Chapter 18- Hungry
926 Words
There's only a few things that exist.
Aches everywhere. Black haziness. And a distinctive ringing muting every other noise, thinking it deserves more immediate attention than anything else around me.
I forcefully pry my dropping eyelids open, fighting the glaring light screaming for them to close.
Lusso's face swims around my vision, hazy and distorted. His hand holds the back of my neck, but my head still lolls floppily. I squint my eyes hard, glowering up at his moving lips. What's he saying? He looks bothered by something. I wonder what.
I'm torn away from the rock floor, lifted through thin air. I never know how air felt. Its like incredibly light water, hovering around us and filling into any c***k or crevice it can. Its mystical.
I tingle a little, buzzing in pain endorphins. The rush of the two is a sudden high, and I start to feel more mobile as I let the sensation overtake me. Lusso's godly face is still above me, and I think I'm in hell. Surely he'd be there too, right?
There's dark everywhere, and I somehow know that I'm in his room. I'm gifted a small, round disk of something chalky. I fondle it between my thumb and fingertips, my sweat palm rubbing off on it. It takes so much energy. Eventually my fingers become loose, and my body falls limp.
*****
I wake with Lusso beside me, my sand dollar clutched in my hand. It takes me a moment to completely come to, only then realizing Lusso isn't actually awake.
It takes every muscles, every tiny nerve wrapping even to the tip of my pinky, to creep closer to him. I finally can rest my hand on his chest, sand dollar still in hand. With my cheek to his shoulder, I allow myself exhale deeply. Mistake- a stabbing pain slashes into my lungs. My breath hitches, a wheeze pulling away my air. Lusso must have heard the unease, as he shifted and his eyes snapped open.
He scanned every inch of the room, investigating each corner before finding me.
"Your awake," he states breathless.
I attempt a smile, but even I can tell I've failed. My eyes glisten and I try to fight the stinging tear, only to lose and let it drop down my bruised-face anyways.
"I'm so sorry," Lusso whispers right next to my ear, cautiously slipping his arms around me.
I ruffle. "For what?"
"Bella," he rests his face in my hair, "This is all my fault."
A piece of glass inside me just shattered. The shards are slicing apart my heart. I can feel the sadness in his words. He's seeping with guilt, even resentment.
"No Lusso. Don't. I wouldn't take back a second of yesterday if I could."
"Yesterday? You've been out for two days now."
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I question.
"Normally, yes. But considering it's 1:00 AM, no."
"I'll take a beating for a day like we had," I say, and I mean it. I hope he can tell, hear the sincerity behind my words.
He draws a long breath. "I don't want you here anymore."
I freeze. "What are you saying?" my heart speaks, dreading the idea. My brain on the other hand throws rational responses at me, pointing out that I should want to leave.
"You aren't safe here, mio bellissimo."
"No, I'm not. I haven't been since I saw you out my window that night." His face falls, shameful and disappointed. "But I also haven't felt like I did with you at the beach ever before." I exert every ounce of effort into looking up at him.
The determination and conviction in his eyes melts away, a warm contentment stealing their place. I prefer it.
He groans. "Why do you do this to me, women?"
I can only giggle, happiness flooding my senses. If I wasn't so injured, I would hug him tighter.
I'm drowsy, wanting badly to fall back to sleep. If it wasn't for to cool pit of hunger rumbling in my stomach, I would.
Lusso notices, and picks up his phone.
"Rixon. I need you to get into the kitchen."
After a moment, he looks agitated. "I don't know. Just figure something out." He drops the phone, ending the call.
"Why does he have to sneak in?"
"Kitchen is closed after 10:00." his brief answer only encouraging me to press more.
"But... didn't you say your the 'boss'. Why does the big, bad boss have to sneak into his own kitchen?" I say, only half tease. I have a nagging feeling eating away at my mind, red flags waving.
"Rules are rules. I am not above them."
I almost laugh. How ironic. The man who shot another dead is telling me about rules. Deciding to just push past it, I remember I need to go to the bathroom.
I very, very, very slowly roll out of the bed, wobbling on my feet.
"Where are you going?" Lusso stammer, jumping up to help me.
"I'm okay. I'm just going to the bathroom." I dismissively wave him off, using the wall to crutch my walk.
When I finally sit, I'm overjoyed I wore a pad instead of a tampon. Thankfully, I slept through my last days of my period.
I make my way back into the room just as Rixon flies through the door. He carries a plate in his left hand, placing it on Lusso's nightstand.
"I can't believe you woke me up for this s**t," Rixon complains angrily. His whole mood switches when he sees me. I didn't have the strength to see myself in the mirror, scared for what I'd see. But I do know I look as bad as I feel.
"What happened?" he breaths, glancing to Lusso.
He grits his teeth. "King happened."
- Writer
