Letty’s POV
I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. Had I really asked him to stay? It had been hard last time Leon had left especially the nights Dom had Ava because I would be all alone in the big house but the difference was I knew he would be back. When Ava was gone I spent the nights cleaning or watching TV instead of sleeping only falling asleep in the early hours of the morning waking up a few short hours later.
It had been a shock when he said he was leaving, even when he had said he’d be around in the morning the thought of him leaving for the night still had never crossed my mind and I cursed myself for being weak in front of him. Now having him here and so close I was afraid to go to sleep in fear that he would hear my night terrors. Of all the times for him to be a light sleeper it had to be now.
Sighing I rolled over trying to get comfortable as I prayed for one night without the haunting nightmares.
I stirred from my sleep as hands running over my skin, smiling softly I leaned into them as I woke. As the sleepy haze cleared from my mind I froze as I remembered Dom wasn’t here, nor Leon and they weren’t either of their hands. As if noticing the difference the hands became no longer gentle and I turned to push the person away but I was pinned down and I struggled against my captor’s hold.
“Shhh Lia, no need for fighting…”
“Demetri please I don’t want this…” I pleaded as one of his hands wrapped around my neck and I clawed uselessly at it as it tightened.
“Yes you do you just don’t know it yet... You’re going to be MINE Lia. I’m going to make sure of it.” I cried and tried to scream as his hands grabbed and clawed at me body but his grip around my neck tightened yet again and I couldn’t make a sound. I continued to struggle against his hold before I felt a blow to my face. I stopped struggling instantly as I realized in shock he had hit me. His laugh gave me chills and I went to hit him back and throw him off but I he squeezed my neck making me gasp for breath. I had no choice but to give up and stop struggling if I didn’t want him to kill me, I needed to stay alive for my daughter.
I cried silently as he violated my body as I forced myself to try and think of happier times. I thought of Dom, Leon, my daughter… anything just to try and ignore what was going on. I cried out as I felt something pierce through my skin and I fought hard as I felt the knife gliding across my skin.
“Your mine now Lia, I’m not ever letting you go.” I whimpered as I felt blood run down my thigh and I tried to resist as he kissed me hard but he slapped me when I didn’t kiss him back.
“Stop resisting Lia I ALWAYS get what I want and I will have you whether you like it or not. You might as well do yourself a favor and give yourself to me willingly this time or suffer the consequences again.” Feeling nothing like the strong willed woman I used to be I kissed him back all the while crying silently as I thought about what my life had become.
2nd December- Canary Islands, Spain
Letty’s beach house
Dom’s POV
I laid in bed unable to sleep as I let my mind wander over the last few days. It had been an hour or two since I had retired but I was far from tired. I frowned as I heard quiet whimpering and I listened thinking Ava was waking up but it got louder turning to actual cries. That wasn’t Ava, it was Letty.
I continued to listen not sure of what to do I didn’t want to interrupt and make her pull away further. It broke my heart to hear her cry like that, she sounded so frightened and it took everything I had not to go running in. That soon changed though as her cries turned to screams I felt panicked thinking something was seriously wrong as I got up rushing out of the room and into hers. Flipping on the bedside light I took in her sleeping figure thrashing around the bed crying and screaming.
“Shhh it’s okay Let.” Even in her sleep she recoiled from my touch and started fighting me off.
“Please don’t…” I paused at her words and gently shook her.
“Baby wake up, it’s okay Let.” I pleaded quietly. It took me a long time to get her to wake and during that time she got a few good hits in that had me winded but I kept trying gently trying to convince her it was okay and I was there to help her. I listened to her frightened pleas and I felt my heart break and I wanted to kill the person that hurt her.
I was relieved when her eyes finally snapped open and her screams stopped. I didn’t touch her unsure of how she would react as I watched her gasp for breath as she registered who I was.
“Letty relax it’s just me.” I said softly.
Letty’s POV
My eyes snapped open as I felt a hand on my arm and I sat up gasping and shaking heavily as I pushed the person away. I had tears streaming down my face and covered in cold sweat from no doubt thrashing around in bed.
“Letty relax it’s just me.” I calmed at Dom’s voice and my eyes snapped to his as he leant over but keeping his hands to himself.
“Sorry…” I whispered quietly. I sat up in bed as I ran a hand through my hair looking anywhere but at Dom. I felt him shift a little and the bed dipped as he sat at the edge of it.
“Are you okay? I heard you screaming that’s why I came in. You wouldn’t wake up, kept fighting me…”
“Just a nightmare… sorry I woke you.” I said shakily.
