I wasn’t in the dungeon.
No, I was in a beautiful room. I sat up, and my eyes widened when I saw Alessio sitting next to me.
Alessio!
He was right there. Next to me. He found me! He came…he really came for me. Just like I knew he would.
My heart soared, and I jumped into his arms with a cry. “Alessio. I love you. I love you. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me. Please,” I sobbed in his chest.
“Shh…I’ve got you, Angel.”
Oh, his voice. Those words. They were exactly what I wanted to hear. What I had been so desperate to hear.
His arms wrapped around me, holding me to his body. He caressed my hair and placed gentle kisses over my face, soothing all the hurt away.
“Alessio, you…found me.” I hiccupped back a sob as he looked down at me with his captivating blue eyes, the ones I loved so much.
“I will always find you.” Placing a kiss on my forehead, he let his lips linger there for a moment. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long.”
My fingers tightened around his jacket, and I shook my head. “You came for me. That’s all that matters.”
Alessio hugged me tighter. “I’m going to take away all the things Alberto has done to you.”
I shivered in his arms at the mention of the devil’s name. “He hurt me, Alessio,” I admitted with tears streaming down my cheeks in a never-ending flow.
“I know. But he is never going to hurt you again,” Alessio said, pulling away from me. He pushed me flat on my back and loomed over me.
“Where did he touch you, Angel?” he muttered, kissing my lips gently and so softly.
“Everywhere,” I whimpered at the thought of Alberto touching me, defiling and humiliating me in the worst way possible.
“I’m going to take it all away,” Alessio vowed before taking my lips. The kiss was slow and gentle. He kissed me with care, as if I was a treasure, a precious jewel, someone who deserved to be loved.
And slowly Alessio replaced Alberto’s touch with his own. He traced my body with his fingers and lips. Slowly, softly, and gently. He explored my body with care and love. So much love.
But my heaven didn’t last for long.
Because I was suddenly thrust back into hell.
My eyes snapped open when I felt a finger probe my entrance.
“No!” I screamed, my voice filled with horror.
“Hmmm…is that for me, love? Are you wet for me?”
Horrified, I froze, and numbness washed over me. Alberto cupped me roughly against my legs, his palm pressing hard against me. I flinched and shuddered in fear and disgust.
He was sucking on my nipple, biting and torturing the skin. Alberto slightly pulled away until he was looking down on me.
The smile on his face made my stomach roll until I thought I was going to be sick. It held so many promises. Dark promises. Every day was painful. Every day my body was abused. Every day my heart broke a little more. Every day I wished I was back in Alessio’s arms.
And every day I hoped for Alessio to find me.
But he hadn’t come for me. Yet. I still hoped. I still believed. In him.
Alberto pulled away and pushed my knees up until I was completely open to him. I bit on my lips to keep from crying or screaming. I had learned fast that fighting only made it worse.
The tears fell down on my cheeks, and I didn’t bother swiping them away. Alberto smirked at the sight of them, and my heart ached.
Weak. I was so weak. Alessio would be ashamed of me. I was ashamed of myself.
I was dirty. Used. A whore.
I was not an Angel. Not anymore.
Instead of moving on top of my body and taking me like he always did, Alberto pulled out his phone. His knees were holding my thighs apart and in place. His torso was holding my hips against the bed. I couldn’t move. No, I was completely helpless underneath him.
He held the phone over me, right between my legs.
His next words sent me over the edge, and I was falling. Falling deep in the dark abyss.
“Why don’t I send Alessio a picture, huh? Let him know that his woman is wet and dripping for another man.”
My breath left my body in a loud whoosh, and I struggled to breathe. No. No. No. Please no. Anything but this.
I shook my head, or I thought I did. I felt too disconnected. Paralyzed by fear and humiliation. My breath was coming too fast, and my blood ran cold.
“No,” I protested weakly, my voice barely coming out in a whisper.
My heart thundered against my chest almost painfully, and my mouth tasted bitter with bile. I was going to be sick. My stomach rolled and tightened.
Tears blurred my vision, and my lips quivered with the effort to keep my cries in.