Born To Kill: Misunderstandings

I woke up to the smell of musk and an arm around my waist. Primo must’ve carried me to the bed when I fell asleep. His warmth on my back felt nice, I wouldn’t mind waking up to this every day. I felt his hand move and I could tell he was awake. I tried to sit up but his grip on my waist tightened. “Don’t. Not yet.” I relaxed and unconsciously put my hand on top of his. After a few minutes, he removed his hand from my waist; he stood up and went inside the bathroom without uttering a single word. I sat up and stretched my arms. Moments later, Primo walked out. His body seemed so much more interesting when you can see every part of it. He had a scar under his ribs, on his arms and some on his back. 

“We’ll be leaving after breakfast. They’ll be expecting that I fucked you.” I knew what he wanted to say. He wanted me to fake pain. I nodded and he took my wedding gown from the bathroom. He took his knife and ripped it in half. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. “What are you doing?” He had a smirk on his face. “They’ll be expecting this. It’s tradition to rip the gown of the bride during their night together.” He took his knife and drew it over his arm. I was alarmed. “Now what are you doing?” He let the blood on his wound drip over the sheets. He took a cup on the table and he went to the bathroom, a few seconds later, he poured the water on top of the blood. On a scale of 1-10 on how confused I am, it would be 11. He took a holster and wrapped it around his arm to hide the wound. 

“The ladies will come up here to take the gown and the sheets. It’s proof that something happened last night.” All of a sudden he crashed his lips on mine. His kisses were fierce and I felt like my lips were going to fall off. He stopped when we heard a knock on the door. He stood up and my eyes quickly darted to the huge bulge in his boxer briefs. It did little of hiding what’s underneath. “We have to look the part.” He went to the door and opened it. I moved to the sofa and I clamped my legs together really tight to redden them a bit. All the women were giggling when they entered. Valentina took the gown and she smiled from the way the gown was destroyed. Primo’s mother Luciana went straight to the bed and gasped. 

“Oh you poor thing, last night must’ve hurt. But it's okay, it’ll get better.” I gave them a pained smile and their eyes wandered over my body. They looked like they were satisfied by seeing the redness in my thighs. They took the gown and the sheets and they went out. Primo closed the door and relief washed through me. Primo looked at my thighs and he smirked. “Good thinking.” I smiled and faked a limp. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” I laughed. “Nothing, I was just practicing.” The corners of his lips twitched. He was fighting the urge to smile. I was about to say something when someone knocked on the door. It was one of the staff, they brought my bags up. Most of them anyway. I took out matching underwear and a cream colored dress. I went to the bathroom and I closed the door behind me. I took a quick shower and got dressed. I brushed my teeth and I went out. Primo didn’t say anything; he went to the bathroom after me. 

I put the high heels inside my bag and I took out a closed-toe one with a 2-inch heel. I couldn’t dare wear anything higher after all the dancing yesterday. My feet were still sore. I didn’t bother putting on make-up. I brushed my hair and I looked at myself in the mirror. I waited for Primo to step out of the bathroom so we could go downstairs together. A few moments later and he stepped out wearing a black shirt and his pants from last night. I checked all my bags to see if everything was in place. 

“Is your wound okay?” I looked at him and he was busy putting on his holsters and guns. “I’ve had worse wounds than that. It’s fine.” I nodded and I waited for him to finish. He called one of the staff to put my bags in the car. He held out his hand and I took it. We went down to the dining room and everyone was there. My family on the right side and Primo’s on the left. They were talking about the destroyed gown and the sheets. The looks of approval from my father and Primo’s father frightened me. We took a seat across one another. Marina was on my left and Salva on my right. Marina unconsciously pressed down on my thighs and I flinched. 

“Does it hurt? I’m sorry Luna. I didn’t know.” I smiled. I can’t believe how good of an actress I am. “It’s fine.” She looked worried but I assured her that I was fine. I knew she wanted to know what happened last night knowing how perverted she is, she wants to hear it fully detailed. Salva looked at me and he noticed that my lips were a bit swollen. He knew what men would do in bed, he has done it before. In the mafia, you can’t be a killer and a virgin so Father had him lose his virginity to a prostitute. I strongly disapproved of the act but what can I do? 

