A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter Alena

67

"What are they doing here?" | 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 |

couldn't understand the meaning behind them but | 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." | 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, | was going to be pulled away. "You'll understand. | hope you can forgivewhen

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. | wrapped my hand around his waist, trying to pull him in for a hug. "Please, please,

try to understand. | swear | 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 | 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.

| 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, | went blank. When he walked towards the door to pull it open, | just stared at him as if | couldn't

move my body.

| stood still at the sspot as | watched Alexei and Papa stepped in, along with their other men.

Matteo made his way back towardsbefore grabbing my hand, wantingclose. 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,

| kept staring at my husband in confusion. Did it have anything to do with my disappearance? What did he suffer

when | was gone?

"Took you long enough to open the door" Alexei spoke.

| turned to look at my brother, "Why are you here?"

Alexei raised an eyebrow as he looked back at Matteo, occasionally glancing at me. A 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

keep it a secret? You're quite a coward."

"What the hell, Alexei? You chere just to insult my husband?" | tried to step forward as | felt myself growing

angry but Matteo heldin my place, continuing to hold onto my hand.

Matteo was the only reason | hadn't punched my brother in the face. He had no right to cinto our hand

call him a coward-he had disrespected his own brother-in-law when | knew for sure, Matteo had never

disrespected my family. He did it all for my sake.

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

not a big deal.

| glanced at Matteo, feeling confused but | knew where | had to stand. It was by my husband's side regardless of

being left in the dark; he was there throughout the troubles of my life and he had saved me. He loved me, more

than anyone else in this room.

"Papa, why are you here?" | decided to shift the attention to him because he had been quiet ever since he came,

but | could see the look in his eyes, he only stared at Matteo.

"How long were you planning to keep it away from us, Matteo?" Papa asked.

"To keep what away? What does you mean?" | interrupted.

However, Matteo stood still as he looked at Papa. He hadn't glanced at my direction ever since they cin and

| continued to wonder the reason why.

"He didn't bother to tell us when he rescued you," Papa replied.

"Because you just wanted to take her away from me." Matteo finally spoke and everything began to make sense-

one of the reasons why Papa and Alexei weren't there when | was at the clinic. Matteo had purposely kept them

away from me. Alexei scoffed, "You're not capable of taking care of Alena, Matteo.

She'll be safer with us. With her family."

"What?" | exclaimed, shaking my head.

"Alena... you're to comply. Enough rebelling," Papa said.

"No, you're not going to takeaway from him. Are you out of your mind?!"

"Just look at you. You're like that because of him!" Alexei interjected, pointing at my injuries.

The reason for my injuries was from the kidnapping. Matteo had nothing to do with it-all he ever wanted was to

protectfrom any danger, especially when he askedto tell him whenever | left the house but | had been

too stubborn to listen. The reason behind all of this was because of my own fault.

"Shut the fuck up, Alexei. You're the coward here. You've always been the fucking coward because you only listen

to Papa. You're just scared to disappoint him." | said through gritted teeth as | stood behind my husband, not

wanting to be anywhere near them.

Papa and Alexei were my family but they had gotten too far. They had thought they could decided things for me-I

had fought for my own freedom ever since | was a teenager and | was always going to fight for it, no matter what

it took.

"If you love him, you'll chwith us. Matteo knows it," Papa was the one who spoke this tand | knew

he had threatened him in other ways.

| looked up at Matteo, tightly gripping onto his hand.

"Tell me. What did they threatened you with?" | asked, somehow begging.

Tears were beginning to form in my eyes as they streamed down my cheeks. | couldn't hide them away any

longer even if | wanted to, | was too pressured and stressed by the current situation. All | wanted was to live a

peaceful life with Matteo and when | had that chance again, it was all going to be taken away.

Matteo turned to look at me, cupping onto my face. "But, baby, it's not your fault."

"Tell me... tellwhat they said to you."

"They'd kill my men. They'd ruin their lives."

Matteo was never selfish when it cto the safety of his men, he 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 letting him

chooseover them but that was impossible, it was a selfish act to ask. "You can't risk their lives. You're doing

the right thing," | muttered under my breath.

"A deal's a deal. Either way, she's coming with us." Alexei interrupted once more.

Just as Matteo was about to say something, Alexei had already pulledaway from him. | reached out to grab

onto Matteo again but he was held back by Alexei and Papa's men. | began to kick out and scream as loud as |

could but my brother didn't care. As for Papa, he seemed to find it satisfying. He continued to smirk as he

watched us being separated, he didn't have a single care in the world about my happiness, all he cared about

was his own. "Letgo! Letgo now!" | screamed, trying to push Alexei.

Even if | used all of my strength, | couldn't push him away. My other hand was hurt and my ribs hadn't healed

yet-1 didn't want to risk it.

Matteo, on the other hand, kept calling out my nas he pushed the men away. | saw him throw a few punches

and the men had fallen down onto the ground while | struggled to push my brother. | knew he had more strength

thanbut | didn't expect him to use It on me.

"Shut up, Alena. You're only making it harder!" He said.

"Fuck you, Alexei!" | bit onto his hand and he screamed in pain before lettinggo.

| immediately ran to Matteo as he pushed the other men away. | ignored my brother and my Papa as they called

out forbecause | didn't want to leave my husband -I knew Papa was never going to listen toif | tried to

negotiate and Alexei, he was the black sheep. He was only going to listen to Papa.

"Alena Rose Orlov!" Papa shouted loudly as he pointed a gun.

My eyes widened as soon as | saw him, knowing well he had it pointed at Matteo. My heart began to beat fast

before using myself as a shield to protect my husband from being shot.

| knew my father, | knew the things he was capable of. He wasn't afraid to pull that trigger.

"What the hell are you doing?" | asked, crying.

"You should make a wise choice to cwith us or | won't hesitate to shoot him. Do you want him dead or alive,

Alena? You choose." Papa replied, his grip tight on the gun. Both of his eyes were pierced onto Matteo, as if he

hated him, as if he despised him. "Papa... this isn't like you."

"Don't makerepeat myself, Alena."

| turned around to glance at Matteo, seeing him frozen in his spot.