Everything is okay, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
I had just taken a shower and changed into one of Dom's shirts and some shorts, and it felt warm; this whole house felt warm.
I felt so nervous around Dom now after us literally having sex in his office. I mean, who would not feel nervous after that?
It made me so nervous and, well, embarrassed that I didn't get him to come. And I know that doesn't determine anything, but I haven't had sex in three years, for crying out loud.
I.
I felt myself smile.
Part of me is glad that it was with him.
It made me happy.
He made me happy.
I made my way out of his room and then walked downstairs.
I rubbed my hands together. It was March; why was it so cold, let alone in this big ass house? I would take back my previous comment about it being warm, but I think it is the thought of all of this that was making me so 'warm' even when it wasn't. It was bringing me a weird, comforting feeling I had never felt before.
It was like I was on a love high.
I smiled at Leo and Isabella, who were both standing in the kitchen.
Isabella's backpack was on, and the two of them were talking…actually arguing. The two of them were arguing.
And for some reason, my smile grew wider.
"You told me yourself that you can't retake those tests," Leo said as I walked over to the fridge.
"But Dad said he would let me stay home. HE NEVER LETS ME STAY HOME."
"Who are you yelling at?
"You bitch.
"You…"
"What about Dom letting you stay home?" I interjected.
Isabella turned around and looked at me. "Did you know that Dad was going to let me stay home today?"
"He was?"
"Yes, bro, but apparently I can't because I can't miss or retake my tests," she said.
"Well, tests are important, so that is correct," I said, and she rolled her eyes.
"You are supposed to be on my side," She said, sighing in defeat.
"Just go take the tests and then have Leo come pick you up, so you don't have to go to your other classes," I explained.
Isabella's eyes went wide, and Leo rolled his eyes. "No, I will pick you up at the end of the school day like we planned."
"You are no fun," she said, as I started to make myself breakfast.
I liked this little family.
I like being loved, having people like this who treat you so nicely, even though you are an outsider.
It feels good.
All of this. It feels so surreal.
I love it.
"Let's go; I am going to go warm up the car," Leo said, and I watched as he grabbed his keys from the dish by the front door.
He was still in his pajamas, and it made me smile.
"Can you please make sure Dom does not sleep in all day? We have plans and have actual shit we need to get done today," Leo said, and I nodded.
"I will wake him up once I finish eating," I said, smiling.
"Okay, thank you; I will see you when we get back," Leo said, and just like that, he made his way to the front door.
"Bye."
"Bye," I said, turning back around and opening one of the cabinets near the fridge.
Then I got a plate out and started to smack random things onto it from the fridge.
That always makes the best food.
I turned around. "How's your essay?" I asked Isabella, who hadn't left the kitchen yet.
"It's fine; I think my teacher is going to talk about it today in class."
"That's good, I am glad you are going then," I said, turning back around and putting my food into the microwave.
"I guess. But I might need more help with it, though. Knowing her, she is going to add some crazy instructions to it that don't make any sense."
"I will be here to help you with whatever you need," I said, and she thanked me.
"Dad's never like this, and I swear to god Leo doesn't know anything, so thank you so much for helping me with all of my homework and stuff like that," she said. "And giving me someone to talk to and gossip with. It's fun."
I smiled. "Thank you; I like hanging with you as well, and any homework you need help with, I've got you," I said, and she sighed.
Then she walked over to me and gave me an awkward side hug. "Bye," she said.
"Let me go before Leo comes back and yells at me," she said, letting go of me and then running to the front door. She then pushed it open, letting it slam behind her.
That was sweet.
Even though she was taller than me at her small age of 12 years old.
It was still sweet and cute.
It made me happy.
This whole life made me happy.
I guess this is the dream.
Having a kid, my fiance, my fiance's fiance, that he swears isn't.
It is the dream.
I walked over to the dining room table with my food.
Oh. I put my food down.
Isabella left her homework on the table. It's been like 2 minutes; I could probably still catch them.
I grabbed the paper, leaving my food down on the table.
I walked to the front door, opened it, then walked outside and looked at the driveway.
Mhm. Okay, I can give it to her when she comes back from school. Hopefully it wasn't due today.
I turned around and walked back to the front door.
I felt something slam into the back of my head, and I felt my knees buckle.
The door.
The. I felt my eyes slowly flutter shut as I felt my body drop to the floor.
What the fuck?
Oh my god. Fuck, my head.
My head hurts so fucking bad.
My eyes slowly opened back up.
Holy shit.
Holy…I looked down at my wrist.
One of them was chained up, and the other wasn't because of the cast, and everything was slightly blurry.
I pressed my face.
My glasses were gone.
I looked around again. I was in this dark, cold fucking room, on the floor, and one of my ankles was chained up.
What the actual fuck?
This isn't real.
This isn't real.
It can't be.
I watched as something got thrown at me.
I reached out for it.
My glasses.
I put them on my face, and I blinked.
I looked over, and there Isabella was. "Isabella," I called out, trying to get up, but the chain on my ankle pulled me back.
She was sleeping, also chained up.
This is genuinely out of my worst fucking nightmare.
