Matteo (Dark Erotic Mob Romance) (Rossi Family Book 1) (15 page)

I must have passed out because occasionally when I came to, I’d find small pieces of bread and a cup of water. Nothing that would fill me up, but enough to keep me alive was all I could surmise. It had to be the only reason they were feeding me.

When I finally heard footsteps on the stairs, I didn’t care who it was. Anyone was better than more of the deathly silence and darkness. The light flipped on and I was blinded while my eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Finally I could see and I was relieved to see it was Aida. She was scowling at me and using a cane to walk as she came closer to me.

“All you had to do was behave while I recovered. Couldn’t do that, could you? I should still be at home in bed healing, but instead I have to come take care of you because Matteo is afraid you’ll die of starvation or dehydration if you’re left alone much longer. He doesn’t even want to set his eyes on you, but he can’t seem to sell you either. I can’t say I disagree. I’d leave you chained to the wall down here for the rest of your life after what you’ve done,” Aida spewed angry words at me as she readied a bowl of water and a washcloth.

My gaze was fixed to the flowing water as I slapped my sticky mouth open and closed a few times. I couldn’t argue with her, not even if I wanted to since my throat was so dry, but I wanted to. Badly. I wanted the chance to tell my side of the story.

She lifted a pair of scissors and swiftly cut the dress from me before wringing the water from the cloth and running it over my body. It felt heavenly even if the cloth was rough on my skin. After cleaning my torso, she scrubbed my face clean then knelt before me.

“Spread your thighs. Should be easy since you seem to do it for just anyone,” she snarled after sweeping the towel over my legs.

I spread my legs as far apart as I could. As she washed between my thighs, she hummed under her breath.

“Your period hasn’t occurred while you’ve been down here?” she inquired after wiping a few more times between my thighs.

“Not that I know of,” I answered barely above a whisper with a hoarse voice.

“Interesting.” She nodded as if I gave an expected answer.

I supposed that meant I’d been in the basement for quite a while if my period was supposed to have come and gone while down there.

A soft gasp brought my attention back to her.

“There is blood here though,” she murmured, swiping the cloth farther back.

“Raped,” I managed to force the word from my sore throat.

Nodding, she gathered her supplies and limped back to the door. She glanced at me with a wary look before heading back upstairs. When she returned a short while later, she had a cup with a straw and a small cup of what appeared to be applesauce. She let me drink my fill from the cup before feeding me what was in the tiny bowl one spoonful at a time.

Once I was done, I sighed contentedly and leaned my head against the wall. I could drink and eat much more, but anything at all was fantastic after going without for so long. My stomach cramped, unused to the food, but I refused to get sick.

Aida left me again, not turning the light off. She appeared to be shocked as her face was pale and she kept looking at me like it was taking a bit for everything I’d said to sink in.

Another long stretch of time passed before she returned with more water and more of whatever it was she’d fed me the first time. Then she was gone without a word. This time she rushed from the room.

I didn’t know what I did to stop her derisive comments, but I’d take them over the silent treatment.

It wasn’t long before she appeared again, a clear container in hand.

“You need to pee,” she informed me.

“I don’t,” I insisted.

“You will. Now,” she snapped, pushing the cup against my privates.

I did everything I could to try to get my body to cooperate and finally managed to get a few dribbles into the container.

Aida held the container up, peering at the dark, dark yellow liquid.

“Might be enough,” she stated before disappearing again.

I wanted to ask for more water, but didn’t want to push my luck so I leaned my head back against the wall and tried to ignore the agony in my shoulders from having my arms over my head for so long. Finally I managed to fall asleep since I’d gotten used to dealing with the pain they caused.

I was woken by loud pounding on the stairs and the door being thrown open. Matteo.

He strode toward me and swiftly undid my shackles before scooping me into his arms. Not speaking, he carried me up the stairs to my room.

I choked when he lowered me into a warm bath that’d already been run. Every part of my body throbbed and ached. I’d been so cold in the basement that the quick change in temperature hurt.

“I’m so sorry,” Matteo breathed softly as he washed me head to toe. He even took the time to wash my hair, scrubbing my scalp before rinsing it.

I felt like I’d been swept into a fairy tale. It had to be a dream. Never did he say sorry. Never was I treated to such delicate touches. Maybe I had actually died and this was heaven.

“That bastard paid for what he did to you,” Matteo muttered under his breath. He wrapped me in a plush towel before carrying me to the bed. Tucking the sheets around me, he kissed my forehead and my eyes drifted closed.

When I reopened them, I found him sitting in a chair next to me in the bed with his head in his hands. He must have heard me move because he stood and moved to sit on the edge of the mattress and brush a hand over my cheek.

“How are you feeling?” he asked in a concerned tone.

I frowned, unsure of how to respond. Did he want the truth or did he want me to lie?

“
Bella
…” He sighed and ran his hand over his face. “You drive me crazy, make me do things I shouldn’t...You make me like doing things I’ve never enjoyed before, but they hurt you.”

“You don’t always hurt me,” I interrupted while tensing, expecting him to lash back at me for being so rude.

“You shouldn’t like the things I do to you. It’s not normal. I tried to stay away from you, but couldn’t. I can’t resist your temptation, can’t resist making you scream in pain,” he said, shaking his head. “Monique is gone. I couldn’t stand her perfectness, not while I have you. There will be repercussions to deal with, but that’s for me to handle. She’s not what I want and I’m not willing to fake it like everyone else in my life.”

