Chapter 5

Mía

Before opening my eyes, I stretch out on the bed. When I go to raise one of my arms a metallic sound sounds above my head.

All the memories of the night before suddenly come to mind. Oh my gosh, it can't be. Marcus found me and brought me back to Verona. If my father finds out, I'm dead.

I look at the handcuffs gripping my wrist. I move my other hand frantically through my hair. As soon as I touch the fork, I breathe again. I know how to open them and as soon as I do, I'll run away again.

The bedroom is big. It is adorned in gray tones of different intensity. Elegant and cold just like Marcus. A door to my right catches my attention, something tells me that it is the bathroom and an urgent need to use it is born in me. Where's Marcus?

- Hello? I need to go to the bathroom - I say raising my voice a little.

A few seconds later the door opens. One of his men sticks his head out.

- Mrs. Carusso, Marcus will be here in a minute - Close the door before I can yell a bunch of offensive things at you.

A few minutes later he opens the door and walks towards me with a deterMíad step. It looks like a God. Now I understand how I fell in love with him so early. All the aura that surrounds him, all the darkness that he gives off and the power, attracted me like a moth to the light. I was never a problem for him. I was lost from the moment Marcus decided to fall in love.

- You have already woken up - He affirms with his hands in his pockets.

- Marcus - I whisper in a tired voice - I need to go to the bathroom, I need to shower and my wrist hurts, please ...

He raises his eyebrows, hinting that he doesn't care in the least. What he doesn't know is that I heard him threatening his men when I jumped out of the trunk. So that tough guy pose doesn't fool me. I have changed the prism with which I look at it, now it can no longer deceive me.

- Before I have some questions. You lied to me, you made me believe that you had committed suicide, why? - His cold gaze pierces me and a chill escapes me.

I let out a dry, ironic laugh.

- You're very funny, Marcus. Let's collect - I say between laughs as if everything was really funny - You tricked me into marrying you when you knew that my father had promised me to a Russian friend of his, you released me at my door to be killed - I've gone raising his voice little by little. I even get out of bed to face it - and for some strange reason you think you can ask me for an explanation.

Something I said must have affected him. He takes a step back and tilts his head slightly, analyzing my words.

- Nobody was going to hurt you - He affirms.

The memories of my father's voice ordering me to be assassinated deflates me like a balloon. Anger, courage, everything disappears just as it came.

- Well he did - I whisper looking at my fingers - He ordered me to be killed - Marcus doesn't say anything so I continue - he even cut me in the arm.

He comes over violently and tugs on my arm. Look at the cut on my wrist. I lift my head to demand that he release me, but what I see takes my breath away. His teeth are clenched tight and hatred is reflected in his eyes.

The wound is ugly because at that time I did not have time to sew it up and heal it well, so I have a four-inch scar that is bulging and badly healed.

- He has marked you - He grunts.

Now I'm the one who doesn't understand anything.

- That...? What does that mean?

Whatever it is if you've gotten that reaction out of Marcus, it can't be a good thing.

- He has marked you as a traitor. Anyone who sees that scar will know that you are a traitor.

At some point I had thought something like that, but deep down I wanted to believe that he was not capable of doing that to me. My father was loving and caring. Always aware of me and what I needed, the pain I feel for my father's betrayal I keep in the depths of my heart, because whenever I let it out, my chest hurts and I find it difficult to breathe.

- All the more reason for you to let me go, you have to let me go - I place my fingers on his forearm to give my words more effusiveness - My father thinks I'm dead, please.

He denies imperceptibly.

- You are my wife and you are not going to leave.

He takes a key out of his pocket and removes the handcuffs from my wrist.

I push him contemptuously and walk as decently as I can to the bathroom. After a long shower, I wrap myself in the towel. I hesitate before opening the door. I don't have clean clothes and wearing the sexy bar outfit is not an option.

On the bed there is a bag. I open them one by one to discover a basic black T-shirt, jeans and a sweatshirt. I open the smaller bag, inside are white lace underwear. My cheeks turn intense red at the moment.

I go into the bathroom again to get dressed and dry my hair. When I go out, Marcus is waiting for me, handcuffs in hand.

- I have some issues to resolve. Hope you don't give trouble in the meantime.

I'm going to give you as much trouble as I can. What has been believed? Do you think I'm going to do what I want? Does he still think I'm the docile, obedient fool he knew? Well, he is very wrong.

- Very good - I sit on the bed and extend my arm.

After putting the shackles on, he stands up to leave. Before closing the door he turns to look at me. I deliberately ignore it. I have a feeling that if you look into my eyes you will guess what I am thinking of doing.

- I won't be long - He affirms just before leaving and leaving me alone.

I raise my free hand and search my hair for the pin. I carefully and patiently take it off, tuck it into the little lock on the handcuffs.

I could not learn to defend myself a lot in class because I have been there for a short time, but opening doors and freeing myself in different situations was the first thing I asked my teacher. After giving me a questioning look, he agreed to teach me as quickly as he could.

Not long after I slide my wrist through the shackles that hang from the headboard of the bed. I walk to the door and put my ear against it. I don't listen to anyone.

Marcus's arrogance may be his downfall because my intention is to get as far away from my father and his evil intentions as possible.

I open the door slowly. There is no one watching. I look up the stairs and I don't see anyone either. Going down I come to a huge living room decorated in the same cool tones as Marcus's room. I walk deterMíad to the door that will give me freedom. It has a peephole that I use before I risk going out. Everything is empty and silent and that gives me the creeps.

I leave Marcus's duplex feeling victorious for the second time. When I leave the building behind me I can't help but smile even though the situation is very difficult. The men in my life have always believed that I was a helpless little bird and that they could do whatever they wanted with me. WELL, NO.

I walk along the street to get off the main road as soon as possible and get to the bus station.

Hopefully this time I'll disappear forever.