A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 8

Gia’s POV-

Dino had walked away. He left me standing and I couldn’t help but feel the long desired relief. What hit me harder though was the total mortification, something I was so desperate to avoid that I missed to hide just how desperate I was. I covered my nose, determined not to cry until I had reached the bathroom. I had already made a fool of myself, the last thing I needed was to get his attention while I bawled.

Everything was pathetic and most of all ME. I was pathetic.

I WAS shaking. I WAS trembling and yet I kept denying it as if I could control my fear, as if I could move past everything so easily. I looked at myself in the mirror and it wasn’t the first time that I stood here and cried, full of contempt about everything that has resulted in my current situation. How many times had I stood in front of this same mirror? How many times had I tried to muster up the courage and look at myself? Today it didn’t take me long because I needed to see just how badly I had messed up everything. I could see my face through my blurry vision, all red and blotchy. My dress still clung to my chest and I couldn’t get out of it fast enough before I slipped to the floor, muffling my face. My heart hurt and my stomach was in knots as sobs wrecked through me.

Somewhere in my befuddled state, there was a voice of reason. I knew I couldn’t blame myself but I still hated that my body wouldn’t listen to me. What if Dino annulled the marriage? No one would blame him honestly but his words from our dance raced back to me. No, he wouldn’t do that. His choice for a bride wasn’t influenced by factors like power or beauty. He did what seemed sensible and it was time that I followed his suit and did what was sensible too. To try and be good to the man who had been good to me. Up until now at least.

With that, I changed into a silk nightdress. It danced around my knees, soft and beautiful. With one last look in the mirror and a deep breath, I made my way out. “Dino?” He turned and his eyes took my body in. For a moment I thought we’d try it again but he walked past me while I rigidly stayed put.

“We leave early tomorrow. It’s best if you get some sleep,” he tipped his head toward the bed. I didn’t understand him, but I left that task for another day and slipped under the covers. Dino switched off the lights but I could still see his silhouette under the moonlight near the balcony doors. He stood there all strong and imposing, his back turned to me. I watched him as he slipped out of his dress shirt and threw it on the couch before working to get out of his pants. My blood warmed and I tried to close my eyes but I couldn’t pull them away from him under the soft light. It wasn’t until he turned around did I snap my eyes closed. Though my breathing didn’t change a bit.

I felt the mattress dip, his weight settling in. A few minutes passed and I was scared to make even the slightest sound, the slightest movement. “Sleep, Gia. You don’t need to be scared.”

“I’m not scared of the dark,” I said immediately.

“Do the monsters not come in the dark?” His voice was void of any amusement.

“They do, but I believe you’d scare them away.”

“Are you calling me an even bigger monster?” There was a real curiosity in his tone.

“No, I… I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Gia. Go to sleep. I’ll keep the monsters away,” he made an unofficial promise. Sighing deeply, I went to sleep with his earlier words still aloud in my head.

I think of you as my wife. I think of you as my family. Someone, I’ll protect, provide for, and someday share children with.

.

When I woke up, Dino was not in the room. Neither were his clothes. The only possibility was that he was downstairs preparing to go. So, I made quick work of showering and dressing up. This was my last day at my uncle’s house and I was both happy and nervous about starting my married life. I was… well I found myself looking forward to it. Soon enough my head was flooded with the events of last night and my hands drying my wet hair paused mid-air. He didn’t touch me last night, not after I made my discomfort so palpable. I felt like I was at the edge of the cliff with a great view before me and yet worried to admire the view because of the constant fear of falling free to my death.

I stepped out of the bathroom, and Dino stepped into the room at the same time.

“Good Morning. I came to wake you up.” I mumbled a greeting in return before I saw Vittorio knocking on the door.

“Permission to come in?” He walked in anyway. “Well… looks like none of you got any action last night.” My cheeks warmed.

“Vito, I warned you.”

“Sorry, I couldn't help it.”

He really couldn’t. All the while we walked downstairs, Vittorio talked about his shenanigans from last night. Standing before my uncle and cousins, I realized I preferred Vittorio’s talk better. The men exchanged a few words before we moved to the breakfast table. My uncle was visibly pleased but Riccardo’s attention remained on me throughout the breakfast.

“Everything happened so quickly,” Riccardo’s words grabbed everybody’s attention. We were ready to leave when he slid beside me again. “I almost cannot believe Gia won’t live among us now. But…” he pulled a small box out of his suit pocket and walked to me. “I got you a little gift.” I took his little gift and stiffened as he pulled me to him. “I’m so very upset that you are his now, but you must remember you won’t ever be his completely. So, there is a little something inside the box to have you remember that always,” he said, nuzzling in my hair, and I overheard uncle Umberto talking about how Riccardo and I had always been close. My eyes found Dino’s for an unfathomable reason and I saw him standing as calm as everybody else. “You will remember, won’t you?” I nodded, exhaling. "And this is our secret. Don't let him have a peek."

Pulling away, Riccardo winked and brushed my tears away. Even my last few moments were going to be no better in this house. Riccardo placed a kiss on my forehead and held my hand before we walked toward the others hand-in-hand. It was only when Dino stretched his palm out did I feel relief flood my body. He didn’t know this, but he was already taking me away from the worst kind of monster.

“We’ll leave now,” Dino said, pulling me to him, and securing his hand on my back. We made haste to depart with Dino driving and me in the passenger seat. Hopefully, there won’t be any incidents now.

Minutes passed and none of us said anything until Dino decided to take charge of the conversation. “You and Riccardo seem close. Were you always close or did it happen after you came to live with him?” A decent question.

“After.” I knew I should have said more. He probably expected me to share some bits of my life here and so on. To get this conversation going. But while I was fretting about talking to my husband a few seconds ago, I knew I had blown the chance now.

“It’s good to have a brother, I guess. They have your back all the time.” Another try from him.

“Hmm.” Another dismissal from me. Was there nothing to talk about except brothers? I couldn’t come up with anything and neither could Dino. So, the rest of the ride was completely silent, opposed to the storm of chaotic emotions raging inside me. The rest of the ride flew by in no time and soon the car slid to a stop.

Looking through the window, I saw a beautiful ginormous estate. The place I was to call my home till the day I died.