“Seeing as how successful the night went, maybe we’ll be expecting little Monticellos in the future.” I almost gagged on the piece of bread I was eating. Giovanni looked at Father and they both had those creepy smiles plastered on their faces. Everyone seemed to agree but Primo thought otherwise. “Not until the Bratva has been dealt with.” Father and Giovanni nodded on that statement. 

After breakfast, my bags were already inside the car. My family would leave before us. Marina and Salva bade me goodbye but what tug at my heartstrings was Marina’s words. She was crying saying she’ll really miss me and I couldn’t stop myself. I hugged her and I cried. Father was getting impatient so I told Marina that I’ll call them every day. I waved them goodbye as their car pulled out of the driveway. Primo stood behind me and he wrapped his hand on my waist which caught me by surprise. I looked up at him and he was looking at me. I placed my head on his chest and he tightened his hold on me. Maybe there’s hope for this marriage. Maybe I won’t be miserable. 

Soon after my family left, Primo and I went on our way to the airport. I expected to fly in first-class but Primo had his own private jet. They loaded all our bags and Primo helped me climb in. We sat in front of each other. The moment we sat down, the jet took flight. I wanted to talk to Primo, to get to know him but he seemed so unapproachable that I lost the courage to. We won’t be arriving in New York for at least 2 more hours. I got bored just staring out the window so I took out a book I brought with me. I would sneak glances at Primo in between my reading just to see if he’s in a good mood so I can ask him questions. Apparently, I wasn’t too inconspicuous since he noticed me looking at him.

“Is there a problem?” I quickly sat up straight and closed the book. “No, there’s no problem. It’s just…” He raised an eyebrow. “Can I ask you a question?” He hesitated but nodded. “When we arrive in New York, will I be able to explore the city?” He stared at me and I felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. “Only if Dino or I am with you.” I nodded. It became silent again. I couldn’t take it anymore. I put the book back in my bag and I looked at Primo who was looking at his phone. 

“Primo?” He looked up and he put his phone in his pocket. “Last night, when you were dancing with Marina, I noticed that she was smiling. What did you talk about?” I tried to sound casual so it wouldn’t sound that I was too nosy. “She wanted to make sure that you were safe with me. I assured her that you would be in safe hands.” I smiled. Primo looked at me and I decided to ask him a few more questions. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about the scar you have on your arm.” He was wearing a t-shirt so the scar was visible. He looked at it then he turned to me. “My father did this. He tortured us to toughen us up.” My eyes widened. “How old were you?” “I was 8.” My jaw dropped. “That’s horrible.” He didn’t answer. I wondered why they had to do things like that. Salva had to suffer the same faith. 

“Your sister told me that you love to draw.” I wondered what else Marina told him. I nodded. I took out a small sketch pad and my favorite pencil from my bag. “Would you like me to draw you?” He didn’t answer but he looked at me. “You don’t have to stay still.” I started to sketch out his outline. I took quick glances at him and continued. The more I drew him the more I noticed how handsome he was. After what seemed to be an hour, I finalized my drawing and erased some of the stray marks. I showed the picture to him and he seemed amused. 

“Your sister was right. You are a good artist.” I took back the drawing and put a title on the bottom right corner. I wrote ‘My husband’ and I signed it. I gave it to him and he seemed surprised by the title. “Would you like me to keep it?” He asked. I nodded. “Sure, if you want to.” He took the sketch pad and examined the drawing. It took me an hour to make it and I wanted the details to be realistic. He put it on his lap and I smiled at him. 

We arrived in New York around noon. “Would you like to eat before we drive back home?” I nodded. All our bags were in the car and we drove to an Italian restaurant. We ordered pasta and we ate in silence. I admired the décor of the restaurant. The place looks like a restaurant in Italy. After we ate lunch, we drove to a gated community where Primo’s mansion was. The houses here weren’t as big as his. I’m guessing they own this whole neighborhood. I wonder who lives in these houses. We arrived in front of his luxurious mansion. Guards were sprawling all over the vicinity. His men took out all the bags and carried them inside the house. We were walking towards the house when I noticed a big dog alongside one of his men. He must’ve noticed me staring. “That’s Boomer. He’s the guard dog. Don’t be afraid. He’s not going to attack you.” I wasn’t afraid. I love dogs. I just wanted to pet him. 

