Page 12 of Let Vengeance Be Mine

“You made me feel used and I didn’t like it,” she admits, keeping her head held high. I can tell by the look on her face that her little confession has cost her some pride. “And yes, I know what this is. I’m not deluded. Or maybe I am. I don’t know.” Her brave act slips when she closes her eyes and shakes her head. “My feelings are so confusing, sometimes I just want to tear them out of my head.”

I’ve never related more to anything in my life, but I won’t admit that to her. I show her far too much weakness as it is, and I’m getting no pleasure out of her distress, which makes me wonder what the hell is happening to me.

“I hate being down in that basement and knowing you're up here. I get so lonely, and I…I.” I don’t know if she can’t get her words out or if she’s scared to. “What’s going to happen to me if Idogive you a child? Do you plan to keep me down there forever?”

I feel my brow crease as I take in what she says. Foolish as it sounds, I never thought that far ahead. In fact, I never thought this through at all. I didn’t expect to feel the way I do about her, and now, I’m all out of fucking answers.

I stare back at her blankly, terrified of what I actually want to tell her.

“Matteo, I need you to answer me. I’m scared.”

Fuck, why does that hurt to hear? Iwantedher fear. Iwantedher pain and now, it feels like a weapon she can use against me.

“Come with me.” I stand up and take her hand in mine, dragging her up the stairs and cursing myself for going against all my better judgment.

I open the door to the room I always fuck her in and nod for her to go inside.

“You sleep in here from now on,” I keep my voice stern. “You do not leave this room without my permission and you will not try to escape.” I drag her over to the barred windows and roughly grab the back of her hair, forcing her to look out of it toward the guard I have on the back door.

“See that dog, he’s got? She’s trained to chase and attack.” I lean close enough for my lips to touch her ear. “You are far too pretty to have your face ripped off,” I whisper before releasing her and quickly heading for the door. I’ve shown the girl enough kindness for one night.

“Matteo!” She calls my name out desperately, and when I turn around and see the cute smile on her face, the warmth it puts in my chest makes me want to tear it open and drag it back out.

“Thank you,” she whispers before I spin back around and get the fuck out of there.

I head straight toward my own room and slam the door behind me. I stare at myself in the full-length mirror and barely recognise myself. Not much may have changed on the outside, but on the inside, I feel like I’ve been possessed. It’s unnerving, it’s unfamiliar, and I punch my fist at the man looking back at me because it wasnotpart of the fucking plan.

ARIA

Matteo wasn’t wrong when he said we would be trying harder. I’ve been sleeping in this room for four days now and every day he has come to me more than once.

Tonight is his third time visiting me today, and as he pulls out of me and positions another cushion under my hips, he lays down beside me and catches his breath.

“Have you thought about what’s going to happen when this baby gets here?” I ask, talking as if one already exists. I spend a lot of time by myself these days and it’s given me the opportunity to think about all this. My father is not a forgiving man. If he finds out where I am, he will not allow Matteo to keep me, or my child.

Matteo doesn’t answer my question, he just sighs as he stares at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. I like that he doesn’t rush off after fucking me, anymore. The time we spend like this may be short but I enjoy it, even if it is always silent.

“My father will eventually find out where I am, and when he does he will take me and—”

“No one is taking you!” Matteo quickly slams his hand over my mouth, looking furious at the idea. “You belong tomenow. Do you really think I’m scared of your father?” His eyes narrow fiercely.

“Your father is a pussy, Aria, he doesn’t fight like a man.”

“And this is you fighting like a man?” I question him, wondering what the hell goes through this guy’s head.

“No, this is me playing your father at his own game,” he admits, putting a real sour taste in my mouth.

“What if I don’t want to be part of that game?” I stare at him hard and let him see my hurt. I don’t know if Matteo has always been closed off to emotion, and perhaps there’s a chance I could draw on some, now.

“That is just the way of it. We don’t get to choose what we are born into, Aria, and you were born into this life, just like I was.”

“Not our child. We get to decide that. Or at least you do. Doyoureally want to bring a child into this life?”

“You shouldn’t question me.” Matteo gets off the bed and heads for the chair, where his pants are. “It is not your job to question me. I know what I’m doing.”

“You can’t keep me, Matteo.” I kneel up on the mattress and he immediately comes for me, reaching behind my legs and pulling them from under me so I fall back onto my back.

“Don’t underestimate me.” Pulling my legs together, he holds them up over one of his shoulders. Making sure that the load, he just fucked into me, doesn’t seep out.

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