And God, my head is fucking pounding.
I looked over to my other side; Leo was there.
And next to him were a woman, a man, and two kids I didn't recognize.
"Good morning!" a voice yelled, and I looked straight ahead.
IT WAS THE GUY WHO SHOT ME!
I heard moving next to me, and I turned. Then I watched as Isabella started to wake up.
What the fuck?
"You know I am pretty good at this. I got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. That's pretty good," he said, laughing like he was fucking insane.
"Zayne, you were the hardest. Stay-at-home husband; your two kids are on spring break; that was hard. But Daniel made everything so fucking easy. His brother, he, and Dom were too busy trying to stop me; they ended up leading me right to you," Matteo said, talking to some guy I didn't recognize, who was now awake and holding his two kids like his life depended on it.
"Gianna, you were less hard, but Thomas was my main problem. That fucking control freak. Oh my, the misses this, oh this, she is cooking, and I have to eat with her. But I got you, didn't I?"
Why is this FUCK monologuing right now?
This isn't real.
"Isabella, I got you and Leo," he smiled at Leo with this scary fucking smile I couldn't explain. "While he was dropping you off at school. I thought that would be harder for me."
Not a hint of fucking remorse in his voice.
He just kidnapped seven fucking people, and there is no guilt, no remorse, nothing.
He is showing us off like we are his trophies.
"And you." He turned over to me. "You are the reason I decided to do all of this."
Me?
"I have been planning this since your coma."
"How did you know I was in a coma?" I asked him.
"I know everything. Every god damn thing."
I felt myself back up closer to the wall.
Everything felt so bizarre and crazy.
"And who DO YOU THINK PUT YOU IN THAT COMA? How would I not know that? It was perfect. Everything just fell in line. It was so perfect," he said with a smile. Why are we yelling right now?
He walked closer to the people I now know as Gianna and Zayne. "Men, please take them to another room."
I watched as 4 guys came from the darkness and took them up.
And god, the sounds of their screams were bothering me so much.
Oh fuck.
I gulped.
I felt dizzy again.
Out of all of his men, one guy remained.
I couldn't recognize him, but I could still see him.
Oh god.
I looked over at Isabella.
Oh god.
This reminds me of my siblings and their crying, them crying out for me, crying, making sure I protected them.
Making sure they were okay.
Oh, my baby.
I reached over to her, and she got closer to me. "It's okay," I mumbled.
She was fucking crying. "Why is this happening? Why?"
Her voice was cracking, and I took a deep breath.
"I don't know," I said, stroking her gently.
"I know," Matteo said as he got closer and squatted down near the three of us. Man, shut the fuck up.
I tried to bring Isabella as close to me as possible.
Why is this happening?
Why?
"Your daddy is in the mafia."
I gulped. There that word is again.
"Crazy, isn't it?"
That's not real.
That's.
I looked at Isabella.
He looked at Isabella as well. "I think we were destined to be enemies, you know, me and your dad." He turned to me. "Me and your "fiance" we were destined to hate each other, and we do."
Matteo stood back up.
"You know he is one of the most powerful mafia bosses in the country? It makes me kind of jealous," he said, walking over to Leo, who gave him this dirty fucking look.
"It really does make me jealous," he said, getting closer to Leo.
A fucking mafia boss?
What the fuck?
Is Matteo lying?
Wait.
Why would someone fucking lie about that?
Fuck I don't know anymore.
I really don't.
I looked over at Isabella, who had this wide look on her face.
I take it this was her first time hearing this, too.
"He used to be a heartless fucking killer too, a fucking powerhouse. Then he had Isabella, and everything changed. He still dominated but killed less, and I tried time after time. For 12 fucking years, I tried, but it never fucking worked. All of that time, that effort, it never fucking worked, until today, and now we are here. Now you guys are here," he said with a smile.
"I won't hurt Isabella, but you two, on the other hand, I can't make any promises," he said with this crazy fucking smile.
Holy fuck, why am I sweating so much?
What is happening?
This is very overwhelming, and my head is still fucking pounding.
He turned to Leo again, put his hand toward him, and started to stroke his face.
Bitch, what the fuck.
Is this a dream?
I hope it is.
Please.
"Don't you remember us, princess?" Matteo asked, smiling and looking down at Leo.
What the fuck?
Remember what?
Holy fuck.
What is happening?
"Everything we were." He was talking in this crazy fucking voice, like he was losing his mind.
"Get the fuck off me," Leo spat.
Matteo laughed in the most condescending way ever.
And he turned his attention to me again.
"You."
My breath started to pick up.
"You signed a contract."
I signed a what? "I did what?"
He started laughing. "3 years ago, you signed a contract," He said as his smile grew.
I would never sign a contract for the mafia.
I would never.
Never.
"It's been a long time, you probably don't even remember."
Did I sign a contract?
I.
My breath hitched.
In that place.
Oh god.
I felt myself start to freak out as my head pounded.
I did. I signed it.
In that horrible fucking place.
Oh god.
Oh my god.
"You signed a contract, signing your life away for the next 15 years. Do you understand that? I fucking own you."