When we entered the mansion, a petite old lady greeted me. “You must be Luna.” She hugged me and I did the same. “This is Isla, she cooks and cleans.” I smiled at her. “You clean this whole house by yourself?” She smiled and nodded. I looked at Primo and he was about to say something when his phone rang. He excused himself and Isla and I were left in the foyer. “So Isla, would you mind giving me a tour of the place?” She looked over at Primo who was outside. She was unsure of what to do. Primo’s call was done and he walked back to us. 

“I have to go. Niccolo and I have important things to attend to.” He looked at me then to Isla. “Is it okay if Isla tours me around the house?” He looked at Isla and nodded. “Of course. This is your home now. Dino will stay here to keep guard.” I looked behind me and Dino was standing there. “Will you be home by dinner?” He nodded and at that, he left. I looked at Isla and she smiled at me. “Let’s go. Let’s start here on the first floor.” She showed me the dining room and the kitchen. I ached to use their pristine kitchen. We moved to the second floor and there were a lot of guest rooms. Each had their own bathroom. Lastly, she showed me the third floor where the master’s bedroom and Primo’s office were. There was also a guest room on the third floor. It was near the master’s bedroom. Maybe this was where Niccolo stayed when he was here.” Primo doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s in his office but I’m sure you’re an exception.” I doubt that. I would be if we married out of love but we didn’t. 

“Thank you for showing me the house Isla. I’ll just go to our room and change.” She nodded and went back downstairs. Dino was in the living room flipping through a magazine. I went to the master’s bedroom and admired the whole room. It was big. There was a walk-in closet and the bathroom had a big bathtub. My bags were already inside the closet. All I had to do was put them up. I unpacked and the first thing I saw was Marina’s gift. A tear slid down my cheek but I brushed it off. I put the bracelet on my wrist and I continued to unpack. I took out a maroon-colored dress and I put it on the bed. After unpacking, I took a quick shower and I put on the dress. I went down to the kitchen. Isla wasn’t here. I didn’t look for her. She might be busy somewhere else and I don’t want to disturb her.

I took out an apron from one of the cupboards and I put it on. I wanted to make a special dinner for Primo. I wanted to try and make this marriage work. I certainly don’t want to be miserable my whole life. I was planning on making Vegetable Antipasti for the appetizer, Lamb Chops Potentina for the main course and Ricotta Sundae with Raspberries for dessert. I went to the pantry to gather the ingredients I needed. The pantry was fully stocked so I didn’t have any problem finding what I needed. I grabbed a knife from the holder but before I could slice the vegetables, Isla came in.

“Mistress, please let me do it.” Primo must’ve told her to call me that. “It’s okay Isla and please call me Luna. I’ll make dinner for Primo. But you can help me chop these vegetables.” She was hesitant but she agreed. After I made the Antipasti, I went on to make the Lamb Chops. I asked Isla to prepare the beans and the green peas while I made the filling. I preheat the pan and I put everything in. I had to let it cook for a few minutes so I decided to start with the dessert. Isla took out the ricotta and I asked her to press it through a sieve. I took a spoon and dipped it in the lamb chops to taste it. It tasted perfect. 

“You are a caring person Mis… Luna.” I smiled. I love to cook for other people. It’s the small joy I get when they enjoy the food that I make. We were halfway done with the Ricotta Sundaes; I turned the stove off and plated the lamb chops. I also plated the antipasti. I blended the ricotta with the whipped cream and I put it in the fancy sundae cups Isla took out. I garnished it with raspberries and I was done. I looked at the wall clock and it was almost 6 pm. I asked Isla to prepare the table. I went upstairs to freshen up and when I walked back downstairs, I heard Primo’s car. I went to the dining room and made finishing touches. I made enough food for Primo and I but I made sure to give some to Isla and Dino. Primo walked in the front door and I greeted him. 

“Good evening Primo.” I smiled. He looked at me with a confused look. “I made dinner.” I added. He seemed surprised but he went on his way to the dining room. He didn’t bother to greet me which made me feel a bit disappointed but I wasn’t giving up that easily. I followed him and I took my seat at the far end of the table. He sat at the other end and he looked at the food. We ate in silence. I wanted to make conversation but it seemed that we were too far from each other and I didn’t feel comfortable talking this far apart. After dinner, Primo didn’t say anything. He went upstairs and I helped Isla clean up. She insisted that I go upstairs. I helped her take the dirty dishes to the kitchen and I saw Dino sitting on a barstool.

