Chapter 10 THE CURFEW.
\~~~RAINA.
I don’t remember how long I stay standing, frozen in place, before my legs finally give out and I slowly move to the sofa and sit down.
My father had just explained in the simplest yet most complicated way that I could not leave this marriage.
Not now.
Not until Talia is found.
My mother sits too, but not too close. She watches me like I might break, but she still doesn’t come near me.
“So that is it?” I ask quietly, staring at the floor because looking at them hurts. “My whole life depends on whether you find Talia or not?”
“Raina…” my mother whispers.
“No,” I shake my head. “Don’t ‘Raina’ me. Just answer the question.”
My father rubs his forehead, the way he always does when he wants to avoid the truth. “Things are… complicated.”
“Complicated?” I laugh softly, but there is no humor in it. “You mean dangerous. You mean deadly. Just say it.”
He doesn’t answer.
He can’t.
“So I stay married to a man who terrifies me,” I continue, my voice trembling but steady enough. “I stay in that house, pretending everything is fine, because you are too scared to go against him.”
“It is not like that,” my mother tries again.
“It is exactly like that,” I say, finally looking up at them. “And you both know it.”
My father’s shoulders drop, and that scares me more than anything.
Because my father never caves in.
He never bends or looks small at all.
“We can’t run from this,” he says quietly. “If you run, he will take it as betrayal.”
“And betrayal means death,” I whisper, finishing the sentence he is too afraid to say.
The room goes silent.
My heartbeat is the only sound I hear.
I press my fingers to my eyes and breathe out shakily. “I can’t believe my life has come to this.”
Neither of them says anything.
And that tells me everything I need to know.
“And he wants to fucking consummate the marriage, how do I live with that?!”
Still, they don’t say anything.
…
I can’t remember how long I sat there, and I’m pretty sure I must have dozed off at some point because when I finally woke up, I was yawning like I didn’t sleep at all last night.
A cover is draped over me, and I guess my mother placed it there.
Yawning again, I sit upright and glance at my parents, who are still side by side, this time watching the almost silent television.
“Are you okay?” my mother asks, but I ignore her, picking up my phone.
However, the moment the screen lights up, I spring up like my body is on fire, my scream tearing through the quiet room.
“Fucking fuck!”
“What, Raina, what?!” my mother asks, panic flooding her voice as she rushes toward me, my father right behind her, both their eyes wide.
“Fuck, why didn’t you wake me?!” I yell, my hands clenching my hair as I spin around, and my heart hammering like it is trying to escape my chest.
“Did something happen? You were sleeping so comfortably, so I didn’t wa…”
“Shit!” I cut her off sharply, yanking my shoes into place, trying to catch my breath while the blood raced through my veins.
It is almost sunset.
The realization hits me like a slap. Luciano’s curfew.
He says I must be back before sunset and now… now I am nowhere near home. My throat goes dry as my chest tightens, and every nerve in my body screams at me to move faster than I ever have.
If I don’t get back on time… I don’t even want to imagine what he will do.
But…
Wait, why am I scared?
I burst into a dry laugh at my inner thought and then settle into a cough again.
“What is wrong, Raina? Did you receive a bad message?” my mother asks again.
I mean, I literally have no reason in this world to be scared of Luciano.
So what if he is a thug? A warlord or whatever?
Who does he think he is, giving me a curfew?
“No… no, he meant his words. God,” I whisper under my breath again, biting my pinky nails nervously.
“Raina.”
“Luciano gave me a curfew,” my voice comes out low, almost trembling.
“What?” they both chorus.
“He told me to be home before sunset.”
My mother and father exchange glances, then slowly turn to look at the wall clock, and they both gasp.
“Raina, it is almos-”
“Shit, I know!” I cut in, jumping out of the chair and bolting from the room.
_______
When I get outside, the driver is still there. Oh, what a loyal ass.
I slip into the car without a word, and he drives out of the premises while I shake my legs vigorously, trying to ward off some of the panic racing through me.
By the time we pull up at the mansion, I have straightened my posture, forcing my legs to stop trembling. I step out of the car gently, keeping my composure like I have done this a million times.
Wait, it is not like he is going to beat me, so why the fuck should I be worried?
Or rather cut my feeding fee? Not like I even asked him for any. So, I tell myself, relax, Raina. Just relax.
I take a deep breath and push the door open, stepping inside the living room as quietly as possible. The house is quiet, almost too quiet. My heels click softly against the floor, and I swear my own heartbeat sounds too loudly in my ears.
I make my way to the bedroom, forcing myself to breathe slowly, grateful that he isn’t around yet. The hallway feels longer than usual, and every step is measured. My hand rests on the doorknob, heart thumping like a drum.
I push the door open, expecting emptiness and silence.
But he is there.
Luciano is here, in the room, settled on the single chair, calm and collected.
He didn't say a word. He just leans back, his eyes dark and unreadable, watching me like a predator surveying his territory. Then, he raises his hand and glances at his wrist watch.
I swear, I see a smile flash across his face.
“It’s past seven, sunshine. Do you love to go against me that much?”
“Listen, I was…” I stammer, my voice barely audible.
“Come here, Talia. Here,” he says, pointing his index finger to the front of him.
Oh, my sweet lord, what has my life turned into, please?