Shattered Hearts

Chapter Sixteen

I HAVE STARED AT THE BLACK device for hours since he left the apartment. I've paced back and forth on the cool tiles in my bedroom-no, it wasn't mine-because the Russian Bastard locked me inside it.

It started when I asked him for his name on Friday and why he took me away. He ignored me and had his fucking eyes glued to that phone screen. I've been fighting him for six days, and he didn't hurt me once.

I needed him to hurt me so I wouldn't feel terrible when I withdrew his blood with my teeth and fingernails. He took every scraping of the nails and biting of the mouth when he tried to sedate me. He didn't yell or do anything. That man simply plunged the needle in my ass cheek, and I'd go limp in his strong arms.

The fucked up thing was he cared for my shoulder after he got me to bed. I wanted to scream at him for being so darn complicated. I didn't understand him. He bought me clothes, dinner, and medication and got me chocolates and popcorn when he knew I was on my period. I've eaten everything, and I crave some more popcorn. Father never bought these snacks. I must say I enjoy popcorn.

He didn't look at me as if I was a woman anymore. He didn't look at me at all. That hurt even more because I remember his words. He just came, gave me dinner, and ignored me until I pounced on him. It felt stupid when I could pick that phone up and give away my location. The truth was, am I ready to go back to the hell I call home? Do I want to be taunted by Raffaele and Ginevra and ignored by my father? I've been missing for a week, and did they miss me?

I picked up the phone and heaved when it came on without a password. I bit my lip, scared as to what I should do.

Just get it done! I dialled my father's number with shaky hands. I held my breath as the phone rang and rang and-nothing. It went straight to voicemail. I tried a second time, thrice, and my father didn't pick up his phone. It was morning in Italy, no? I'm sure it was.

I dialled the telephone at the house and waited for Ginevra to pick up. I was about to end it once and for all when the line picked up. My heart sped inside my rib cage when that voice came on the other side. "Ginevra at the Caruso's estate." The woman spoke with such decorum.

I breathed in shakily, "It's Giulia." There was silence. "Giulia Caruso." I held my breath as the adrenaline resonated with the thud of the blood pumping to my heart and my ragged breath. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry. We don't know anyone by that name." Ginevra was calm and collected. My eyes stang with fresh tears.

"You can stop with the games now, Ginevra. Can I speak to my father?"

"Come back to bed, woman." Was that Raffaele? "Turn it off." That was Raffaele. Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. They were sleeping together. But Ginevra was two decades older than my brother. Oh, God.

"I'm sorry, but Edoardo Caruso isn't at the house. Take your scam somewhere else." I opened my mouth to say something, but silence greeted me. I glanced at the phone and screamed in frustration. The next thing I know, the phone shatters because I slammed it across the wall.