Deadly Obsession - Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Something is tickling my nose. It’s featherlight moving down from my nose to my cheeks, resting at my throat. I can feel the light caress and my eyes fly open as panic sets in. I immediately try and sit up only to be held down.

Romelo.

His bright blue orbs are focused on me. I quickly look around realizing that I’m… in my room? Romelo is in my room, in my bed. He never comes in my room let alone stays unless he’s just waking me to go to his room.

Romelo doesn’t say a word. He leans in placing a kiss on my neck. That’s when I realize I’m not wearing my collar. He trails his kisses down to my collar bone and slowly makes his way to my breasts.

“Do you remember when we were younger, adn we went for a walk together?”

He runs his tongue over my nipple, his palm gripping my breast as he continues to talk. I can feel shivers of pleasure ripple over me, settling between my legs as he teases me.

“We made it to a lake, and if we were going to swim, we had to get rid of our clothes… You refused to swim that day.”

His mouth closes over my nipple earning a gasp from me. His eyes rise to meet mine.

“All those years you paraded as a boy. Did it ever cross your mind to tell me the truth?” he asks.

His eyes hold no amusement as he asks. He genuinely wants to know. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. He chuckles lightly rolling his eyes at my lack of explanation.

“Do you still love me, Charlie?”

The room is silent. I can’t escape his question. I have his undivided attention.

“…What if you don’t like my answer?” I ask in a shaky whisper.

Romelo only shrugs, his focus never wavering.

“That’s not what I asked you.”

I take in a deep breath, closing my eyes. I don’t want to see his reaction when I tell him.

“I… fear you,” I whisper.

Romelo doesn’t respond. He doesn’t move. I can still feel the weight of his body atop mine.

“You fear me,” he repeats. I’m trembling as he removes a curl from my forehead. I slowly nod my head.

Even now, when he’s abnormally calm, I fear him more than anything.

Finally, he smiles before placing a kiss atop my nose, hopping off the bed, and leaves me stunned in my bedroom.

~

It takes a while, but I eventually build enough courage to exit my bedroom. My mouth waters as the scent of food fills the air. I step into the kitchen and Romelo is standing behind the counter with stacks of pancakes, bacon, and sliced fruit. I slowly my steps my nerves getting the best of me.

What the hell is going on?

Romelo's cold gaze finds me as soon as I enter the room and he gives me a chilling smile.

"Are you hungry?" I furrow my brow slowly nodding my head, my nerves getting the best of me. He’s acting strangely out of character.

I slowly take my seat at the table and Romelo places a plate in front of me. I eye him warily, unaware if this is another one of his sick games or if he is genuinely being kind to me today. He shocks me even further when he takes a seat across from me with his own plate.

Romelo and I rarely eat breakfast together. I can’t remember the last time we did. He’s always gone before I wake up. And when he comes home late, he’s ready to inflict pain on me.

I stare at him, making sure he takes a bite of the food before I do.

“Romelo… what’s going on?” I ask.

He glances at me with a raised brow.

“Nothing, why?”

His gaze shifts. He’s looking at me with a dangerous gaze, daring me to interrogate him on his actions. So, I decide not to. I’m not going to cause unnecessary pain on myself for the sake of curiosity.

I slowly begin to eat, not wanting to anger him further. The food is delicious. After all this time I still find it hard to believe Romelo cooks. He spends most of his time inflicting pain on me so I rarely see a human side to him. After a few minutes of silence, Romelo decides to speak.

“Luca and Elise will be coming by later to meet you,” he says. Excitement and fear plagues me all at once. I feel excitement at the possibility of meeting another human after all these years. And I feel fear from meeting Luca. He and Romelo are one in the same.

“Charlie.”

Romelo is glaring at me expectantly.

"Oh… I can't wait to meet them," I say.

My voice comes out shaky betraying how I truly feel. Romelo raises a brow at me but decides not to speak. The rest of breakfast is eaten in complete silence and eventually Romelo leaves without so much as a word to me.

Even when I finish, I stay at the table trying to figure our why Romelo is acting so strange. He hasn’t even threatened me this morning. I suck in deep breath letting my thoughts mellow out before I get up and go about my day.

~

“Charlie.”

I turn to find Romelo in the doorway with a box in his hands. The box is wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper and the size is fairly big. I silently make my way across the room.

“For me?” I ask.

He watches me carefully, nodding his head.

