Part Four

"Hello…"

"Contessa, we have a cab here at the gate. The driver says it is picking up a Mrs. Visconti. Should I let him through?" The guard waited or an answer nervously. There was obviously trouble in paradise and he didn't want to be in the middle of it in any way.

"Pay him for coming out here and send him away. It was an error." Saying no more the line went dead.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, buddy. No cab needed. Here is $20 dollars for your trouble."

"All right, Mack. Thanks, goodnight."

The cab backed out and away from the gate. The guard looked towards the house and noticed a few lights coming on. He shook his head as he mumbled, 'marital bliss'.

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Gillian stood by one of the windows that looked over the front of the house. Her cab should be arriving any moment now. It had been a mistake to stay here tonight. Her head was throbbing and her chest ached. Everything inside her was filled a pain she could not bear. She wanted to cry but she had no more tears left she kept telling herself. Being away at this moment…no, running away was the only thing that would give her any hope of surviving this. Dell was too formidable. Dell had always been stronger, more persistent and she knew that if she didn't put some real distance between them things were only going to get worse. Candice had been right. It had been madness, sheer madness for her to have stayed.

"Where did you think you were going?" A voice in the dark room said softly. Its softness however could not hide the coldness in its steel.

Gillian turned around trying to find Adele.

"Running away so soon? Couldn't you stay away from her for one night?" The words seemed to get harsher and the timber of them more menacing. "I can take care of your need Cara…..I always have before."

Suddenly Adele was right in front of her pulling her towards her. Her whole body was pressed against her. She felt Adele's breath on her cheek. Gillian tried to take in a breath and found it impossible. Adele's lips were running lightly on her cheek. "I want you." the words were unmistakingly raw and sensual. Adele's body was beckoning and her hands were pulling her closer while caressing her.

The warmth fused them both to one another. All that could be heard was the breathing that was strained. Strained and bursting, rushing to some release that only the body pressed against could provide.

Gillian swooned forward and her eyes closed as she lost herself in the recognition of the passion that had always beckoned. "Dell…"

Adele's hands traveled down and as her palms cupped Gillian's ass, she squeezed and pulled her closer to her as her mouth took control of Gillian's lips.

Gillian's mouth opened and a moan escaped her. "Oh Dell,…." she moaned as her hand went up to Adele's neck. Her hands then traveled up to feel the fullness of the dark mane that she had loved and as she did she felt Adele's arms pulling her closer still.

Adele's mouth kissed her with such raw passion and desperation that all the anger she had felt while looking for Gillian through the dark house had simply banished. All that she felt was the need to hold onto her life. Because that is what Gillian was to her, Gillian was life, love, passion and all the other baser emotions that had once been held in check were now running rampant within her and she could no more control her desire as she could her love.

Adele's mouth traveled down her neck and her hands began to quickly pull up Gillian's dress. She had to touch her; she had to feel Gillian's wetness so that she could once more know that it had been she who had made her feel. Her ardor made her rush; she pulled aside Gillian's panties and her fingers found the folds that indeed were hot and wet. "I want you, Oh, god I want you." she whispered in Gillian's ear. "I want to be inside you…. I need to be inside you." Adele hoarsely said in desperation.

Gillian's eyes suddenly opened wide and roughly pushed her away. The look of pain in Adele's eyes were almost her undoing. She had never witnessed a look of such betrayal mirrored at her. Adele just stood in front of her looking like someone had just torn her heart out of her chest; and of course someone had. Gillian wrapped her arms around herself and began to weep. "I can't…. I can't."

Adele suddenly felt the rage rise within her and the growl that came out of her not only frightened Gillian but made her take a few steps away.

Instead of running away Gillian went to her. "I'm sorry…" she said as her hand reached out for Adele.

Adele grabbed her hand and just stood staring at her. Her grip had become solid rock. Gillian was not going anywhere.

"I'm going to fuck you." Adele said between her teeth. Her eyes had taken on a glazed look of madness that Gillian had never seen before. "I 'm going to fuck you until I get you out of my soul." as she finished speaking she yanked Gillian hard against her.

