“Come, bella. I got tired of waiting for you downstairs so I came to retrieve you myself.” Matteo waved an arm toward the door.
“Yes, Matteo.” I swallowed my fear and walked toward the door, proud of myself for making it without one mishap on the heels.
He opened the door and then surprised me by offering his elbow to hold onto while we descended the stairs.
“You do look quite lovely, bella. However, tonight you will act as my date, nothing more. Don’t speak unless spoken to and answer as briefly as possible when you must. You are not to mention that you are my slave or anything else about how we came to meet to any of the people that will be here. If you do, you will be punished severely. Understand?” Matteo spoke in a hushed voice.
“Yes, Matteo. I understand completely.” I wasn’t sure how I’d avoid questions that might be asked, but I would do my best to follow his stipulations. It was a bit unnerving that I didn’t know how many people would be there — I didn’t even know what I looked like. I knew my hair flowed freely around my shoulders and felt soft when it moved, but my face felt heavy and very unlike my normal self. Then again, I was playing a part so it was a good reminder to use all the knowledge I’d learned from Madam on how to act like a lady.
Matteo led me into the sitting room. I couldn’t help but focus my gaze on the table and the spot where the dead man had lain not so long before. Panic ratcheted up my pulse and my breathing accelerated.
“Don’t think about it,” Matteo breathed.
Right, don’t think about it. That was so easy. Maybe for him.
When the doorbell rang, I was distracted from my inner horror show. I looked up to see Aida rushing to greet the guest. Moments later, she escorted a finely-dressed couple into the room. Matteo introduced me as his date for the night, and I was practically brushed aside by them after that. However, I found as more and more couples arrived, the thoughts of the last time I’d been in the room were pushed to the back of my mind.
Even though the first couple had ignored me once they found out I was simply a one-timer on Matteo’s arm, many other couples hadn’t seemed to care and tried to chat with me. Thankfully, I had plenty of techniques to keep the conversation on them instead of me. When they tried to ask me anything personal, I would murmur an answer and ask them another question. There was a time or two when I’d wished there had been time for me to read the magazines so I had any idea of some current events, but I managed to fumble my way through the stilted conversations.
Matteo stayed at my side, although he mostly carried on conversations with someone else. Conversations that were conducted in quiet, hushed tones and even being right next to him, I couldn’t pick anything up. Sometimes he spoke in Italian, other times in English. I supposed it didn’t really matter as it seemed most of the people there could speak both languages fluently.
Aida called everyone to dinner and we were directed to a long table in a room I hadn’t been in before. Matteo sat me next to him, and a woman that had been particularly hard to divert sat on my other side with a broad smile. It took me a moment to remember her name. Then it came to me. Allegra.
“I was hoping I’d be able to get the seat next to you!” she exclaimed, nearly jumping in her seat. “There’s so much about you I want to know! Matteo never brings dates to things like this! You must be pretty special!”
“I guess.” I returned her smile as Matteo’s hand landed on my thigh and squeezed in warning. I glanced up at him, but he was talking to the man on the other side of him. “So you come to many gatherings like this?”
“Oh, of course. It’s part of the lifestyle. Italians. We love big get-togethers. You get used to them after a while. Plus this specific group seems to do them at least once a month,” she said before taking a drink of her wine, which I noticed I did not have at my place setting. I smiled at the information she’d given me without meaning to. The dinners were monthly. Were they business or family? If I was going to get along in his world, knowing as much as possible would be helpful and he didn’t seem to be willing to share a whole lot with me.
“So, you come to them all the time?” I asked, hoping I might at least have a friendly face to look forward to.
“Mmm. Some of them. I’m not always invited. It’s a man's world, you know.” She leaned close and lowered her voice. “At least in this crowd. The men rule here and don’t think for one second it's not the truth.”
I nodded.
“How long have you known Matteo? Where’d you meet? Where are you from? You don’t have the Italian accent so it must be somewhere else.” Allegra blurted out rapid-fire questions.
“We haven’t known each other long and it wasn’t far from here we met. It’s a long story,” I answered as briefly with as few details as I could manage. “You?”
“Me and Matteo? He’s part of my extended family. Never thought he’d settle down. At least he never brought a woman around the family, anyway. We all figured he’d be a bachelor forever.” She laughed and slapped my thigh as if it was incredibly funny.
I forced a smile, not sure why it was so funny or even humorous that I was at a dinner with him. He’d not said a handful of words to me since guests had started arriving.
“I... I meant the man you are with,” I stuttered, trying to shift the focus back to her instead of the incredibly awkward situation I was in. Sure, I’d been schooled in all things formal by Madam, but carrying on a conversation with a woman who clearly had no problem prying into people’s personal lives was turning out to be quite difficult. There wasn’t much I could share with her about my past or even my present.
“Oh, he’s just my date. We’ve been together for a few weeks. Nothing serious.” She shrugged and looked over my shoulder toward Matteo.
I glanced at him, but he was still deep in conversation with the man on the other side of him.
“What makes you think we’re serious? You brought someone you’re seeing casually.” I hadn’t meant for the question to slip from my lips, but it was out before I could stop it.