“How was my cooking Dino?” He looked at me and just like his boss, his face conveyed no emotions. “It was delicious.” Even though his words sounded so bland, I’m glad that he enjoyed the food. Isla thanked me for giving them a wonderful dinner. I smiled at her and I excused myself to go upstairs. I took off my heels and walked up the stairs. I passed by Primo’s office and the lights were off. I went straight to our room and sat on the bed. Primo got out of the bathroom wearing only his boxers. We didn’t talk. I went to the bathroom after him and I showered. I took out a silky nightgown that barely reached my knees. I brushed my teeth and I stepped out. Primo was on the bed looking at his phone. I sat on my side of the bed. 

“The food was delicious.” I looked at him but he was still on his phone. “Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.” I stood up and went to the window. I stared at the night sky. It was clear, the moon and stars were out. My parents made a great decision when they named me Luna. Something about the night sky makes my insides calm. I heard Primo come up behind me. He put his arms around my waist. “What is it with the night sky that you can’t seem to take your eyes off of them?” I shrugged. “Maybe it has something to do with my name.” 

I was facing the window when Primo turned me around to face him. Our gaze met and we stayed like that for a while. Primo lowered his face until our lips touched. At first he was gentle, but as time passed his kisses became rough. He carried me to the bed. Fear was starting to build inside me. When his hands found their way to the hem of my nightgown I backed up. He looked at me, anger clear in his eyes. He clenched his jaw. Without another word, he went back to his side of the bed. I calm down my breathing. I looked over to him and his back was facing me. I didn’t bother saying anything. I pulled the blanket over my stomach and I fell asleep. 

I woke up the next morning without Primo by my side. I looked at the clock on the bedside. It was 8 am; maybe he needed to leave early. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I felt somewhat sad waking up without him. I stood up and went to the walk-in closet. I chose to wear a yellow sundress. I took a shower first and afterwards I went downstairs. Isla greeted me and she served me a croissant and a cup of coffee. I took the cup and I walked around. I saw Dino in the living room. I walked up to him and when he saw me he jumped to his feet. 

“Good morning Dino. Has Primo left already?” He nodded. I took a sip of my coffee and I went back to the dining area. I wasn’t in the mood to eat anything so I took the croissant back to Isla. She insisted I eat something but I really didn’t want to. I drank the coffee and I put the cup inside the dishwasher. I walked outside to the garden and it was beautiful. It was prettier than the one we had back home. I walked around the mansion and I saw a swimming pool. Maybe Primo likes to swim. I have a fear of deep waters because when I was young, I accidentally slipped and fell into the deeper parts of the swimming pool and I almost drowned. I was just glad that one of Papa’s men found me and pulled me out. After that incident, Papa had the pool removed. After walking around, I went back inside. 

“Dino, would you mind driving me around town? I want to explore the city.” Dino didn’t answer but he grabbed his phone. He probably has to ask permission from Primo before we could go. I hate it that I have to ask Primo for permission to go out or to do anything outside this mansion. A few minutes later, Dino got a text then he grabbed the keys to Primo’s black Bugatti Chiron. I sat in the passenger’s seat. Dino drove off and I looked around. He took me to the Museum of Modern Art. Afterwards, we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was almost lunch and we went to one of the restaurants owned by the Genovese. Even though Dino was with me, he made me feel alone. He was always on guard and I could hardly feel his presence. We went to a few places and I managed to let Dino stay in the car while I bought a Metro card. This’ll come in handy.

Around 4 pm, I asked Dino to drive us home. I felt tired from walking around but it felt good to explore the city. When we arrived home, Primo’s car wasn’t in the garage. He must be busy with mafia stuff. I went to the pantry and I saw Isla taking out vegetables. “Are you going to cook dinner?” She nodded. I asked her to cook for Primo only. I wasn’t that hungry. I took an apple from the pantry and I ate it. I went to our room and grabbed my phone from my purse. I called Marina and at the second ring, she answered. 

