Inicio / Mafia / Obsessed (Forbidden Desire) / Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

Todos los capítulos de Obsessed (Forbidden Desire): Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

40 Capítulos

11

The confrontation was interrupted by the arrival of Marco, Dante's younger brother. Unlike Dante's cold demeanor, Marco's danger was masked by charm and easy smiles."Ladies," he said, his eyes taking in their tense postures. "Not playing nice, are we?"Victoria immediately transformed, her grip loosening as she turned a brilliant smile toward Marco. "Just getting to know our new friend better."Marco's gaze lingered on Elena's wrist, where Victoria's fingers had left red marks. "My brother wouldn't be pleased to see his property damaged."The word 'property' stung, but Elena kept her expression neutral. "I'm fine.""Good." Marco offered his arm with exaggerated gallantry. "Because I've been instructed to bring you to the main house. Dante wants a word."Victoria's face tightened with jealousy as Elena was led away, though she was too smart to voice her displeasure in front of Marco.As they walked, Marco studied her profile. "You're either the bravest woman I've met, or the most fooli

12

The gallery felt like home after a week in hell. Elena breathed in the familiar scent of restoration chemicals and old canvas, Franco and Giuseppe shadowing her every move."Elena!" Lucia rushed over, then stopped. "Madonna, you smell like desperation. What's wrong?"Elena forced a smile. "Just tired. Papa's death hit harder than expected."Lucia's eyes narrowed, studying her face. "This isn't tired. And who are those men?""Security," Elena said quickly. "I'll explain later. Right now I need to work.""Security? Since when do you have money for...""Later, Lucia. Please."The morning passed restoring damaged paintings. For precious hours, Elena forgot her nightmare. Around noon, she stepped outside for air when someone called her name."Elena?"She spun around. Antonio Ricci stood there, tall and devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit. Recognition hit like lightning."Antonio!" She threw her arms around him. "It's been ages!"He pulled back, grinning. "After all these years, I on

13

The silence in the hall was deadly. Elena's heart pounded as she stared at Antonio, confusion and fear twisting in her chest."Antonio," she whispered. "What are you doing here?"Victoria stepped forward, her smile bright and fake. "Dante, meet my cousin Antonio. He's been handling business for us."Elena's world spun. "Cousin?""Small world, right?" Victoria linked her arm through Antonio's. "When Antonio told me he ran into an old friend today, I was so surprised."Antonio smiled, but his eyes were cold. "Victoria told me all about you, Elena. Though she didn't mention how... intimate you and Dante are."The way he said 'intimate' made Elena's skin crawl."We're not..." Elena started."Oh, please," Antonio laughed. "Elena, you don't need to lie anymore. We know each other too well for that."Elena frowned. "What do you mean?"Antonio stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Come on, baby. After everything we shared? All those nights together?"Elena's blood turned to ice. "What are you t

14

Elena's hands trembled as she pushed open the heavy door to Dante's office. The room smelled of leather and expensive cigars, dark and masculine like everything about him. He sat behind his desk, silhouetted against the city lights bleeding through the windows behind him.He didn't look up. His fingers moved across papers with cold efficiency, as if she wasn't even there."What do you want?"The words were sharp, cutting. Elena felt them slice through her chest, but she forced herself to step forward. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, each step an act of courage."I wanted to thank you," she whispered. "For defending me back there."Dante's hand stilled. Slowly, so slowly it made her breath catch, he lifted his head. His dark eyes found hers across the room, and the intensity in them made her knees weak. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight."Elena." Her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine. "You belong to me."Her heart stopped. Then it

15

The gallery smelled like home, old paint, varnish, and the faint mustiness of centuries-old canvas. Elena breathed it in deeply, trying to let the familiar scent calm her racing heart. But even here, in the place she loved most, she couldn't escape him.Franco and Giuseppe stood like silent shadows near the entrance, their dark suits and cold eyes marking them clearly as Dante's men. Everyone who walked past stared. Whispered. Elena felt their curiosity like insects crawling on her skin.This is my life now, she thought bitterly. A prisoner even in my sanctuary.She hadn't seen Dante since last night. Since he'd walked out of his office after calling her his property. The word still burned in her chest like acid.Property.Not his woman. Not his lover. Just another possession he owned, like his cars or his suits or the mansion she was trapped in.Elena's hands trembled slightly as she pulled on her white conservation gloves. She had a 16th-century portrait to restore today, delicate w

