18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Serena
I can finally admit during the time I've spent with Emilio, I tried to hide my feelings. When he held me down and took my virginity, I acted like I didn't want it, but truthfully, I did. His dominance turns me on, and he says being submissive is nothing to be ashamed of. Now I must learn to let go. I want to give that to my husband, and more importantly, I want to feed this need within me.
Emilio makes love to me slowly in the hotel room before wrapping himself around me and holding me while we sleep. I don’t ever think I’ve felt as cherished as I do when I’m in his embrace.
Upon waking up in the morning, we gather everything I have with me and move my things to his house. He has an army of men he could send to pack up and move my entire home, but he says he won’t allow other men to touch my things. If I'm honest, I love that he's so possessive and jealous, and he likes me the same way. Hence him allowing me to think he's been sleeping with other women and taunting me with Nurse Holly. My cheeks flame with embarrassment when I think about my meltdown.
Emilio's brand on my chest has healed, and although his actions upset me, when I look at his name on my skin, I feel a sense of pride. It’s proof that I am wanted and loved. Sure, to anyone looking in on our relationship, especially those early days, they’d probably say we are toxic as fuck, but at least we are toxic together. We understand each other, I’d even go so far as to say we’re made for each other.
The thing is, I should feel guilty. Earlier, he mentioned me wearing another man's clothes, and it took me a while to figure out that Emilio had been sneaking into my bedroom during our separation. He was talking about the jersey I wear to bed, and I love that it pissed him off. His animalistic possessiveness makes me feel wanted and cherished. I didn't intentionally hide who the jersey belonged to during our talk last night. It was more that I got distracted and forgot to tell him whose it was. It’s my brother, Gio’s old jersey. I stole it to sleep in.
Am I going to use it to taunt him at bedtime? Of course I fucking am. I'm the sister of Gio and Marcello Martinelli. I'm not letting my husband off scot-free.
Every morning, when I wake up, I'm more nauseous than the last. Emilio brings me crackers and peppermint tea to bed in the mornings. It helps a little but doesn't stop me from vomiting 100% of the time. The man is obsessed with health. He brings me prenatal vitamins and watches to ensure I swallow them. Foot massages have become part of our nightly routine, even though my feet aren’t swollen yet.
"You know you don't have to wait on me from sunup to sundown, don’t you?"
Emilio looks at me with a brow lifted. "Of course I do. I already admitted to you the lengths I went to get you pregnant, and I'm lucky you were willing to forgive me."
The chime of the doorbell interrupts our conversation. Emilio jumps up and walks to the front door, opening it, and the first sound I hear is a gunshot. My husband groans, and I hear his body hit the floor.
Panicked, my heart skips a beat, and the world around me slows.
Emilio.
My first instinct is to run to him, but I’m afraid. A piercing shrill pulls me out of my shock, and I realize I’m screaming. My chest is on fire. As I reach up and massage the ache where my heart should be, I want to die with him.
Antonio comes running with his gun pulled, his eyes wild and frantic, and behind him I catch sight of the person standing in the doorway.
Gio has his gun trained on my husband’s limp and bleeding body, which is lying on the hallway floor. Antonio steps forward, his gun aimed at my brother's head.
"Stop! Don't. Please don't shoot him," I scream desperately, unable to keep the tremor from my voice. "He's my brother."
Running over to Emilio, I collapse to the floor, trying to find where the blood is coming from and staunch the flow. "What have you done, Gio? I'll never fucking forgive you for this. You shot my husband." Sobbing uncontrollably, I continue to work on saving Emilio while Gio and Antonio remain in a standoff.
"I received information on what this Esposito piece of shit did to you, Serena. Why didn't you tell me he kidnapped you and married you against your will? Who the fuck does that?"
Suddenly, the irony hits me like a brick, and it's clear I'm losing my mind and in shock. Laughter bubbles up in my throat that I can’t contain.
Emilio groans, and I look down at him to see his eyes open as he stares at me like I've grown two heads.
"Little Storm, you're in shock."
"No. That motherfucker just said, who does that?" Roaring with laughter, I struggle to catch my breath enough to speak. "Gio kidnapped and forced Everly to marry him, and yet here he is, on his soapbox, judging us."
Gio has the good sense to look guilty.
I must look like a crazed lunatic; Emilio is lying on the floor bleeding out and I'm laughing uncontrollably. Something is wrong with me, but I can't get control of myself.
All three men look at me with concern. "Baby girl, look at me. Calm down."
Suddenly, I’m crying again while frantically checking my husband’s wound, my hands stained red and shaking.
"Serena, move away from him. Now!" Gio commands.
With a wheeze, Emilio holds Antonio’s stare and instructs, "Put your gun down and don't shoot my dear brother-in-law. My wife won't forgive me. Go call the doctor and have him come out."
"You need to get to a hospital, Emilio."
"Stop babying the little fucker. He's hit on the shoulder. It's the least he deserves for what he's done to you," Gio snarks as he rolls his eyes.