*Chyna's POV*
I strolled into Arturo's room with a light hop in my step,he stared at me,and I returned the favour.
I had been out of the house in two days,got back in and sneaked through his things for what he has been up to--and surprise,surprise--Vincenzo is getting married today.
I walked to the dresser and perch myself on its seat as I watched him lazily.
I expected him to tell me this morning,he didn't. It wasn't a lack of opportunity,it wasn't omitted,he didn't wan't me to know.
"Well,you're all dressed up."I said,taking the liberty to break the ice.
He grunts a reply as I trail my finger nails on the dresser,hard.
A pair of deep set disapproving eyes glanced my way as my nails screeched against the hardwood.
"What is it?"he finally asks.
I blow the mini fragments of wood off my finger tips and turn to him.
"We're you trying to hide it from me?"
"Hide–"
"Uh huh"I nod playfully, reaching for his tie."Let me help you with that."
He reluctantly agrees but eases up as my fingers delicately dance the fabric as I properly adjust his tie.
I guess the king's men don't care that much about cleaning up.
"Where did you learn how to tie a tie?"
I glanced up at him mischievously. "The prison ward I used to fuck was impeccably neat,I helped him after every quickie."
The colour washed from his face almost instantly.
"You're so gullible."I laughed,making the tie unnecessarily tight,and tighter."So,when we're you going to tell me the wedding was today?"
"I didn't know I had to,"he replied,nearly about to choke from lack of air. "You made it clear that you didn't care for Vincenzo anymore so–"
He coughed,and tapped my hand in protest.
"It's too tight."
"I know."I whispered softly with a smile."I thought you were a team Arturo."
"Are you trying to suffocate me?"
"Are you trying to betray me?"
"Betray?" He snatches himself away from me and hastily loosens his tie. "Were you actually going to choke me to death?"
I shrugged nonchalantly and plop on his bed and set the pillow under my head.
"I had imagined you would try to free yourself eventually."
His glares at at me with a look that says
I'm crazy and I smirked in return.
"I specifically asked you to keep me updated,I didn't know your loyalty was elsewhere."
"Let's not."He swatts his hands and return the the surprisingly everlasting task of trying to fix his tie. If he keeps up like this for another three minutes,I'll be obliged to actually help him out.
"So this is how it's going to be?"I threw my hands up dramatically."You're deliberately withholding every information from me,when I say I want to know what's going on,I aspect schedules,updates,things like these…things that say I'm still a part of the team,our team."
"Fine."He snaps,discarding the pitiful black tie on the floor and he turns to me,his hands anchored on the sides of the bed as his gaze pierces straight for me. "Where have you been?"
" Oh,the tables have flipped I see."
"Chyna."
I straightened up to the command in his voice my own surprise.
"I'm not playing games with you,you disappeared for two days straight,no communication--no nothing. I need to know where you went."
I blinked.The simple answer was I went to go get a gun,do digging on this Evangeline chick and other things he will definitely choke me for if I say and not in a steamy way.
"You always preach about the honesty and transparency right?"
I blinked again.
"Then tell me,"his voice gets louder. "where were you?!"
"First off,do not speak to me in that tone."I warned. "And secondly,you have no right to turn this around knowing damn well that you knew the wedding dates long before I left."
"You aren't ready to talk."He says,ready to step out the room.
"I went back to prison."I blurted. It was part truth,so when he did the digging,he would find evidence,what I did there though..that was a story for another day.
He looks over his shoulder still visibly angry.
Damn,I might have to raise the stakes. It had to be something I would have done but not too dark so he looses the rest of the empathy in his eyes.
"I know it was stupid but there was this woman who made it a point to make my life a living hell in there-she'll hit me,spit in my food--"I cackled mirthlessly. "One time,she ordered her girls to beat me up--I was bed ridden for four days."
I could catch a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye,he was beginning to soften up.
"I wanted to look her in the eye to show I survived it all--"I shut my eyes and the pre set tears fell on cue. "She was dead.Pain is so meaningless and I'm left with all this anger-I-I guess I wanted closure or some sort but she isn't even.."
He rushes to my side immediately,I don't believe he has ever seen me this vulnerable,his brains might as well be stomped to mush with the way he was reacting to it. Perfect.
"Chyna?"A trembling hand rested on my shoulder and I intensified my display,acting classes were not a waste after all. "I'm so sorry."
I leaned into him,letting him hug me,he pulled me into a warm embrace and rests his head on my crown.
If this wasn't a farse,it might actually count as a comforting hug.
"Are you scared I'll hurt her?"I murmured in his chest when I was sure the moment had well passed. "Is that why you wouldn't tell me?"
"No."he says. "I'm scared because I think you are still in love with him."
He didn't even have to name him,my heart throbbed already,I knew what he meant.
"Turo"I shake my head and pull away. "Yes,I was very stupid about him but after everything he has done to me it would stupid to still love him."
See that wasn't completely a lie.
I didnt say I didn't love him,I said it'll be foolish to say I did. And foolish I was.
"Are you sure? Absolutely...there's nothing else."
I refrained to gestures and shook my head,watching hope spark into his long-dark eyes.
Eyes so nice but nothing as striking as Vincenzo's brief gaze.
I knew Vincenzo..I loved him and now more than ever before,this wasn't anything if not an act of intimacy,or at least in his own way. I have been told that people with BDSM tendencies tend to pour their attributes into real life…it was just punishment.
This was a long,fucked up way of him simply shaping me into the girl he wants.
That's why Evangeline has to move out of the way so he sees what he saw in me…so he gives me my reward.
I guess distance does make the heart grow fonder.
He takes my hand into his and stares at my eyes.
"Why do you want to go?"
"Closure."my voice is crystal clear"I need it,I need to close that chapter of my life...forever."
He looks like he's still contemplating.
"So I can move on."I added.
This was enough to convince his brain cells in my favour.
"Ohkay but promise me one thing."he sighs.
"What is it?"I asked,biting my lower lip to suppress the excitement of seeing Vincenzo.
"No drama."
"None,"I nodded,crossing my heart. "I swear."
"Please,"he begged,a sound that felt like music to my ears.I didn't actually know how beautiful he sounded when he begged,he does it so scarcely.
I made it my life's goal to get as many of those as I can.
I leaned closer and caressed his face.
"Don't you trust me?"
He shakes his head honestly,his face still stern.
"Good."I giggled and kissed his nose. "You should learn to though,as I said,we are a team,and I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."
"Fine." He sighed and ticked his jaw. "You can my the ticket but don't let anybody know I was the one that gave it to you."
I nodded obediently and crawled out of the bed.
"Let me go get all dolled up."
"Hurry,We have to be there early."
I skipped out of the room and into mine and took a long time to take in the view.
My burgundy rouge v-neck dress was already laid pretty on the bed,my heels laid carelessly on the floor but most importantly my purse was sitting impatiently on the pillow.
I walked to it,my steps slow and deliberate as I let my imaginations run on how the day would go.
She'll walk down the aisle with her perfect song,he'll be at the altar ready to give her the life we built,the priest will bless them…make them promise their lives to each other.
And he'll say…
A click echoed the quiet room as I unclutch my purse to reveal the black gun lying pretty in it.
"Till death do us part."I murmured,caressing its cold surface."Till death do us part."