chapter 18

Chapter 18: Breakfast and Breaking (Elena's POV)

Morning light comes through the curtains soft and gold. I wake up slow body heavy from crying all night. The bed feels too big too empty. No Matteo behind me no Luca's arm over my waist no Nico's quiet breathing. Just me and the quiet house and the ache between my legs that won't go away.

I sit up rub my eyes. My cheek still hurts a little from the slap but the cut on my lip already scabs over. I touch it careful feel the rough spot. It stings but the pain reminds me I'm here. Really here. Locked in again.

A soft knock on the door.

"Come in," I say voice hoarse from screaming yesterday.

The door opens slow. A young maid steps in maybe twenty head down eyes on the floor. She carries a tray with coffee juice toast.

"Your father is waiting in the dining room miss," she says quiet. "He asked me to tell you breakfast is ready."

I nod don't look at her. "Tell him I'll be down after I shower."

She sets the tray on the dresser leaves quick without another word.

I stand up legs shaky walk to the bathroom. The shower is hot steam fills the room fast. I stand under the water let it run over my face my hair my shoulders. Soap smells like lavender same as always. Daddy's choice. Safe. Clean. Boring.

I wash slow hands sliding over my breasts down my stomach between my thighs. My skin remembers their touches Matteo's rough fingers Luca's gentle mouth Nico's teasing tongue. I close my eyes picture them. Matteo's dark eyes watching me Luca's laugh against my neck Nico's hand in my hair.

My fingers slip between my folds find my clit already swollen needy. I rub slow circles bite my lip to keep quiet. Pleasure sparks low warm. I lean against the tile one hand on the wall other hand moving faster. Moans slip out soft at first then louder. I don't care if anyone hears. Let them hear. Let Daddy hear.

I come quick body shaking water running down my face mixing with tears. It's not enough. Never enough without them.

I finish the shower dry off wrap in a robe walk downstairs barefoot. The house is quiet except my footsteps on the marble.

Daddy sits at the long dining table newspaper open coffee steaming. He looks up when I enter smiles small careful.

"Good morning baby girl," he says soft. "Sit. Eat something."

I sit across from him don't touch the food. Toast eggs fruit all perfect arranged. I stare at the plate feel anger rise slow hot.

He folds the newspaper sets it aside. "We need to talk about what's next."

I look up meet his eyes. "What's next?"

He takes a breath. "We're moving. Tomorrow. To a new house in another state. Far from here. Far from them. No one will find us. Not Matteo not his men. You'll be safe. We can start fresh."

The words land hard. Moving. Another cage. Another place to lock me away.

I feel my hands shake under the table. "No."

He frowns leans forward. "Elena this is for your own good. They will come looking. They will hurt you again. I won't let that happen."

"They won't hurt me," I say voice rising. "They loved me. They wanted me. You took me from them."

His face hardens. "They used you. Filled you up like some toy. You think that's love?"

I stand up fast chair scraping loud. "You don't know what love is. You kept me locked away my whole life. You slapped me. You kidnapped me. And now you want to move me again like I'm your property."

He stands too voice calm but firm. "I'm your father. I decide what's best."

I laugh bitter tears burning. "No. You don't decide anymore."

Anger explodes. I grab the tablecloth yank hard. Plates crash food spills coffee pours over the wood. Toast flies eggs smash fruit rolls across the floor. The sound loud sharp satisfying.

Daddy steps back eyes wide. "Elena!" you spoiled brat.

I don't stop. I turn run out of the room up the stairs to my bedroom. Slam the door lock it. Slide down against the wood sob hard chest hurting.

The room spins. I crawl to the bed climb under the covers curl into a ball. Tears soak the pillow. I think about them. Matteo's strong arms Luca's wicked smile Nico's quiet eyes. The way they looked at me like I was everything.

They didn't come.

They let him take me.

Maybe Daddy is right.

Maybe I was just a game.

A way to hurt him.

A warm body to use until the revenge was done.

The thought hurts so bad I can't breathe.

My hand slips under the robe between my legs again. I'm still wet from the shower from thinking about them. I touch myself slow at first fingers circling my clit remembering Matteo's tongue Luca's fingers Nico's cock.

I moan loud don't hold back. Let the sound carry through the house. Let Daddy hear. Let the maid hear. Let everyone know I'm not his little girl anymore.

I rub faster two fingers inside curling hitting that spot that makes my toes curl. I picture them all three surrounding me Matteo fucking me deep Luca in my mouth Nico stretching my ass. I moan their names loud broken.

"Matteo... Luca... Nico..."

Pleasure builds fast sharp. I arch back hips bucking fingers pumping hard. I come crying their names body shaking tears streaming.

When it fades I lie there panting staring at the ceiling.

They didn't come.

They aren't coming.

I'm alone.

Really alone.

Daddy's voice comes through the door soft pleading.

"Elena open the door. Please. We can talk."

I don't answer.

I roll over pull the covers over my head.

Tomorrow we move.

Another state.

Another prison.

And no one is coming to save me.

Because maybe no one ever cared enough to try.

I close my eyes feel the emptiness settle in.

The girl who begged for them.

The girl who loved the ruin.

She's still here.

But she's fading.

And soon she'll be gone.

Just like they are.

Gone.