Chapter Text
Dio cradled you in his arms as if last evening wasn't the first time you'd been together but rather a fated reunion of a lost little lamb returning to the fold, or in this case, wolf's den might be more accurate. He held onto you fiercely, scantly giving you a centimeter of room to move. Keeping you trapped against his chest, you were nearly startled when you'd heard his heartbeat, confident he couldn't possibly possess one after everything he'd done to you.
Regardless of your discomfort, you slept. Hard. You were so exhausted from the secrets, the sneaking around. A part of you felt great relief, but more than that, you felt a horrible fear—the same kind of stomach-churning anxiety induced by an unforeseeable future. Dio always held the power in your relationship. Lorded it over you ruthlessly, but for the most part predictably, with a few traumatizing exceptions.
However, now, a line had been crossed, a new threshold breached. A point of no return was reached. This was uncharted territory in your relationship with him. All you could cling to peace as you slept, biding time until you were forced to react to his whims.
So imagine your surprise waking up to an empty bed. The spot beside you was long cold. You didn't even notice his python-like embrace leaving you.
Dio seemed to purposefully have left one of his robes at the end of the bed for you. Reluctantly you put it on, not wanting to traipse into the kitchen naked lest you seemingly invite another one of his "advances." Dio still had your phone, so you had no means of contacting anyone. You considered sneaking down to Dio's office to use his computer, to send a panicked email to Bruno, but you feared that he would hear your movements, witness your paltry attempt to find aide, and punish you again.
You didn't dare look in the mirror. You knew you'd likely vomit at the sight of yourself. Feeling the extent of the bruises Dio left on your skin, you were sure the markings would be prolific. Despite your lingering disgust and anguish at your situation, you had to note that the robe that Dio provided was a deliciously soft jacquard silk. It was covered in a deep red subtle geometric pattern, it was not one you had seen Dio ever use before, but its heavyweight suggested it was only for use in the winter.
Perhaps it fitted that such a horrific violation came at the start of winter, you mused as you took care to only glance at the cloth in the mirror hanging over a sleek black oak dresser. It would likely set the standard for a season of unrelenting frigidity and iciness with Dio. It trailed behind you with a considerable train as you draped it over your shoulders. The dramatic height difference between you and Dio making the garment practically comically oversized. Nonetheless, you secured the robe at your waist, knotting the belt two times for the illusion of added security, and moved to find where Dio was in his massive home.
Leaving the bedroom, the smell of pan-fried mushrooms and herbs hit your nose. Dio was cooking?
Padding gently into the kitchen, the man tosses a soft glance over his shoulder, not hiding his approval at your form clad in his garment.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Dio questions, a bit of coyness on his tongue adding an edge to his perceived nonchalance. It was deeply confusing, especially considering his appalling actions from the evening prior.
"Um, yes...I suppose."
"You suppose?" He questioned. 'Yes, as well as anyone could sleep after being raped by their employer.' You wanted to sneer at him, debated flaring up at him, but evidence of your punishment was too fresh on your skin.
"We have much business to attend to today." Dio offered casually from his place at the stove.
"Do we now?" You tried to keep any tone of lingering fear out of your voice, but it proved difficult.
However, it didn't prove difficult for Dio to ignore your questioning and continue with his own.
"Did he buy you anything?"
"I'm sorry...?" The conversation was moving too quickly for your trauma-rattled brain. Your mind felt as thoroughly fried the poor mushrooms simmering in Dio's pan.
"Giorno's teacher. Any trinkets of affection, gifts?" Dio was seemingly short on patience this morning.
How fucking audacious of him, but hardly surprising.
Your frustration briefly erupted to the surface.
"No. He knew better than to buy my affection." You spoke casually, slipping into a chair in the breakfast nook, noting the fresh pot of tea awaiting you with trepidation.
"Get off your fucking high horse. I don't believe you." Dio bit back.
You shook your head earnestly, but clearly, Dio no longer trusted you to be honest with him, not that he didn't have a good reason, you supposed.
You had lied to him and deceived him. ' About a subject that was none of his damn business!' a voice reminded you in the back of your head, yet the nagging voice was getting easier to tune out. Its calls for justice were replaced by Dio's voice growling in your mind reminding you that you would never be rid of him, and the protesting would get you a ruptured eardrum or worse.
