Page 48 of Beautiful Enemy

Nadia

When Dante tells me we’re leaving the next day, I think I must have heard him wrong.

“Leaving. To go where?”

“To a friend’s house. I want you to meet the girl your father kidnapped four years ago. I want you to understand what kind of man he is. I want you to understand that your family are the bad guys.”

I clutch the blanket tighter to my chest. All last night, I couldn’t get rid of the desire in my body. Eventually, I fell asleep but not after tossing and turning for hours. Dante has awoken something inside of me and I wish I could bury it back down again.

“I know my father isn’t innocent. You don’t need to punish me for his actions.”

“I need to remind you of your place.” In the light of day, he’s so much colder than he was last night. I wonder what changed.

“I don’t have any clothes. I can’t go over there naked.”

“While that would be amusing, I bought you some clothes.” He leaves the room and comes back a moment later with a couple of shopping bags. “Take your pick.”

Inside the bags are a few summer dresses and bras and underwear. Knowing that Dante picked out lingerie for me makes me flush. He chose these clothing items with me in mind.

“I need to get dressed.”

He doesn’t move. “So get dressed.” I stare at him until he sighs. “It’s nothing I haven’t already seen.”

He does have a point but that doesn’t make me any less nervous. Last night when he made me touch myself, it was dark. I could hide in the shadows. But in the morning light, there’s nothing to hide me. I’m on full display.

With a deep inhale, I stand up, letting the blanket fall away from me. Dante’s eyes rake over my body. Just in that one look, I already feel my desire creeping along my insides.

I take out a simple blue summer dress and put it on.

“No panties?” he asks.

“I just wanted to cover myself before I put them on.”

“Are you embarrassed of your body? Or do you just not want me to look?”

“Both,” I admit.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. I told you last night. You’re fucking sexy, Nadia. It’s a shame you can’t see it.”

I quickly put on underwear. “Can we just go?” I’m desperate to get out of this room. It has an ensuite bathroom so I’ve been fortunate enough not to have to do my business in a bucket but other than that, this room is stifling. I know what it’s like to be cooped up most of my life. My father made sure of that.

But I was at least allowed to leave the house. With Dante, that’s not the case. Until now.

“Let’s,” he says tightly, motioning me ahead of him. “If you try to run, I’ll stop you.” He nods at a pair of shoes by the front door. “You can wear those.”

They’re my wedding shoes. Short heels. White. Pristine. They remind me of who I used to be: pure and innocent. But now Dante has tainted me. I’ll never be the same again.

“What’s going on?” Matteo asks, coming out of the kitchen.

“I’m taking Nadia to Elio’s. Make sure no one finds this place while we’re gone.”

“Is this…”

Dante sighs. “What?”

“Is this smart, boss? Taking Nadia from the house. What if she’s spotted?”

“I’ll make sure she’s not. And learn your place, Matteo. Don’t question me again.” Dante doesn’t say it with anger, just with a calm matter of fact-ness about it.

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