A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

"I'll go. I'll go with you."

words escaped my mouth with fear.

The

I had only gotten the chance to be with Matteo after awhile and it felt as if everything was taken away from me in a glimpse. We had promise forever together but I couldn't risk losing him to my own father, the monster in disguise. When I was growing up, I knew Papa was never the good guy. He had killed many people without regret just for the sake of his Bratva. However, I never thought he had the guts to point a gun at the love of my life, at his son-in-law. I thought things were going just fine between the both of them. I knew they were never eye to eye ever since I decided to marry Matteo but even I couldn't stop the tension. "Get her in the car,

car," Papa said to Alexei, who obeyed him.

Alexei grabbed my arm to pull me away but I couldn't stop looking at Matteo. I needed to look at him a little longer for my own sanity he was standing there helpless and I never saw him that way, he was a man with power.

My heart broke into a million pieces at the sight.

Papa kept his gun away as he followed me but not until he said the words, "Don't ever come near my daughter, Matteo or I will put a bullet in your head."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Just like that, Papa walked straight ahead towards the car along with his men.

Alexei continued to drag me towards the car, despite my efforts of trying to slow him down. My teary eyes focused on Matteo, somehow asking for his help but I knew we had ran out of choices. If I ran back towards him, Papa was bound to shoot him. I couldn't risk that. Matteo and I needed a plan to get back to each other.

5

For now, we had to separate.

"Matteo!" I shouted his name as Alexei pushed me into the car.

Matteo seemed to have escaped the trance as he ran towards me. "Alena!" Alena!

However, the car was faster than him and it was impossible for him. I kept on pushing my brother away as I turned around to look at Matteo, who had already fallen on his knees as he cried and I knew at that moment, I had lost everything.

The car ride was quiet and I didn't bother to waste my energy anymore.

We were heading to Papa's house, the same house I had grew up in. I used to call it my home because of the good memories I had here with my family but it didn't feel like home anymore. I dreaded every step I took to enter the house, as if the floors burned me. Papa's men had carefully pulled me inside because apparently, I was wasting their time.

As soon as I entered, Mama came running towards me. The tears were visible in her eyes as she pulled me in for a hug, rubbing my back as she whispered soothing words in my ears. I could barely hear her questions because I was still in shock from having my world falling apart. B.

Mama continued to touch-my face, trying to bring me back.

It was just the four of us in the living room.

IL

Papa's men had left us some privacy but I knew they were guarding the door, incase I decided to run off. I was never strong enough to fight these men but I knew I had the strength if I wanted to-besides, Papa's men could never hurt me.

I looked into Mama's eyes, seeing sympathy in them.

Papa and Alexei stood near the fireplace. While Alexei looked at the, Papa didn't even bother to spare a glance as he went to grab a cigarette. This wasn't the same man who had raised me, dis was a monster who decided to ruin his daughter's life. What happened, Alena? Are Are you hurt?" Mama asked as we both sat on the sofa.

in this room, feeling angry.

I kept staring at the two men in "Mikhail, what what did you do?" This time, Mama turned to look at Papa.

Mama wasn't getting any answers from anyone as she continued to soothe me like a child. She kept wiping away my tears even though they weren't going to stop anytime soon while Papa remained expressionless at his spot, as if this whole thing was nothing. Alexei, on the other hand, looked at Papa as if awaiting for his next instruction.

"Pointed a I a gun at ! at Matteo. He wanted to shoot him," I muttered.

What were you thinking?!" Mama exclaimed, eyes wide.

Papa sighed, "This is for her own good. She needs to be away from that man."

"How do you know what's good for me? Why do you think you can decide my life for me?" I asked, crying out. I could feel myself shaking from the amount of anger I tried to hold in but Papa didn't seem to be bothered by it. "He wasn't able to keep you safe!" "And

you can?"

"I kept you safe for thirty years, Alena. Not once were

you

hurt!"