“Luna, I miss you.” I giggled.”I miss you too baby sister.” I could tell she was crying. “How are you?” Is he treating you well like he promised me?” I sighed. “If treating me well meant ignoring me then yes, he’s treating me very well.” Marina scoffed. “What an asshole.” I scolded her. I don’t like to hear her say those words. She apologized and we talked about what was happening in California. She didn’t go into full detail but I knew Salva was having a hard time without me. “Are you talking to Luna? Let me talk to her.” Marina gave Salva the phone and when he said hello, I cried. “How are you Luna? I hope you’re okay.” I assured him that I was fine here. He put the call on speaker so they could both hear me. We spent almost an hour talking and when I got tired, we said our goodbyes. 

I went inside the bathroom. I drew myself a hot bath. I needed to relax. I poured a generous amount of soap into the water and I let it foam up. I lay in the tub and I tried to relax. I soaked in the tub for nearly half an hour. I rinsed the soap off and I changed into my nightgown. It was 9 pm and Primo wasn’t back. I lay in bed and I pulled the covers up to my stomach. I didn’t wait for him to come home even though I couldn’t sleep. Soon I felt my eyelids getting heavy. I didn’t fight the urge to sleep. I closed my eyes and I fell asleep. 

I woke up in the middle of night because of a nightmare. I felt a hand on my waist and Primo was next to me. I tried to sit up without waking him but he was light-sleeper so the moment I moved, his eyes shot open. I was holding my chest to calm myself down. “Are you okay?” I nodded. He held my hand and I didn’t protest. “I’m fine. I just had a nightmare. I’m sorry I woke you.” He shook his head. He stood up and went to the bathroom. He came back with a glass of water. He gave it to me and I drank it. I placed the glass on the nightstand. I lay back down and Primo wrapped me in a hug. His warmth calmed my frantic nerves. I fell asleep in his arms. 

When morning came, I wasn’t surprised that Primo had already left. But I did feel disappointed. Last night gave me hope that maybe he’ll learn to love me but I was starting to doubt it. I got out of bed and I went to the bathroom. I picked out a simple white dress and I went downstairs. As usual, I wasn’t in the mood to eat anything. I just drank coffee and after that I walked around the mansion. I saw Boomer on the lawn and he was looking calm. Not much action I guess. I whistled and he turned his head in my direction. Guards were still around the vicinity. I walked over to Boomer. I bent down to pet him. When I raised my hand he growled. 

“Don’t worry Boomer. I’m not going to hurt you.” It seemed that he understood what I said and he calmed down. I patted his head and he wagged his tail. The guards were looking at my direction but I didn’t care. I rubbed under Boomer’s ears and he loved it. I was enjoying myself. I asked one of the guards if it’s okay to play with Boomer for a while. He looked at me with disbelief. “Boomer doesn’t play.” I disagreed. They seemed to be interested in how I can manage to play with Boomer so they agreed. I walked around trying to find a stick to play fetch with. After a few seconds, I found one that was big. I called Boomer and his ears perked up. I threw the stick as far as I could and Boomer ran to get it. He was running so fast that when he was coming back to me, I had to move aside because he might tackle me. 

“You’re such a good boy Boomer.” I rubbed his belly and he seemed to love it. The guards were awestruck. I threw the stick again and Boomer ran to it like it was a criminal running away. I played with Boomer so much that I didn’t realize that I was covered in mud. I rubbed Boomer’s belly one last time before I went inside. Isla saw me and she was shocked. She asked me if I was okay and I said I was fine. I went upstairs to shower and change. It was noon when I went back down. I walked into the kitchen and I saw Dino and Isla eating together. 

“May I join you?” They both looked at me disapprovingly but I insisted that I eat with them. “You should eat at the dining table Luna. This is no place for the Master’s wife to eat in.” I shook my head. “I don’t like to eat alone.” She had no choice but to let me eat with them. I asked occasional questions like how long they’ve been with Primo and such. They both seemed to enjoy my company and I enjoyed theirs too. After lunch, I helped them clean up. Isla kept insisting that she’ll do all the work but I didn’t want to give her all the responsibilities of this house. 

It was almost 10 pm and Primo wasn’t home. I should get used to him not coming home till late hours. I just don’t like being alone in a big room. I tried to close my eyes and hoped that I would fall asleep. After a few minutes I managed to doze off.

