He drove the black suv, like everything else he owned the Windows were dark, No music, Just engine sound and horns outside.
I sat there in his jeans and top, Too big.
Sleeves rolled up twice, Smelled like his soap. Felt weird wearing his scent all over me.
We didn't talk much, His hand on the wheel. Sometimes knuckles went white like he was squeezing hard. I kept glancing at the scar on his hand.
Old white line across the knuckles. Wanted to ask how he got it. Didn't.
Mall was fancy, shiny Marble floor . Soft Lights, People walked quietly. They saw him coming and looked the other way fast.
Like they knew not to stare, His hand stayed on my lower back the whole time.
Warm and Firm, Pushing me forward gently but no room to stop.
First shop, expensive Clothes , Woman at the counter smiled big. Eyes went to him, Then me. Then back to him quick.
"Mr. Russo. Nice to see you."
He just nodded. "Clothes for her."
She looked me over like I was something to fix. "Size?"
I started to answer. He beat me. "Small.
Loose stuff. Nothing tight."
I gave him side-eye. He acted like he didn't see it.
She pulled dresses, Tops, and Jeans. I took a few, Went to the changing room, He stayed outside, Leaned on the wall, Arms folded. Staring at the door like someone might try something.
Tried the black dress, Simple, Down to the knee, Looked okay in the mirror, Stepped out.
He lifted his head slow. Eyes moved over me. Jaw got tight. Just a bit.
"Turn."
I turned. Felt dumb doing it.
He came closer. Fingers touched the zipper at my back.
Pulled it up a little. Then down. Skin prickled where he touched.
"Fits," he said low.
Woman came over. "It looks really good on her."
He didn't even glance at her. "We'll take it.
Jeans too. The white top, Black one."
She nodded fast and left.
I looked up at him. "I didn't say yes to all that."
"You don't have to." He leaned in close. Breath on my ear. "I decide now."
My face got hot. Heat went lower too.
Hated that.
Next shop was lingerie, My stomach dropped like stone.
He walked in calm, Woman there looked nervous, with a shaky Smile.
"Mr. Russo"
"Sets for her."
She looked at me quick then away, Started grabbing lace, Silk, Black, Red and Stuff I never wore.
I stood there. Arms crossed tight. "I can pick my own underwear."
He looked over. "Try them on."
Changing room had mirrors everywhere.
Big. Too big. I went in. Door half open.
Could see his boots in the gap.
Tried black lace. Bra pushed everything up high. Panties thin. Looked in the mirror, Breasts were okay maybe. But stomach soft, Not flat.
Stretch marks faint on the sides. Hips wide. Felt heavy, Ugly and Stupid for even caring.
Stepped out with Arms over my chest. Barefoot on the cold floor.
He looked up.
Stopped moving.
Eyes went dark, Breathing got deeper.
"Turn."
I turned slow, Arms still covering.
He stood up, Walked over, Close.
Hand on my waist. Pulled me in gently.
"Don't do that," he said quiet.
"Do what?"
"Cover up, Hide."
I looked down.,"It's not… nice. My body's not..."
He cut me off, Hand slid to my hip, Thumb brushed under the lace edge. Slowly.
"Stop."
His voice low and Serious.
"I see it, All of it, Soft parts, Marks, Everything, And I like it."
My throat got tight. Eyes stung.
"You don't have to hide from me. Not ever."
Thumb kept moving in Circle on my hip.
Skin burned.
"Understand?"
I nodded small. Couldn't talk.
He leaned down his Mouth on my neck.
Not kiss, Just warm breath that Made me shake.
"You're mine, Every bit, Don't forget that."
Hand went lower, Cupped my ass through the lace. Squeezed once Firmly.
I gasped, Grabbing his shirt.
Woman coughed outside. "Do you need..."
"Out," he said. Sharp.
Door shut.
Mirrors showed us everywhere, Him holding me, Me shaking.
He pulled back a little. Forehead on mine.
"Still wanna hide?"
I shook my head.
"Good girl."
Kissed me slowly, Deep, Hand in my hair the Other on my waist.
Doors dinged, Elevator. He broke away.
Took my hand and Led me out.
Car waiting.
Inside there were Bags in back, Lace picking out from one bag.
He started driving. Quiet.
Hand reached over to take mine.Squeezed once.
I squeezed back.
Then his phone rang, Unknown.
He answered. Voice low.
"Yeah."
Pause.
Face changed. Hard.
"Say that again."
Longer pause.
Hung up.
Looked at me.
"Your father just tried to back out."
My heart dropped.
"He wants you back."
He gripped the wheel tight, his Knuckles white.
"But you're not going back."
Eyes on the road. Voice cold.
"If he tries… I'll make sure he regrets it."
I stared at him.
The man who just said my body was perfect.
The man who wouldn't let me hide.
The man who'd just promised pain if my family came for me.
And me, heart racing, confused, scared, but weirdly safe, didn't know what to say.
Just held his hand tighter.
I kept staring at the way our hands locked together on the center console.
His fingers were long, scarred, strong while Mine looked small in his grip , it looked Fragile.
Like it could snap if he squeezed too hard. But he didn't. He just held on steady, his thumb brushing slow circles over my knuckles like he was trying to calm the storm inside me.
As the car drove past couldn't help but look at the people walking fast like they had places to be.
But I didn't, I had nowhere to be except here. Next to this man, going wherever he decided.
My mind was still disturbed from his words. "I'll make sure he regrets it." Not in a loud angry manner, Just calmly.
The same calm he had when he took my phone when Sophia texted.
The same calm he had when he kissed me last night and stopped himself.
The kind of calm that scared me more than yelling ever could.
I thought about Dad. His Rushed voice on the phone yesterday, filled with Fake worry. "We'll fix this."
Like I was a broken toy he could return.
Like I wasn't his kid. I was just a problem he could sell and buy back whenever he wanted.
Whatever sophia wanted to say or plan had gone, Shattered to the ground Just like my phone.
Just like the hope I had left that they would eventually come for me.
I looked out the window, I envied the people i saw, envied how easy their nights looked.
Alessandro's thumb kept moving over my skin. Slow and Steady, he knew I was falling apart and was trying to hold the pieces together.
I turned to Look at his profile. Tight Jaw, with that stayed on the road.
The Scar on his hand catching the dashboard light.
"Why do you care?" I asked. In a Voice that was Barely there.
He didn't answer immediately. Just kept driving and circling his Thumb.
Then he said, in a low voice , "Because you're mine."
I swallowed, my Throat dry. "That's not an answer."
He glanced at me quick. Then back to the road.
"It's the only one you need."
The car slowed and pulled into a private garage under one of the towers. Dark and Quiet.
His men were already there, two guys in black suits, nodding once when they saw us.
Alessandro parked offed the engine.
Silence hit harder.
He turned to me, Let go of my hand. But his eyes stayed.
"We're not done today," he said.
I felt my pulse kick up again.
"What now?"
He opened his door. Got out. Came around to my side and Opened mine.
He Held out his hand.
took it.
He pulled me out and Close to His body that blocked the light from the garage lamps.
"Shopping isn't over," he said. "And neither is this."
He nodded toward the elevator.
The Doors opened.
We stepped in
The numbers started climbing.
And I didn't know if I was going up… or down.