Chapter 72

"Things have changed since you've been gone, Alex. And don't fucking think for a second that I've forgotten what you've done." I spit in rage.

He's a twisted motherfucker, there's no doubt in that. And I was the same as him too, hell I still am. But a rapist and a sex trafficker, not even I would stoop that low.

"What I've done? What I've done is make you the man you are. Or the man you were before this female showed up." He angrily delivers as I burn holes into his head. That's it.

"Don't you dare think you had any influence in making me who I am. The things we did, they're over. I can assure you that." I growl, my voice as loud as it's ever been.

To that, he chuckles. "Listen, Tristan. We both know that this isn't the man you are. You don't love, you fuck. Stop kidding yourself."

"You don't know shit about me. And if you think the credit is yours for making me who I am, you're sorely mistaken." I snap, crossing my arms over my chest and scowling at him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go check on my wife." I growl, walking over the exit of my office.

"You know, I'm still in town tonight. I'm going down to the brothel and see how things are going in there. I'm expecting you to join me." I hear his voice behind me and I stop.

"That's not happening." I respond with my back to him before storming out and leaving him there.

Aurora's POV:

I layed in bed and tried to go to sleep but couldn't. I felt awful and shameful. This just proves that I don't belong in this world.

I'm not fancy or perfect like these girls. They're independent, successful and confident. And what am I? A mafia boss' housewife. I've been so busy taking care of him that I realized how I really don't know myself anymore. It's sounds stupid, I know.

I hear the door open and I open my eyes to see Tristan walking in and coming my way.

"Feeling any better?" He links his hand behind his back and marches towards me.

"A little. My head hurts." I tell him and he brings his hand to my face, lightly rubbing on my skin. That feels good.

"Do you need me to get you anything?" He asks but I'm quick to shake my head.

"No, it's okay. Are you feeling any pain?" I ask, looking at his chest then back at his face.

"Not at all, angel." He shakes his head then sends me a wink. "Do you want to head back downstairs?"

"No, please. I don't want to." I retort and his scrunches his face up in a frown.

"What happened?"

"I just don't think your friends like me very much." I giggle, attempting to set the mood for a bit.

"Did someone say something to you?" He snaps, no longer talking gently.

"No." I shyly deny and fumble with the sheet.

"Aurora, you know fully well you can come to me if someone bothers you." He angrily declares and I timidly look away from him.

"I-I know." I mutter and he nods, intently staring at me. "Can I ask you?" I ask and he nods. "Why am I not allowed to work?"

I watch as his face drops and his jaw tenses. He exhales and starts talking. "Why would you want to work?" He questions but I don't answer.

"You can ask me for anything. You know you can but you working is out of the question." His words are strict and his order is firm.

"I just want to-"

"What is it that you need? I can give you whatever you want. I don't care how expensive it is. You can get anything but you're not going to work." He strictly states, completely changing the tone of his voice.

"It's not about that. I just want to do something and be productive. I thought you'd be okay with th-"

"Aurora, my decision is final. Anything can happen to you and I'm not about to allow that." He states in a cold tone, standing up from the bed. "Fuck, just make this easier for me and don't ask things like that." He sighs out in frustration.

"Sorry." I mumble softly, so low I doubt he heard me.

"Don't apologize." He says, reaching over for my cheek. "Just don't say such things again." I nod at him. "Get rest, angel. I'm in my office if you need me." He places a kiss on my forehead and then he strides off.

I kind of expected him to be okay with it, but he wasn't. And I don't want to argue with him. Especially since he's hurt and injured.

Laying there after hours, I realized I haven't eaten all day. So, much to my discomfort, I got myself out of bed and went downstairs to make myself something to eat.

Looking around the house, I realize it's empty. Not even Tristan's family is here so I wonder where they went.

I go into the kitchen and stand on my tip toes, opening the cupboards and looking into them for things I can eat.

And just while I was doing that, a deep voice jolted me down.

"Hey." I hear their voice and I flinch then turn around to see Tristan's cousin. The handsome man from before.

"Uh, hi." I reply with a low tone. What is he still doing here?

"Scared ya, huh?" He chuckles, putting his hands in his pocket.

"Yeah, I-I thought everyone left." I admit, nervously looking over to him as he nods to himself and starts walking closer to me.

"I was just in the office with Tristan. We haven't seen each other in a while."

"Oh, okay."

"I didn't get the chance to congratulate you on getting married. After all, you're family now." He sheepishly says, giving me a smile.

"Oh, I- Thank you." I say back, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"You're welcome." He winks at me.

"Can I just ask..." he starts but then shakes his head and chuckles."You know what? Forget it. I don't want to intrude."

"You can ask me if you'd like." I tell him, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Nothing. I just would never think someone like you would marry my cousin."

"What do you mean?" I knit my brows and look over to him, wanting him to clarify.

"You seem calm and innocent. And he has a history of latching onto that. He only likes to use his energy on people he can corrupt and use. I'm guessing that's how you met him?"

"I.-um..." I start but he interrupts.

"You don't have to answer, dollface. Your expression says it all." He wanders even closer to me and leans against the wall.