"You promised me that you would not hurt me…" Gillian said gently. "I know that I've hurt you. You said you would always love me and never hurt me Dell, remember?" tears ran down her face freely as she said this.

"I'm going to fuck you." Adele said as her grip tightened. "You are mine." she whispered as her mouth caressed Gillian's ear as one hand began to touch her while the other kept a hold of her.

Gillian tried pushing her away. "No, not anymore." Gillian said softly as her eyes filled with tears. "You have to let me go Dell, please."

Adele's hands were holding her in place again. Her hold was so hard the Gillian winced from the pain of it trying to pull away.

"I married you. I paid for the privilege." Adele growled. Adele then pulled her closer and her eyes looked directly into hers. "I will give you the freedom you want. But, I will take what is mine when I want it." she hissed.

Gillian's eyes filled with fear and then with sadness. "And then what will you do?" she asked sadly.

Adele's eyes suddenly wavered and she could see the uncertainty of what the question had produced. Adele suddenly felt the darkness looming, waiting to take her; the darkness that had been an old friend; the bottomless pit. All this she knew too well and that is what she would have if she took this from Gillian. What would become of them? All these things were going through her mind as she released Gillian and took a step back.

"You are still my wife…" Adele whispered. She could not find the way to just let go. She bowed her head and turned away from Gillian. "Go back to bed I will not bother you. Caty will be disappointed if you are not here in the morning." the defeat apparent in her voice.

Gillian began to walk passed her then stopped. "Dell?"

"Good night Gillian." she said softly. "No more words tonight. You have what you wanted." Adele walked away from her leaving her standing in the darkness.

"Dell…" Gillian whispered into the emptiness of the room as tears ran down her face.

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In the morning they all had breakfast together and the mood was somber. They ate quietly and the only noise was made by Caty who didn't want to eat her breakfast.

"Come on baby, eat for Mommy." Gillian cooed. "Just a little more please."

Caty would turn her head away and shake it. "No."

Adele would look not and then from her newspaper while she drank her coffee.

"She is being stubborn she will not eat for you." Adele said as she went back to her coffee and newspaper.

"You think you can do better?" Gillian said trying hard to suppress the anger that could be heard in her voice.

Adele looked up sharply. "I am not criticizing your method. Our daughter is stubborn."

Gillian stared at her for a moment and then looked down. "I'm sorry." Gillian then looked up as Adele stared at her a bit longer then went back to her newspaper.

Gillian went back to feeding her daughter. After a moment or two she had worked up the courage to speak to Adele again.

"Dell, I am going to the apartment after breakfast and I want to take Caty with me." Gillian said softly then raised her eyes to meet the one's now staring at her.

Adele said nothing for a moment then went back to reading her newspaper. After a moment she spoke but did not look up. "You can take whatever you like to make Caty as comfortable as possible. I want you both …" she stopped abruptly then continued. "I want her back by the weeks end."

Adele got up quickly and walked over to her daughter. She leaned down and gently kissed her on the head. "Be good for Mommy my principessa."

Caty looked up and smiled at her mother who sadly smiled back at her. "I will miss you little one, but I will see you soon."

Adele then quickly proceeded to leave the room. She stopped at the door with her back still turned to them. "I will speak to Marco, he can make all the necessary arrangements and help you with whatever you need."

As Gillian was about to thank her Adele was already gone. Gillian turned back to look at her little girl and saw her daughter's lower lip quivering. "Mama?"

"It's only going to be for a few days baby then we will see Mama again. You and I are going to have lots of fun." Gillian smiled as she felt her eyes filling quickly with tears.

Gillian hugged her little girl. It was going to be for only a little while. She need to feel her child close to her. Adele would have her back soon enough. Gillian knew that Adele would always love Caty and that thought made the ache inside her all the more bearable. Her little girl would be okay; Caty would always be taken care of.

