(Renata Pelegrini)
“Cof-cof!” I wake up feeling my face getting wet, the cold water has entered my nose. It stings.
“I thought I would never wake up.” An unknown man's voice speaks near me, I open my eyes and see him with a bucket in his hand.
“What do you want?” I ask in a weak voice, my whole body still aches.
Yesterday, they came into the room where I was, and as soon as the door opened I tried to run away, but before I could reach the door I was punched so hard in the pit of my stomach that I felt the metallic taste in my mouth, I ended up vomiting too, and soon after I passed out on top of my vomit mixed with blood. And now, I wake up here, in a totally different place.
“Behind that door is a bathroom, take a shower.” The man throws a towel and a dress on my face. “You have five minutes, if you don't leave, I'll come in and finish bathing you.”
A horrifying shiver runs down my spine, even though I feel weak and a little dizzy, I get out of bed and with hurried steps follow where this guy directed.
With no time to notice, I immediately take off my clothes and get into the box, I take the fastest shower I have ever taken in my life, the change of clothes that the man gave me has no panties, I know it is unhygienic to shower and put on the same, but I will not put on that dress and be naked around those men, I know it is a ridiculous protection, but it makes me feel better.
I come out of the bathroom and the man, who I now notice is in his fifties, is sitting in an armchair, looking me up and down, my stomach flips.
“Sit down, let's talk.” He commands, I look around but the only place to sit is the bed, I walk over to it and sit down. “My name is Tiago Bravanel, I am a friend of your famiglia.”
He keeps watching me, but I answer nothing, I have never seen him in my life and my parents have never talked about that name. I feel an immense urge to hug my belly, I'm afraid I've hurt my baby, but I don't want them to find out I'm pregnant, God knows what they would do.
“What are you up to, kidnapping me?” I ask, gathering all my strength not to tremble. I am afraid of the answer, but it is better than not knowing.
“Just do a good deed, return you to your famiglia, donna.” - "Woman," he says with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
“I'm not going back to Brazil, my…”
“Those people are not your family, princess.” - "princess.", “You have no idea who your parents are.”
“I know very well who I am, the daughter of Giovanni Pellegrini and Sandra Moreira!” I speak with conviction.
“Of the father you are right, but this Sandra is not your mother.”
“Don't you dare slander my…”
“Marieta Martinelli, that's the name of your mother!”
“No! I am Sandra's daughter! I want to go home, I demand that you let me go, you bastard!”
The gray-haired man gets up and walks over to where I am, I instinctively hug my stomach and try to create distance by going to the other side of the bed, but it's no use, this man's repulsive hands clasp my chin and force me to face him.
“Here you demand nothing!” The man's voice resounds threateningly in my eardrums. “If you weren't worth so much money, I'd give you a deal, ragazza, I'd love to train you.” The old man's eyes darken, I begin to tremble from head to toe.
"Lord, don't let this man rape me." - I mentally pray.
“In ten minutes we'll be inside the helicopter, comatose.” He releases my jaw so brutally that I feel as if he is trying to rip it off.
The bedroom door opens and a woman enters carrying a tray with a loaf of bread and a glass of water. The woman places the tray on my lap, but I knock it all over on the floor. The old man looks back at me.
“Vai al diavolo!” - "Go to hell!", I shout.
Without waiting for an answer, I turn on my back and start to run out of this room, I can't let him control me like this. I am not an animal or an object, I have to escape! There are only a few more steps to go through the door, however, I am abruptly stopped, the old man's hands holding my forearm.
“Lasciatemi andare!” - "Let me go!", I shout and try to pull my arm, but it is in vain.
“Silly child!” He speaks loudly and pushes me, I hit my back against the wall, I bite my lips to keep from grunting in pain. “Who do you think you are dealing with?”
The snapping sound of his hand on my face echoes, you bastard! I've never been beaten in my life, my father never even raised a hand to me, and now that old man has hit me!
With anger mixed with adrenaline I approach him and with my closed fisted hand I punch this disgusting old man in the face. But it doesn't even look like I hit him, he doesn't move a single muscle, his eyes just distill anger, and I don't stay behind, my eyes have hatred.
In one swift movement, this old man grabs my waist and in an instant I am lying on the bed with him above me, I try to kick him, but he uses the weight of his legs to pin mine, I try to punch him, but he using only one hand pinches both of mine above my head, panic wells up inside me, I start to sob.
This monster's hand squeezes my breast over my dress and bile rises in my throat, I squirm under him, trying to get free, but nothing I do has any effect on him. As he runs his repulsive hand over me, I feel my skin become dirty.
“Stop! Help!” I scream and try to fight back, but to no avail. The more I scream, the more this old man smiles
“Boss!” A man enters the room drawing the old man's attention. “The customer is on the line, he wants to talk to the lady.”
The old man stands up and I take the cell phone from the other man's hand, he looks at me and I see his malicious look run down my body, I can no longer hold it in and vomit. At least his look has changed and he now turns his face away in disgust. Better this way.
(Filippo Valentini)
“Stop screaming and tell me what happened!” I ordered.
“Two days ago I was supposed to meet her at the maternity ward, Caio and I waited for hours for her, we called her but she didn't answer, then we went to her house and couldn't find her, the house was locked. After twenty-four hours I reported her missing, but the police said they would look for her, but after we left the delegate's office we met the taxi driver who was supposed to take Renata home, he was beaten and went to report that his car had been stolen.” She speaks all of this quickly.
“What was she going to do in the maternity ward?”
“Of all the things I have told you, this is all you have heard?”
“Answer me!” I demand.
“I'm not going to answer, you stupid asshole, if you really wanted to know, you wouldn't have abandoned her! Now find my friend!”
I hung up the phone. Has another man touched her body? Is she carrying another man's seed? It's not even three months since I left and she has already put another in my place!
“Filippo?” I come out of my reverie with the touch of Vicenzo's hand on my shoulder.
“Renata…” I start to speak but a cake forms in my throat, I'm feeling betrayed. Since I got here, I couldn't look at any other woman. After having her in my arms, I didn't want anyone else, but she has already replaced me.
“We have problems, come on.” He passes me, walking in front of me. “The Don of famiglia Martinelli is here.”
“What does he want?” I ask and start to follow my brother, but he answers me with nothing.
"Has he finally found my runaway bride?" - That thought doesn't make me happy, I don't want to get married, not now, not when that she-devil is so alive in my head and heart.
The meeting room doors open and Dominic is sitting in one of the chairs, his face not that of someone who has come to negotiate marriage.
“What's the problem?” I am the first to speak, I don't like to waste time with the formalities.
“I have been betrayed.” He speaks, I see guilt in his eyes.
“What are you talking about?” Vicenzo asks Dominic.