in life, I meant it. I’m not delusional, I know I’m not good. But she is. She is everything good in this world. I thought the devil needed an angel to pull him into the light but what if I only smother her in the dark? That’s exactly what her father has been doing to her for her entire life, choking the life out of her. I won’t do that. Sometimes the right thing feels so fucking wrong. My chest tightens and I struggle to breathe as I know my time with my wife is over. I’ll never hold her again. Touch her. Feel her tremble beneath me. Look into those soulful eyes. It’s over.

Chapter Twenty-One

DOMENIC

I walk into my office, unable to be around Giada for a moment longer. The pain is too intense. It’s more than I can bear to watch the tears flow like an unending river. I pour myself two fingers of whiskey when an explosion rings through the dead of night. My house shakes.

“Bellissima!” I yell frantically needing to make sure she’s okay.

I dart out of the office to the stairwell when another explosion rocks my mansion. Dust and debris fly everywhere, clouding my vision, when a third boom rocks my world. I can’t see a goddamn thing as I try to get to her. My eyes and throat burn as I cry out for her repeatedly.

“Bellissima!” I scream again as something hits me in my chest. I fall to the ground, unable to move, barely able to breathe.

My only thought is my wife as darkness surrounds me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

GIADA

A kick to my stomach wakes me abruptly. I peek one eye open as I cry out in pain, “Good morning, bitch,” Enzo says with a smirk. Then I remember the explosions after Domenic broke my heart. Domenic. Oh my God. Domenic.

“Domenic!” I cry out with panic.

“Dead,” Enzo says with a grin, “The devil is dead. What a beautiful fucking day.”

The pain in my chest is gripping, squeezing my heart like a vice, “I wish I would’ve died too.”

Enzo chuckles, “You’ll be saying that a lot. This is going to be so much fun, Whore. Now get in your cage.”

I glance to my right and spot the metal cage with an open door. I laugh, “Not a chance.”

I’m well aware of the consequences of not doing as Enzo instructs but I don’t care. My only hope at this point is that he kills me. I know Domenic isn’t coming for me, he’s dead. I have no interest in living in a world where he doesn’t exist.

Enzo wraps his hand around my throat, lifts me off the ground, and throws me in the cage, causing me to fall on my arm. The pain is immediate and intense. I instinctively touch my arm and then the skin on my burning throat, as I attempt to catch my breath. He locks the door and chuckles, “Enjoy your stay at Hotel Bianchi.”

I glare at him as he climbs the stairs out of what I’m guessing is a basement. Glancing around I notice the cement walls, the floor is more broken cement. It’s definitely a basement but that offers me no hope of getting away since I’m locked in a fucking cage like an animal.

I sit in the corner with my arms around my bent legs, close my eyes, and imagine Domenic holding me against his chest, whispering in my ear, “Bellissima.” The only man who ever called me beautiful is gone. I’ll never look into his eyes again or feel his warmth. The tears slip out as I cry myself to sleep, mourning the loss of my husband, the only man that ever made me feel worth anything. When he tried to talk to me and tell me he was sorry I should’ve listened. Maybe I would have, had I known our time together would be so short.

* * *

Three Days Later…

Once again, I wake up cold and alone in this cage. He must have been here because the metal can I go to the bathroom in has been emptied. There’s also two dog bowls. One has water, the other a small amount of dog food. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since Enzo kidnapped me. I guess I’m not that hungry because I’m not eating fucking dog food.

“Be a good little pet and eat your food.”

I glance up to see Enzo smiling a creepy grin, “I’m not a dog.”

“Are you sure about that? You’re in a cage, with a bowl of dog food, a collar, and a chain.”

He shrugs, “Are you ready for your punishment?”

I roll my eyes at him, “I’ve done nothing to you that warrants being punished.”

Chuckling, Enzo says, “You agreed to be my wife and married another man. There’s plenty to admonish you for. You gave him what was mine.”

Clearly, I have lost the will to live, “I gave him what was mine. I own my body and I freely gave it to him. I don’t regret it. My husband made me come so hard. Something you never could’ve done.”

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