"But he's not like that." I defend him. I just started liking Tristan and now his cousin is putting him down. It's very confusing to me. I don't like it.

"Trust me, I've known him since we were kids. He's only ever happy when he gets his way." He tells me.

"W-Why are you saying this to me?" I mutter in a low voice.

"I'm just concerned. I'm saying I can tell you a lot of things about him. Things that will make you see clearer." He says and I frown in confusion.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I deny, shyly shrugging my shoulder.

"Let's sit then. There's a lot of things I want to tell you." He says, pointing to the lounge as I swallow.

In all honesty, I always found Tristan a very mysterious and extremely intriguing man. I've always wanted to hear his life details and how he became who he is.

Of course, he did tell me a few stories when we were engaged. He'd take me out on dates and talk to me about his life as I did the same.

"I do-" I start to talk but as soon as I do, I hear loud feet stomping against the marble tiles.

"Why the fuck are you still in my house?"

I turn around to see Tristan stood at the entrance, his eyes burning holes into my head and his hands fisted by his sides. He looks murderous.

"I was just making friendly conversation." He smirks devilishly, looking at Tristan then back at me.

"Aurora, get behind me. NOW." I do as told and nervously saunter to him and get behind him.

I watch as Tristan walks up to his cousin and grabs him by the collar. "I know what you were trying to do, Alex." He seethes through gritted teeth as his cousin coughs out, his face turning red.

"Woah, hey hey hey. Tristan, you don't gotta fight, man." Elijah intervenes, getting between them and cooling down the intense stand off.

"Elijah, take Aurora upstairs." Tristan orders , letting go of his cousin and pulling out his gun.

"Tristan..." Elijah tries reasoning with him but it doesn't work.

"NOW, Elijah." He growls making me flinch. Elijah sighs and walks over to me, ushering me up the stairs then goes back down.

But I, as curious as I ever been, go back downstairs on my tip toes, careful not to make any sound.

"Is this why you came back, Alex? Is this what you came to do?" I hear Tristan's voice pierce through as I watch behind the wall.

"Of course not. But it's not since I've seen her that it made sense." Alex snaps at Tristan as they continue to glare at each other.

"You're sacrificing the Black's empire for her. It's not just your business, it's mine and my father's too." He growls, irritation clear in his voice.

To that, Tristan chuckles whilst shaking his head."Then tell me, tell me one thing you both did in terms of business recently." He taunts but Alex stays silent.

"That's what I thought. Sacrificing is the opposite of what I've been doing. I caught the Russian Mafia boss, what have you been doing?" Tristan claps back which renders Alex speechless.

"Love is a weakness in the game we're playing, Tristan. You should figure that out by now." Alex finally talks again. So is this what it's all about? Are they talking about me?

Looking at Tristan's face, you can tell he's annoyed, and quite fed up with Alex's attitude. Tristan always thrives to be the most dominant, alpha male in the room. And now that Alex called him weak, he's not having it.

He pulls out his pistol and aims it at Alex's leg. A loud shot piercing through the entire house making me jolt in my place. Alex cries out in pain as I scrunch my face up in discomfort.

"A warning shot. Next time, it's your fucking head on a stick." Tristan warns as Alex hisses in pain. " I've killed family before. You know not to cross me."

As soon as he says that, I feel a ball of nerves form in my throat and I rush back upstairs and close the door behind me. I don't want to watch anymore.

I sit on the bed anxiously and it's only a matter of minutes before Tristan joins me, making me stand up and tug on the hem of my dress.

He gets in and bows his head, walking closer and closer then taking a deep breath.

"You know what, Aurora. I've really been patient with you." What? What's happening, what did I do? "I watched you sit with that motherfucker and let him touch you at that goddamn place you insist on going to. But this, with my goddamn cousin under my fucking roof. You've pushed me too far." He grits his teeth and tenses his jaw, referring to the time Tristan saw Jackson hugging me.

"But I didn't do anything." I tell him, my voice low. I can't believe that he's acting like this again. He just walked up and talked to me. What was I supposed to do? Not answer him? That would be extremely rude.

"You can't be that fucking demented to the point where you can't see how every man looks at you. You're giving them the wrong impression. While you think you're just being friendly, they're thinking about how they should have their own way with you. I'm your husband and I won't allow that. You're my wife and your place is with me."

"We were just talking." I defend myself, also wanting to reassure him.

"Don't give me that, Aurora. I know you like the attention you get from all the males. You like how they're eyefucking you?" He hisses, the veins on his neck pulsating.

"W-What?" My voice cracks, surprised that he thinks like that about me.

"Is that why you want to work? So you can parade around and show other men what's mine?" He taunts, his voice deep as he wanders closer.

"Please stop." I beg, stepping back, wanting him to stop saying these things to me.

"That's not going to happen." He continues, ignoring my previous plead. "And whatever plans you have about fucking around, you just keep them to yourself because I'll make damn sure that they get ruined." He keeps bombarding me with hurtful comments as I stand there, fighting the urge to cry.

He pauses for a moment, noticing a tear dripping from my eye and I'm quick to wipe it. He stares at me deep in thought, his stare softening ever so slightly. Before walking out and locking the door to the room behind him, leaving me in there.

Why is he acting like this again?