chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Bench at Midnight (Elena's POV)

The old park looks smaller than I remember. Street lamps glow yellow the fountain trickles soft water into the night air. The bench sits under a big oak tree leaves rustling in the breeze. I walk slow heart pounding loud in my ears. The black dress Matteo picked clings to me short tight no bra no panties just like he wanted. A reminder even here I'm theirs.

I see Daddy first. He sits on the bench back straight hands on his knees. He looks thinner face lined deeper eyes tired but when he sees me he stands quick like he can't believe I'm really here.

"Elena," he says voice thick. He opens his arms.

I step closer let him hug me. His arms wrap tight around me smell of old cologne and whiskey and home. For a second I close my eyes let myself feel small again safe like when I was little and bad dreams woke me up.

He pulls back holds my face in his hands thumbs brush my cheeks. "You came. Thank God you came."

I nod small tears already burning. "I had to see you Daddy. Hear you."

We sit on the bench close. His hand stays on mine squeezes gentle.

"I meant every word in the message," he says quiet. "I kept you locked away because I was scared. After your mom left I thought if I let you out the world would take you too. I was wrong. I see that now. You grew up beautiful strong. And I missed it all."

His voice cracks. He looks down at our hands. "I never wanted this for you. Never wanted you hurt. I thought keeping you safe meant keeping you mine. But I just made you lonely."

Tears slip down my face now. I wipe them quick. "I was lonely. But I was safe. You loved me the best way you knew how."

He nods slow. "I still love you. More than anything. Come home baby girl. We can start over. No more cages. No more guards watching every step. You can go to school date boys live. I'll step back let you breathe. Just come home."

His words wrap around me warm soft. I picture it. My old room clean sheets no chains no cum stains. Mornings with coffee and him reading the paper. No more fear no more guilt no more heat between my legs every time someone touches me.

I open my mouth to say maybe. To say okay. To say I miss that life.

But then his face hardens eyes flick behind me like he sees something.

"Your new friends," he says low voice turning cold. "They think they own you now. They think they can take what's mine and walk away clean. Matteo De Luca and his dogs. They killed my men took my territory used my daughter like a whore. They're trash Elena. Filthy trash. You let them touch you let them fill you let them mark you. You're better than that. Better than them."

The words hit hard sharp. My stomach twists anger rising fast hot.

"Don't talk about them like that," I say voice shaking. "You don't know them. You don't know what they gave me."

Daddy laughs bitter. "Gave you? They gave you cock and cum and chains. That's not love baby. That's control. Same as what I did but worse. At least I never hurt you."

"You hurt me every day you kept me locked away," I snap back. "You hurt me by never letting me live. They let me feel. They let me want. They let me be me."

His face darkens. "They brainwashed you. Turned my little girl into their slut."

The word slut lands like a slap. I stand up fast chest heaving.

"Don't call me that," I say voice loud in the quiet park. "I'm not your little girl anymore. I'm a woman. I choose them. I choose this. And you don't get to decide what's right for me."

Daddy stands too towers over me eyes blazing. "You're coming home. Tonight. No more games."

He grabs my wrist hard yanks me toward him. I pull back but he's stronger always was.

"Let go Daddy!"

He doesn't. He swings his other hand fast open palm cracks across my face. Pain explodes hot white. My cheek burns tears spring instant.

I taste blood lip split.

He doesn't stop. Throws me over his shoulder like I'm nothing carries me toward the parking lot fast.

I kick scream pound his back. "Put me down! Daddy stop!"

He ignores me strides quick toward a black SUV waiting engine running headlights off.

From the shadows Matteo Luca Nico burst out guns drawn.

"Put her down Vittorio!" Matteo shouts voice thunder.

Shots crack loud echo through the park.

Daddy's men appear from behind trees from cars hidden in the dark. More shots. Bullets whiz past sparks fly off metal benches.

Matteo dives behind a tree returns fire. Luca covers Nico they move fast closing in.

But Daddy reaches the SUV throws open the back door tosses me inside rough. I hit the seat hard breath knocked out.

He climbs in slams the door. "Drive!"

The car peels out tires screeching.

I scramble up look out the back window.

Matteo runs after us gun raised face twisted rage pain.

Luca shouts my name voice raw.

Nico fires one last shot shatters the rear window glass rains down.

Daddy pulls me down covers me with his body as bullets ping off the car.

The SUV speeds away park shrinking behind us.

I fight him push kick scream. "Let me go! They will come for me!"

He holds me tight arms like iron. "They won't find you this time. I'll made sure."

The car races through dark streets toward the highway.

I stop fighting go still chest heaving tears streaming.

Daddy strokes my hair gentle now voice soft broken.

"I'm sorry I hit you. I just... I can't lose you again. You're all I have left."

I don't answer.

My cheek throbs lip bleeds.

But inside something breaks wide open.

He kidnapped me.

My own father.

Took me by force.

And now we're speeding away from the only place I felt truly wanted.

From the men who ruined me.

From the men I love.

The car hits the highway engine roaring.

Daddy whispers sorry over and over.

But it's too late for sorry.

Because Matteo will come.

Luca will come.

Nico will come.

And when they do...

There will be blood.

The car disappears into the night.

And I close my eyes feel the road rumble under me.

This isn't over.

It's just beginning.

And next time...

Someone won't walk away.