A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 68

Alena

"I'll go. I'll go with you."

words escaped my mouth with fear.

The

I had only gotten the chance to be with Matteo after awhile and it felt as if everything was taken away from me in a glimpse. We had promise forever together but I couldn't risk losing him to my own father, the monster in disguise. When I was growing up, I knew Papa was never the good guy. He had killed many people without regret just for the sake of his Bratva. However, I never thought he had the guts to point a gun at the love of my life, at his son-in-law. I thought things were going just fine between the both of them. I knew they were never eye to eye ever since I decided to marry Matteo but even I couldn't stop the tension. "Get her in the car,

car," Papa said to Alexei, who obeyed him.

Alexei grabbed my arm to pull me away but I couldn't stop looking at Matteo. I needed to look at him a little longer for my own sanity he was standing there helpless and I never saw him that way, he was a man with power.

My heart broke into a million pieces at the sight.

Papa kept his gun away as he followed me but not until he said the words, "Don't ever come near my daughter, Matteo or I will put a bullet in your head."

Just like that, Papa walked straight ahead towards the car along with his men.

Alexei continued to drag me towards the car, despite my efforts of trying to slow him down. My teary eyes focused on Matteo, somehow asking for his help but I knew we had ran out of choices. If I ran back towards him, Papa was bound to shoot him. I couldn't risk that. Matteo and I needed a plan to get back to each other.

5

For now, we had to separate.

"Matteo!" I shouted his name as Alexei pushed me into the car.

Matteo seemed to have escaped the trance as he ran towards me. "Alena!" Alena!

However, the car was faster than him and it was impossible for him. I kept on pushing my brother away as I turned around to look at Matteo, who had already fallen on his knees as he cried and I knew at that moment, I had lost everything.

The car ride was quiet and I didn't bother to waste my energy anymore.

We were heading to Papa's house, the same house I had grew up in. I used to call it my home because of the good memories I had here with my family but it didn't feel like home anymore. I dreaded every step I took to enter the house, as if the floors burned me. Papa's men had carefully pulled me inside because apparently, I was wasting their time.

As soon as I entered, Mama came running towards me. The tears were visible in her eyes as she pulled me in for a hug, rubbing my back as she whispered soothing words in my ears. I could barely hear her questions because I was still in shock from having my world falling apart. 08:50 Fri, Nov 1 B.

Chapter 68

continued to touch-my face,

of us in

IL

they were guarding the door, incase I decided to run off. I was never strong enough to fight these men but I knew I had the strength if I wanted to-besides, Papa's men could never

eyes, seeing sympathy in

Alexei stood near the fireplace. While Alexei looked at the, Papa didn't even bother to spare a glance as he went to grab a cigarette. This wasn't the same man who had raised me,

this room,

in "Mikhail, what what did you

She kept wiping away my tears even though they weren't going to stop anytime soon while Papa remained expressionless at his spot, as if this whole thing was nothing. Alexei, on the other hand, looked at Papa as

a I a gun at ! at Matteo. He wanted

you thinking?!"

own good. She needs to

me? Why do you think you can decide my life for me?" I asked, crying out. I could feel myself shaking from the amount of anger I tried to hold in but Papa didn't seem to be bothered by it. "He wasn't able to

you can?"

thirty years, Alena. Not once

you

hurt!"

want is control. Not over your own life but over mine as well. You can control Alexei but you can never control me." "I did not raise you to be ungrateful." The words felt like knives especially when it came out of his mouth, the one who I had respected the most. The one I had

up, making my

is your Bratva. You don't

learn your place,

child anymore. You can't

and Matteo. Once that's settled, you'll marry Viktor." Papa said, staring into my eyes and for once, I knew

turning look at Mama

2/4

5

Chapter 68

protect-me but he was a coward whenever

to you." I

have a

+5

felt as if I had lost a battle-a battle I never wanted to fight in the first place. Within seconds, I found

called out,

That's your daughter!"

own father had slapped me across the face because he was angry, something he had never lost

cry as Mama went to pull