bleeding heart

Vincenzo Moreno

Vial di Moreno stretched ahead. As always, monstrous looking. Not even the enchanting hands of spring could transform it.

I glanced across the windshield, taking in the long array of olive trees to the patchy shadow cast in the floor by the leaves, to the far end of the boulevard—showcasing a glimpse of the pack house. That haunting yellow building.

The day was bright. It could turn hellishly dark in some minutes.

Pressing on the gas pedal, I crept in. The only thing I consciously did, apart from driving, was to hold my breath. Whatever happened in the next three minutes or so, I'd remain strong. Not exactly for myself, but someone. The worst wouldn't happen to me; rather her. And that was why I'd come. To stay by her side and defend. I'd take the full responsibility and further spite Madre. I'd make Rina understand that I was serious. I meant it when I'd said she mattered to me. We would figure out a way out of this weird pregnancy thing.

Getting to the main entrance, I honked. Very much to my surprise —initially—a guard emerged and walked towards me, instead of opening the gate. Almost in a split second, I formed a solid guess. My always petty mother was up to something.

However, when the guard stopped beside me, I knew something serious could be wrong. Why wasn't he talking? Why wasn't he even looking at me?

I held off the pangs of anxiety that'd begun looming towards me and pulled down my window.

"What?"

"My apologies, Signoro. I'm only following instructions."

"And you are proud of yourself, right?" I rested my hand against the steering wheel. "For making absolutely no sense."

After giving him a once-over, I asked, "What instruction are you talking about?"

"You aren't allowed in here anymore."

I simply looked, because how else do I react to this kind of prank? I wasn't that impressed though since he gave himself out by avoiding my eyes.

"I never knew you did drugs. That's…that's sad. Actually. So unfortunate 'cause what kind of turds work here? It's quite unlike me to do this, but you see that structure over there? What is my finger pointing at?"

He didn't look.

"Giacomo!"

He glanced up.

"Follow my finger. That thing is called a gate. I want you to open it. You can use the handle instead of the control system, yes? Off you go."

I tried starting the ignition. However, Giacomo stayed where he was. The little humor I'd had a hold on evaporated.

"Are you still standing there?" He still wouldn't speak; so, I unbuckled my seatbelt and charged out of the car.

"Not to be disrespectful, Signoro, but Alpha ordered that you shouldn't be let in. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do."

Alpha had given an order that I should be locked out? Of my own house? I didn't know where to begin in processing this.

"I'm sorry, Si—"

"The alpha is my father. I'm sure your brain can work the math on where that leaves me. Go in there and open that gate. And pray I have a memory lapse and forget your brazen act of insubordination."

I turned around to get into the car. And he did it. The no-good guard dared me, not moving an inch.

"You really are working hard to make me a talker. I'll repeat myself to just be in clear terms with my conscience. Open the gate."

Yet again, he disobeyed.

I was squeezed into a pulp by anger such that it came as a surprise how I hadn't pounced on him. I stalked forward while he cowered; then I seized his wrist when it became too irritating to watch him.

My finger pointed directly to his widened eye as I said, "You will regret this."

Jerking him off me, I went for the gate—ready to call a real guard this time, but the caricature of a person behind me had the guts to touch me. His hand on my shoulder.

"Signoro, you can't go—"

I sent a blow to his eye. Grabbed him by the collar and slammed him by the wall, so close to being a beast.

"I'm way over my limit and badly in need of an outlet. Don't make me start with you."

Sending that across, I went my way. The fool persisted though. Struggling to get up, groaning out words he thought would stop me from going through the gate. Although fuelling, I kept a straight path, eventually stepping into the compound.

I could not believe what I stumbled on. Six guards standing before me.

Wow. I said to myself in utter disbelief. Just wow.

However, as characteristic of me, fury came to the surface and displaced that surprise. Contrary to what was expected, I went my way. I was a reasonable person who had no business with trouble, but as always, people liked to force out the bad guy in me.

The guards blocked my path.

"Signo—"

"Try this again, and you're dead," I addressed the chief guard; he faced me directly.

"We were instructed not to let you in."

The idiot had the audacity to keep talking. Because I'm a person of principles, I'd let that slide and go about my business. This was the last chance I gave them.

