Page 8 of Captured Fantasy

“You got lucky.”

Federico got to his feet and circled around the desk, his tall body looming over me. Before I realized what was happening, he slipped my purse from my shoulder and took out my wallet. I stood frozen, my humiliation complete, as he removed my driver’s license and debit card and put them in his pocket.

“Those are mine, Gino gave me that card,” I gasped.

“You are under my care now,” said Federico.

He handed the bag back to me and I took it with shaking fingers.

Control yourself, Enza.

I hadn’t noticed that he’d taken my car keys until he tossed them to Amadeo as he went to sit back down. My heart pounded slow and there was a war going on in my chest over whether I should feel humiliated or enraged by what was happening. I’d expected them to take control of my bank account, but to take my freedom…it was cruel and embarrassing.

“But…but how will I get the things I need? Groceries and things?”

“I’ll send a man to escort you,” Federico said, waving a hand airily. “And you’ll be given a monthly allowance starting today. I’m adding myself to your bank account to oversee things.”

I looked down at my fingers, clutching the handle of my purse. They were pale and oddly disembodied, like they belonged to someone else. A woman who no longer had the freedom to put on a pair of nice shoes, slip on some sunglasses, and head out to run errands whenever she pleased.

“Has your security system been updated recently?” Amadeo piped up.

I stared at him, my brain not making sense of his words.

“In your house,” he said.

“Oh,” I said hoarsely. I cleared my throat and straightened my shoulders. “I had someone come and put a new system in six months ago. It works.”

“Did Gino monitor it?” Federico asked.

“I have access to the account.”

Federico leaned back and crossed his arms. It annoyed me, how casual he was about stripping my freedom away. “I’ll add myself to it as well, I want to be able to access the cameras on the outside of the house if there’s an emergency.”

The urge to scream washed over me and I closed my eyes for a moment. I just needed that half second to compose myself. It was humiliating enough that they were treating me like a child, I didn’t need to break down in front of them. They probably already thought I was overly emotional and weak.

“Alright,” I said finally. “Is there anything else?”

“No, I’ll handle the transition of your accounts,” said Federico. “Amadeo will drive you home today. You can go ahead and wait in the car while we finish things up here.”

I dragged my eyes over the men in the room. They were so casually powerful and controlling, so assured they knew exactly what was best for me. Of course they were. They treated all women in the outfit like this, so why behave any differently with me?

They could take away my freedom, but they wouldn’t take away my dignity.

“Alright,” I said calmly. “Goodbye.”

Without looking at any of them, I swiveled on my heel and walked back into the hall. Amadeo rose, following me and sliding the wooden doors shut between us. For a moment I stood on the other side, the silence of the house pressing in from all sides.

“Jesus, you think she’s that uptight all the time?” I heard Federico say from inside.

“She’s nervous,” said Amadeo.

Federico sighed and I caught footfalls on the other side of the room. “She’s fucking gorgeous, too bad she’s Gino’s widow. Otherwise, I’d go for her.”

“I can tell.”

“There’s no shame in thinking about her like that,” Federico said.

“Jesus, you need to get laid,” came Lucien’s smooth voice.

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