"Go to your room and retrieve anything he purchased for you, then give it to me."
"W-why?"
"Because we are going to return it to him."
"I don't understand?" Dio lowered the flame on the stove and turned around with an exaggerated sigh, his tone exasperated as if he were speaking to an idiot.
"While I make us a nice breakfast, you will go pack up anything that bastard gave you, and we'll go return it to him this afternoon so that you can officially break things off."
You stood abruptly and blurted out the first thought that came to mind.
"You can't be serious." Dio only chuckled in response.
"Have you learned nothing?" To an outsider, Dio's voice might seem to be teasing, but you knew it held nothing but the promise of danger.
"It is a mistake to call my bluff."
"I'll call him right now, please. Just, don't make me-" You couldn't imagine facing Bruno right now. You'd sooner die than tell him that you're leaving him for Dio. Coerced or not. Hurting him was the last thing you ever wanted to do.
"Such a profound relationship should be ended face to face, no?" You were inclined to agree if the circumstances were different. It was apparent Dio wasn't insisting you speak to Bruno in person for the latter's wellbeing.
"You're just doing this to humiliate me," you growled, resigned and bitter. Moving from the table, you stepped towards Dio defiantly. He met your posture with his imposing frame daring you to step down.
"And you're humiliation won't account for a fraction what I felt when I learned you had fucked another man in my car." Gripping your chin, Dio brought your lips to his in a kiss you would describe as tender if not for the disgust it roused in the pit of your stomach. Snarling as you prematurely turned away from the kiss, he shooed you to the basement as he returned to the stove. Deciding not to press the matter of your disobedience so early in the day, he would see that you were apologetic soon enough.
You wordlessly left the kitchen wracking your brain for any trinkets you could show to Dio to appease his hunt for any evidence of Bruno's love for you. But before you reached the steps, Dio called you over his shoulder.
"That reminds me we need to go to the dealership. It is important to remove signs of infidelity in a relationship."
You hadn't returned to Bruno's apartment since the awful evening Dio picked you up. Occasionally the two of you would meet in a hotel in the afternoon for a tryst and regretfully Dio's car. You never thought you'd ever be returning with Dio in tow, gripping your wrist as you led him to your boyfriend's front door.
The tears had been present on your face the minute you arrived at the building, silently slipping down the sides of your cheeks as if to hide from Dio.
"I suggest you compose yourself." He sneered at you. Reflexively you dried your eyes like a scolded child.
"Do not go in his apartment. Stay at the front door." Dio instructed sharply before knocking his fist on the door and retreating a few meters down to observe or rather overhear your interaction with Bruno to ensure it was short and to the point.
"Cara mia, it's good to see you." Bruno embraced you readily, his voice wavering as if also on the verge of tears. Stepping back, he appraised you, a wave of anger flaring in his eyes as he noticed the bruising on your neck and slight swelling of your cheek. The concern in his blue eyes was nearly too much to take considering what you were here to do. You couldn't hold his gaze unless you wanted to flirt with another complete breakdown.
"Did he touch you?" Bruno barreled on despite your closed-off and avoidant posture.
"I had half a mind to call the police, I-"
"We can't do this anymore." You shut your eyes tightly as you spoke, praying that this was a nightmare and that soon it would be over.
"What?" Opening your eyes, you took in the disbelief and heartbreak slowly registering in his expression.
"I'm so sorry." You sobbed softly. Not an ounce of your body language would suggest that he was an act, but Bruno knew better than to just passively accept your rejection.
"Is he putting you up to this?"
"No." You responded softly, your tone not even remotely convincing.
"You're lying."
"Does it matter? I don't have a choice!" You shouted, surprising even yourself. Taking a deep breath before beginning again. "I-I don't want him to hurt you." You confessed, whispering softly in a fruitless attempt not to be overheard by Dio. You were disgusted by your voice, whiny and wounded like a helpless puppy.
"You always have a choice." He insisted, but you'd long stopped believing that.
"I wish that were true." You muttered, becoming engrossed in the geometric latticing of the carpet beneath your feet. God, when had you become so weak? Bruno deserved so much better than a sudden aloof breakup. Someone who wasn't afraid to risk it all for him.
