His to Claim, His to Ruin

Chapter 17

Lana

Standing tall in front of an amusement park, I took my phone out of my pocket to see countless messages flooding my phone for the past few hours.

From: Unknown

I'm going home.

-S

My eyebrows arched. And so? Why does he need to update me?

From: Unknown

Let me see you before I head to my office.

From: Unknown

Come home. Now.

I scoffed. ‘What are you, obsessed?’ I thought to myself.

I should've turned off my phone. Salvatore's texts are coming in every hour, and I'm about to block his number out of annoyance.

Does he really think he can command me just because my family owed him a lot? I was clear when I stated he must call me only when he needs me to carry out my wife duties.

Going to an amusement park to release some steam was the best thing I've ever done. Things have been so hard lately, and a much-needed break is all I need to function. Being with him makes my chest heavy as it triggers something unfamiliar inside.

Orbiting in his circle without taking a break drains me. Putting a boundary between us is my protection. He didn't tell me exactly what I'm gonna do when he said he would see me. Unless I fulfill my role as his wife—which is to be a bed warmer, as stated—then I'll come. But if he doesn't, then I'll let him rot in my inbox.

“Hold this,” Sage affirmed as she lent me her potato twister.

Sage called me to accompany her to an amusement park. She said she had extra tickets, and since the friend she was referring to couldn't come, I decided to join instead.

We haven't spent much time together, as we've been busy with our future endeavors. Although we share the same workplace, we have different working hours.

“I've seen a Dairy Queen nearby,” she affirmed with a smirk. “Remember your promise last time? You'd buy me one. You lost a bet.”

I chuckled then rolled my eyes. “Just say ‘buy me an ice cream’ next time.”

Sage got what I stated. She ordered our favorite Dairy Queen, and as I was about to pay for it, I was short of less than a hundred dollars.

I nibbled my lower lip as I looked at my best friend, who was now enjoying her ice cream. Then I opened the small pocket, hoping for a twenty-dollar bill, only to find his Amex inside.

S. M.

That's the card's initials. It's his. My husband.

I stared at it momentarily. My mind is fighting between telling my best friend to cover it today, and I'll pay her tomorrow, or using it.

“Miss?” The cashier called for my attention. “$156 is your total bill. We accept cards if you don't have paper bills.”

Nervous and ashamed—I immediately took out his Amex and paid for our ice cream.

Just as we're about to leave, Sage raised a question.

“Is your card new?” She couldn't hide the curiosity in her voice. “It's a black card. How were you able to obtain—”

“Nope. You've seen it wrong. It wasn't black, Sage. It's mine.” I said, lying just to divert our conversation elsewhere.

Bringing up his name at the table makes my body react negatively. And for the sake of my peace of mind, I must push the thought of him behind.

She c****d her eyebrows, unwilling to submit to my lie. “Really? But what eyes saw are clear, and it's black—”

“Why don't you pay for our next meal? I want cinnamon this time.” I said as I changed the topic so it won't roll over on me again.

The amusement park surprisingly lifted my mood. We went to various places and rode different rides. Sage and I tried different delicacies at each store, and to be honest, I had fun.

For a moment—a real smile only shows up when I’m genuinely happy, returned.

I forgot when the last time a smile crept on my face was, the moment I finally felt someone was there with me. But today, with Sage, everything feels light, like I have no problem at all.

Our date was cut short when it was time to go home. However, I didn’t expect the buses to only pass by without letting the two of us in. Until the last travel bus didn’t stop because it was filled with people hopping from the terminal itself. On the other hand, Sage has been sleeping on my shoulders for almost an hour, waiting for another to pass by.

Everything stopped the moment I saw a glimpse of hope. A Maserati pulled over, and men in black came out seconds later.

And there he is, the hope I’m eager to clasp turns out to be the nightmare I’m trying to run as fast as I can.

“Terminate the shenanigans. Time to go home.” It’s what the man standing across from me has said.

Salvatore, standing tall, poised with his gray three-piece suit, is now in front of me. My eyes went to Sage. Owen took my best friend to me, and he took her into another car while Salvatore pulled me over to his Maserati.

“Where are you taking her?” I can’t stop feeling worried about my best friend’s safety.

He plainly spoke. “Home.”

The ride on our way home was fast compared to how we got there. I feel tired, I didn’t even notice I slept inside the car.

Just as I expected, we went straight to his villa whilst the other car hadn't arrived yet. Maybe they dropped Sage off at her apartment. Talking with Salvatore wasn't my option, so I diverted my direction upstairs only to be caught off guard near the master's bedroom.

“Why aren't you answering my texts?” It was he who broke the silence.

I timidly spoke. “I'm busy,” then added, “how did you manage to find me?”

“I have my ways. And it's clearly stated in the contract that I must know your whereabouts,” Salvatore enunciated plainly. Earnestly.

My eyes drifted away from his direction.

He continued speaking. “I don't want to force you to go back home when you clearly don't want to.”

I scoffed, completely seeing the inconsistency in his actions and through his words. “So what now? Want me to say thank you?” Sarcasm voluntarily came out as I couldn't stand speaking with him.

Salvatore clenched his jaw. His eyes darkened, showing traces of annoyance, but he's holding himself, trying to look composed.

“Did you enjoy having fun with your friend then?” Now his tone changed. It became a soft, plain one, I once heard.

So what? He's trying to build communication with me now, huh?

“Yes,” I affirmed. “Sage wanted an ice cream and I didn't have any cash. She wanted one. I used your card but don't worry—just a small amount.”

And then Salvatore began licking his lower lip. God, he looks like a Greek God fallen from the sky. How can a man be dangerously hot? God forbid, I only want to rest and completely kick him out of my system.

“Use it. I don't mind if you spend billions.”

I c****d my eyebrows. “I'm afraid you'd go bankrupt.”

“Sure. Go get all the diamonds in this world, and I'll pay for each of them.” He said like it's some sort of challenge I'm gonna bite. “Everything I own is yours. This mansion, other villas, my money…it’s all yours.”

“I didn't work hard for it. How come it's mine? I'm a wife on paper, and I don't take advantage of people. I know what I should take, and I know what I'm not gonna get.”

Ending the conversation on that exact position was my plan. Just as I was about to leave him outside, Salvatore took my arm with gentleness, like he wasn't the mafia boss everyone feared, but rather a true husband of my own.

“Let's talk.” He spoke. Not a question, not commanding, but persuading. “Let's start with your problem. Why are you avoiding me?”

Wow. I never thought he would be this direct. And as someone who always bottles up her emotions, I suddenly felt awkward and overwhelmed now that someone is finally asking what's been running through my head nonstop.

Now that someone's noticing my silence, my avoidance is also the reason behind my initial thought to run as fast as I can.

“We have no problem.”

He stared at me straight in my eyes as if he were reading what I've been thinking. He stared for a little while until he let go of my hand and bobbed his head as a sign of defeat.

“Fine. I'm not gonna force you.”

With his response, my nervous system began to calm down. The thought of running away from him vanished the moment he left me standing outside my bedroom.

To be honest, I have never felt more at peace when he left me. Alone.