Page 54 of There Is No Love

Luka walked up, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I need to take care of a few things with my brother, then I will be up. You can shower, take a bath, whatever you need. It will be thirty minutes at the most.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do what you want, I really don't care.”

“Now there is my cupcake,” he laughed, “I will see you soon.” He turned and walked with his brother down the other hallway.

I shook my head, making my way up the stairs, towards his room.

“He will never love you, you know?” I turned to see Stefano walk from a shadow down the hall.

“What makes you think I care?”

He laughed out his nose, stalking towards me. He was very handsome for an older gentleman. The gray hair on his head, the snifter glass in his hand he swirled around as he walked towards me. He had an almost James Bond appeal about him, but when I looked into his eyes, all I saw was pure evil. I could feel it rolling off of him the closer he got to me. “He loves women and has always had many. Men like Luka don't settle down with just one woman,” he smiled, “like father like son.”

I didn’t care. Once we were done with our business, we could go our separate ways, he could do whatever he wanted. “I couldn’t care less what or who he does.”

He got inches in front of me. “Somehow, I doubt that. My word, you do look so much like her.” He reached out, running his fingers up my arm.

I stepped back, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

He set the glass down on a table and looked at me. I had seen this look in men's eyes before, in the eyes of the men that night. I backed into the hallway, as he continued advancing toward me. The way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine. I felt myself starting to panic. My heart was racing in my chest. Do something Alora dammit, don't just stand there. He pushed his body into mine, running his hand across my cheek. I turned my face to the side, trying to pull away, but the wall was there. What was wrong with me, do something.

“Oh my dear, you will enjoy this.”

You will enjoy this, kept repeating in my head. I closed my eyes fighting back tears welling up. No, you are strong, take him down. I told myself. Do something. I lifted my leg hard and fast. Kneeing him in the groin.

He gasped as he fell to his knees. Gripping his balls. I slipped the dagger from my garter, and leaned down, putting it to his neck. “If you ever touch me again I will kill you.” I opened the door to the bedroom, closing it behind me and locking it. I could feel tears pouring down my face as the words were repeated over and over in my head. You will enjoy this. You will enjoy this. You will enjoy this. I dropped the knife, my hands going to my head, shaking trying to make it stop. One of the men had said that to me that night. But Stefano wasn't there, it wasn't him. I leaned back against the wall, sliding down, pulling my knees up to my chest. I wrapped my arms around myself, resting my head on my knees as I sobbed. I stood up, walked to the bathroom, and started the shower. I stripped down, and sat on the floor, letting the water cascade over my shaking body. Why did he sound so much like the man from that night? And his eyes, how did I know those eyes? I leaned back against the shower wall and closed my eyes.

I don't know how long I sat in the shower before climbing out and dressing in pajama shorts and a t-shirt. I looked at the bed, at Luka’s bed. Would he want me to sleep there? I had made him sleep on the couch. Would he do the same to me? I looked over at the chair in the corner, beside a bookshelf full of books, and a table with a small lamp. I walked over, running my fingers along the spines. Moby Dick, Dracula, Crime and Punishment, The Call of the Wild, The Outsiders, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I pulled it out and sat down. A smile came on my face as I remembered when Elena used to read it to me. I sat down, pulling my knees up with me, and opened the book to page one.

I was halfway through the chapter, my eyes getting heavy when I heard the doorknob turn. I jolted awake and looked at the door. “Alora? Are you in there?” I let out a sigh of relief and walked to the door opening it. Luka stood there and pushed his way in. “Is everything okay?”

I shook my head and started to tell him what had happened with his dad. Then I stopped. Could they be in this together? Could this be part of their plan? Get me to trust Luka, let my guard down so they could use me as a pawn, or take me out? Standing up to my father, to his father, acting like he wanted to protect me. Was it just that, an act? I took a deep breath.

“Everything is fine.”

“Why was the door locked?”

“I uh, didn't want anyone to walk in while I was showering.”

“No one would have the guts to try anything like that with you. You are my wife.”

I turned around. Right, except your father did, I thought.

“Did something happen?”

I sighed and turned back around, “I told you n. . .” he had my dagger in his hand. I had forgotten about dropping it.

“Alora! Did something happen?” He took a step toward me.

“No,” I swallowed, “It must have fallen out when I was changing.”

He looked at me, not saying anything, just staring me down.

I rolled my eyes and took it out of his hand. “Nothing happened. Why are you so paranoid?” I walked over to my bag sitting on the bench at the end of the bed and tucked it inside its sheath.

He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. “You promise nothing happened?”

I looked into his eyes. He had his father's eyes. They were the same dark brown, yet they weren’t quite the same. I didn’t see evil in them, I didn't see the darkness his father's eyes held. His eyes were kind, filled with worry, but kind.

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