"Come in, let's talk about our options. I know about the contract, but it can't be used to essentially condemn you to servitude, right?" Servitude was a relatively light way of characterizing what was becoming an elaborate form of sexual slavery.
"That's quite enough, Mr. Bucciarati. We'll be leaving now. She's said her piece."
Dio emerges from the shadows of the hall like a villain, a self-satisfied look on his face as he watches his insidious plan come to fruition.
You wanted to wipe the smug look off of Dio's face, but as soon as the thought came, Bruno put it into action.
With a bitterly growled curse of "Figlio di puttana," Bruno reeled back before punching Dio square across the jaw with the ferocity of a caged predator causing the larger man to stagger back. Throwing your arms around Dio, you tried to place yourself as a barrier between the two men. Since your employer's rage rising to a boil.
"Dio, please!" You cried, desperately trying to keep his arms pinned and away from Bruno.
"I'll do what you want. I'll end things. I promise, just if you could give us a moment."
"Cara, no ."
"We're leaving now. I'm not giving a minute to conspire with this man. What do you take me for?" Dio spat.
"I'll never speak to him again, I promise."
"Fine. If you're not out by then, I'll come to get you." Bruno waited until he heard the distant chime of the elevator through the hallway before grabbing you by your shoulders and slamming the front door behind you. His were wide and desperate, like those of a child trying to keep sand from running through his fingers.
"We'll leave out the back. Right now." He implored desperately. "We can go to Italy. My mother lives in Milan, we'll stay with her for a bit. I'll get another teaching job, I'll make you my wife, and you can have citizenship."
You thought about it genuinely, but the vision was instantly marred by the piles of guilt you would feel if you left Giorno alone. Sure, Dio would ultimately have to replace you, but saying that you and Giorno had grown close was an understatement. The child would undoubtedly be devasted, and you would mourn his absence horribly.
"Bruno, I can't leave Giorno." You spoke softly, your eyes wavering with the threat of fresh tears at the unmistakable look of disappointment in Bruno's eyes.
"But you can't live under him. Giorno is his son. He'll be fine."
"He won't, Bruno. You know that." You remind him tersely.
"Dio will feed him bitterness and lies. He'll never trust another woman in his life. I can't live with that guilt, and Giorno is just a child. He shouldn't be responsible for bearing the burdens of his father's actions."
"Then who should? You?"
"If I must," you reply, long resigned to your fate as Giorno's nanny.
"Even if it means leaving me?"
"You'll find someone else." You laugh bitterly, tearing your gaze away from Bruno's heady blue stare for the first time since you arrived.
"You know I don't want that. I want you." His tone is desperate and pleading. It stirs your own emotions painfully. You look at him and nearly fall apart. You wish it didn't have to end this way.
"I want you too. So much," your tears return as your hands reach for Bruno's cheeks to draw him close.
You kiss him hard because you know it's going to be the last time. With each brush of your lips, record each sensation, the softness, and fullness of his lips, the taste of his tongue, the tenderness in every press, you commit it all to memory. You never want to forget.
It's you who breaks the kiss first, and you feel horrible for it, but Dio is waiting.
Reluctantly you check the time on your phone. Exactly five minutes had passed.
"We're out of time." You whisper against Bruno's lips. He only gives a slight nod before drawing you into his embrace once again.
"This isn't the end of us, cara mia."
You so desperately wanted to believe his words. But Dio had slowly evaporated your ability to hope.
Wordlessly, mournfully , you turned to the door and walked out of Bruno's life, and if Dio had anything to say about it, you knew it would be for good .
When you departed from the building returning to Dio's car, obnoxiously double-parked in the front driveway. You wordlessly opened the door and took your seat. Turning your entire body away from him to look out the window.
"It's done," was all you said.
Perhaps sensed your sensitivity, but he did not press you for details, but you still heard the smile in his voice.
"Good. We have to pick up Giorno from Jonathan's."
"Alright."
"Put on a good face." You resisted the urge to scoff, bitterness overtaking the sorrow.
The rest of the ride was silent.
As you pulled up to the Joestar manor, you felt nothing but resignation. Your only salvation was the spark of joy that kindle as you heard Giorno's excited voice through the front door after Dio the sturdy wooden door a solid knock.
