Page 46 of Fractured
“Ha avuto una lunga notte, e non abbastanza caffè.” I turn sideways on the couch and smile at Carlos. (He had a long night and not enough coffee.)
Carlos laughs and comes over to me, kissing my cheek.
“Lo vedo. ti Trovo bene?” he says. (I can see that. You look well)
“Ringraziamento.” I smile up at him. (Thank you)
“Fucken speak English, you two. I’m ready to go home.” He picks up his duffle bag, the garment bag already slung over his shoulder. He opens the door and leaves us staring after him.
White pawn to E5, he takes my pawn.
Carlos makes a yikes’ face and grabs my duffle bag. I set my cup down and follow him out. Alexander is waiting by the elevator. It opens as soon as we get there, and we all pile inside.
No one speaks. We all just stand there, all of us watching the numbers count down. As soon as the doors open, Alexander bolts out. Carlos gives me a skeptical look. I just hunch my shoulders up and give a feeble smile.
The car pulls up and I hand my bag off to Carlos and climb in the back seat across from where Alexander usually sits. The farther away from him as I can get today the better. For once I'm looking forward to getting back home into my room.
The car ride is quiet as I had expected; I have nothing to say, really, and he’s obviously tired of trying to get me to speak so he can finish his argument. He digs in his inside breast pocket and reaches his hand out to me.
“I have something for you.” I look down, and it’s my phone lying in his large hand. For a split second, I almost reach out and grab it. I’m so excited. I can text Anna and talk to her.
But I remain still. I’m not stupid. Since he found me at Helen's, I would assume he put a tracking device on there. I would also guess he’s got a way of reading and seeing everything I do on that phone.
Nice try, Mr. Russo. Black pawn to E5, I take the white pawn. One less on your wall of defense.
His voice is a little higher pitched. “What do you mean, No Thank you? Take it, it’s your phone. You need one.”
“No, thank you.” I say sweetly as I look out the window, avoiding his silver glare.
He tosses it on the seat beside me, causing it to bounce and land on my thigh. I gently put it back on the seat beside me.
“For fuck's sake, Isabella, take the damn phone!” He barks this time.
“No, thank you.” I say again.
“You need a phone,” he scowled, his voice lowering in annoyance. “What if I need to get a hold of you?”
I finally look over at him, my voice steady. “If you need to get a hold of me, Sasha will inform me. She is to be by my side at all times, is she not?”
He shakes his lower jaw back and forth and grits his teeth. “Must you be so goddamn stubborn?”
Looking back out the window I ignore his glares. I don’t need or want that phone or my laptop. It's best I try to avoid all electronic ways he can trace me. I stopped carrying my backpack in case he has something sewn into the lining. I’ve watched enough spy movies. It may be over dramatic on my part, but he found me at Helen’s somehow and I don't trust him.
No one knew about Helen, not even Anna.
We arrive at the house, and Carlos opens the door. Alexander hops out and goes to the back of the car, grabbing his garment bag. I take my duffle from Carlos’s hand.
“I can carry my bag. Thanks, Carlos.” He begrudgingly lets me take it, and I follow Alexander into the house and up the stairs leading to our bedrooms. He stops in the hall in between our bedroom doors. I stop and look up at him. He said after the marriage I would be sleeping in his room. I'll respect his orders if that's what he wants.
I almost don’t want to ask for fear of the answer. “Where am I sleeping?”
He looks down at me. “I don’t give a fuck where you sleep.” He opens his door and closes it in my face.
White Queen to E8, he takes my black King.
He meant that to hurt. It does, but I am happier knowing I have my own space, opening my door and closing it behind me. I look around the room. My flowers are almost all dead now. The table is littered with dried-up leaves and petals. I toss my bag beside my suitcase and go over to them, gathering them all up and putting them in the bowl.
I sit down and look out my window, my hand between my knees as I put my feet up on the coffee table. I wasn’t given instructions on today’s schedule, only that he would be gone until after midnight.
