8. GIULIANNA

I didn’t speak to Matteo when I left. I didn't even want to glance back at him but Sofia probably did. It's only been a day since she met Matteo and she already has a soft spot for his father.

I should’ve expected that woman to pull something like that, and yet it still pissed me off. It irritated me how flirty that woman is. Didn't she saw how Matteo and I were having a talk? The way he didn’t shove her away fast enough to blow my mind. He probably like being treated that way.

He really never changed at all. That was the truth.

I spent the entire day at the motorbike shop with my mood rotting like week-old fruit. Every bike parts I tightened, every wrench I turned, I imagined Matteo’s face. I should be happy that the sun was hot as fuck and it meant I have more customers since it's not dripping outside. But everything just seemed to be irritating for me.

Customers came and went. I tried to force out a smile but that smile never reached my eyes. My usual customers' probably noticed my grumpy attitude. Matteo's stupid voice kept echoing in my head.

The only thing that calmed me was knowing Sofia was with Signora Rossa today and not with that cheater. Gosh, he really can't stay loyal. Can't he?

By four-thirty, the shop was empty. I decided to close it early. The sky was a soft mix of orange and lavender but it didn't cleared my thoughts that kept coming back to Matteo. I was already locking up the store, ready to go home and collapse at my cozy bed, when I felt it a shadow behind me.

A hand clamped over my mouth, rough and firm. Before I could even scream, a sharp scent filled my nose. My body jerked back in instinct. My arms thrashed, legs kicked, but the man behind me was stronger. Much stronger. My fingers scraped at his arm, at the handkerchief pressed tightly against my mouth.

No. No, no, no.

I tried to scream. The world tilted. My arms grew heavy. My knees buckled. Then suddenly, it was all just darkness.

For a couple of hours it was just darkness.

When I woke up, everything felt wrong.

The sheets under me weren’t mine. Too soft. Too cold. The air smelled like something out of another era—old books, candles, perfume, dust.

I blinked slowly. The room was dim, lit only by a few wall sconces. The walls were stone, and the ceiling was arched like some medieval castle. The furniture was dark wood with golden carvings. Heavy. Expensive. Behind thick red curtains, I could make out a tall window with iron bars.

I shot up, heart pounding. My head spun as I sat. “What the hell—”

The door creaked open. Matteo.

I looked at him judgingly. What the hell is he doing here? He went inside and locked the door behind him like it was nothing. He wore a dark shirt with it's sleeve rolled up until his elbow. His hair was wet, probably because he just took a shower.

Why the hell am I drooling over him?

“You!” I stood and pointed at him. “You—! What the hell did you do? Where am I?! Where is Sofia?!”. He leaned his back against the doors and crossed his arms. “Sofia’s safe. Still with Signora Rosa.”

“You kidnapped me!” I ran toward him and punched his chest with my fist. “You drugged me and brought me here!” I screamed at him and kept punching his chest.

He didn’t even flinch. Like my attacks are nothing My fists hit him again but he caught them and held them firmly.

“Let me go!” I yelled while catching my breath.

“I did what I had to, dolcezza.” he said with that voice low. “This wouldn't have happened if you just didn't keep running and pushing me out.”

I tried pulling my hands away from his grip after realizing the more that I fight, the more my night gowns' strap slips from my shoulder, but he wouldn't let me go as if he enjoyed seeing me struggle under his touch. “This isn’t how you solve your problem. And this! This is the perfect reason why I don't trust you.”

His clenched his jaw. “You think I don’t know that? Every day for the last three years, I’ve lived with what I did. I lost you. I lost her. I’m just trying to get my family back.”

“By locking me in a room?!” I asked unbelievably. “Where's Sofia? What did you do to her?”

“She’ll be here,” he said. “I just wanted time. With you. Just you.”

I felt my nipples hardened with what he just said. He let go of my hand and he looked at me like I was the only thing he saw. I looked away and fix the strap falling on my shoulder.

“I miss you, Giuli,” he whispered on my ear. “I miss waking up to you. And your attitude. Even when you’re mad like this, dolcezza. I miss your goddamn voice.”

I laughed bitterly. “You’re sick.” I took a stepped back fast, rubbing my wrists that he gripped seconds ago. “You’re lucky I haven't ripped your face off.” I spat at him.

"Oh sure. I'm sure you can, dolcezza." He grinned as he tucked his hands on his pocket.

I turned away from him after calming myself a little. I went to the window and brushed off the curtains open. Bars. Of course.

“It looks like some Renaissance jail.” I said, turning around slowly.

He laughed at my insult. “It’s one of the old family estates. I had it restored years ago. It was supposed to be a second clubhouse because my empire is growing but I decided not to because it looked way too beautiful to let chaos go inside the doors of this house. I never thought of bringing my child's mother because she's being stubborn as fuck.”

“You mean like a prisoner,” I snapped and he went a step closer to me... and close... very close.

I backed away until my shoulder hit the wall. "Hmm... what a beautiful chaos I let in my home." he whispered in a husky voice.

“I’m not your girl or any woman anymore, Matteo.” I said firmly. “I don’t care how much you miss me. It doesn’t matter. That's the consequences of your actions.”

“I know,” he said again. “Let me make you feel how sorry I am. Let me beg for your forgiveness.”. His hand lifted my chin, his thumb slowly brushing my cheek. I felt how my breath hitched. He probably did too.

“Don’t." But he didn’t listen. He looked at me as he lower his face to press his lips to the curve of my neck. It was warm and slow.

“Let me be sorry for what I did.” he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. “Just this once. Tell me to stop if you really hate it.” He said while continuing his assault on my skin.

I couldn't move. I didn’t speak. For a while, I let his lips traveled down my throat. My hands pushed against his chest weakly, but it was like trying to push a wall. I wanted to let the words out of my mouth but I felt my tongue paralyzed.

I hated him. I hated that he could still make me feel this way. My knees felt weaker. His other hand slowly pulled the strap of my night gown and suddenly I had a flash back of our fights three years ago.

“Stop.” I said firmly. His hands were at my waist now, fingers digging into the fabric of my night gown and my heart raced too fast.

I turned my gaze away from him and trying to steady my breathing. “I don't know if I can trust you." I admitted.

“I’ll earn it back,” he said. “I swear to you. You don’t have to forgive me now. You can push me how you want. But I will tempt you in any possible way you can't think of until you give in.”

I closed my eyes as he took a step back. He turned around and went towards the door. He stopped for a while. "Giuli, do me a favor. Don't fuck me if you don't trust me yet." He said before leaving me in the room.