Chapter Thirty-five

LUNA

He slowly stood from his seat and came towards me. My eyes widened in fear and surprise.

“Your bastard of a ‘father’ made us split.”

“She fell out of love with you?”

“He seduced her. We would have been happy together if he hadn’t come into the picture.”

“Oh…” He was now within a hair’s breadth of me. I tried getting up, but he pulled my leg back, forcing me onto my back, and climbed onto me.

My heart began to beat faster and my mind went into overdrive. I poked my two fingers into his eyes, rolled out from under him, and headed for the door. I didn’t make it far because he pulled my hair back and we both fell to the ground.

“You little bitch.” He was forcing my face into the ground and he had his knee on my back. Very limited oxygen was making it into my lungs; I felt like I was going to pass out.

I heard the door slam open, and soon enough the bastard was thrown off me. I gulped air into my lungs while holding my sides. I lay on my sides and watched as Steve threw him down on the floor and kept punching his face.

I tried getting up, but fell again, taking a lamp with me. That caught Steve’s attention, and he got off Guillermo and came to help me up. Joshua came in, read the room, and went for Guillermo, dragging him up to his feet and out the door.

“Until we meet again, Princessa.” Guillermo smiled at me with a bloodied mouth, and I shivered at those words. I didn’t want to see this man again, but something in me told me that we were going to see him sooner than I wanted. I watched as Steve issued him a warning never to step his feet on the property again, or else he wouldn’t be walking away with them.

“Are you okay, miss?” I nodded my head.

“Let me take you back to your room. Can you walk?” I nodded.

“Yes.” I got up and fell back on the chair. My legs weren’t injured but they felt like electric shocks were coursing through them, making them feel jelly-like.

Steve scooped me into his arms despite the protest, walked up the stairs, then down the hallway to my and Giovanni’s room, depositing me on the bed.

Just as he opened my door to leave the room, I called him back.

“Steve?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Could you not tell Giovanni about what happened today? I don’t want to worry him or anything.” He scratched his bald head and shifted on his feet.

“I’m sorry. It’s already a little too late for that. We’ve already told him.”

“Oh…shit.”

“And…he’s already on his way back.”

“Oh.” Just then I heard his car pull up into the compound, and I sighed.

“Thank you, Steve.” He nodded his head and took his leave. A few minutes later, Giovanni stormed into the room. Stormed, because there was no better way to describe the way he kicked down our door, his eyes burning bright amber, claws slightly extended, nose now a snout, and part of his face covered by fur. He was half-shifted.

His eyes landed on me, and I shifted back in the bed as far as I could go. Not because I was afraid of him, but because the intensity of his gaze was too much for me to bear. He walked to the bed and sniffed the air, gathered me into his arms, and buried his snout in my neck. He held me like that for a few minutes.

“I am going to kill him.” I could feel that he was no longer tense, but he was still very angry. And I had no doubt he meant to do good on his word.

“Don’t. Just let it go. I just don’t want to see him again.” His hand traced the side of my face that had been forced into the ground, and I winced at the sting I felt.

“He did this to you.”

“Yes.”

“He will pay for it.” I sighed, and wrapped my arm around him, pulling him into the bed with me, and spooning him.

“It’s okay.”

“I’m very sorry, my love. Sergio was briefing me about what happened at the party…”

“Sergio?” I craned my head to look at him.

“Yes. When I saw him with you, I just knew that something happened. He isn’t meant to be with you otherwise.”

“Oh. Well, thank you for your proactiveness, kind sir.” He chuckled and kissed me.

“You’re welcome.”

“What did Sergio tell you about the party?”

“He said my uncle approached you, and he had to intervene when he saw you tried to leave and he wouldn’t let you.”

“That’s about it,” I said, nodding my head.

“What did he tell you today? My uncle.”

“He didn’t seem too happy with my parents. Said my father made him and my mother split. All these years later, and he’s still upset.”

“I don’t know how aggravated he is. Until then, I don’t want you leaving this house without me.”

“It’s not like there’s anywhere for me to go to before, anyways.”

“I’m sorry about that. You should go see Rose…if you really must leave the house.” My eyes widened in shock.

“Rose is in Italy?!”

“She wasn’t. She would be arriving today. I think they meant it to be a surprise…and I think I just ruined it.”

“It’s okay. Thank you for telling me. That’s something positive to look forward to.”

“She’ll call you. I think.” I nodded.

She would. I just knew that.

The rest of the day and the days that followed found me thinking about my father, my mother, Guillermo, and all the drama that had happened in the last weeks.

I felt like I was becoming paranoid, even though a part of me told me that I was within my rights to be more conscious, more aware, and even afraid of my surroundings.

Something told me that I hadn’t heard the last of Guillermo and Viper. Something was telling me that there was more in store for me. I started wearing a knife strapped to my thigh, even though I was in a house filled to the brim with security. That security had doubled since the Guillermo incident.

My phone rang, and I smiled when I saw Rose’s picture displayed on my screen.

“Hey!!!”

“Hi…I have the best news for you!!!” she said in a shrill tone.

“What, let me guess. You’re in Italy?”

“Oh. Well…yes. I am in Italy. I’m guessing that bigmouth mate of yours told you.” I laughed. “That’s not all. I have put to bed.” I screamed and began jumping about in excitement.

“My gosh!!!”

“Yes…you’re now an aunty. It’s a girl…”

“I’m so happy for you. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. I can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too.” We spoke at length about a lot of things and filled each other in on our lives.

I felt genuine happiness when I finally hung up. But still…something inside me was telling me to brace for impact.