Erina greeting you with Giorno on her hip, and the little one was quick to outstretch his arms towards you.
"Hello Erina," you greeted with less enthusiasm than you would have liked. She responded in kind, but you could sense weariness in her expression as she observed you.
"I missed you, tati!" Giorno chirped sweetly, nuzzling his blond curls into your neck.
"But it's only been a day." You smiled at him, but your internal monologue lamented just how rapidly things had unraveled. It only took a day for Dio to upend your life so mercilessly, but perhaps his plan had been much more extensive than you thought.
Pulling you from your thoughts, Giorno played with your dangling earring before whispering in your ear.
"I had a good time, but I like being home with you and Daddy."
"I like being at home with you too." You whispered back earnestly. If you had sole custody of Giorno, there would be no problems.
"I'll gather his things!" Jonathan called from down the hall. Giorno's ladybug overnight bag looked practically comical, draped over his burly shoulder.
"Darling, go help your uncle." Erina chastised, and with a swift nod, Giorno dashed off to the back of the house to help Jonathan gather the rest of his things.
Erina and Jonathan lived in a home just as lavish as Dio's, but rather than a contemporary interior, the townhome was full of family heirlooms and vintage pieces dating back centuries.
She invited you the sit in the front salon. An offer which you readily took, your fraying nerves causing you physical exhaustion.
"Y/n, are you alright? You look like you've had an encounter with the devil."
"I'm fine, I promise." Erina sent a glare out the window at Dio, who was preoccupied with a call from work remained in the car. Despite his distance, she still leaned in close and lowered her voice as if not to be overheard.
"Are you sure?"
You nodded wordlessly, which was none too convincing.
"Well, alright, how about we get lunch sometime this week? With George off at university, I'm terribly lonely these days. I'm not old enough to be an empty nester!"
"I would like that."
Erina smiled brightly at your reply, leaning in closer to add, "We can speak more freely without the men around."
"I need that." You hoped your words didn't convey the full extent of your desperation, but nothing slipped past Erina.
"I had a feeling that you do."
After successfully retrieving Giorno from the Joestars, you order take-out for dinner that night. Clearly not in the mood to cook or do anything other than mope around. You don't know quite when you'll be able to cook again. You were sure everything you touched would burn.
Dinner was a far more quiet affair than usual. Your solemn mood dampening Giorno's spirits. Dio seemed nonplussed, enjoying his food with little concern or care for your mood.
What an environment for a young boy to grow up in, you thought.
"Y/n is something wrong? Did you and papa get into a fight?" Intuitive as ever, Giorno's question isn't surprising in the least.
"She's a bit sad today Giorno, because, well, y/n why don't you tell him." World-class actor he was.
"Me and Mr. Bucciarati decided we won't be seeing each other anymore." Rising from his seat Giorno throws his arms around your waist in a warm hug.
"I'm sorry, y/n." He whispers into your shoulder, squeezing you tightly. It's an unspoken gesture offering condolences. Giorno was likely the only other person who knew the extent of your relationship with Bruno.
"It's ok, darling," comes your soft, mournful reply. You hug him back, taking comfort in the delicate peachy scent of his freshly washed curls. You close your eyes just as the little one speaks up again.
"Daddy and I can be the only men in your life now."
What.
You pull away from the embrace as if you'd had a boiling pot of water poured over raw skin. Your bewildered expression meets Giorno's startled doe eyes, the little one clearly taken aback by your reaction.
"Did I say something wrong?" Giorno's voice is small and wavering.
"Y/n." Dio speaks sternly as if reminding you to operate with sensitivity around Giorno.
No. No. He didn't you try to remind yourself. He's just a child, and Dio hides his insanity well. He couldn't possibly be aware of his father's plans. Right?
Relaxing your features, you pull him back into a hug.
"I was just surprised to hear you say that is all. You did nothing wrong, mimmo."
Dio could see that you were trying to hide a growing sense of horror at his son's words as you kept your eyes glued to the floor throughout Giorno's hug, but he couldn't have been more proud of his boy.
He was right, after all. Starting today, they would be the only men in your life.
Dio would make sure of it by any means necessary.