Don Vidal

13 - The wrong way home

Marnie

To say this first week with Draven had been challenging would be a lie.

It’s been, dare I say, pleasant?

Well, it has been nice. Draven is nothing like I thought he would be. Okay, I’ve seen him with his men, the powerful man in charge that he is, but at home, he’s... kind, funny, attentive. I don’t deserve such kindness, and to be honest, It’s kind of odd to me. I’ve never had anyone treat me the way Draven does. I don’t feel worthy, which I know is down to Paul and what he did to me all those years. But it’s not that easy to change my mindset. I’m trying; believe me, I am.

I’ve quickly gotten used to being allowed to do whatever I want, well, within reason. Paul never let me do anything without his permission. Draven laughed to himself whenever I asked him if I could go somewhere. He told me, ‘Marnie. You are not my prisoner, sweetheart. Go where you want. All I ask is that you allow Stefano to drive you and Tom to stand guard over you. You know the man I am, and you know I have to keep you safe, no matter what.’ I agreed because I want to please him, and it’s not like it’s terrible having someone drive me around or having a bodyguard. Although sometimes I wish I could drive myself around like I used to.

Brooke and Maria, Draven’s little sister, have made a joke once or twice today about how I must think of myself as some kind of royalty being driven around the way I am.

Who do I think I am?

The Queen of Sheba?

Of course, now I’m crying like an idio.t.

Over a silly comment or two?

Something that was meant as a joke?

Yeah, I’m hormonal.

We went shopping for baby things. We decided to get lunch, and now I have spoiled it by blubbing!

“I’m sorry,” I tell them while wiping my eyes on the tissue I just fished out of my pocket. “Didn’t mean to start blubbering.”

“It’s okay, sis, we both know what it’s like.”

Yeah, they do. Both of them are pregnant as well. Brooke will have her baby first, Maria second, and then me. All three babies will be born within a couple of months of each other. It’s exciting and scary all at the same time.

“I know.” I smile as Brooke takes my hand and squeezes it.

“We didn’t mean to upset you, Marnie.”

I smile at Brooke. “I know that.”

“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Maria takes a sip of her lemonade through the straw inside the glass filled with ice and lemon slices.

The wedding. Draven said I could have anything my heart desires for this wedding, but the truth is, I don’t want a big wedding; I just want something small and intimate. Draven is having none of it. He told me that being the man he is, it’s expected of him to have a huge wedding. There are so many important people to invite and impress.

Shouldn’t it be about us?

I’m having a hard enough time trying to make myself believe this is real. It still seems like I’m dreaming most days.

I really don’t want a big wedding. I don’t see the point. But then I have to tell myself that this isn’t about us. There’s no love there; we’re marrying for the sake of the baby, nothing more. But we must sell the lie to the Elders and those who work for Draven.

But it’s all too much. I can’t breathe! Over the past few days, I’ve seen a wedding planner, a dressmaker, a caterer, a florist, and... God, I’ve lost count!

I’m beyond tired. I don’t sleep well at all. I wake every night in cold sweats from the nightmares that plague me. Then all I can think about is the fact we’re organizing a wedding that I’m not sure will happen any time soon.

How can it when I still haven’t been given my divorce?

I don’t even know how to find Paul because he’s not around. Where the hell he could be, I don’t know. It’s not like he doesn’t disappear for weeks on end. He always did when I lived with him anyway.

He’s probably shacked up with some busty slut, filling her holes like every other whor.e he’s been with.

Not that I care what he does, but I want to be free.

If I’m completely honest with myself, I’m scared that Draven has done something that will mean I’ll never find Paul.

If that were the case, however, surely Draven would have found a way to make sure I was either divorced or widowed in a way the police could have notified me?

I don’t even know anymore; everything is getting on top of me, and I can’t cope.

“They’re coming.” I smile slightly and sip my iced tea. I have nothing else to say on the matter. I know there’s a lot to do, but that’s why Draven hired people to do everything for us. Yeah, I’m not even getting much say in this ridiculous wedding!

I stay with the girls for a while longer, talking about the wedding and the parts they’ll play in it. Of course, they’re both going to be my bridesmaids. Along with God only knows how many others due to how large Draven’s family is.

Brooke asked me if I’d like to join her and Maria for something to eat. I declined only because I was not feeling great and just wanted to go home. I’m in the mood to relax in a hot bubble bath, soft music playing in the background, and even some scented candles burning.

I’m smiling to myself in the back of the car. As Stefano drives me home, my head is tilted back against the leather seat. I’m not sure where Tom is, but Stefano said he had an errand to run, and I’d be safe with him.

Strangely, I’m looking forward to seeing Draven when he gets home from work tonight. I like to sit with him and hear about his day. The good parts, at least, because I know he won’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to know the bad parts. I’d rather be ignorant to it while I can.

It seems to be taking a rather long time to get to the house. I sit straight in my seat and look out the window beside me. Even the tinted windows can’t hide the fact we’re nowhere near home.

“Stefano, where are we? I asked that you take me home.”

“I'm sorry, Ms. Webster, but I’m not taking you home.”

“Then where the hell are you taking me?”

Panic is setting in. I know what people like Stefano are like. I’ve heard the stories as much as anyone else. Draven promised me he’d never let anybody hurt me.

Why was I so stupid to believe a damn Mafia King?

Stefano says nothing until he pulls up outside an abandoned warehouse. I’m so scared that he’s going to take me in there and kill me that I can't stop shaking. I know I need to be brave, but bravery doesn’t come into it when you’re about to pee yourself in fear.

He opens the door and takes my arm, physically dragging me out of the car. “Stefano, please. I don’t know what this is, but Draven won’t be happy when he finds out.”

“Who said he didn’t tell me to bring you here for this?”

I think I’m about to hyperventilate. Draven wouldn’t have told this man to bring me here. Don’t ask me how I know that, but something inside of me is telling me there is no way Draven would put me in danger.

Okay, maybe he doesn’t give a damn about me, but I know our baby means the world to him. Draven would kill anyone who threatened his child. I may only be the vessel carrying said baby, but Draven wouldn’t allow anything to happen to me while that baby was inside of me.

“Let go of me, you pig! Draven did not tell you to bring me here!”

Stefano laughs and ignores me. He drags me inside the cold, dirty warehouse, and my stomach turns over. I’m going to have bruises on my arm from how hard he’s holding onto me. Not that it will matter if he kills me.

I could fight against him to get away, and I may succeed enough to run for the door. He could also put a bullet in the back of my head before I even got a foot away from him. I touch my stomach and pray to God that he keeps my baby safe through this. Whatever this is.