He gently hands it to me and I don’t fight the smile as I pull it open. My eyes widen as I take in the black lace dress. I run my fingers over the fabric. I’ve never worn a dress so elegant before. Any kind of dress I wear around the house is a light sundress. But this one is something else entirely.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. I pull it out of the box looking at it in full length. I press it against my body, loving the feel of it against my skin.

“I’m glad you like it. You’re wearing it tonight.”

I nod my head gingerly, not taking my eyes off the gown. I feel Romelo’s body head as he steps closer to me, placing his finger under my chin.

“I’m only going to say this once. Behave.”

* * * * *

Romelo was kind enough to allow me to wear flats tonight instead of heels. I’ve never learned how to walk in heels and up until tonight, I’ve never had a reason to where them.

I can feel my nerves getting the best of me. I’m about to meet people. And not just any people, the most important people in Romelo’s life. My palms are growing clammy from anxiety. I also didn’t have to wear my collar tonight. The dress Romelo bought me has a high neck line that covers the tattoo of his name on my throat.

As I stare at the front door, a new idea suddenly dawns on me.

Escape. Freedom.

He isn’t making me wear the collar. I can leave the property and not have to be worried about being shocked into unconsciousness.

A soft chuckle escapes me.

Where would I go? What I do? Romelo is all I know. I know of nothing outside of this place. I’ve only ever seen the world through the eyes of television and Romelo has stressed to me how false it can be.

I have no idea how to truly function on my own. Even if I did manage to escape, he would find me in less than ten minutes. Maybe that’s the point of our dates; so that he can show me just how helpless I really am.

I hear his steps coming down the stairs behind me and immediately tense. I feel his body right behind me before he runs his hands through my hair, pulling the pins that were holding it in the updo. My hair tumbles out of its bun in long waves down my back.

He presses a soft kiss on the back of my head.

“Don’t put your hair up,” he murmurs. He walks around my body, standing in front of me.

“Are you nervous?” he asks.

I crane my neck to look up into his piercing blue gaze.

"Yes," I whisper.

He smiles, leaning in and kissing me on the corner of my mouth.

"Don't be."

As if on cue, headlights shine through the front door, and I know Elise and Luca are here. Moments later a knock sounds on the front door, and Romelo moves to open it, revealing the infamous Luca Pasquino.

My eyes widen slightly at the sight of him. He’s tall and lean and looks just as terrifying as the stories led me to believe. His steel colored eyes fall on me and I suddenly forget how to breathe. There’s a faint scar on his face running to the top of his cheek. It makes him look even more dangerous.

Elise is on his arm, looking the complete opposite of her husband. She’s beautiful and has very kind eyes that are an almond brown. Her hair is straight and she’s wearing a kind smile as she looks at me.

I open my mouth to speak. I know I should say something. Anything. But I just can’t get a word out. Elise seems to notice my predicament and offers me a gentle smile.

“Hi, I’m Elise.” Elise’s voice is gentle as she pulls me out of my fear ridden state. She’s holding her hand out to me with a smile and I don’t know what to do with it. I glance at Romelo in confusion but before he can speak Luca lets out a chuckle.

"Damn Romelo I guess you weren't lying when you said she's had no human contact." I look at him in confusion, and Elise lightly hits him on the arm.

"Luca!" she says in a scolding manner.

I feel Romelo's arm around my shoulders.

"My apologies. I hadn't thought of the impact meeting people would have on her," he says.

Luca's gaze falls on me and amusement twinkles in his eyes. He turns to Elise, giving her a light kiss on the lips.

"I'll leave you to it,” he murmurs.

She nods her head timidly, and I can see the adoration in his eyes as he looks at her. He walks towards me, giving me a threatening gaze that makes me want to hide, before grabbing Romelo and disappearing around the corner.

I turn back to Elise, opening my mouth once again to try and speak.
"I..."

I trail off not knowing what to say. She gives me a gentle smile.

"Is there anywhere we can go and sit down? Somewhere you may feel a little more comfortable?" she asks.

I nod my head, timidly, and begin walking to the library. We round the corner and I open the large doors, revealing my one place of solace. I keep walking until I reach the corner of the room where there is a sitting area with a table in the center.

I take a seat and Elise follows suit.

"I understand you've been alone with Romelo for quite some time... It's ok if you're nervous. It's completely normal to feel that way," she smiles at me. I nod my head slowly.

