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?"

A sly smirk appeared on his face before inserting his hand in his slacks' pocket, "You didn't tell her, Matteo? How long were you

just to insult my husband?" I tried to step forward as I

into our home and call him a coward-he had disrespected his own brother-in-law when I knew for sure, Matteo had never disrespected

your husband when you know the truth." Alexei replied, shrugging as

stand. It was by my husband's side regardless of being left in the dark; he was there throughout the troubles of my life and he had saved me. He

him because he had been quiet ever since he came, but

you planning to keep

keep what away? What does you mean?" I

he looked at Papa. He hadn't glanced at my direction ever since they came in and I continued to

to tell us when he rescued

away from me." Matteo finally spoke and everything began 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 scoffed, "You're not capable of taking care of

safer with us.

I exclaimed,

comply. Enough rebelling," Papa

to take me away from him.

that because of him!" Alexei interjected, pointing at

when he asked me to tell him whenever I left the house but I had been too stubborn to listen. The reason behind all of this

because you only listen to Papa. You're just scared to disappoint him." I said through

family but they had gotten too far. They had thought 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 what it

love him, you'll come home with us. Matteo knows it," Papa was the one who spoke

at Matteo,

me. What did they threatened you with?" I asked, somehow

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 live a peaceful

at me, cupping onto my face. "But,

what they said to

men.

was never selfish when 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. You're doing the right thing,"