Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 19

                                                                                         Natalia

                                                                                    Five years ago

            “Stay with me Leo,”

            My loud sobs fill his office as I sit on the floor cradling his body in my arms. Blood covers my hands and arms as I apply pressure in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

            “Please! Someone, anyone- Call 911.” I cry out, but no one responds.

            Taking my sweater, I press it to the open wound on Leo forehead before securing it with my belt. “I’ll be right back,” I say through inaudible sobs. “I’m going to get help.” Standing with wobbly legs, I make my way to the desk dialing 911 before making my way to the door in hopes that Leo secretary is still here just hiding after hearing the gun shot.

            As I push the door slightly open, the view of her heels and legs laying slump under her desk come into view. I crawl to her side to check for a pulse. Letting out an inaudible scream into the palm of my hand, the realization setting in.

            How could I have been so blind to it all. I make my way back to Leo, his pulse still there, but barely. Resting my back against the front of Leo’s desk, I pull his limp body into my lap, holding him till help finally arrives.

            “I’m so sorry Leo,” I say through the tears streaming down the side of my face. “I’m so f*****g sorry.” Holding him close, laying my head close to him closing my eyes when darkness consumes me.

            “Natalia,” a pair of strong hands grasp my shoulders jolting me awake. “Natalia…Hey – there you are. Stay with me. Are you hurt?” I blink my eyes a few times trying to focus them from the haze that has taken over.

            “Natalia, are you hurt?”

Looking down at my hands seeing them covered in Leo’s blood, the memories flashing through my mind as bile creeps up into the back of my throat. The question being repeated in the back of my head, am I hurt? “No.” I whisper in a low tone that’s almost inaudible for me to hear.

            As the medical examiners remove Leo from my lap, Anthony is pulling me to my feet. “Did you see what happened? Were you here?”

            Staring off into the abyss, I don’t answer. My face void of emotions, closing my eyes I relive every action that took place hours before. Why- how could Orlando do this to me?

            “Natalia?” Anthony’s voice echoes through my mind, but I don’t move or react. “No- she’s fine. She’ll come with me; I’ll take her statement.”

            The twenty-minute car is spent in silence. Pulling up to an apartment building, I’d assume to be Anthony’s, I am ushered inside quickly. His apartment is bare, cold not a glimpse into his life or whom he maybe is on display. Everything has its place, like it was designed perfectly from a HGTV show.

            It all had happened so fast; I still don’t understand why he killed Leo. I laid there for hours, sobbing next to him holding him till his body went cold.

            Standing in his bathroom, I remove my blood-stained shirt. I wonder what would have happened if Orlando found me hiding in Leo’s office. I bet he would have killed me too if he would have known the true reason I was at Leo’s office.

            My hair’s falling out of the ponytail tie and my makeup is smudged down the side of my face. The denim jeans slip down my legs easily as Anthony helps me step out of them. He hasn’t said a word to me, but his eyes reflect so many unanswered questions.

            I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared in my life. Not like this at least.

            The steam in the shower builds, fogging the bathroom in a hot mist, it’s suffocating. Anthony turns his back to me as I slide the rest of my clothing off and step into the shower.

            He gathers my clothes off the floor, disposing of them.

            “You have to go home tonight.” Anthony finally croaks out as he hands me fresh bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The curtain is open slightly, and I can feel his eyes roaming down my body as the warm water cascades down.

            “Your going to tell him that you went to lunch with some friends out of the city this afternoon. Then you came home as soon as the police called to notify you that Leo had been murdered.”

            My body feels weak, my breath is knocked out of me for a moment as the memories of what had happened earlier today continue to flash through my mind. “You had lunch at Fox Lake family restaurant.” He lets out a loud exhale as leans his back against the bathroom counter. I on the other hand have not moved, barely spoken since this has all happened.

            “What makes you think he’ll believe me?” I scoff at him.

            “You show him your receipts from today, call one of your friends to set up an alibi until we can arrest that asshole.”

            “Why would I need an alibi.” I begin to question, my words spoken slowly and lowly, “You saw what he did. He’s the real killer here.” I stare into his eyes as tears streak down my face.

            “Yes, but you will be questioned as if you were a suspect to. We can’t let him think that we know what actually happened.”

            “I don’t know if I’ll be able to play along.” I say doubting myself. “I’m mentally and physically exhausted by everything that has happened in the past forty-eight hours. I feel like I’ll break and blab the truth.”

            “It will all be over soon Natalia. Just stick to the god damn plan.” He says completely ignoring my comments.

            I glance at Anthony offering a sad but hurt smile while the steam flows around me. Reaching for the faucet I turn off the shower and reach for the towel in Anthony’s hand. I wrap the towel around my body before stepping out of the shower. Swallowing the deep lump in my throat, I repeat his story back to him. “I went out with Kara for a late lunch in Fox Lake. The Fox Lake family restaurant. As we were finishing up lunch, I got a phone call from the police saying that Leo had been murdered.”

