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They chat amongst themselves on the way home about poker games and burgers. No one speaks to me. All I can hope is that Stefano will keep his word and provide the care for Elle that she needs. That's my biggest fear right now.
Whatever he does to me - I hope he doesn't do to her and she doesn't come to understand that this is actually terrifying for me.
When we pull up outside Stefano's mansion a wave of familiarity washes over me.
I am pulled roughly out of the car and led inside. In the foyer, Matteo walks past me and starts laughing. "You again. It's been a while hey. I heard you were going to be sleeping in the servant's quarters." He laughs again, even louder.
"I wouldn't mind at all, staying on the opposite side of the house to Stefano." I snap back.
"That's not happening." Stefano's voice booms loudly against the high ceilings.
He walks towards me and wraps his hand around my chin, lifting my face up towards his. "I'm glad you kept your word."
I bite down hard on my own teeth to stop myself from saying something stupid.
"You would never have run, would you?"
He stares into my eyes and I stare back with as much force.
He chuckles and lets go of my face.
"Take her up to my room and have her settle in," Stefano says to Matteo and frowns.
As Matteo leads me through the house I used to know so well I realize that nothing about it feels the same. It looks the same. But it doesn't feel the same. The atmosphere is cold and unwelcoming. It feels harsh.
Matteo leads me upstairs and straight towards Stefano's bedroom. When I realize that is where he is taking me I stop dead in my tracks. "I'm not staying in that room," I say sternly.
"Yes, actually, you are," Matteo smirks.
"There are so many rooms in this house. I am not staying in Stefano's room. Take me to another room. Any other room."
Matteo's lips curl into a snarl as he pushes me against the wall. He leans over me and speaks very clearly. "Do I need to remind you that Stefano is busy arranging to have your daughter brought here, to provide her with all the care she needs. And honestly, I think it's best if you do as you're told if you want her to stay safe. Little Elena shouldn't need to suffer because her mother is being a difficult bitch."
I turn my face to the side, away from his. He pushes himself off the wall and I breathe a sigh of relief to have my space back.
He nods his chin towards Stefano's room and walks silently into it.
One bed.
Nothing has changed in here either. Matteo tosses my suitcase into the room.
"Go on, get comfortable. Have a shower, and get changed. Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes and Stefano is expecting you to join him."
He stands in the doorway as though he is waiting for my response.
"Fine." I snap.
He closes the door and I feel all the strength drain out of me.
I sit down on the sofa beneath the window and cry for a full ten minutes before I can pull myself together and head through to the bathroom.
I close the bathroom door in case anyone decides to come into the bedroom while I'm showering. Then I strip off my scrubs and push the shower all the way to the hot side, letting the boiling water bite at my skin and distract me from the flood of emotions that are threatening to drown me.
As the steam fills the shower memories flash through my mind.
Memories of being in this shower with Stefano. Pressed against the tiled wall as he bends me over and fucks me from behind. Memories of him lifting me in his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist while he thrusts into me and my back is pressed against the glass.
I shake my head, not wanting to think about any of that, but struggling to forget it now that I am back here in this place I never wanted to see again.
