Page 19 of Taking Adalisa

“You are worse than your father,” she chuckles.

“Wait,” I whisper, looking between them.

Matthias looks at me, a smirk across his face. “Did you think Ma would agree and help you?”

I nod and look back at her. Something dances in her eyes, and that’s when I realize I’m on my own.

“My dad did the same thing to Ma when they first met,” Matthias explains. “Though she embraced it and lived with him. Gave him hell every chance she could, but Ma fell in love with him right away.”

“No,” I say in disbelief.

“It’s true. But your father kidnapped me when he first saw me. What he didn’t know is that I knew who he was and I had a massive crush on him. When we first met, I pretended I didn’t know him, which infuriated him. I knew he was going to be at the event, and I made sure I looked the best so I would capture his attention but also that it didn’t look like I was trying too hard. I didn’t want to scare him off,” she says, looking off into the distance as if she remembers that night. “But once he got home and claimed that I was his, I turned the freak on and told him things he didn’t want anyone to know. The look of shock on his face was priceless.”

My mouth hangs open as I look at her. She was okay with being kidnapped? She wanted him to kidnap her so she could be with him?

“What is wrong with all of you?” I ask, looking at them in horror.

“A word of advice?” His mom looks at me. “These men aren’t like other men. When they see what they want, they take it, no matter what. I wouldn’t try to fight them to allow you to go, especially Matthias. He is a possessive bastard and won’t let you go now that he has you. But you can give him hell for it. Make him work for everything.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “No, you don’t just give up.”

“You aren’t giving up. What will your life be like when you are with him? Will you be happy?” she asks.

“No!” I raise my voice, not caring who hears me anddefinitelynot caring that I’m making a scene.

Everyone here probably knows what he has done and his father has done and won’t say anything. They are all accomplices.

“No, you won’t be happier? No, you aren’t giving up? Or no you won’t be happy?” his mother cocks her head to the side. “That’s three different answers.”

“No to all of it. I am giving up if I just let him take me without fighting back. No to me being happy with him, and no to my life being better with him!” I shout.

I groan in frustration as I try to stand, realizing I’m blocked in by Matthias. He did this on purpose. He wanted me to sit here so when I met his mom and found out how she met his father, I wouldn’t be able to get out.

“You are cruel,” I growl at him. “So fucking cruel. I hate you.”

“You don’t hate me,” he replies. “You are just uncertain about everything. Don’t worry, everything is going to make sense soon enough. Before you know it, you’ll realize you love this life. I’m going to take good care of you. You will want for nothing.”

“There will be some danger involved. What they do isn’t safe, but they will keep you safe,” his mother chimes in.

“They?” My eyes go wide.

No fucking way there are two of them. I cannot handle that.

“It’s just Matthias for you. I was generalizing. My husband is in the same business as Matthias,” she explains.

“No, I can’t do this.” I shake my head. “I’m not going to do this. Move.”

I push Matthias’ shoulder, but he doesn’t budge.

“You need to let me go now. I need to get out. I need to get away from you,” I demand loudly. “Let me out!”

“Matthias, let her out. She’ll come around,” his mother says.

“No,” is all Matthias replies.

“I will crawl under the table,” I threaten.

“You will not crawl on the floor unless I demand it.” His face is inches from mine. “You are mine, and no matter what happens, you will always be mine. Do you understand?”

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