Bend Me, Daddy

Serafina

The day of our meeting with my father arrived.

I wasn't ready.

Enzo knocked on the bathroom door. "Sera? Are you alright?"

"No," I called. I was terrified. "Not really. But I'll be out in a minute."

"I'll be downstairs with Luca. Come to his office when you come down. We need to leave in twenty minutes. And Sera?"

I turned to face the door. "Yeah?"

It was so quiet that at first, I thought he'd changed his mind about whatever he was going to say. And then, in a low voice he said, "It will be okay, baby girl."

I listened to his footsteps as he crossed the room, and then I heard the bedroom door softly close. When he was gone, I lowered myself onto the side of the tub and dropped my head into my hands.

This was so damn crazy. Enzo hadn't told me what happened in Luca's office after I'd left, and I'd been too afraid to ask. But...but they had to have a plan to free me from my father. Right? Why else would he tell me it was going to be okay? Right?

But as my mind raced over the possibilities, the small glimmer of hope that sparked inside of my chest was distinguished before it could catch flame. There was no way my father was going to agree to let me go. No matter what Luca threatened him with.

But what if he did? a small voice inside of me asked.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of being free. What would I do? Would I leave? Or would I stay here with Enzo? Would he make me stay? I didn't know if I was ready for that either. But I had to admit, it was way better than the alternative. At least this way, I felt like I was given somewhat of a choice. I mean, I agreed to basically be his mistress for an undetermined amount of time of my own free will. And if I had to be under a man's protection, I'd much rather be with a man I already knew-quite intimately, I might add-than have to marry someone my father chose for me. A man who could be old enough to be my grandfather. A man who might beat me and loan me out to his friends. Or worse. Taking a deep breath in a useless effort to calm my nerves, I stood and walked over to the sink to splash some cold water on my face and pat it dry with a small hand towel. Then I looked at myself in the mirror. I was pale, and there were dark circles under my eyes from not sleeping last night. Pulling out my makeup bag, I did what I could to make myself presentable.

In deference to my father and hopefully to help me gain favor in his eyes, I wore the dress Enzo had bought me that first night I showed up at his door. Luckily, the rain hadn't ruined it. I smoothed down the creamy lace, even though there wasn't a wrinkle to be seen, and checked my hair one last time. I'd pulled it back into a neat twist on the back of my head, leaving a few wavy strands to frame my face.

My father would hate the color, but there wasn't much I could do about it now. I'd thought about changing it back, but I liked it this way. And so did Enzo.

Bracing myself, I left the sanctuary of the bathroom, got my coat from the closet, and made my way downstairs, carrying my shoes. I'd put them on right before we left and save my feet from having to walk in heels any longer than I absolutely had to.

I found Enzo in the hallway outside of Luca's office. He had his back to me, and his cell phone was at his ear. He didn't hear me walk up, so I stopped and waited for him to get done with his conversation. His posture was stiff, and his fist was clenched at his side.

"Yes," I heard him say in a carefully controlled tone. "I understand."

A few seconds later, he ended the call. But instead of sliding his phone into his jacket pocket and going back into Luca's office, he stood there in the hall with his arms hanging at his sides. I could see the tension in his back and the way he gripped his phone like he was fighting the urge to smash it against the wall. "Enzo? Is everything okay?"

At the sound of my voice, he whipped around to face me. "Hey," he said. Then he looked down at the floor for a moment. When he raised his head again, he was once again cool and calm. "I apologize for my rudeness. I didn't realize you were waiting there."

I searched his face for some hint of what had just happened, but he had his sunglasses on, and I couldn't read him. "No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I just didn't want to interrupt."

He gave me a tight smile. "It's fine." Opening his black jacket, he slipped his cell phone into the inner pocket. "You look lovely."

"Thank you." I tried to smile, and failed. "I'm scared shitless."

If I was hoping for him to give me a hug and tell me again that everything was going to be all right, I was horribly mistaken. Instead, he kept his distance. And I felt the first tingle of unease slither down my spine. "There's no need to be," he told me.

Something in his tone made my blood run cold. "Enzo? What's going on?"

He did come to me then. Taking me in his arms-coat, shoes, and all-he held me tight for a moment before he dropped a kiss on the top of my head. "Nothing is going on," he said. "We need to get going. Let me see if Luca is ready." He left me standing alone in the hall, but didn't close the door behind him, so I was able to hear what was being said when he walked in. Like me, Luca knew right away that something was wrong. Enzo mumbled a response that I couldn't make out, but it seemed to placate Luca, for he didn't ask him anything else. The three men filed out of Luca's office and joined me in the hall. Tristan gave me a respectful nod and left to pull the SUV around to the front of the house. I shivered as he passed close to me.

"Hello, Sera," Luca said. "You look lovely."

"Thank you," I told him, but the words came automatically. I was way too worried and distracted to comprehend his compliment.

"Are you both ready?"

Enzo glanced at me. "We're ready. Let's go." Placing his hand on the small of my back, he escorted me to the front door, stopping only long enough for me to slip on my heels and my black coat before we went outside.