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Adele looked through the glass as they got into a cab and left. Her hand touched the coldness of the window pane. She could swear that the cold ran all the way into her heart. Tears did not come. How could they, she had no more tears to shed. Her head leaned into the coolness of the window and her hand began to hit the glass until the glass gave way and she stood on pieces of broken glass as blood fell on the charred pieces on the floor.

The library door opened and Marco walked in and quickly lifted her hand and put pressure on the cut to make it stop bleeding.

"Contessa, we had to get you to a hospital."

She turned to him surprised to see him suddenly. "Why?"

He noticed the glassiness of her gaze. "The wound Contessa. It must be taken care of and closed properly. I will call for a car. Please put pressure here while I make a phone call."

She did as he said without saying anything.

Marco then went to the nearest phone on a table close by but kept a close eye on the Contessa. Something was wrong; something was very wrong.

"Some wounds never heal and never close." Adele whispered.

"What Contessa?" he strained to hear what she was saying while he was making his call.

"Nothing, nothing…" Adele looked down at her hand and saw as the blood ran through her fingers. Her blood, the liquid that made life possible. How wrong people were. She was already dead inside.



Gillian had called Candice and asked her to meet her in front of the apartment building.

Candice ran up to them and hugged them as soon as she saw them. She held on as they both cried. "I'm so happy to see you. God, I'm so happy to see you." Candice said as she kissed Caty then kissed Gillian lightly on the lips. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Gillian said and smiled a little.

"Why are we meeting here?"

"Here is where we will be living."

"What?" Candice looked from Gillian to the building back to Gillian again.

"It's a long story. Caty needs a nap come up with me."

Candice was about to say something then just closed her mouth and followed Gillian into the building.

When they walked inside the wealth evident in the furnishings and the décor of the lobby was evident in every aspect. Gillian went straight for the elevator but was stopped before entering by a very elegantly dressed gentleman.

"Mrs Visconti, if there anything that you need please call down and ask for me. My name is Edward and I am the manager of The Rosemont, the Contessa called earlier and requested that I personally see to your needs while you are here. Please feel free to do that Mrs. Visconti."

"Thank you, I will."

"Some groceries were delivered to take care of anything immediate that you might need. The chef is of course at your disposal all you have to do is call down and your request will be taken up to you."

"Thank you Edward." Gillian said as she entered the elevator and Candice followed quietly in awe.

"Good afternoon then Mrs. Visconti."

"Good afternoon Edward." Gillian answered as the doors closed.

Candice stared at Gillian in silence. Caty was sucking her thumb and seemed sleepy. Candice looked down at the floor trying to understand what was happening.

The elevator door opened to another door. Gillian removed a key from her pocket, turned the hand and proceeded to walk through. Candice followed.

The door opened into an ample living room. All of New York city seemed at there feet as they walked in and were met by a wall of glass. The furniture was evidently expensive and the antiques and Persian carpets were of immaculate quality. Candice looked around in shock and fear. What the hell was going on?

"I'm going to put Caty down for a nap and then we can talk okay?" Gillian said before she walked out of the room. Candice walked around the room lightly touching the obvious pieces of art that decorated the area.

She finally sat down and stared quietly into the expansive metropolis through the glass wall before her. Nothing had prepared her for this. If this had been done intentionally by Adele she had proved her point. Perhaps, there was no point she thought suddenly as she leaned forward and ran her tired fingers through her hair. She was clearly out of her element. She would never be able to compete with this. And then suddenly her eyes filled with tears as she remembered she wouldn't have to. Gillian was with her now by her own choice, and that is all that mattered. This was her chance to fill the void once left by Gillian when leaving. She would treasure every minute and every joy. All that she knew was that she had their now and their future.

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The blooms were coming in early this year. Everything seemed alive. The colors were shyly coming forth and the abundance of their scents were beginning to make their comeback from the dead imposed winter. Adele stood quietly leaning against a veranda waiting for the sun to disappear into the horizon. Soon the world would be in darkness. Soon the night would come again and thoughts of Gillian in Candice's arms would torment her until the sun once again covered the earth. Her eyes shut as a fierce pain went through her.

"Hello darling." a deeply sensual woman's voice made Adele turn around.


Continued...