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?"

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

my husband?" I tried to step forward as I felt myself growing angry but Matteo held

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

you wouldn't really stand by your husband when you know the truth." Alexei replied, shrugging as if it was not a

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 there

him because he had been quiet ever since he came, but I could see the look in

long were you planning to keep it away from

What does you mean?"

at my direction ever since they came in and I continued

us

Matteo finally spoke and everything began to make sense-one of the reasons why Papa and Alexei weren't there when I was

with us. With

exclaimed, shaking my

to comply. Enough rebelling,"

to take me away from him. Are you out of

that because of him!"

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

only listen to Papa. You're just scared to disappoint him." I said through gritted teeth as I stood behind my husband, not wanting to be anywhere

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

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

at Matteo, tightly gripping

they threatened you with?" I

and stressed by the current situation. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life with Matteo and when I had that

me, cupping onto my face. "But, baby, it's

me what they said

kill my men. They'd

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