16

Elena barely had time to breathe when she walked through the mansion doors that evening before three women descended on her like a swarm of perfectly manicured bees."Miss Russo, come with us quickly," said Maria, one of the household staff she vaguely recognized. Her tone was urgent, brooking no argument."What's going on?" Elena asked, confusion mixing with exhaustion. After the confrontation at the gallery, all she wanted was to hide in her room and figure out what that cryptic note about her mother meant."Mr. Valenti's orders," Maria said, already guiding Elena toward the stairs. "You have thirty minutes to get ready.""Ready for what?""No questions, miss. Mr. Valenti was very clear."Elena's temper flared. "Of course he was. God forbid he actually explain anything to me."But the women were already ushering her into her bedroom, where three garment bags hung on the closet door. Maria unzipped the first one, revealing a stunning black dress that made Elena's breath catch despite

17

Dante carried Elena through the hotel corridors like she weighed nothing. Her heart beating fast from the kiss, from the public humiliation, from being held in his arms like something precious when he'd just called her property hours ago.What is he doing? she thought desperately. What are we doing?He pushed through a set of glass doors onto a private balcony overlooking the city. The city skyline glittered in the darkness like scattered diamonds. Cool night air hit Elena's wine-soaked skin, making her shiver.Dante set her down carefully, his hands lingering on her waist for just a moment before he stepped back."Thank…" Elena started."Didn't I tell you to behave?" Dante cut her off, his voice hard.Elena's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?""I told you to stay close. To not cause trouble." His eyes bored into hers. "And what did you do?""Are you serious right now?" Elena's voice rose with disbelief. "I didn't go around looking for trouble! Victoria started this! She threw wine on m

18

Four days trapped in this mansion like a prisoner. Four days of missing the meeting about her mother. Four days of meals delivered to her room by nervous maids who wouldn't meet her eyes.By the fourth day, Elena couldn't take it anymore.She showered, dressed in jeans and a sweater, and left her room. The mansion was quiet, afternoon sunlight streaming through tall windows.In the hallway, three women appeared, the blonde, redhead, and the one with caramel skin. Their laughter died when they saw her."Look who finally emerged," the blonde said, voice dripping with false sweetness.The redhead's eyes traveled over Elena with disdain. "Four days locked away. Must be a record."Elena felt their judgment like knives being stabbed into her skin. Saw the sneers. The jealousy burning in their eyes.They hate me because Dante treats me differently, she realized.If only they knew, Elena thought, rolling her eyes as she walked past. If only they knew how he torments me.She wandered through c

19

Elena stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door so hard the walls shook. Her hand still stung from slapping Dante. Her lips still burned from his kiss. Her heart still ached from his accusations.Liar. Manipulator. Just like your father.She pressed her palms against her eyes, trying to stop the tears that threatened to fall."No," she whispered fiercely. "No more crying over him. No more."Elena paced her room like a caged animal, her mind racing. She couldn't stay here. Couldn't spend another day in this mansion, watching Dante treat her like property one minute and kiss her like she was everything the next.I need to leave, she thought desperately. I need to get far away from here. From him. From this entire nightmare.But how? She had no money. No resources. Dante's men watched her every move. The only things she owned were clothes he'd bought and a contract that said he owned her.Elena stopped pacing, an idea forming.Money. I need money.Dante had plenty of it. This mansion

20

The summons came an hour before dinner.A sharp knock on Elena's door, followed by Maria's nervous voice: "Mr. Valenti requests your presence at dinner tonight, Miss Russo. Seven o'clock sharp. He says it's not optional."Elena's hands clenched around the book she'd been pretending to read. "Tell Mr. Valenti I'm not hungry.""He said you'd say that," Maria replied quietly. "He also said if you don't come down, he'll come get you himself."Of course he did, Elena thought bitterly."Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll be there."At exactly seven o'clock, Elena descended the stairs in the same jeans and t-shirt she'd worn all day. A small rebellion, but rebellion nonetheless. If Dante wanted to parade her around like a trained pet, she'd at least refuse to dress up for it.The formal dining room glowed with candlelight. The long mahogany table was set for four, crystal and china gleaming against white linen.Dante stood by the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked ev

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