I scoffed, "So, you think you're so good at it? You think I'll be happier if I'm trapped here for the rest of my life? All you want is control. Not over your own life but over mine as well. You can control Alexei but you can never control me." "I did not raise you to be ungrateful." The words felt like knives especially when it came out of his mouth, the one who I had respected the most. The one I had loved.

I stood up, making my way towards Papa.

"All you care about is your Bratva. You don't care about me."

"You have to learn your place, Alena."

"I'm not a child anymore. You can't keep me here,"

"We're filing a divorce for you and Matteo. Once that's settled, you'll marry Viktor." Papa said, staring into my eyes and for once, I knew he was determined to get it done this time.

Everything around me had somehow went silent as I tried to process his words. I continued to stare at him before turning look at Mama and Alexei. Mama was crying as she sat on the sofa but Alexei, he knew about this along. He always knew.

5

Alexei promised to protect-me but he was a coward whenever it came to Papa.

"No. I won't listen to you." I replied, taking a few steps back.

"You don't have a choice."

"Why are you doing this to me? Why are you trying to ruin my life? Do you simply enjoy seeing me miserable, Papa? What kind of father are you?" At this point, I had lost all of my respect towards Papa. It felt as if I had lost a battle-a battle I never wanted to fight in the first place. Within seconds, I found myself on the floor as I felt the stinging pain on my face. My hand went up to reach my cheek before looking at Papa, who stood at the same spot with anger in his eyes.

"Papa!" Alexei had called out, going down to my side.

"What did you do? That's your daughter!" Mama shouted, pushing Papa away.

It took me by surprise to finally realise he had slapped me. My own father had slapped me across the face because he was angry, something he had never lost control especially with his family. Maybe, just maybe, he finally had enough.

I blinked a few times, letting myself cry as Mama went to pull me in for a hug.

I didn't bother to stand up or put up another insult because I knew it was hopeless.

"I had enough of all of this. I had enough of you! I've given you everything, Alena. Everything you ever wanted and this is how you repay me? I listened to your every needs and wants. All of a sudden you decide you can disrespect me?!" Papa said, angrily. Mama pulled me in even closer, trying to calm me down.

I had expected him to apologise for hurting me. I had expected him to regret it but I knew that was too good to be true.

"This time, you will follow my rules, Alena. You will marry Viktor and that's the end of it."

Once the words left his mouth, he began to walk out of the living room. It was just Mama and Alexei beside me-Mama tried to calm me down by rubbing my back but she was crying her own tears. As for Alexei, he probably didn't know what to do because he stayed still beside me. The words didn't hurt me as much as.

None of us expected Papa to raise his hand at me because he never did. I had always known my father to be protective over us but this time, I had proved myself wrong.

Apparently, nobody had enough power to overcome him. Alexei was a coward despite being the leader after he took Papa's place. As for Mama, she had nowhere else to go if she left. She loved Papa too much; he was a good man, he had always treated her good. "Alena..." Alexei called out, trying to reach for my hand. "Are you okay?" "Leave me alone, Alexei."

"Alena,"

"Leave me the f****k alone!"

My brother seemed to be surprised as he took a few steps back, holding his hand up. I had every right to be angry because my life was falling apart. Besides, I had enough of trying to live up to my parents' expectations, only to fall down. "I didn't know, Alena." He said, as if it was going to make me feel better.

"I don't need you here, Alexej. I don't think I'll ever need you again. You're a f****ng coward, like you always have been and I don't have a brother like that." I replied, staring into his eyes.

I wanted him to know I meant every single word. Each one of them.

Alexei stood still as he nodded. He watched as Mama continued to hug me and after awhile, he walked out to leave us. I cried

my

heart out as soon as it was just the two of us because I knew, I only had Mama.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'm sorry," Mama said, repeatedly.

If I knew this was going to happen, I had chosen differently. Everything happened because of me, because I was selfish, because I had thought about no one else but myself. I had caused my own life to fall apart. Matteo should've just left me to die.