19. Piper

19

PIPER

I lie in bed now alone, staring at the ceiling, feeling hopeful. For the first time in a long time, I have a chance to make a change. A change for Elysse. The sun is peeking through the curtains, and it's a metaphor, I decide. A new day is dawning. Light is finally going to chase away the darkness.

Even so, the idea of leaving Gabriel fills me with uncertainty and dread. I've tried to leave him before, when we were in England, but he found me. It wasn't hard. I'd gone to my parents' house. I suppose I was na?ve in thinking he'd take a hint and let me go. Why would he come after me when he so obviously thought I was worthless?

Of course, he was apologetic and made promises, begging me to come home. I didn't want to. I knew by then who he was. But my parents insisted I needed to return to him, to give him a chance. The more I tried to tell them the truth, the more they said I was selfish. Elysse needed a stable home. I was lucky that Gabriel was willing to be her father.

I can remember like it was yesterday, their saying I have no way to support myself if I leave him. I told them they could give me Mr. D'Amato's money. After all, I was the one he wanted to get rid of. I was the one carrying his son's child. My parents didn't see it that way, but the truth was, the money was gone.

I had no job. No place to go. And so I returned to Gabriel.

The memory of his rage, the bruises he left on my body, the scars I still carry, sends a shiver down my spine. But worse than that, I remember his threat—if I ever tried to leave again, he'd hurt Elysse. He knew that was the one thing that would make me behave. And it is, because the thought of him laying a hand on my daughter makes my blood run cold.

I have one chance to escape and I have to take it. I've agreed to accept Elio's help, but a part of me questions the wisdom of being with him. It's been so long. Do I really know him anymore? He's been kind and sweet, but so had Gabriel when I first met him.

And then there's Elio's work, the danger that comes with being involved with the Mafia. Is it fair to bring Elysse into that world?

Despite my fears, I know Elio is right. I can't stay with Gabriel. Every day I spend with him is another day I'm risking not just my life, but Elysse's as well. She deserves better than this. We both do. I have to trust that Elio is the man I remember. He is, after all, Elysse's father.

I get out of bed to prepare for the day. I shower and dress, then strip the bed to wash the sheets. I realize that if I'm leaving today, I don't need to cover my tracks. But I still need to consider how I'm going to leave. There's no doubt that I can't talk to him alone and expect him to let me leave. If he catches wind of my plan, he'll stop at nothing to keep us here, hurting Elysse to insure my compliance.

I should just pack up Elysse and slip away without a word. However, that feels cowardly. My heart clenches at the thought of not confronting him, of not looking him in the eye and telling him that we're done, that he no longer has power over us. But how can I do that? The risk is too great. He's too volatile, too dangerous.

Once Elio gets here, we can wait for Gabriel, and I can tell him I'm leaving, tell him he can't hurt me or Elysse ever again. I shake my head. Gabriel will get angry, and I can see Elio doing something drastic, like killing Gabriel. I don't want Elio to get in trouble.

I pull out a bag and start packing just the essentials. My hands tremble slightly as I fold clothes and gather toiletries. It's partly fear, but partly excitement at being free.

I hear Elysse stirring in her room and go to her. She's rubbing sleep from her eyes, her hair a tousled mess. My heart swells with love for her. I'm doing the right thing, letting Elio take us away. I now wonder why I ever questioned it. It doesn't matter whether I have a choice in this. The most important thing is her.

"Hey, baby," I say softly, sitting on the edge of her bed. "We're going to go on a little trip, okay? I need you to pack some of your favorite clothes and toys."

She looks at me, confusion in large, dark eyes, eyes like Elio's. "Where are we going?"

I brush a strand of hair from her face. "Somewhere safe, sweetie. Somewhere we can be happy." I don't want to burden her with too many details, to scare her unnecessarily. She's been through enough already.

She watches me for a moment, and I can see a glimmer of hope in her expression. Even without the details, she senses a change.

She nods and gets out of bed. I help her pack, guiding her to choose her most cherished possessions.

Paranoia has me hiding the bags in the hall closet as we go downstairs for breakfast.

"When are we going, Mommy?" Elysse's voice holds concern, like she worries Gabriel will return and keep us prisoner. I can't deny that I'm feeling anxious as well. But he's not due back until later tonight. We're fine.

"Soon. Probably around lunchtime. Elio has?—"

"Elio is going with us?" Her smile is wide and bright, and it fills me with joy that he makes her feel happy and safe.

"Yes, baby. We're going with him." For a little while? Forever? That I don't know. I don't need that answer right now.

"Will he be my new daddy?"

The question catches me off guard. Elio and I haven't talked about how or when to tell her the truth. Now isn't the time, though. He should be here.

"Would you like that?"

She nods so vehemently she looks like a bobblehead. "Yes. He's nice to us. And he's funny. He roller skated with us. Gabriel never did that."

It occurs to me that while Elysse would refer to Gabriel as her daddy, she never actually called him that. She never called him anything.

