Chapter 20

Unspoken Desires - Chapter 20

Sophia

Another morning in this fucking nightmare. I’m so tired of waking up in between these concrete walls and the stale air, and I’m tired of pretending I’m okay when everything inside me is screaming. I know I sound like a spoiled brat, but it’s hard.

I sit up and scan the room. Grandpa looks so much worse today. He barely touched the toast they gave us earlier this morning. His hands were shaking so bad I had to help him drink his water.

Connie also looks really pale, she’s been dehydrated and seems to be developing a fever. Thankfully, Alexandra had packed every over-the-counter medicine known to man.

I turn towards grandma Alexandra. Her skin is also pale and she looks cold. She hasn’t been able to keep anything down in the last two days.

They’re feeding us, but it’s all unhealthy crap. High carbs, no real protein. Nothing that helps, nothing that fuels. Just enough to keep us standing, but weak.

I think we’ve been here for over a week, but I honestly don’t know anymore. Time doesn’t really exist in here.

Still no sign of a rescue or a sign of anyone coming to help.

I was just getting off the hard ground when the door swung open. Everything inside me tenses. Two visits in one day. That had to be a bad sign.

Two guards walk in first. They’re big, stone-faced, with their guns already drawn. Then she walks in, like she’s strutting into a boardroom instead of this makeshift prison.

Svetlana. Perfect makeup but cold smile. Heels clicking on the ground like a countdown.

“Dobroye utro, myye gosti,” she purrs, her Russian accent thick and deliberate. “

“I hope… you are enjoying your accommodahtions.” She says it like this is some five-star hotel and not a fucking kidnapping… “I hope the rest of your stay vill be… just as pleazzant.”

She glances around the room, eyes pausing on Connie a little too long. “But right now,” she says, stepping closer, “I need your help.”

“Meesus Cattaneo… it seems your husbend and son have gotten their feelthy leetle paws on my dear Uncle Mikhail. And even with ze photos you so graciously provided… zey steel refuse to confirm he eez alive.”

“That,” she says, her voice icing over, “is not acceptable.”

My stomach drops.

“I need to make ehn example out of you… so they understahnd what eez at stake.”

I’m on my feet before I can even think. My voice explodes out of me. “No! You’re not touching her. Or anyone else. If you need someone to hurt; take me.”

Svetlana’s eyes shift, slow and amused. She turns to face me fully, lips twitching into something cruel.

“What happened to you, Lana?” I ask, stepping forward, heart hammering. “What made you like this? Is there even a soul left in you?”

Her laugh cuts through the room like a blade. Cold and empty. Not a single ounce of humanity in it.

“Oh, Sophia,” she says softly, almost sweet. “I already told you… you are here to take fall for everytheeng. I cannot hurt you… not yet.”

“Lana, please,” I say, voice cracking. “Do whatever you want to me, just let them go. I’ll do anything. I’ll say anything. Please.”

Her eyes glint. “You steel don’t get it, da? Fine. Let me spell it out for you.” She steps closer, her voice turning sharp, cutting like broken glass.

“I only vant Matthew and Damian. The rest of you?” She shrugs. “You can rot in here… or drown in a ditch. I do not care. But those two men? I need them to suffer.”

She pauses, drinking in our fear like wine. “They are steel hiding in New York… like cowards.”

She leans in, voice dropping to a vicious whisper. “Your seester did not take ze bait. Instead of rescuing you, she’s off playing Italian mafia whore… with Damian.” A cruel smirk curves her lips. “But don’t vurry… ve find her soon.”

“So instead… we got your Grandpapa. Lucky us.” Her smile drips venom. “Now… my contact, she delivers me Matthew and Damian. And in exchange? I give her you… Sareena… and Meesus Cattaneo.”

Her voice drops, low and icy. “The Morellis… they vill die too. My contact, she vants Mr. Cattaneo for herself and no one to stop her. And in the end?” She leans in, smiling like a viper. “We blame it all on you. Say you plan it. Poor leetle mafia princess… jealous of her sister. Driven mad by power.”

She leans in, even closer; her voice a hiss. “Then we kill you all. Maybe not right away. Maybe after my men… have a little fun with you and your seester.”

Her guards move before I can think.

One grabs me from behind, a thick arm locking around my chest. His other hand slides down and gropes me through my pants. Rough and invasive.

“I will have you, whore,” he breathes into my ear. “I give you pleasure before you die.”

Disgust coils in my throat. I thrash, but he only laughs.

The second guard steps toward Connie, picking her off the floor with one hand. She’s too weak to fight.

His fist hits her like a hammer. Her head snaps back, blood spraying across the wall, as she crumples to the ground.

He dropped her like she was nothing. Then casually pulls out his phone and snaps a photo.