"So, what can I call you?” she asks.

"Charlie,” I whisper. She raises a brow at me.

"Is that your original name? Or is it something Romelo gave to you?” she asks.

"My name I was born with…," I say. She nods her head slowly, smiling at me.

"That's very unique. It suits you."

"Thank you," I smile.

No one’s ever told me that before; that my name is unique.

We fall naturally into conversation, mostly her asking me questions that I answer. But the longer we talk, the more I feel myself opening up. She even begins to tell me about her and Luca. I can see all the emotions playing out over her face as she speaks to me.

"So, how did you and Romelo meet?" she asks. I immediately tense up at her question and she notices my reaction.

"Oh, I’m so sorry,” she begins to apologize but I shake my head.

"It's ok, really. You didn't know," I say. After a moment of silence, I open up to her.

"His mother kidnapped me when I was 7."

I keep my eyes trained on the ground as I relive the horror of my past.

"She stole me from somewhere… there were a lot of people. She was crazy, always going on and on about love and how I would fix things. She forced me to parade as a boy for 8 years... until Romelo found out and killed them both. And I've been with him ever since."

I finish my story quickly and when I look up, Elise is watching me with wide eyes. She obviously didn’t know the circumstances of me being here.

“Are you happy here? Does he treat you well?” Elise’s voice drops down to a whisper. I look at her in confusion.

Happy?

I look down at my hands that are folded in my lap.

"He... provides for me," I speak in confusion.

"He… he's everything to me." I look up at Elise and she's watching me in pity.

"I don't know anything other than him,” I say.

She gives me a soft smile, reaching out and placing her hand over mine. I jump from the contact.

"Charlie, I've never known Romelo to be a compassionate man. Does he treat you well? He doesn't hurt you, does he?" she asks.

She's watching me with such worry.

"No," I say. I look away, unable to keep eye contact with her after I just lied to her.

"But Luca hurts you," I say.

"Sometimes, yes." I gape at her in confusion.

"Then why do you stay? Why don't you get away and be free?" I ask.

She had the chance. She knows life outside of Luca. She knows how to function.

She laughs softly pulling me out of my thoughts.

"My life was hand picked for me the day I was born. I was the daughter of the Capo. It's only fair to marry me off to the son of a Capo so that we may be stronger. There is no escaping this life. I was born into it." I look up at her words. That's exactly what Romelo said all those years ago. She takes a deep breath.

"And now, there's more than just me to think about. I have my son now. And he's the heir to the empire Luca is continuing to build. There's no me anymore." She looks at me.

"You on the other hand, were not born into this. You were forced into it. So I ask again. Does Romelo hurt you?" Silence comes over us.

I slowly nod my head. She watches me silently, and I know what she's waiting for. I stand from my seat, reaching with shaky fingers behind me to unzip my dress. I pull the neckline down to reveal the tattoo. I pull the dress even lower revealing the brand and the bruises and scars.

Elise stares with wide eyes and before I can think, she jumps up from her seat and hugs me. She squeezes my body so tight, I feel as though I'm about to pop. She steps back, and I move to pull my dress back up but she stops me. She reaches out slowly tracing her fingers over the brand.

"What is this?" she whispers.

The brand didn't swell upon healing. It's now a white, flat design on my side from my skin healing. It’s beautiful, but the means of putting it there was not.

"It's a brand," I say.

"Oh my God," she gasps. She steps back and I put my dress back on. After a moment of silence, she speaks.

"We women in this line of living have to stick together." She gives me a soft smile.

"I wish I could help you… But the most I can do for you now is give you an outlet to all of this. If you ever need someone. You can call me,” she says. I smile back at her. She’s speaking as if what she’s doing isn’t enough. But to me, it’s everything. To have someone to talk to that I can speak with honestly and hold conversations is a dream come true after living with Romelo.

"Thank you," I smile.

We continue to talk until Luca comes in the library looking for his wife. As Luca enters, Elise’s face lights up with a bright and happy smile as if she’s genuinely happy to see the man that inflicts pain on her.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks. She nods her head, standing to leave, but looks back at me.

"Remember, Charlie. Anytime you need something," she smiles. I smile back, nodding my head. Luca watches his wife exit the room, and to my utter dismay he turns his attention on me.