“What does that mean for me?” I questioned, unsure if he’d be selling me after all.

“It means you are mine and won’t be going anywhere as long as I have a say in it. We will have to renegotiate your chores… hell, everything. It can all wait until you are feeling better.” He frowned and placed a warm hand over my lower stomach. “Turns out you are pregnant, so things will be changing a lot.”

I sat stunned, staring at him.

“I hadn’t planned on this, and I would insist that we marry before the baby comes, but that won’t be happening since I have to deal with Monique before then,” he said, shocking me even more.

Marriage? Pregnancy? I felt faint as the two words spun in my mind. I didn’t think I could handle either or both.

“Easy.” Matteo brushed his fingers over my cheek with a smile on his face. “I know it’s a lot, but let’s just say I had an epiphany and realized things needed to change. For now, just rest.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. It didn’t help, but I hoped he’d leave me alone so I could try to digest everything.

Little did I know, I wouldn’t see Matteo for a long time after that conversation.

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, a doctor showed up at the house to take some blood and do a few other things before stating he’d call to tell me how far along he thought I was. Two days later, he informed me I was twelve weeks along. I went in search of Matteo, but he wasn’t to be found in the house and neither was Aida. She’d been there to answer the phone, but it appeared as if she’d left right after.

For six months, I lived virtually alone. Aida would show up every few days to make sure I was okay, but she wasn’t much friendlier than before even though she had completely dropped the snide remarks. I spent a great deal of time in the backyard, tending to the garden or simply enjoying the view and the sun. At night, I would sit in the living room and watch the news. It’d taken months to build up the courage to finally turn it on, but since no one was ever around I figured it wouldn’t matter.

My belly grew bigger and bigger while I watched in amazement. Aida had brought me a few pregnancy books which I read cover to cover. I’d even asked for a book to teach me how to speak Italian, figuring it would be refused However, a few days later, she showed up with a couple. So even though I was lacking in human contact, I had plenty to keep me busy and occupied. I still did my chores even though there was no longer a list waiting for me. As the months passed, I found some harder to complete and simply did my best.

Aida would bring me gardening magazines every couple of weeks so I was constantly learning about what I could do in the backyard. Any request I made was delivered on her next visit. It was shocking how much I was allowed, but none of it was nefarious or for anything but to grow different food or to have the right tools and materials to support the plants in the garden as they grew.

I did have a doctor stop by occasionally to check on my progress, but he always came and went with few words spoken to me like he wasn’t allowed to speak to me other than to ask the normal questions about my body and the baby’s movements. When I got further along and he had to start checking my cervix, or any time I was required to have him touch me in any way, Aida was there to watch over him.

Having free reign in the kitchen and all the recipes Aida left, I cooked well for myself since it helped eat up the time. Plus, after starving for so long, I found I enjoyed preparing elegant meals even if I had no one to share them with.

With each month that passed, I grew more and more anxious and nervous. Being so alone and inexperienced, I feared the baby would come early when I was alone. However, the final month of my pregnancy, Aida showed up nearly every day making sure I was okay.

Until the day finally came. My water broke when I was in the kitchen preparing food for myself and Aida. Even though I was pregnant, I’d requested to cook for her since she still wasn’t getting around well. I thought it should’ve been enough time for her to be better, but what did I know about such things?

Aida calmly collected me when she arrived an hour later and drove me to the hospital.

After only a few short hours, I held a healthy baby boy in my arms. It was the first time I truly felt love, the kind you would kill for. I would do anything to protect the fragile little life in my hands. Before the nurses could leave me and the baby alone for the first time, Matteo strutted through the door.

He waited until they’d taken their equipment and left before sitting on the edge of my bed.

“How are you doing,
bella
?” he asked, cupping my cheek.

“Better now,” I sighed, leaning into his touch. I wanted to ask where he’d been, why he’d left me alone the whole pregnancy and missed out on so many memorable times. Instead I was grateful for his reappearance.

“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned forward to press a soft kiss to my forehead before looking down at the baby. “He’s perfect. Just like his momma.”

I smiled and beamed as I looked at my son swaddled in my arms.

“What are you going to name him?” Matteo asked, surprising me.

I had figured he’d want to name his son, but I already had a name in mind if he didn’t.

“You don’t want to pick it?” I asked to be sure.

“No, I’d rather you did it. He is my present to you. The only good part of me that there is. I’ve done too many horrible things to be honored by naming such a beautiful creature,” he said as he glided a finger over the baby’s forehead.

“Matteo Junior,” I breathed nervously. “Because I love his father.”

I’d spent a lot of time debating on what I wanted to name him. Then it had hit me. Naming him after his father was the perfect way to show Matteo that I forgave him for everything. Our world was vastly different than other people’s, but it was ours and in some strange way, it worked for us.

Matteo gasped and fell from the bed. His knees hit the floor hard. Pressing his face into the sheets, he sobbed loudly as his body shook.

I ran my hand over his head and gave him a moment to gather himself. When he finally stopped shaking, I cupped his cheek and lifted his face to meet my gaze.

“Would you like to hold your son?”

“Absolutely,” Matteo said before taking a deep breath and pulling a chair up to the bed. Holding out trembling arms, he reached for the sleeping baby. He wrapped his large arms around the small bundle and tucked Matteo Junior in close to his formidable chest and snuggled his face into him.

I watched as he met his — our — son for the first time.

“I love you, Gia,” Matteo said, then kissed Matteo Junior’s forehead and whispered, “I love you too, son.”