————-

Lessia

The elevator doors slide open, and I step out onto the top floor of Matteo’s private office suite. It’s sleek but intimidating. Even with the elegant dark wood and frosted glass, the space feels cold and uninviting.

It’s so quiet I can hear the click of my heels echo off the marble. Loud. Sharp. But I don’t care. Let everyone hear me enter.

The office manager is already there waiting. Clipboard in hand. Her corporate smile just tight enough to be fake.

Her eyes scan me like I’m some stray who wandered too close to her. “You must be Karen, Mr. Cattaneo’s new personal assistant?” she says, voice already dripping with condescension. “Hi, I’m Devon. I’m the office manager.”

No handshake. Just a curt nod.

“Mr. Cattaneo asked me to give you access to his office,” she continues, handing over an access cards, some keys, and a thick manila folder.

“He said you’d already been briefed on your assignments.”

The way she looks at me; half suspicious and half smug, already tells me everything I need to know about her.

I flash her the kind of smile that used to get me out of trouble in highschool. Sweet and harmless.

“Thanks, Devon,” I say in a breezy voice. “He did mention you’d be helpful.”

She blinks, clearly unsure if I meant it as a compliment or an insult. I don’t give her time to figure it out. I step into Matteo’s office, heels tapping across the polished marble like I belong here. Because today, I do.

Just before I close the door, I glance back at her over my shoulder, lips curling into a smirk.

“You should be nice to me, Devon… I’m the only assistant here who gets to keep her panties on.”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing after shutting the door. It was petty, but a little pettiness never hurt anyone, especially not someone like Devon.

I took a moment to soak in the room. Matteo’s desk, was right in front of the floor to ceiling window. It was large and obsidian-black, and it dominated the space. Everything around it was immaculate, organized, purposeful, but cold. Like the man himself.

I sat down, adjusting the tiny comm pin on my blazer; the one that connected me directly to Damian and Maximus. I had pinned it on my blazer, right below the lapel, disguised as a decorative stud.

I leaned in, keeping my voice low and calm.

“Hey, guys, I’m in,” I murmured. “Gonna start making calls to both Cesare and Alessandro DeLuca.”

There was a crackle of static, then Max’s voice came through; clear and steady.

“10-4, Less. We got ears on you. Be safe.” His voice held just enough warmth to remind me I wasn’t alone, but not enough to distract me.

I took a slow breath, rolled my shoulders back, and hit record on the landline console. The red light blinked on, steady and silent.

Game time. I flip through my phone and find the first number… Alessandro.

One Ring. Two Rings and voicemail.

“Hi, Mr. DeLuca, it’s Karen Lombardi. I just wanted to let you know I am back in town. Let me know if you are still wanting me to help around your office and tutoring for Santino. My number is the same. Call me.” I hang up.

“Sorry guys, voicemail.” I say into my blazer.

Next contact…. Cesare. He answers on the first ring. “Matteo? What’s going on?”

I grin, letting my voice go warm and teasing. “Hey, sexy. It’s not Matteo… it’s me. Did you miss me?” I lean back in Matteo’s chair, legs crossed. “I can find Mr. Cattaneo for you if you’d rather speak to him… but I thought you missed me. Wanted me to come back.”

“You’re back?” His tone shifts fast, like I slapped him awake. “Why didn’t you call me? Why are you in Matteo’s office? Calling from his desk?”

“I came back a few days ago. Called the temp agency, and guess what? My old job as that asshole’s personal assistant was still available.” I let out a low, amused sigh. “He gave it to me without even interviewing me. Can you believe he told me his assistants all have to wear short skirts or dresses… with no panties? Just in case he needs a release. Can you believe that?”

“I’ll kill him if he touches you, Kay. You’re mine. I missed you so fucking much. I’m sorry I left. Can we meet tonight? I need you. It’s been too long.”

A burst of static hisses in my ear, and suddenly Vincent’s voice explodes through the comm.

“No, Less. You can’t go near him. I knew this was a fucking bad idea. Get out. Get back to the safe house. We’ll think of something else.”

Now everyone’s shouting; Vincent, Max, even Matteo. It’s too loud, and I can’t concentrate.

I slide my fingers to my ear, pluck the earring free, and drop it into my purse. Finally calm, so I can focus.

“Of course, baby,” I say softly into the phone, switching tone like a light. “I want to see you too. I miss you.” I let my voice get all pouty. “Can we get dinner first? I’ve been craving STK. Steaks in Canada were great but nothing beats Robert Liberato’s steaks. I have been dreaming about this, almost as much as I have been dreaming about being with you. Pick me up after work. Then we can head to the Cosmopolitan together?”

“You’re craving steak and I’m craving you, babe.” His voice lowers to a growl. “I’ll pick you up at five. From Matteo’s office.” A beat. “Leave your panties off.” He laughs.

“I’ve got a meeting now, but I’ll see you soon. And Kay, I missed you.”

Click. The line goes dead.