            “Good. Stick with the story I gave you. Speak as little as you can to him.”

            It’s quiet for the remaining time as he hands me a pair of his sweatpants and a large t-shirt. I’ll stop and buy new clothes or have kara bring me something, there’s no way I could show up at home wearing another mans clothing. As I pull the T-shirt over my head, I repeat the story over and over again to myself hoping that I’ll be able to stick to the plan.

            I leave the bathroom, exhausted and damaged in a way that hits me as soon as I step foot into the living room. Sitting down on the Gray chaise, I lean my head back as soft sobs and shuddering breaths leave me.

            My brother, my best friend is dead. My husband the f*****g murderer.

            It’s almost to much for my mind to even comprehend. As fresh tears fall down my cheeks, I attempt to pull myself together grabbing my phone to call Kara.

            She answers after the first ring. The news of Leo’s murder has already begun to spread. I explained to her to bring me clothes and I’d explain the rest when she got here. Hanging up quickly, I debate on turning off my phone. I probably should and so that’s exactly what I do. I hold the side button of my I phone and slide it to off.

            When Kara arrives, she helps me into the clothes she’s brought from her house. I fill her in on what actually happened, and willingly she agreed to be my alibi. I’m so thankful for friends like her.

            Hours have passed when I finally head towards home. Orlando’s called. Multiple times, but I couldn’t answer.

            My fathers called worried of course, leaving a voicemail of urgency.

            I shouldn’t have come home. I should have kept my phone off and continued to hid away for a few days, but what good would that do. Leo’s dead and the fact that my husband murdered him is not a reality I could hide away from, I hold the button on the elevator that leads to floor my condo is located on. The reality of it all is beginning to close in on me, coming face to face with the monster I once thought I loved.

            What will happen tomorrow? Is the only question repeating in my mind. The stress of it all feels like an elephant sitting on my chest.

            I have to stick to the story. He can’t know I was there and witnessed the whole thing. I can lie to him as easily as he lied to me about everything. I’ll never confess to him.

            I walk into our condo, immediately greeted by a frantic Orlando. Way to put on a f*****g act. I walk right passed him into our bedroom immediately changing my clothes.

            “Where the f**k have you been?” He snarls as he follows closely behind me.

            My heart slams in my chest as tears threaten to fall. My hands tremble as I pull an oversized hoodie over my head. I close my eyes in an attempt to remember the story Anthony had told me.

            The tapping of his foot on the tile floor breaks me from my daze. “Are you f*****g listening to me? Where the f**k where you Natalia?”

            I wipe away the single tear that had fallen on my cheek. “I was out with Kara.”

            Lie. I was out with a FBI Agent who told me all the horrible things you’ve done. Then I watched you murder my brother.

            “We had lunch in Fox Lake. She thought I needed a distraction from the baby.” I inhale a deep breath as I begin to slowly fall apart. I stiffen at his touch as his large arms wrap around my upper body. “We were on our way home when I got a phone call from the police.”

            His grip tightens around me when I mention the police. “Leo was murdered tonight.”

            I spin around in his hold to see his face. The look at the monster, the man I thought I once loved expression. It’s cold- emotionless- how could he show any sort of emotion when he is the very person who caused this. He releases me for a moment turning his back to me.

            “Someone found him in his office.”

            “I’m so sorry.” His tone low as he clears his voice.

            No, you’re not. You did this.

            I break down even more as pulls me into his chest holding me tight. I’m disgusted in myself for leaning into his embrace. “Thank god you weren’t there. Who knows what could have happened if you were. I could have lost you too tonight.”

            He places his lips to my forehead. Just as he’s about to say more a voice from where the elevator is brings me back to the reality. My brother is dead, my husband murdered him, and I saw it all happen.

            A second passes and another before the same voice come closer, growing louder.

            A shudder runs through me as I watch Orlando walk out to where the elevator is.

            “Mr. Salvatore, Mrs. Salvatore.” Agent Anthony Romero says standing in the doorway with two additional officers at his side.

            Orlando looks back at me and I nod in approval, but an unaware fear has me frozen in place. With a deep breath I gesture for them to come in and sit in the living room. I’m not sure how I’m able to move my petrified limbs, but I do and take a seat next to Orlando on the couch. Making sure to play the perfect role of the doubting wife, and most importantly sticking to the story.

            “Can I get you gentleman something to drink?” I say as I fidget nervously with my rings.

            “No- no thank you. We actually have some pressing manors to discuss with you both.” He says throwing a tan police file on the coffee table. “As you know, Leo was found dead.”

            “What does that have to do with us,” Orlando’s tone defensive as he pulls me closer to his side, his finger gripping my hips tight.