"We don't want to force you," the fucker dared to speak, even going ahead to bar me and instruct his sheepish followers to do the same. I still didn't react in the expected way; rather I tried to get past to the building.

Then, suddenly, my patience disappeared and I leapt onto the chief guard. My death claws bit his flesh as I throttled him, kicked at his legs and sent him to the ground.

The other five came in to separate, eager to tear me off him. That distracted me in some way, as a result the fool lying underneath hit my nose with the heel of his palm. What stoked my rage—apart from the bravado—were the guards trying their very best to pull me away from him.

Briefly throwing him a glare, I stuck his nose. Then, his balls to get him disorientated. I punch him hard again, in the same area before facing the other guards.

Turning sharply, I latched onto the shoulder of the next person, connecting my leg with his groin—then flung him aside.

Someone lurked close. I needn't turn before elbowing his throat. Hard enough to leave him choking.

I went for another to my right. He looked unsure. Doubtful if he wanted to fight me. Too bad because right now, that was what I wanted. Fight.

I raced towards him, gave an uppercut and a blow to his belly. Sure he was incapacitated, I sourced for another victim.

I kept at it. Fighting—not in the least weary. That all changed when I got a familiar sound. And I got angrier. Madder. Furious that someone dared bring a taser.

That someone was other than the chief guard.

"Signoro, for your own sake, please surrender. We wouldn't like to go the hard way."

And I would like to see him try. I'd like to see him go faster than me and use that stuff. Fully aware of the advantage I had in terms of speed, I strode close to him.

He tried tasing me. Just like I thought, I was quicker than he was. I held his hand, twisted it and earned a deep groan.

As I forced his hand behind him, he head-butted me. The taser cackled close, but before I could make any further move, someone yelled.

"Enough!"

Everything ceased. The taser, the only noise heard. My gaze laid on it. It was mere inches away from my face.

Fast steps approached.

"What in heaven's name is this?"

Lucia appeared in my line of sight, though I wasn't looking at her. She gaped at me, horror-stricken, then turned to the stupid chief guard who must have sensed Lucia's glare. He lowered the taser.

"You've got to be kidding me. Ricardo? Really?"

"We did our best to stop him." The son of a bitch.

"Oh, shut up," Lucia said. "Were you told to go physical?"

There was a slight lift of her brows, closely followed by frown. The guard must have affirmed to the rhetorical question. That… I didn't know how to feel about that.

"Vattene da qui, stupido. I'm sure you can do this in Alpha's presence." [Get the hell out of here]

He left.

"What are you still doing here?" she referred to other guards. They dispersed in a similar fashion as Ricardo. Hesitant and still willing to see me out.

"Where is he?" I asked when Lucia began to speak. My eyes remained at the spot Ricardo had been standing.

"At the office. I'm—"

"When did this happen?"

I looked at her when I got no reply. I knew the question was ambiguous. I also knew Lucia was smart enough to know what I meant.

"When he returned from Brussels." All went quiet after that. Then she resumed. "I really apologize for what they did. Alpha only asked to tell you to stay away for some time—"

"He asked that I be locked out. Why sugarcoat it?"

She kept shut and I searched for a different topic. I took my eyes to the building. A room on the fourth floor which held a lot of fond memories.

"Where's she? Rina."

I glanced down to find Lucia hesitant. That did a lot of things. It unnerved me so much I would have visibly panicked hadn't she spoken.

"I'm sorry, no one is allowed to talk about her or her whereabouts."

"What nonsense is that?"

"Luna…" Luna?! "She forbids us to discuss her. But I can assure you she is safe. Her mother's with her and—"

"Slow down. Whereabouts? She isn't here?" I said, nursing a hope my worst fear hadn't happened.

"I'm sorry—"

"I don't care if you are!" Lucia gave a slight jerk. "Tell me what I need to know. Where is she? What's happened? What's all the weirdness?"

She collected herself and held her chin high. Nodding. "Okay."

She started heading off. I gripped her hand. "Didn't you hear what I said?"

"I did. It's best if we stay inside. What I'm about to tell you shouldn't be heard by another."

My frown relaxed as the gravity of the statement fell on me like a torpedo. Lingering my gaze in her eyes, I released her and watched as she got to the gate.

Stepping out, she gazed at me, expecting that I would come. I'd become an over-thinker. Crept out by the unknown.