For 3 consecutive days, Primo would be home at around 1 am and he’ll leave around 7 am. We don’t even have time to talk anymore. I guess the Cosa Nostra is all he cares about. Maybe the Bratva is giving him trouble that’s why he has to stay out late and come back early. I tried to think of ways for us to talk and settle things. I don’t want to be alone during the night. 

It was half past 1 when I came down from the bedroom. Dino was in the living room and when he saw me he stood up and handed me an unopened envelope. “It is from your sister.” He went back to sitting on the sofa. I went to the dining area to open the letter. I was a bit suspicious; why would Marina send me a letter when she can just call me? I looked at the address on the back and it clearly states her name and our address. Maybe she wants to tell me something really private that she doesn’t want to talk about it on the phone. I opened the envelope and inside was a letter and a key. I was confused when I saw the key. I opened the letter and started reading it. 

‘If you want to know what your husband is up to, follow this address. This room key will be the answer to all your questions. Your bodyguard will try and stop you. Lose him.’ I wasn’t sure if this was real or not but I’ll risk my chances. Tomorrow, I’ll find out what’s really happening. 

The next day, I asked Dino to drive me to a pharmacy near the address I was given. It was 7 pm and I asked him to wait for me and I mentioned that I might take a little longer because the pharmacy was almost full of people. He simply nodded and I went inside. I asked the person on the counter if they had a backdoor. I lied that I was being chased by a mad man and if he comes in here asking if they’ve seen me, I asked them not to tell. She seemed to believe me and she led me to the back door that led to an alleyway. I followed the alley out to the next street. I followed the address and it led me to a hotel. I knew Dino would suspect something so I made my way up to the 4th floor of the building and I looked for room 416. As I was walking along the corridor, I saw a door barely open. I checked if the room was 416 and it was. I peeked inside and what I saw made my soul leave my body. 

Chiara was bending over the bed and Primo was fucking her. Chiara looked at my direction and she smiled at me menacingly. I stepped back but I accidentally dropped the keys. Primo’s eyes shot open and he immediately reached for his gun on the nightstand. I didn’t bother looking back. I ran towards the elevator. The moment it closed, I saw Primo checking outside the door. I ran away from the hotel. When I was outside I wasn’t looking where I was going so I bumped into someone. I looked at him and it was Dino. He must’ve used the tracking device on my phone. I stood up and ran as fast as I could. I went to the train station and I fumbled to get my Metro card. I swiped it and I got in the train just in time. I caught a glimpse of Primo looking around. I didn’t care anymore. I don’t even know where this train is going but it didn’t matter, as long as I’m far away from him. 

I called Marina. “Luna?” I choked back a tear that was fighting to come out. “I don’t have much time. I just called to tell you that I caught Primo cheating on me.” She gasped. A few heads turned to me. “WHAT?! Fucking hell! He promised me that you’re in good hands. Are you okay? You aren’t crying are you?” The moment she mentioned the word crying, a tear fell. I brushed it off. “No, I’m fine. I’ll call you the moment I get back. I have to throw this phone away. They’ll be able to find me if I still have it.” She sighed. “I hope he never finds you. He doesn’t deserve you. Be careful. I love you.” Another tear fell but I quickly wiped it off. “Love you too.” I ended the call. I didn’t get out of the first and second stop. I got out of the third because I know they’ll think that I would immediately leave. I have no idea where I was getting myself into. I found an open manhole where I could throw my phone away. I wandered around for almost an hour. I rested in a small café. I didn’t stay long because if I did, his men would find me.

I didn’t even think that he’s going to try and find me. I bet he’s back to fucking her senseless. Chiara’s face makes me want to punch her so hard her teeth start falling out. I walked around and when the cold got to me, I bought coffee in one of the cafés. I didn’t drink it; I just used it for heat. As I was wandering, I noticed a man following me. I didn’t think much of it but when he pulled me into a small alley, I didn’t panic. 

“Give me all your money or else.” He held a knife at my neck. I pretended to grab my wallet but instead I punched his face. I held the knife away from me. He was strong, he tried to stab me but I held onto the knife. I could feel it digging through my palm. Blood started to drip from my hand. “I’m not in the mood to be mugged.” I kicked his balls and I grabbed the knife. I held it against his neck. “Next time, choose a weaker victim than you.” I threw the knife on the ground and he ran like a deer. I looked at my palm and it was bleeding. I’ve had enough of tonight’s events. I tore a piece off my shirt and wrapped it around my palm. 

