By the moon, I swear

CHAPTER 8 - THE PAST

It was on a Tuesday night and I had just gotten back from Afghanistan when William convinced me to go hand out with him. As any logical person at first I said no because I was too damn tired but he knew which strings to pull and before I knew it I was tagging along. He and I used to hit the club and drink our asses off all the time when I was in town so it was no biggie. Our life was always work during the days and fun during the nights. Kind of a bro code.

That day as any other we were competing on who could keep down the most number of shots. I was on my third round when I heard a sweet melodious voice arguing behind me.  I was never one to stick my nose in others business but somehow this time I couldn’t help it. I turned around and that’s when I saw her. My eyes couldn’t help but glitter drinking in the sight before me as my mouth hovered in appreciation. She was absolutely exquisite. The tiny denim shorts hugging her half naked butt and the tight red shirt that left her stomach bare did her no justice at the very least. She had pink lips, slim nose and almond shaped eyes. The type of eyes that played in ones fantasies over and over again. Her hair was long, soft and black tickling her rosy boobs. Normally I would never sleep with the same woman twice let alone be intimately attached to her. But there was something about that lady that made all my senses go ballistic. It was like a craving awoke inside of me. A hunger that wouldn’t be satisfied in just one night. All it took were those almond eyes looking at me begging. I’m not sure for what but the next thing I knew, I was hooked. Deep.

The man who she was arguing with slapped her hard across her cheeks. I felt the Quiet rage that had initially poured off me because of their argument simmer and before even thinking twice I whirled on him as quick as a snake slamming my fist on his jaw sending him flat to the ground. The lady turned to me, offered a smile and said thank you.  What impressed me most was when she turned to the big guy on the floor and stepped on him with her cow boy boot and said, ‘

You deserved that jackass. Maybe it’s high time you learn how to be a gentleman from …. Err,’

‘Tristan,’ I offered.

‘Tristan. Then we will talk.’ With that she started walking away when I realized I didn’t even know her name. ‘Excuse me. Madam, I didn’t catch your name?’

‘I didn’t give it. Maybe next time my night and shinning amour.’ I just stood there smiling like an i***t. When was the last time a womanizer like me let a pretty skirt go by? Yet with her I wanted to do it right. Right by her even if I would have to put aside some of my habits jut to impress her. I just knew one way or another I had to find her. I had to have her.

‘Tristan. Tristan.’ I heard a voice call me but somehow I couldn’t reach it. I didn’t want to.

It was at two pm when i decided that we had had enough. I helped my brother who was staggering to go out to the cab that I had just called. I have a fancy car and loads of money but I was always one of the old fashioned type. Thought I was not drunk, I still never wanted to risk driving. I don’t do personal drivers either because I feel I should always keep the connection between me and my car intact. I had a friend though who I used to call whenever we went out for drinks. Him I trusted with my life. He could always bail me out even in the worst case scenarios.

I was just about to get in the car after I have carefully shoved my brother in when I heard the painful whimpers. Again, curiosity took the better of me. I followed the dark alley and that’s when I saw her. The gorgeous lady covered in bruises beaten to a pulp and shoved on the darkest part to await her death. Cursing I picked her up and carried her with me. We took her to the hospital and I stayed the whole night by her side while the driver took William home.

In a matter of three days she could walk and talk without wincing. Feeling like she owed me she told me a bit of herself. She told me about her abusive father who she ran away from only to land on an even worse boyfriend who treated her like s**t and to make the matters worse he withheld her passport and ID. She had nowhere to run. As I listened to her I knew I had to help. I have ever reached rock bottom myself. A point where the thought of slitting my throat was so adamant that I basically threw out all the knives. Were it not for Williams help I would have probably pushed through with it. She needed a helping hand at that point so as not to despair and I was willing to give it to her. Linda was her name.

I took her home with me. At home she easily warmed herself into people hearts. Everyone likes her. Everyone except William that is. She was perfect. Perfect soul perfect body and perfect heart. Our feelings for each other started growing and at some point we could not deny them any longer. One night we made love. We might have not confessed our feelings to each other yet but I knew there was no way she had those multiple orgasms if she felt nothing for me. She loved me just as I loved her.

I curse mornings. They always destroy everything. They always take from us what we cherish the most. Come morning Linda was nowhere to be seen. All the clothes, shoes, jewelry I bought her were all wiped clean. There was nothing there. Not even a trace of her. For a moment I was confused but then reached to the conclusion that maybe she was just scared. I have been there once too. I was going to be there for her. To be the brick that she needs to lean on but there was no way I was going to let go.

With the help of Amos we were able to track her down three days later to a brothel. Even as we got in in that shitty damp I could easily spot her. Her face was covered in a mask but I knew her body like I knew my soul. She was dancing naked on the pole for all those men and I felt something deep inside me crash. How could she? How could she leave me for this? If it was money, I could give her. If it was a new identity I could give her too. Damn I could even give her my soul if she asked. Without caring for her opinion I walked to towards her and carried her on my shoulder leaving William and Amos to deal with the boss of that place.

