Scarred Seductress

Blood Does not Forget

A tired sigh tore out of Selene as the car pulled into the driveway, finally.

“We’re here, ma’am…” the driver announced.

“Thank you,” Selene mouthed with a sleepy yawn and pushed the door open, stepping out of the car—only to meet the house unusually different and quiet. She raised a brow, confusion tugging faintly inside her. Ava always came out to welcome her whenever she returned from any trip—Leo too—and like the other times, she had told Ava she was returning today.

She shook her head, brushing off the unease, and pushed her legs into motion, making her way to the entrance, forcing a warm smile onto her face—certain Leo would come running into her arms.

“Leo… Mama’s back, baby…” Selene cooed loudly, excitement dripping from her voice as she walked through the door, arms thrown open—only to freeze in horror at the figure seated in her living room, his eyes steady on a giggling Leo.

“Mama!” Leo exclaimed and scampered toward Selene, wrapping his arms around her legs.

Selene’s eyes darted around the living room, taking in the number of men stationed inside her house—some by the door, others in the corners of her vast space.

She was surrounded.

She swallowed hard and lowered her gaze, her heart breaking into a wild rampage as fear shot straight through her spine.

“Your son is cute…” Matteo growled.

Selene’s eyes snapped back to his face, dread coiling cold around her nerves at the interest in his gaze fixed on Leo—not with curiosity, but with something heavier, darker… like recognition.

“Your problem is with me, not him,” Selene fired, pulling Leo behind her and shielding him completely from Matteo’s view. “Leave him out of it…” she croaked, her body slick with sweat, breath fast and uneven.

Matteo chuckled, tearing his eyes away, the faint flicker of warmth vanishing the instant they left Leo.

“Ava?” Selene called sharply, scanning the room.

“Yes, ma’am…” Ava choked, appearing from behind the stairs, her head lowered, body trembling.

“Take him to his room,” Selene ordered.

Ava nodded quickly, scooped Leo into her arms, and disappeared up the stairs.

“Kneel.”

Matteo’s command was cold, condescending, his gaze raking Selene slowly.

Selene said nothing. She simply crumpled to her knees.

Matteo scoffed and rose, towering over her in seconds. His hand seized her hair, wrenching a painful whimper from her lips.

“You dare use my son?” he spat, tightening his grip and sending sharp pain screaming through her scalp.

Selene squeezed her eyes shut, fists trembling at her sides. She would not beg. She would not break.

“I kept my f*****g promise, didn’t I?” she choked.

He shoved her away. Selene collapsed to the floor, gasping, hair falling messily over her face.

“You must admit I’m something, huh?” Selene laughed dryly, shoving her hair back and meeting Matteo’s icy, assessing gaze.

“I mean… I didn’t just prove myself to you—I dared to use your own son,” she spat with a hollow chuckle.

Matteo tore his eyes away and reached for the gun from the man behind him.

Selene’s heart dropped.

“I’m not someone you want to play with, little w***e,” Matteo said coldly, fingers curling around the trigger as a thin smile touched his lips.

Selene shook her head quickly. “You won’t kill me.”

Matteo lifted a brow. “You think?”

“Yes. Because a man like you would rather die than go back on his word.”

He turned away, chuckling under his breath—acknowledging, begrudgingly, that she was right.

“We had no rules, Mr. Moretti. I promised to prove myself—and how I achieved it doesn’t matter. The point is, I delivered. Ricardo is dead, just like I promised.”

Matteo’s eyes snapped back to her.

“Well, you’re right about one thing…” he sneered, crouching to her level and gripping her chin, forcing her eyes to stay on him.

“I don’t go back on my word.”

Selene exhaled slowly.

“But the nerve of you—to use my own son just so I’d clean up your mess…”

“Smart of me, huh?”

Matteo shoved her aside and stood, jaw clenched, fury twisting beneath his composure.

“I was trying to impress you,” Selene said calmly. “A woman like me killing a man like Ricardo in cold blood? I’d be hunted forever. So I had to think fast—use a man with greater power. A man with a father who cleans up messes like they’re nothing.”

Matteo scoffed and reached for a cigarette. His guard lit it. He took a long drag, eyes refusing to look at her.

“So the second I laid eyes on your son at that resort, I adjusted my plan. And the universe happened to be on my side.”

“Shut up.”

Selene nodded. She stopped talking.

“You’re just a w***e,” Matteo spat. “I’d understand if Damien only wanted a night with you.”

Selene bit her lower lip bitterly.

Matteo looked back at her. “How did you make him kill for you?” His gaze roamed her body, disgust etched across his face—until it lingered too long, heat flaring before he forced himself to look away.

“I’m just a w***e?” Selene muttered, then laughed darkly. “Then I guess it’s not my fault your precious son would kill to have this whore.”

Her voice hardened, laced with bitterness and defiance.

“I must be one hell of a whore.”

Matteo smoked in silence, eyes drifting toward the stairs.

“Well, now that I’ve proven myself,” Selene said quietly, “does that mean I work for you?”

Matteo said nothing. He turned and headed for the door.

Selene exhaled.

Then he stopped.

Without turning, he said, “Try anything stupid with me again, and I’ll kill you.”

Selene swallowed hard, fingers digging into her dress.

“And trust me,” he added coldly, “I keep my word.”

As he stepped forward, his eyes lifted—meeting Leo’s small figure peeking from behind the stairs.

Matteo looked away, unsettled, and left.

Selene collapsed to the floor, relief crashing through her.

“Mama!”

She looked up, forcing a smile as Leo ran into her arms.

“I missed you, Mama.”

“Me too,” she whispered, kissing his hair—until the memory of Matteo’s gaze on him twisted her stomach.

“Go to your room,” Selene said suddenly.

Leo froze, confused. Ava paused at the stairs.

“Mama—”

“Take him away,” Selene ordered.

Ava obeyed quickly, carrying Leo upstairs as he struggled.

“f**k,” Selene whispered, fingers tearing through her hair.

Her phone rang inside her purse.

“Leave me the f**k alone…” she muttered, reaching for it—only to freeze when Marina’s assistant’s number lit up the screen.

No doubt about it.

Marina was calling.