Adeline Santiago's POV

We drive to Matéo's parent's house in silence.

The radio blares on a low in the background but I can barely hear it over my thoughts.

I have never seen him look so confused in my life.

It has been a few days since the meeting with the gang and I am waiting on some results.

Elijah is thankfully a lot better and is already up and moving, and out of the hospital.

He is not allowed to make any vigorous movement though, because then the stitches could tear up and he would have to get them re stitched up.

Jerome still hasn't told him and neither has my mother.

So I refuse to talk to either of them.

We arrive at his parents house and I'm about to step out but he grabs hold of my wrist, stopping me from moving.

"Baby, I need you to know that whatever happens, I love you and I always will. If you need me to take over at any point, I'll do it" he says.

I say nothing but I lean across and kiss him on the lips gently.

He kisses me back and bites my bottom lip a little, before I pull away.

"I know baby. Let's go" I say shortly.

He nods and I grab my bag, before stepping out of the car and advancing to the house quickly.

Matéo takes out his key and is about to open the front door.

"We gotta act normal" I whisper, so that nobody could possibly hear me.

He wraps his arm around my waist.

"Ok baby" he responds and leans into my ear and kisses it.

He opens the door and we are met by Grace and Maria, who tackled me into a hug.

I hug them both back and after a while, we pull away.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your brother " Grace says and Maria nods.

"You can tell us everything later" Maria says and I nod.

"Sounds like a plan" I say with a massive grin.

Matéo kisses my cheek and then muttered something in my ear about greeting his father before walking away.

Me and the girls chat a little more and then Eleanor suddenly runs into the hallway.

She looks a little different.

Her long black hair is out of its usual pinned back bun and it flows over her shoulders.

There is something else, but I can't lay my finger on it...

She catches sight of me and smiles warmly at me.

"Good evening Adeline, it's good to... See you " she says, catching her breath.

I chuckle.

"Likewise" I tell her and I hug her.

She hugs me back and then we let go so that she can help me with my bags.

We all go up to my room and I start off by leaving my bags and then go to check on Matéo and greet Alejandro, his father.

I walk at quick pace to the study and knock twice.

"Come in" I hear Alejandro's familiar voice say.

I walk into the study and nearly walk right back out.

I see the one person, who I have learnt to hate all my life.

My father.

I look around the room and analyse the situation.

My dad looks like he has been punched across the face, making his eye swell up.

Matéo is being held back by his dad from doing any further damage, while shouting profanities and Alejandro looks like he just wants to take a good nap.

Matéo notices me and stops struggling. I walk up to him and take his hand in mine and I observe it.

He has split all of his knuckles and they are bruised purple.

I motion for Alejandro to get me the first aid kit and he does so.

I take out antiseptic and wipe him up quickly, ignoring the stares from my father and Alejandro.

I finish and then Matéo tries to say something but I cut him off.

"Leave us" I demand, looking directly at my father.

He holds my gaze.

"But..." Matéo starts, but I cut him off.

"Now" I say, feeling the strain on my voice.

He nods and then he and his father walk out of the study.

I turn away from my my father and I take a piece of cloth out of the kit and make sure to drench it in antiseptic.

I grab a chair and sit next to my father, who is still observing me.

I hold his face gently and start to clean the cuts on his face.

He barely flinches.

"Why are you here?" I ask him.

"I am here to apologise" he whispered.

My grip on his face tightens and he visibly flinches.

I say nothing and I can feel my jaw clench up.

"Say something, please" my father tries.

"What do you want from me?" I ask him and he looks a little shocked.

"What could I possibly take from you that I don't already have?" He asks me and at this point, I feel myself physically holding back from wrapping my fist around his throat.

I think back to all the moments I was terrified of him.

The days he made me train until my muscles hurt.

Keeping me away from people for excess periods of time so that I could 'focus'.

Making my life difficult and making me solely dependent on him.

Restricting my diet at times.

He took away my childhood.

I let go before I change my mind and stand up to look down on him.

"You don't deserve shit from me" I tell him.

"You took it all and I will not allow you to take anymore from me, you understand?" I ask him.

He draws himself up to full height and I see something in his eyes that reminds me of the terrors of my childhood.

Whatever it is doesn't show though.

He nods his head and walks away.

Before he leaves, he turns his head to face me.

"This will be discussed later Adeline, I believe your husband and father in law are waiting for you" he says.

I am about to call after him, but I decided against it.

I let out a breath that I didn't even know I was holding in and I feel my mind racing.

Matéo and Alejandro walk in and I stare at them both.

"How did it go?" Alejandro asks.

"I don't wanna talk about it" I say truthfully.

Matéo wraps me in his arms and I hold back the need to cry into his chest.

Not in front of his father.

"Let's go and get some rest" he mutters into my ear.

I nod and we go out of the office.

We go upstairs and to his room, realising that it is the early evening.

I go into the bathroom and I take a quick shower, changing into some clean pyjamas, before I get into his bed.

He walks in a few minutes later and lays down next to me and wraps me in his arms and before long I fall asleep.

****

My ringtone shocks me awake.

I unwrap Matéo's arms from around my waist and grab my phone off the nightstand and look at the contact.

It's Niko.

I am suddenly wide awake.

I quickly answered it.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Ade! Come quick, we got her! Get Matéo and get to the warehouse closest to the bridge, now, ok?" He says.

He sounds out of breath but before I can respond, he cuts the call.

My heart jumps around in my chest rapidly.

I shake Matéo awake and quickly tell him what Niko has just told me.

He falls off of the bed in shock but quickly picks himself up and pulls on some pants and a t-shirt.

I rush around and do the same, dragging on the first things that I can find.

I grab my knife and put a gun into my bag.

I look at Matéo and he walks up to me and kisses me one last time before we leave.

It is time!

It is finally time...
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