I called a cab and asked him to take me back to Primo’s mansion. When I got there, Boomer didn’t bark at me. He wagged his tail and I petted him. It was almost 1 am when I got back. I opened the front door and Dino was pacing the foyer. The moment he saw me he grabbed his phone and called Primo. “Where’s your master? Back with his slut?” Dino frowned. “He’s out there looking for you.” I rolled my eyes. 

“How considerate of him.” I went upstairs to the bedroom and locked the door. I took a bath and I noticed that my wound was bigger than I expected it to be. It needed to be stitched together but I couldn’t be bothered. I just covered it with a bandage and I put on my nightgown. The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, Primo was banging on the door. I caught him cheating and now he’s angry? What a man.

“Luna! Open this fucking door or I’ll break it down.” I would like to see you try. I was tired so I unlocked the door and went back to the bed. Primo pushed the door so hard the hinges almost fell off. He grabbed my arm but I slapped his arm away. “Don’t you dare touch me.” He slammed the door shut. “Where the hell were you?” He was seething with rage. His hair and clothes were a mess. “What do you care? You should just go back to your slut. You’ve been doing it for a while now.” He was getting angrier by the second. He tried to touch me but I stepped back.

“Don’t you dare touch me with the same hands you touched your whore with.” He had a resigned look on his face. He sighed. “I’m going to take a shower.” He disappeared into the bathroom. No amount of water and soap can wash away the filth that bitch had on you. I sat on the sofa. A few minutes later, he stepped out wearing his boxers. “Let’s talk.” He sat on the bed but I didn’t move. “What’s there to talk about?” He didn’t move away from his spot. “Some wives would be glad to know that their husbands are using other women. You wouldn’t let me touch you. I have needs, Luna.” I couldn’t believe him.

“When did I ever say that I wouldn’t let you touch me? I wanted to know you better. I didn’t choose to be married to you but I wanted this marriage to work. I wanted to be happy.” He didn’t answer. 

“Why are you so upset about it?” Is he really serious? Doesn’t he know?

“I’m a human being Primo. I’m not like you who can just ignore their emotions. I have feelings. I was hurt. You may think; why would I be hurt? You’re my husband. I expected just a little bit of respect from you.” He stood up. “I treated you with respect.” 

“Respect? I just saw you fucking someone before my very eyes. That’s what respect means to you?” He didn’t answer.

“I guess it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have expected to be treated right by a monster.” Anger was clear in his eyes. He looked at me but I wasn’t scared. 

“I just want to get to know you. I wanted you to see me as something more than your possession. I’m your wife for Christ’s sake. I want to experience my firsts with you.” He looked away. “We didn’t marry out of love Luna.” I stared at him. “That’s why I wanted to make this marriage work. I don’t want to be miserable.” He sighed and sat on the bed. 

“I guess you wouldn’t understand.” I tried to walk out of the room but he grabbed my arm. “Make me understand Luna.” I sighed and sat on the bed. “I’m trying my best to make this work. I’m trying to be a good wife to you. I just want to know you and I want you to know me. What you like, what you dislike.” I continued. He held my hand and stared at my eyes. “Okay. Our marriage will start right now. A new beginning.” I looked at him and I could tell he was being serious. “Promise?” He looked at me. “Promise.” I gave him a faint smile. He held my hand but a shot of pain hit me. I pulled my hand away from him. He looked confused.

“What happened to you?” I didn’t want him to know but it’s too late to hide it. I showed him my palm. He took off the bandage and he was alarmed. “Who did this to you?” He went to the bathroom to get a first-aid kit. “Someone tried to mug me but I fought back. He pointed the knife at my neck so I had to hold it away from me.” He took out a sterile needle and thread. He gave me painkillers before he started. He stitched the wound together and he put antiseptic on it. 

“I’ll find that man and make him pay.” I shook my head. “Let’s forget everything that happened and let’s just think about right now.” I lay on the bed and Primo followed. He wrapped his hands around my waist and I was facing him. I put my head on his chest and I listened to his heartbeat. He caressed my hair and I felt sleepy. I looked up at him and he was already staring at me. I smiled at him and I kissed his cheek. He was surprised. I wanted to let him know that I wanted us to work. I closed my eyes and fell asleep at the sound of his heartbeat.