            “We’re suspecting foul play.”

            “And you think we have something to do with it?” My question plays right along with the act I’ve been forced into.

             “We just have to cover all bases.” His gaze falls on me and for a moment, just a split second, I think I’m about to crack and expose everything.  “I would like to talk to both of you separately.”

            My head is reeling, and I lean forward in my seat placing my hands on my head trying to gain any ounce of composure I have left. I wish this was all a dream, that Leo would walk through that door with Ashton Kutcher from Punk’d, but it isn’t a TV show and he’s gone is the new reality. My heart pounds in my chest as I swallow the thick mucous that has built up in the back of my throat. I lift my head slowly, nodding in approval to speak with them separately.

            “Orlando we’ll start with you. Natalia if you could wait in the lobby till, we are done.” I stand and walk to the elevator sharing one last glance at Orlando. His cocky smile has the bile threating to come up.

            My head hangs lows as I sit in the lobby waiting for my turn to be questioned. My thoughts and the words I want to say all jumble as my gaze shifts from the elevator doors to the doorman standing outside. I part my lips taking in a sharp breath which causes my chest to hurt. I know the truth, yet I feel so guilty. I pull my knees to my chest and sit uncomfortably on the small chair.

            The dinging of the elevator breaks me from my thoughts. Orlando unphased by it all takes steps towards me, reaching for my hand out to help me stand.

            “Your turn baby,” He says pulling me into a tight huge before placing a kiss to my forehead. “Just tell them everything you told me. We have nothing to hide.”

            You do.

            With a quick nod of my head and the nausea building, I squeeze my eyes tight and try to keep it together.

            I step off the elevator and approach Anthony and his team. Without saying a word, I gesture toward my home office. It’s the one place I know my words will be safe if Orlando has recording devices stashed throughout the house. I’ve seen them before, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they still were. To throw Orlando off I am careful to set a trap to make him think I delayed the interview. “Will you gentleman please excuse me for a moment, I have to use the restroom.”

            “So, what did he say?” I quietly shut the door before walking to my desk.

            “That he was at a dinner with a client and your father.” He’s quiet for a moment before continuing on, “He said that he actually spent most of the day out of the office.”

            Bastard is lying. I saw him with my own two eyes kill Leo.

            “Do you believe him?” My question has me beginning to doubt they believe me.

            “No- I saw how wrecked you were when we arrived. You have nothing to worry about.”

            I nod my head feeling slightly relieved. I gesture for us to return to the living room, so Orlando doesn’t get suspicious. “Sorry about that. What would you like me to tell you?”

            “Start off with whatever you did today.”

            I spit out the story we had rehearsed so many times tonight before I left his apartment and I’ll repeat it again everyday until this nightmare is over and that monster is in jail.

            The dim light from the kitchen illuminates his facial features as he readjusts himself on the couch next to me. “We are going to go out of town for a few weeks till this all dies down.”

            The sick feeling from earlier starts to return, dropping to the deep pits of my stomach. Looking at him I see a smirk play at his lips. That bastard thinks he’s gotten away from it, and that I am going to go with him when in fact I have no plans to do so.

            “Plus, I don’t like how that asshole detective was eyeing you up. He’s lucky I didn’t murder him.” My world stops for a moment, my breath leaving me as his grip on me gets tighter, his finger digging deeper into my side. “You’re mine and only mine Natalia, and I won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in the way.”

            Property, that’s all he see’s me as. A possession.

            Did he kill Leo because he knew once I told him what I learned he would take me away from him or was it something bigger.

            “We can’t leave Orlando-“My words rush out as I loosen his grip which I am sure has left a bruise.

            Orlando’s tsk cuts me off. “This is not negotiable Natalia. It’s not safe here, and the FBI is asking questions as if we have something to do with this. We need to mind our P’s and Q’s till this passes.”

            “But Leo’s funeral. I’m not leaving till he gets his proper burial, not only that but we have to ensure the company is taken care of.” I say. I can see the wheels turning in his mind as he takes in what I said.

            “Fine. But we leave as soon as everything is all said and done. We don’t need anyone asking anymore questions.”

            My throat goes dry as I nod my head in agreement. The more he talks the more questions I have. The memories of what happened send goosebumps down my body. The pounding of my heart beats faster, but this time it’s for a different reason entirely. The once large condo now seems so small, suffocating me as fear replaces the sorrow I once felt.

            I have no words; I wish I could respond. I once loved this man, but he’s a liar and a murderer and I can no longer trust him.

            “Start packing your bags, I’m going to step outside to have a smoke.” He say’s before placing a kiss upon my forehead. I watch as he walks out the door leading to the balcony before moving towards my office to call Anthony. If he plans to make a move on Orlando, then he better do it soon.