A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter Alena

67

"What are they doing here?" I frowned, looking up at Matteo.

He hadn't released my hand or loosened his grip as he looked at me. There was something in those eyes but I couldn't understand the meaning behind them but I could tell, Papa and Alexei being here tonight was not a surprise for him.

"Alena.." He started to speak but the loud knock on the door interrupted him.

"Matteo, what's going on? Tell me." I tried to pull my hand away to grab his face but he didn't let me-as if he was afraid if he loosened the grip, I was going to be pulled away. "You'll understand. I hope you can forgive me when you do," he replied.

"What? What do you mean by that?"

Both of his hands went up to cup my face before he lessened the distance between us. We were only inches apart as he leaned in to kiss my lips a few times, each kiss felt more desperate and needy; it was as if we were having our last few kisses. I wrapped my hand around his waist, trying to pull him in for a hug. "Please, please, try to understand. I swear I never wanted to," he continued to say a few times as he stared into my eyes, deeply.

My eyebrows furrowed at this sight of him, helpless and hopeless.

The tears in his eyes were visible, the shakiness of his hands and the desperation in his voice. For someone as powerful as Matteo, it was an odd sight to see-I had never saw him this way except for when I was hurt by Sofia. Matteo was afraid to lose me. He was terrified.

"Open the door. We know you're inside!" Alexei shouted from outside, ringing the doorbell a few more times.

I had a feeling to never let go of Matteo, to hold him tight and to not let him open the door but when he stepped away from me, I went blank. When he walked towards the door to pull it open, I just stared at him as if I couldn't move my body.

I stood still at the same spot as I watched Alexei and Papa stepped in, along with their other men.

Matteo made his way back towards me before grabbing my hand, wanting me close. His grip was tight, as if he knew what was going to happen and he didn't want it to. While he stared at the two powerful men in front of me, I kept staring at my husband in confusion. Did it have anything to do with my disappearance? What did he suffer when I was gone?

"Took you long enough to open the door'"" Alexei spoke.

I turned to look at my brother, "Why are you here?"

he looked back at Matteo, occasionally glancing at me. A sly smirk appeared on his face before inserting his hand

to insult my husband?" I tried to step forward as I felt myself growing

I hadn't punched my brother in the face. He had no right to come into our home and call him a coward-he had disrespected his own brother-in-law when I knew for

stand by your husband when you know the truth." Alexei replied, shrugging as if it was

glanced at Matteo, feeling confused but I knew where I had to stand. It was by my husband's side regardless of being left in the dark; he was

he had been quiet

keep it away from us,

keep what away? What does you mean?" I

Matteo stood still as he looked at Papa. He hadn't glanced at my

tell us when he rescued you,"

to make sense-one of the reasons why Papa and Alexei weren't there when I was at the clinic. Matteo had purposely kept them away from me. Alexei

with

exclaimed, shaking

you're to comply. Enough

not going to take me away from him. Are you

like that because

it-all he ever wanted was to protect me from any danger, especially when he asked me to

up, Alexei. You're the coward here. You've always been the fucking coward because you only listen to Papa. You're just scared to disappoint him." I said

they could decided things for me-I had fought for my own freedom ever since I was a teenager and I was always going to fight for it, no matter

was the one who spoke this time and I knew he

up at Matteo, tightly gripping

threatened you with?" I

as they streamed down my cheeks. I couldn't hide them away any longer even if I wanted to, I was too pressured and stressed by the current situation. All I wanted was to

at me, cupping onto my face.

me... tell me what they said

men.

it came to the safety of his men, he had always prioritised them. His men had families, wives and children-they were like any other men out there. My eyes closed at the thought of letting him choose me over them but that was impossible, it was a selfish act to ask. "You can't risk their lives.