"It would seem Romelo has you perfectly trained," he says, standing over me. I immediately drop my head, looking at the ground. I hear his laugh, and his retreating footsteps as he walks out.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Charlie."

~

Romelo’s barely spoken to me since Luca left. He’s only told me to get ready for bed and I haven’t seen him since. He’s been acting strange all day and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m no longer a secret or something I personally did.

My mind drifts to Elise’s words.

“I was born into this.”

Those are the same words Romelo used when I asked him about escaping years ago. Elise watched me with pity the entire time, but I can’t help feel pity for her as well. Her fate was decided the moment she was born. Being married to a complete stranger and that stranger turning out to be the way Luca is garner’s more sorrow than my situation. She doesn’t see any way out. She accepts her life for what it is. Am I like her?

“Charlie.”

Romelo’s voice comes out of the silence and I sit up in bed, looking at him in the doorway. He’s still dressed up, his black hair wild like he just woke up.

“Come.”

He turns without another word expecting me to follow. I jump out of bed, running to keep up with him down the hall. He pauses in the archway of the dining room, watching me as I approach. His eyes are level and calm and once I reach him, he places his palm on the small of my back and leads me into the dining room.

I let out a gasp at the sight before me. There’s a cake sitting on the center of the dining table with candles atop it. Two of which are shaped into numbers.

23

I feel like my body is going to collapse. Twenty-three?

I look at Romelo in confusion but he’s giving nothing away so I look back at the cake. The birthday cake. My birthday cake.

It’s my birthday?

I can’t even remember the last time I celebrated my birthday. I turn to Romelo.

“It’s my birthday?” I whisper. He nods his head. That’s why he was being so nice to me today. He knew what today is. There’s no telling how many years he knew what today was and decided not to say anything about it. But this year, he did.

I step towards my cake using my finger to swipe the silk icing that covers it. I put in my mouth savoring the sweer flavor. I rarely have sweets.

“Why?” I ask. I keep my back to Romelo, afraid to look at him.

“Why today? Why this years? Is this why you let me meet other people?” I ask.

I hear the sound of his footsteps coming towards me before I feel his arms around me, pulling me into his body. His lips play at my ear before he murmurs to me, “I think you deserve a proper celebration.”

I turn to face him, eyeing him warily. I should be happy, but I’m not. Something about his demeanor is shaking me. I’ve known Romelo my whole life. Something is about to happen. Something big.

His eye flicker to the candles.

“Go ahead, Charlie. Make a wish.”

I slowly face the cake, closing my eyes to make my silent wish. Then, I blow out the candles. I feel Romelo’s hand pushing my hair over my shoulder.

"You know, Charlie, I've been thinking about what you said..."

I feel pressure and realize he's pushing me down so that I'm flat on the table. He presses his body against mine pinning me to the table and I feel his lips against my ear.

"… About fearing me."

My heart begins to thunder in my chest and my breathing speeds up coming out in shallow pants.

"I love that about you. I know that no matter what, I have your loyalty. You're all mine to do with as I please."

He flips me over so that my back is flat against the table, and I'm staring up into his empty blue gaze.

"Since it's your birthday, I'm going to give you something you may not even realize that you crave. A chance. An actual chance at your freedom."

My eyes widen. He gently pulls me up from the table leading me to the front door. He pulls out a gun, checking the chamber, and a knife, placing them in my hands.

"Thirty minutes, Charlie. No more. No less. Find your way to the road and you're home free. " He watches me for my reaction, and leans in kissing me hard. He pulls back and a faint smile plasters its way onto his face.

"Happy birthday."

He watches me as I slowly back away from him, his eyes growing more deranged by the second. I know that look all too well. He’s going to hunt me down.

"Romelo, please…I don't want to play this," I say honestly, my legs beginning to shake from the fear. I know this man.I know that he is not going to be merciful in hunting me down. And he is not going to be gentle once he catches me. He’s going to hurt me. Bad.

His smile leaves, replaced with a frown.

"Whatever I did to make you angry, I'm sorry. I don't want to play. I don't want to this chance,” I whimper.

My mind flashes to all the times he's caught me before paralyzing me with fear. Romelo slowly makes his way down the steps towards me. He reaches out, pushing my hair behind my ear.

“You’re wasting time.”

He grabs me roughly around the throat shoving me into the dirt. I land with a grunt and when I look up, he’s standing over me, his eyes filled with malice.

“Twenty minutes.”