After we eat breakfast, Elysse and I play a game. Despite trying to keep things light, the tension builds the longer we sit and wait for Elio to pick us up. I keep glancing at the clock, my anxiety mounting with each passing hour. Where is Elio? Is he okay? Has something happened to him?

I fight the urge to call him, to hear his reassuring voice. He's a busy man with a lot of responsibilities. Something, clearly important came up this morning that he needed to deal with. I have to trust that he'll be here when he can, that he won't let us down.

I've sent Elysse to wash her hands as I go to prepare lunch when the front door opens. Relief floods through me as I make my way from the kitchen to Elio.

Except it's not Elio.

Gabriel enters the house looking like he just stepped out of a smoky strip club.

"Gabriel. I didn't expect you home so early." Terror fills me. I'm looking around to make sure there is no sign of our plan to leave.

He drops his bag by the door, his gaze raking over my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. "Did you miss me?" He grabs me and pulls me into an embrace. "I bet you missed this." He grinds himself against me. The feel of his erection makes my stomach churn.

I stiffen, fighting the urge to push him away. "You must be tired." Why did he take an earlier flight?

"I want to fuck my wife."

"Mommy?"

I close my eyes as Elysse's quavering voice reaches me. I gently push Gabriel away.

"It's okay, sweetie. I'll go make lunch. Are you hungry, Gabriel?" I hope I sound normal.

He tugs me back. "I told you, I want to?—"

"Elysse is here."

He turns and glares at Elysse. "Go upstairs. Now. Don't come down until I say so."

I nod to her, willing her to comply.

"Elio doesn't talk to us like that."

My heart stalls in my chest.

"What?"

I move us, pulling his attention back to me. The tension rises. The air crackles. I have to defuse this, fast.

"Elysse, sweetie, go play in your room. Your dad and I need to talk."

She hesitates, looking between me and Gabriel. "Okay." I watch until she disappears down the hall.

"Finally." He pushes me onto the couch, his body looming over mine. "It's been a long time, Piper."

"You seem to prefer other women." I wince at the wisdom of provoking him.

"I do. But I've decided it's time I have a son. You're going to give me one."

Oh, God. Where is Elio?

Gabriel tugs at my clothes, and I close my eyes, knowing I'll have to endure this. But then he stops. "What the fuck is this?"

I freeze as Gabriel holds up a cufflink, his eyes blazing with fury. My heart pounds in my chest, my mouth going dry.

He moves off me but stands over me. "Who was here, Piper?"

I swallow hard, my mind racing for an explanation. "It's… it's nothing. Just an old piece of jewelry."

He leans over, his face in mine. "You think I'm stupid? You think I don't know this is a man's cufflink? A cheap one at that. Who are you spreading your legs for?"

I try to stand up to move away, but he pushes me back. "Gabriel, please. It's not what you think."

He grabs my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh. "Then what is it, huh? Door to door salesman?" He sneers. "I'm not an idiot. Who are you seeing behind my back?"

Tears sting my eyes as I shake my head frantically. "No one. Just an old friend from high school stopped by to say hi. That's it."

His grip tightens, his face inches from mine. "I don't believe you."

"Gabriel, stop," I plead. "You're hurting me."

But he's beyond reason, consumed by jealous rage. He shoves me back, his hand wrapping around my throat. "Who is he, Piper? Who have you been fucking behind my back?"

I gasp for air, clawing at his hand. "No one. I swear, there's no one else."

Out of the corner of my eye, Elysse appears standing in the hallway, her eyes wide with terror. Oh, God, not in front of her. Please, not in front of my baby.

I try to catch her eye, to silently plead with her to run, to hide. But she's frozen in fear.

Gabriel follows my gaze, his grip loosening slightly as he sees Elysse. "Get out of here," he barks at her. "Go to your room."

I take the moment to catch my breath.

"Mommy," Elysse whimpers.

Gabriel takes a step toward her. "You'd better listen to me if you know what's good for you."

I fly up from the couch. "No. Don't touch her." I lunge at Gabriel, grabbing him, knowing this could be the last thing I ever do.

He grabs and pushes me hard. I stumble back, falling over the coffee table. "You fucking bitch. You think you can tell me what to do?"

"Go to your room, Elysse," I call out as Gabriel lifts me from the floor like I'm a rag doll.

Elysse's eyes dart around, and I know she's looking for a way to help. No, baby. Just hide. Her gaze settles on my phone next to my purse. Her little fingers snatch it up, clutching it close as she backs away.

My baby is so brave. Braver than I've ever been.

Gabriel's hand cracks across my face, sending me sprawling to the floor. I taste blood, my vision blurring.

"This is all your fault." He spits, grabbing my hair and yanking me to my feet.

I whimper, tears streaming down my face. "Please, don't do this."

But he's beyond reason, beyond mercy. He pushes me against the wall, his hands wrapping around my throat once more.

I struggle for air. Darkness closes in. I think of Elio. Will he get here in time to save Elysse? I hope so. I have a moment of gratitude that he knows the truth. He'll take care of Elysse.

As if Gabriel knows I'm thinking of Elio, his grip tightens around my neck. My lungs burn. My vision fades. Everything goes black.