chapter 30

Chapter 30: Daddy’s First Move

The negative test sat on the bathroom counter like a quiet promise. Elena stared at it one more time before tossing it in the trash. Relief mixed with a strange emptiness in her chest. She had expected panic, maybe tears. Instead she felt… steady.

She walked back into the bedroom. The three of them were still there, waiting. Matteo sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees. Luca leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Nico stood by the window, looking out at the empty driveway.

Elena climbed onto the bed. Sat in the middle. “It’s negative. False alarm.”

Luca pushed off the wall. “Good. Or bad. Whatever you need it to be.”

Matteo looked at her. “You alright?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Just… thinking. If it happens later, I want it. But right now? This is enough. Us. Here.”

Nico turned from the window. “We’ve got time.”

They didn’t push. Didn’t start touching her right away. They just sat with her. Matteo’s hand on her knee. Luca’s fingers brushing her arm. Nico close enough that she could feel his warmth.

The afternoon passed slow. They ate lunch outside on the porch. Simple sandwiches. Sun warm on her skin. No guards visible, but she knew they were there, hidden in the trees.

Elena felt lighter. No collar. No ticking clock. Just the four of them breathing the same air.

Then her phone buzzed.

The burner Matteo had given her. Only a few numbers programmed in. One was Matteo’s. One Luca’s. One Nico’s. And one anonymous line she hadn’t used.

She picked it up.

Unknown number.

A video attachment.

Her stomach dropped.

She opened it before anyone could stop her.

The clip was short. Ten seconds. Grainy but clear enough.

It was her. In the club that night. Straddling Matteo on the booth seat. Riding him slow while Luca and Nico touched her. Her head thrown back. Mouth open in a moan. The collar still around her neck then. Chain glinting under the red lights.

Audio was muted, but she didn’t need sound to know what she looked like.

Pleasured. Owned. Happy.

The video ended.

A text followed.

From the same number.

“Your aunt saw this. She’s crying. Begging me to bring you home. Your cousins too. They think you’re lost. Brainwashed. Come back, baby girl. Before they ruin you for good. Before it’s too late. Daddy still loves you.”

Elena’s hand shook.

Matteo took the phone from her gently. Watched the clip. Read the message. His face went stone cold.

Luca looked over his shoulder. “Motherfucker.”

Nico stayed quiet. But his jaw clenched tight.

Elena stared at the blank screen.

“She’s crying,” Elena whispered. “My aunt. She raised me when Mom left. She used to braid my hair. Read me stories. And now she’s seen… that.”

Matteo set the phone down. “He’s using her. Trying to pull you back with guilt.”

“I know.” Elena’s voice cracked just a little. “But it hurts anyway.”

Luca knelt in front of her. Took both her hands. “You don’t have to answer. You don’t have to do anything.”

Nico sat beside her. Arm around her shoulders. “He wants you to doubt. To crack. Don’t give him that.”

Elena looked at them. One by one.

“I’m not going back,” she said. Firm. “I chose this. I chose you. But… I need to say something. To him. Just once.”

Matteo’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“I need to tell him I’m not his baby girl anymore. That I’m staying. That I’m happy. That he needs to stop.”

Luca frowned. “You think he’ll listen?”

“No. But I need to say it. For me.”

Matteo studied her face a long moment.

Then he nodded once. “We’ll record it. Short. No location. No faces but yours. Burner phone. He gets one message. Then we block him.”

Elena exhaled. “Okay.”

They set it up in the living room. Plain wall behind her. Matteo held the phone. Luca and Nico stood out of frame.

Elena sat on the couch. Straight back. No tears. No tremble.

Matteo hit record.

She looked straight into the lens.

“Daddy.... I saw the video you sent. I know Aunt Maria saw it. I know she’s hurting. Tell her I’m sorry she had to see that. But don’t tell her I’m coming home. Because I’m not.

I’m not lost. I’m not brainwashed. I chose this. Every day. Every night. I chose them. Matteo. Luca. Nico. They’re my home now.

You tried to protect me once. I get that. But you also tried to take me back by force. You slapped me. You carried me off. You sent men to die for your revenge.

I’m not your little girl anymore. I’m theirs. And I’m happy. Really happy. For the first time in my life.

Stop sending videos. Stop hurting the people I love. Stop hurting yourself. Let me go.

If you don’t… I won’t come back. Ever.

Goodbye, Daddy.”

She nodded.

Matteo stopped recording.

Silence.

Luca whistled low. “That was… strong.”

Nico touched her shoulder. “You okay?”

Elena nodded. “Yeah. I needed to say it.”

Matteo sent the video. Blocked the number. Deleted the thread.

Then he pulled her into his lap. Held her close.

“You did good,” he murmured against her hair.

Luca sat beside them. Hand on her thigh. “Proud of you.”

Nico kissed her temple. “Strong.”

Elena closed her eyes. Felt their arms around her.

The message was sent.

Vittorio would see it.

He would rage. Or break. Or both.

But she had said her piece.

And for the first time, the guilt didn’t crawl back in.

It stayed outside.

Locked out.

She opened her eyes.

Looked at the three men holding her.

Then she smiled. Small. Real.

“Now,” she said quietly. “Make me forget the rest of the world.”

Matteo’s hand slid under the T-shirt. Slow. Warm.

Luca kissed her neck.

Nico moved closer.

They didn’t rush.

But they didn’t stop either.

And outside, the quiet held.

For one more night.