Chapter 100
Ariana
I can’t believe that sweet little girl has been trapped under Alexander’s thumb all these years. I feel awful for her. Her mother was always the sweetest woman to me, and I loved the days when she would bring Susie to work with her. She reminded me of what I could have been as a young girl…I wish I had been there to protect her.
What’s on your mind, honey?” Tony asks, settling in bed next to me and cuddling me from behind.
“I just wonder how many lives he’s ruined…Susie wasn’t meant for a life like that.“.
“You weren’t either…you know those video’s he had us watch on repeat, they…well they showed us a glimpse of who you could have been without all those hard years.”
I turn around to face him, settling my head onto his arm.
“You know that was all for show right? I was playing a part that my father had told me to. I wasn’t ever that girl, Tony, and I never loved him like I love you three. Sure, I might have been excited by the idea of escaping my father and being showered with gifts and money back then, but that girl in those videos wasn’t real. She never existed.”
“Mmm, good, because it was fucking with my head a bit.”
“I think that’s exactly what is was supposed to do.”
Matteo.
I take Susie down the hall to my room, opening the door and letting her walk in first.
“There’s a bathroom over there if you’d like to take a shower. Nonna always has spare toothbrushes in the draws, there should be brushes and girly stuff too you’re welcome to use.” She lets go of my hand and I miss the feeling a little too much. God damit, don’t scare her off you fucking hand holding creep.
“Have you eaten dinner?”
*N..no..sir.”
“Matteo“, I correct her. “I’ll go heat up some leftovers for you while you take a shower.”
Nonna always has a stack of leftovers in the fridge. I’ll just get her a bit of everything so she can pick. I load up a few dishes and different drinks onto a cart and wheel it back to my room, where she’s now sitting on the edge of the bed in the dark blue, silk, pajamas Ariana had given her. She looks beautiful, but very thin, and tired…and her feet. Jesus, they look sore.
“Your feet.”
She looks down and scrunches her eyes.
Yeah, apparently those heels weren’t suited for long distance walking.”
I push the cart over to her and lift the serving lids.
“I didn’t know what you would like so there’s a few different things.” I watch as her eyes widen, and she swallows hard. I thought she’d be hungry.
“I can’t eat all of this.”
“best eat what you like. I didn’t get a chance to eat much at dinner, so I’ll finish whatever you don’t.” I walk over to the bathroom and bull out the first aid kit from the vanity and show it to her. “Do you mind?” I motion to her feet.
*h you don’t have to; they’ll be fine in a few days.”
wasn’t really a question, sweetheart, I was more telling you I’m going to tend to your wounds.”
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Chapter 100
Oh okay. She pops her feet over my lap once I sit down on the bed.
Eat point to the food.
1 apply some cream and wrap her feet with some bandages. I look up to see she’s scrapped half of every plate onto one plate.
You said you didn’t eat much…” She says sweetly when she notices me eyeing the food.
We eat in comfortable silence, and I can see she’s exhausted.
You’re welcome to the bed. I’ll take the couch.”
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