“You didn’t I wasn’t asleep yet.” He said softly and I nodded meeting his eyes. The worried look on his face said it all and I closed my eyes bringing my hand up to rid my face of the tears.
“Does this happen a lot?” He asked gently and I turned to look at him in the dimly lit room. There was no point in denying it he had seen and heard everything.
“Yes.” I said tiredly moving over a little. I looked over at him when he didn’t move and he looked on unsurely from where he sat.
“I won’t bite.” I said quietly and he smiled a little as he moved to sit next to me.
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.” I nodded at his words.
“What was the dream about?” Rubbing my face tiredly I sighed and leant back against the headboard heavily.
“It wasn’t a dream exactly… it was a memory.” I could feel his gaze on me and I felt sick at the thought of having to tell him the truth but I knew I had to. Mia had been right I had been living in the past and it was haunting me, Leon had wanted me to be open with Dom and I knew I had to be but it scared the absolute shit out of me.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” He said softly but I shook my head.
“No I… I need to. I have to learn to trust you right?” Even though I already knew the answer I need it confirmed.
“Yes but I don’t want you to feel pressured into it either.”
“It was a memory that happened not long after I arrived in Berlin.” I started and he stayed quiet listening to which I was thankful for.
“It was of Demetri… I hated that man but I had no choice I needed to stay alive for Ava and I needed the money in order to set myself up. Carlos’ beating was nothing in comparison to what Demetri dished out at times.” I paused as I suddenly lost my voice. I took a sideways glance at Dom but he waited patiently.
“It’s okay you can take your time, we have all night.” He said gently and I nodded gratefully.
“He took a liking to me straight away but when I didn’t return his attention he started getting aggressive and angry. I never thought he would… go to the lengths he did. That scar on my leg…” I trailed off and I noticed how he was suddenly tense.
“Did he do that?” I nodded.
“DF, it’s his intials. He carved into me when he claimed me as his, said no one else could touch me I belonged to him.”
“Claimed…” He said tensely and I knew he was holding back his anger for my benefit.
“He raped me Dom, I was already at one of the lowest points in my life and he nearly pushed me over the edge. Ava was the only thing that stopped me. He was controlling and completely possessive, whenever he thought I was lying that’s when the violence started and he used to blame it on me. In the end I think I actually started to believe it. The days I felt stronger and ready to break away I fought him but towards the end I found it was easier if I didn’t, I didn’t get as badly hurt.”
“NONE of that was your fault Letty. I can’t even begin to understand what you’ve been through and I’m sorry I ever pushed you. I had no idea.” His voice was hard and firm making me almost flinch as I heard his tone even if I knew it wasn’t directed at me.
“I know.” I said quietly.
“Is that why you flinch when I go to touch you?” He asked deathly calm and I knew he was mad, really mad.
“I don’t mean it… it’s just a reaction. Leon’s the only one I never did it to but I think that’s because he was there for everything.” I explained.
“You never have to worry about him again Letty he’s dead remember…” he said gently and I nodded.
“I know…I never intended to kill him, when he mentioned Ava I just…I lost it.”
“I don’t blame you, if he was still alive I’d go and hunt him down myself.” He stated angrily but I shook my head.
“I couldn’t let you do that.”
“It wouldn’t have stopped me, you know that. I hate to see you hurt Let, this is breaking my heart.” He said sadly and I bit my lip.
“I’m sorry but I just can’t start where we left off.”
“I know, I…somewhat understand now.” We sat in silence for a long time but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else I had disclosed enough for one night.
“I hate feeling like this…weak I mean. I never used to be this way.”
“You’ve been through a lot and this also partly my fault.” I didn’t say anything partly because I didn’t know what to say.
“I should head back to my room, are you going to be okay?” I shook my head and turned to face him.
“You can go but can you just stay until I fall asleep…please?”
“Are you sure?” I nodded.
“Please.”
“I’ll stay for as long as you want me to.” He said softly as I lay back down.
“Thank you.”
“No thank you Let for opening up to me.”
“Don’t make me regret it Dom.” I whispered.
“Never, I swear, sleep Let I’ll keep you safe I promise.” He stayed sitting up behind me as I rolled over facing away from him and there was a small gap between us so we weren’t touching but after a few minutes I turned around reaching for his hand. I thought his touch would make me feel uncomfortable again but the innocent gesture made me feel safe. His hand tightened around mine holding onto it tightly and I opened my eyes to see him staring up at the ceiling. He looked down when I settled and smiled slightly as I returned it closing my eyes again mentally and physically exhausted.