Page 76 of Stolen By the Enemy

It seems that every man in my life is just going to discard me like an old napkin as soon as I become a burden to them.

"Attachments? Is that what you think we are? Some inconvenient entanglement in your twisted world? I'm not just another pawn in your game, Marco. And fuck you! I am not confused because we had sex, I’m baffled by your constantly changing mind and emotions."

He averts his gaze and doesn’t respond to me, which does nothing but intensify my fury.

"You can’t keep bouncing between treating me like a real human being and then acting like I’m just a part of this business deal and nothing more. I deserve more than that and you know it."

Marco's eyes meet mine, a hint of regret flickering in them momentarily. "Grazia, of course you deserve more than that, but you're not seeing the bigger picture. This deal is big, and having you be a part of it… it puts you in danger. Why would you want that for yourself? I am thinking of you, not me."

I scoff, bitterness lacing my words.

"So, what? You're protecting me by pushing me away? I never asked for your protection, Marco. I asked for your honesty."

His patience wears thin, and a sharp retort escapes his lips.

"You're being naive, Grazia. This isn’t some pretend game that we’re playing. This is real life, and whether or not you asked for my protection, you’re in my home, so you’re getting it. Trust me, it’s better than the opposite."

"Naive?" I challenge, my anger flaring. "Maybe it's you who's acting naive, Marco. You think that after all of this time, you can really talk about not getting attached? Because I don’t think you can. And by the way, I’m not in your home by choice! So your protection is useless because it should be used on yourself.”

The last bit is a low blow, and I cringe as soon as it’s out of my mouth. I’m just so annoyed and hurt and angry that my emotions have taken over control of my mouth.

Marco starts pacing the room.

I can feel my anger slowly dying down, only because I am so tired that I’m starting to feel numb.

I stand up and walk over to the window.

“If you don’t want me to get attached,” I say without looking at him. “Then what do you want from me? To stay in this house forever? Helping you with your plans, letting you fuck me whenever you’re horny, and never complaining about any of it? Is that my fate?”

I hear him stop pacing. “No. That’s not my plan for you, not even close, Grazia.” His voice sounds like he’s hurt by what I’ve said, but I’m glad because he hurt me by telling me not to get too attached.

“Well, whatever your plan is, I hope it involves me getting some sleep.”

I turn to face him now, my expression blank and a new resolve in my mind. Maybe I have been too naive, thinking that I could reason with this dangerous man who cares about nothing except his own life and finding more wealth.

But if he is going to make my life hell for the foreseeable future, I won’t let him see that it is affecting me.

“If you’re tired, of course you can go to bed.”

He walks up to me with his arms out, but I sidestep him and move towards the bedroom.

“I am not here to keep you awake like a monster.”

“I know you can let yourself out, so feel free to do so,” I say over my shoulder, getting into bed.

I hear the front door open and shut. I’m surprised he listened to me and left, but glad that the fight is over.

Lying in bed, I run our conversation over in my head.

I don’t know where he suddenly came up with the idea of us “not getting attached”, because even before the blow-up with my brothers, Marco has been the one crossing most of the lines.

And since Luca and Enzo left Mexico, those lines have been almost non-existent.

But now that he has a whole new plan, and I’m not needed for this to work, he suddenly doesn’t want me getting attached to him.

It's fine, I try to convince myself. The original plan was to get back home.

If Marco has no use for me, and he doesn’t want to be attached to me, then there should be no reason why I can’t go back home.

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