“As I said, he doesn’t bring just anyone to these events.” Allegra’s attention was drawn to her date just in time for Matteo’s fingers to painfully dig into my thigh.
“Stop digging,” he growled into my ear before turning his attention away again. The pressure lessened on my sensitive skin.
I dug into the bowl of soup that was delivered shortly after and tried to keep my head down, hoping Allegra would leave me alone, since obviously I was failing to please Matteo.
It didn’t work. After the soup we were given appetizers to nibble on, and once the plates were taken away, she bumped my shoulder with hers.
“You’re so quiet. It’s so refreshing. I’m so used to all the noisy Italians. Plus, most of the women are… well, bitches. You’re different though. I can tell. We’d get along so great. I bet if we got away from all of these men, you’d open up so much more. We should do a spa date or go shopping sometime,” Allegra said, smiling brightly at me.
“Uh, sure. Sounds great.” I smiled back, but Matteo’s fingernails were digging into me, causing me to squirm. “As long as Matteo says it’s okay.”
“Oh, hush. He doesn’t control you. If you want to go, we’ll go.” Allegra waved off the absurd idea of having to get approval from anyone to go anywhere.
Delivery of the salad cut her off from speaking further. Matteo wrapped an arm around my shoulders and sank his hand into my hair to clasp the back of my neck as he leaned close.
“You are in big trouble, bella,” he whispered into my ear before biting the lobe hard enough I feared it would be bleeding. “I suggest you stop talking immediately.”
“Yes, Matteo,” I murmured.
His fingers twisted in my nape painfully. From the outside, it probably appeared he was being affectionate and whispering sweet nothings.
Inside, I felt like dying. I’d failed more miserably than I could have ever imagined, and the idea that there would be a punishment waiting at the end
of the evening loomed over me. If I could I’d excuse myself, but knew that wouldn’t go over well either.
Thankfully Allegra got caught up in a conversation with one of the men across the table from her about a sport of some kind that I knew nothing about. It wasn’t until dessert was served that she started in on me again.
“So, where do you work?” she pried again.
I looked from her to Matteo, then back to her.
She sighed loudly, having spotted my hesitation.
“Fine. I know, I’m so curious and full of questions. I’ll leave you alone. I know Matteo is very private and probably wouldn’t want any of us to know too much about his date.” She spoke the last part loudly enough to make sure he heard.
To my surprise, he rolled his eyes at her before turning away again. I’d expected anger or threats, but he’d looked like he was used to her ribbing and simply let it roll off his back. Maybe I wouldn’t be getting too bad of a punishment after all.
I breathed a sigh of relief when the dessert plates were collected, thinking the evening was coming to a close, but when glasses filled with amber liquid started being passed out, I realized it wasn’t.
The men took their glasses and started to exit the room while the women stayed seated. I looked to Allegra for what to do. She nodded and put a hand on my thigh.
“Be there in a moment,” Matteo spoke to the gentleman he’d spent most of the evening conversing with before holding a hand out for me. “Come with me, bella.”
I stood with his assistance and followed him from the room. He ushered me through a door across the hall, locking it behind us.
“Oh how you disappoint me, bella. I told you to stay quiet, not make friends. Yet there you go, blabbering away. I have business to take care of now and you are not invited. However, you are not permitted to wait with the women, seeing as how you can’t seem to control yourself. You shall go prepare yourself for me in your room and think about your punishment until I come to you.”
As he spoke, he walked me back until I was pressed against the wall and his face was inches from mine. He didn’t raise his voice or yell as I expected; instead he appeared completely in control, but the tone he used was enough to tell me the punishment would be harsh.
“Yes, Matteo,” I breathed, afraid to speak too loudly in case it broke the calm demeanor he had. I watched as he took a step back from me, thinking I was being excused to go. I turned to reach for the door, but his hand squeezing my bicep made me spin around in time for his fist to land squarely against my face. White light burst over my vision as pain blossomed through my cheek.
“Bella,” he sighed. “Seems you have much to learn yet.”
When he released me, I brought a hand up to my cheek to hold against the stinging pain left behind.
His eyes never left mine as he tugged down on his jacket and fixed his tie before dragging a hand through his hair, making sure not a strand was out of place.
“Now go to your room. Make sure no one sees you,” he said before unlocking the door and allowing me to exit first. He didn’t stop to make sure I did as instructed, instead turning in the opposite direction toward the hushed voices of the men.
I rushed up the stairs, thankful no one had interrupted my escape. Once in my room, I quickly stripped out of my dress and climbed on the bed. I didn’t know how long he’d be occupied, and I wasn’t going to risk not being ready for him when he entered the room.
As I lay in the bed, tears ran down my cheeks. Not from the throbbing in my face, not from the idea of a harsh punishment coming, but from the fact that I had upset Matteo without meaning to. I had tried to do as he’d instructed, but Allegra had been impossible to escape, especially when we were stuck next to each other throughout the five course meal.
I had no idea of how much time had passed before the bedroom door was thrown open, banging against the wall letting me know Matteo had returned.