By the time we got home Linda was furious. She kept on screaming that I did not respect her or her wishes and that the first chance she got she was going to run away. I locked her up in my room afraid she might carry out her threat. I mean there was no trace of the woman I loved there. In its place was a shell of a person so hooked in drugs that their mind could barely think straight. I wasn’t going to allow her to follow that path. I refused to let her die. My parents were shot just before my by robbers and they died in my arms. William was still young by then and didn’t know what was happening. But I relieved it day by day. Maybe that’s why I got into the army. To be able to protect my loved ones in case an incident like that ever happened again.

‘Tristan. Tristan,’ a hoarse voice called. It was Williams’s voice. I would know it anytime but oddly enough as I turned around he was nowhere. I was too busy taking care of Linda anyway. I could always catch up with him later.

She calmed down after a few days and even went through withdrawal. All the while I was by her side as promised. Slowly by slowly I got the woman I loved back. Things started going back to normal. She became loving and dotting more than she was before and I loved it. She even came to trust me enough as her confidant that she could freely ask for money when she needed it. I was happy. That’s what I wanted. For her to lean on me when things got too hard.

The amount she asked for became larger and larger over the while but I didn’t care. So long as it made her happy. Besides what use was my money if I couldn’t keep my woman happy. William on the other hand came up with this absurd idea that she was stealing from me and giving it to her boyfriend. Of course I didn’t believe him. I knew very well there was bad blood between them from day one. Besides I had already seen this sort of thing many times with my friends. Whenever one of them fell in love, the others felt cut off. If not careful one could always cause a strain in his relationship out of sheer friends’ jealousy. I loved William and always will but I had to stand by my woman. Besides of what use is a relationship if I can’t trust the one who holds my heart?

‘Tristan please don’t,’ the voice inside my head murmured again but I shook it off.

Of course I won’t. I won’t leave the one I love unprotected. As our love grew so did our problems but hey whose relationship doesn’t have up and downs? She reverted to her old ways. Sneaking out of the house going back to her old boyfriend. I knew there was something I must have not done right. Maybe I did not give her much of my time and she felt lonely. It was all my fault. All the time on breaks I used to help William run our companies and I guess it just became a habit. Yes, I cut short on my working hours but maybe it was not enough.

I never gave up on us. I always went back for her. Each time there was bruises more than the previous. Each time she was bitterer than before. Not caring about my needs. Locking me out on our room and me having to sleep in the study. Not talking to me.

‘I promise I will do whatever you want Tristan but please. Please I beg you don’t do this,’ the voice pleaded again this time while sobbing.

Linda didn’t have to cry because of me ever. Never had I wanted to make her cry just to make her happy. A part of me had come to fear that William might be right. She was only after my money and it’s her boyfriend that she loved. But hearing her cry I knew I had to fight harder. Besides she always came to her senses and came back to me and that had to count for something. If its millions she needed I would giver, billions even. She just had to name it and it was hers. She was a part of me and would never be selfish with my own.

We got pregnant but due to unavoidable circumstances we lost the baby. No it could have been avoided. If only I had prevented her from seeing that Jerk-ass of a boyfriend. She had sneaked out again and though not beaten again this time she was heavily dosed in cocaine. The following day I found her in the bathroom bleeding on the floor. I almost lost her that day. Even the doctors said her survival was a miracle as she had lost tremendous amount of blood. I took care of her till she was well and took her back home. Then I went over to her ex’s place. It was a high time we had a man to man.

The two of us got involved in a messy fight beating the hell out of each other. When growing up I promised myself that I would never fight because of a woman I don’t know when it changed. All I knew was my family had suffered because of him and id be damned if I let him leave in peace while we were in tears.

The guy was clearly drenched because in the middle of our fight he kept of saying on how stupid I was. That they used me for my money and that even the baby wasn’t mine. It was a way to extort money from me. For a moment I felt all blood drain from my body and my organs still. Linda could possibly never do that to me. Despite our problems she loved me and I loved her. Yes she loved my money but that was okay. I made a lot anyway and that didn’t matter. I looked over at him and saw the victorious smirk on his face. That’s when I knew that douche had played me well. He obviously made the story up to try and hurt me because Linda chose me. Jealously had its hooks deep into him and I wasn’t going to let my love for Linda be swayed away. The fight got heated and more blood was drawn. I clasped my hand tightly around his neck depriving him of oxygen. Pressing and pressing till I saw his eyes bulge out of his sockets. He started coughing struggling to ease the pressure on his neck, fighting me with all he got but that only motivated me more. Adrenaline kicked in and I pressed harder ignoring his pleads. The man was turning blue; I was winning the fight when Linda got in and that’s when it all went dark.