As I got outside, I hoped, hoped, that what she had to tell me didn't mean a permanent separation from Rina in any sense.

It did.

***

I flung the door open, completely deaf to Diego's pleas. My hard glare went to Padre right after. A hot bitter gaze that could rip him off his seat and smash his head against the wall.

"I'm sorry, sir. I tried to stop him."

Padre finally broke out of surprise and replied to Diego while still looking at me.

"It's okay. You can leave."

It was silent again, and I didn't know why I was quiet myself.

"Vincenzo, as you can see, I'm in the middle of an important meeting. You should've waited irrespective of how urgent your message is."

His words—the fakeness that dropped from it, and the cheeky grin irked me so much that I couldn't stop from saying: "Fuck you." In the same drawn-out manner I'd used on Madre.

The board members gasped; the old bastard smirked. He thought this was my usual ranting. Thought he would intimidate and shush me. He was in for a major shock.

"Alright, Gentlemen. We'll stop here. Tomorrow, we will continue. Franco, drop in the files," Padre instructed, dismissing everyone.

Soon, we were left alone. Nothing said. Tension holding tautly.

"Can you tell me what you mean by: lock Vincenzo out?" My voice dripped with venom, and I flared up when he remained quiet. "Answer me and quit this game you're playing."

I marched forward, coming to stand beside him. "Dumb? Can't say a word now?"

"Any more of your madness and I'll have you locked up. What nonsense?" He shot from his seat. Eyes shooting out sparks. "You dare come in here. You dare show up in my office what you've done?"

There was a hint of disbelief in his eyes. "I don't get it. How can a person be so impossible?"

"You don't need to wonder. It's pretty obvious," I spat out, staring hatefully at him.

He kept his gaze for a moment, with no apparent emotion. But I knew he was hurt. Excellent. I'd do anything to worsen that hurt.

"Now, could you call those guards of yours and tell them to open the gate?"

"Or what? I'd like to see you do your worst," he stated. His steady eyes dared me to act on my anger. He looked down at my balled fist and back up. Then turned to the desk and drew out a cigar.

"What's your deal? Why are you so worked up about somebody else's business?" I asked.

"Somebody else's." He slid the cigar into his mouth and lit it. "And who is it?"

I glared at him. Pelting hot coals on his pathetic form.

He turned around. The cigar pegged in between his fingers. "Can you hear yourself? Well, blame on me for underestimating you. A maid. You were so desperate to secure your title that you settled for a common maid? You fooled everyone. Had the effrontery to get her pregnant and—"

"So what! Tell me, what's the deal in that? Why so shocked now? You've always wanted a grandchild, always have been on my case to get a maid, so why is this the news of the century? I've never been good enough. Not for you, not for Madre. But no, you don't see it that way. You guys are the victim, putting up with a rogue as a son!"

"You've always been the problem. Here you are shouting to raze this place down, while I'm calm for someone whose son is accused of rape."

I flinched. Unconsciously.

Fortunately, the smoke puffing from the cigar obscured Padre's face. I couldn't bear to see the glint in his eyes.

"Heaven's my witness." He returned to his seat. "I've tried. I've done everything a father should. Now, too. I'll condone your excesses and hold back the punishment you deserve." He stared into space while my hurt churned.

I seethed from all I'd suffered in his hands, the years of torture and emotional pain, and now this latest development that involved Rina.

"I can take in all you throw at me, but this time around, it's a big fat no. I won't let you take her away." Never. No matter what it cost me.

Through heavy eyes, I saw him scorn me. I didn't mind. If my love for Rina laid bare, so be it.

He rose again. "And I won't allow you to spoil my image. I didn't sleep with a maid. My father didn't; neither did—"

"She is my mate."

"So you say. How do you prove that?" It hurt me so much he accused me of lying. "And if she hadn't come to the pack house, what would the story have been?"

My vision got incredibly cloudy. I turned away from him.

"This is the only chance I'll give you. You are my son. My only child. My heir. But you will leave me with no choice than to relinquish your position to another, if you don't come back to your senses. That'll shatter me; then again, it's something worth doing."

A while later, his footsteps sounded and the door to his inner chambers closed.

I stood, staring at the wall. Letting the tears fall and my heart bleed.