Page 45 of Fractured
He needs to remind me he took that innocence from me. It’s his now. I gave it to him, so I can only blame myself for the harsh words he will spew my way. He owns me now, and he’ll never let me forget it.
I keep chewing; as I peel the rest of the wrapper off, ball it in my hand, and give him a thumbs up over my chest in his direction, indicating I'm fine. Tossing the ball on the coffee table as I settle back on the couch looking over the city.
My move, Black bishop to G7. I will not respond to his insult.
I can feel the animosity pouring off of him. He wants to push, escalate the tension between us so he can start what he didn’t get to finish last night. It makes no difference to me. I expected him to be irritated this morning. He usually is at meals. I chuckle out loud by accident. But who cares? I take another bite of my muffin. Your move Mr. Russo.
I can hear the crinkle of his newspaper, and then the thump of his hand on the table.
“Something funny, bunny?”
“Nope.” I mumble around another mouth full of muffin. Bunny? That word can either melt me or make me cringe. Today I’m too exhausted from the struggle; it’s just a word with no meaning at all.
His voice snarls in the quiet of the room. “Carlos will be here soon to drive us home. I have a meeting at the club, so I won’t be home till after midnight or so. I’ve left it too long to be away another night.”
White Pawn to E4.
Isolation, he thinks his absence will make me miss him.
Yeah, nooo.
I keep chewing and give him another thumbs up over my chest.
Black pawn to D6.
I can hear him breathe out a heavy sigh through his nose. His hand lands heavily on the table, making the dishes rattle. He is trying to push. He wants me to submit to his anger, force a conflict, or cry like I usually do. But I won't, I don’t have it in me today. I don’t filch or jump at his attempt to startle me.
I take the last bite of my muffin, chew, swallow, and then sit back and sip my coffee enjoying the city skyline.
His phone vibrates on the table.
“Be ready in ten minutes. Carlos will be here shortly.”
White Knight to F3: He’s building his wall.
I can hear his chair scrape across the tiles and his heavy steps as he gets closer. He stops behind the couch, and I can partially make out his reflection in the window's glass. He reaches his hand out to touch my hair and pulls it back quickly. His face is creased with irritation, lines gather across his forehead.
Hum... Black Queen switches black rook. I entice him, and I make my move on the board without even having to think about it.
“I’ll take care of these.” He yanks his t-shirt and shorts from beneath my head and walks away to his room.
White bishop to E2. A defensive move.
I run my hand over my hair, tucking the wayward strands back into place that he ripped out as he took his clothes. As I wait, I sip my coffee. Mrs. Isabella Russo, the new role I have to play in the last chapter of Isabella Gallo's book.
I smile over my coffee cup and take a sip. I can do this. It won’t be easy and he will do everything in his power to break me. But there is not much left to break, so he can give it his best shot.
He comes out of his room; I watch his reflection in the glass. He’s standing there watching me, too. He drops his bag by the door, comes behind the couch, and his vanilla musk fills the surrounding air. I close my eyes at the memory of tasting his skin as that scent filled my lungs as he made me fly. I take a sip of my coffee.
“Lean forward, Isabella.” So I do. He takes my wedding dress in his hand and runs his other hand over the silk.
“I’ll put this in my garment bag with my suit.” He says gruffly. I give him a thumbs up over my head while sipping my coffee loudly just to annoy him. Why I need to poke the bear, I don’t know. It’s almost as if I’m on some sort of autopilot and this new version of Mrs. Russo doesn’t give a shit.
He huffs out a mouthful of air and stomps off. To be honest, he can burn it for all I care. Black pawn to E5.
Carlos opens the door just as Alexander slams his.
“And good morning to you too, Mr. Russo.” He stops short and stares at Alexander’s door.