Chapter Seven
“Think snuggling up to my cousin is going to save you? She might have my father wrapped around her finger and all the other men in the family letting her get away with everything, but you will not use that against me,” Matteo angrily yelled at me. He took a breath and ran his hands through his hair before continuing in a much calmer voice. “Get on your knees in front of me.”
I scrambled off the bed and fell to the floor.
“Head down. Palms out in front of you,” he instructed me.
I did as he said, closing my eyes as I tried to control my breathing. I was frightened by his sudden calmness after the explosion he’d entered with.
The sound of his belt being undone met my ears followed by the whisk of it being pulled through his pant loops. A loud slap of leather against skin made me jump slightly, but he hadn’t hit me, so I assumed it was against his palm. Testing it before he laid into me.
“I see that I grossly overestimated you and your training. Seems like every time I give you a little freedom you only turn it into a great disappointment for me. So, we will have to go back to the starting grounds and I’ll teach you everything myself, although I should demand a refund from Madam since she guaranteed me you would be perfect for what I needed you for.” He walked in a slow circle around me as he spoke, trailing the belt along my back and bottom as he did so. “Perfect slave to be the girlfriend my father demands. Perfect material for a controllable wife. All bullshit. All you are is a good faker. You might have been able to get away with this shit in her house, but not in mine. We will start with lashings now before we begin your training.”
My mind whirled with the idea of being his girlfriend or wife. I had no idea why he’d demanded me out of all the other women Madam had, but he had. Shame filled me with how much I’d let her down, and that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to please him.
The leather belt landed across my backside, and I closed my eyes. I refused to react. I’d been on the receiving end of a beating more times than I could count. Not that I would voice it, but Madam was much better at making a belt burn than he was. Even after twenty licks, I still felt that way. My skin burned and I knew it be uncomfortable to sit down the next day.
“Stand,” he demanded.
Quickly, I pushed off the floor and stood with my palms pressed together at my lower back, head lowered.
“Follow me. Oh wait, you can’t follow directions.” He stepped in front of me before sweeping my hair over one shoulder. The thick leather of his belt slid around my throat before he threaded it through the metal clasp and slid it tight around my neck, but not so much so that I couldn’t breathe. Yanking on the loose end of the belt, he forced me to follow as he exited the room.
We went down the hall, then the stairs, to a door in the kitchen. Without pausing, he threw open the door and descended another flight of stairs before pulling a key from his pocket. Unlocking another door, he pushed me through it ahead of him.
I struggled to look around the dark room until he flipped a switch and it was flooded with light from a hanging bulb.
“Welcome to my dungeon and training program,” Matteo said in a voice so dark I wanted to look at him to be sure it was truly his. Using the makeshift leash, he led me to the far corner where a set of shackles was attached to the wall. “Knees.”
I carefully knelt on the rough concrete floor in front of him.
He took the belt from my neck, dropping it to the floor before stepping behind me. Icy metal clanked around each of my wrists.
A shiver ran through me. I was chained up in his basement. I’d never been restrained in such a way before. Madam never resorted to such means since she knew I never would’ve run. I had no desire to live free of enslavement. It was all I knew and all I wanted. However, feeling the cool breeze in the room and the even colder restraints on my skin made me wonder if maybe I had thought wrong all along.
“I can see from the look on your face that you’ve never been locked up before, and I see that’s where Madam went wrong with you. No, you didn’t want to esca
pe, but you don’t know how to behave. No, you don’t truly know the extent to which a punishment can go. Don’t worry, that is going to change starting now. This will throw a wrench in my initial plans for you, but I refuse to let you go now. You are mine and will be forever, so get used to the idea.” Matteo leaned against the wall in front of me, sliding his hands into his pockets as if we were carrying on a completely normal conversation. He appeared entirely at ease while I struggled with all the new emotions flooding me. After a moment of staring at me, he pushed off the wall and stood close enough I could feel his body heat.
He reached down to pull his erection from his dress slacks. Sliding his hand over it slowly, he dragged the tip over my mouth.
“Suck it. Get me off and I’ll leave you alone for the remainder of the night. Fail to do so and I will start your punishment now,” he said as he shoved the hot, hard, musky flesh into my mouth.
I wanted to cry out that I thought the lashings from the belt had been my punishment. Instead, I sucked him down my throat and bobbed my head along his length the way he’d shown me he liked it done. The longer I sucked, the more my lips became numb and the more I realized that I really had no idea what being a slave was like.
Finally, he groaned and his release filled my mouth and throat before he pulled back. As he tucked himself into his pants again he yanked my hair so I was forced to look him in the eye.
“Welcome to the Italian Mafia way of life, bella.”
Surprising me, he softly patted my cheek then retreated to the stairs. He didn’t look at me before he flipped the switch, leaving me in the dark room.
I listened as his footsteps ascended the staircase, then as he closed the door at the top of the stairs. I wish I’d had more time to look around before I lost the only light in the room. I groped along the floor until I felt a metal pole and followed it up to what I presumed was a cot for me to sleep on. Once I settled on the creaky, old bed, I curled into a ball.