CHAPTER 82 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
“DON’T SPEAK TO ME like I’m a piece of shit,” I snap as Red herds me through the back entrance of the Scorpio Lounge. “I’ve just about had enough today.”
“You’ve had enough?” he roars. “I’ve had enough too. How fucking embarrassing!”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop further traitorous tears from falling.
Yes, it is embarrassing. I’m embarrassed.
So fucking embarrassed I could curl up right here, right now.
I don’t need this. I don’t need Red roaring at me and making me feel worse.
I don’t appreciate being treated like a child either, even if I’m acting like one.
As we round the corner of the corridor, to my horror I spot Liam and Oscar.
“Ah, you’re back!” Liam ups his pace in our direction. “How did it go? Have you...? Christ, what’s the matter? You two look like you’ve been slapped with wet fish!”
“Fuck off, Liam. I ain’t in the mood.” Dragging me alongside him, Red barges between his brothers.
“Jesus! Keep your fucking hair on!”
“I said, fuck off.” Red heads up the staircase, pulling me behind him.
“Slow down!” It’s taking all my strength not to stumble. “I can’t keep up with you.”
“Seems like you can’t keep up with anything the last couple of days,” Red snarls, all but breaking our bedroom door off its hinges as he shoulders his way in.
The second we’re inside, he slams the door, trapping me against it. “Do you not think you owe me a fucking explanation? Not just for this afternoon, but for that shit in the cellar earlier too. And yesterday. What the hell is going on, Arianna?”
“I...” I know he’s angry. I’m angry. I’m angry about everything. I can’t think straight, can’t concentrate. Can’t function.
Red crooks his finger under my chin, raising my head up to look at him. I do so unwillingly, resentful of the mess I’ve disintegrated into. But instead of rage, concern is etched on his rugged face.
“Baby, if I’m forgetting how hard all of this is for you, then please just say.
I don’t want you to do anything that troubles you.
I want you to be happy.” His eyes search mine.
“I want you to be happy - with me. If it was too much for you to deal with those men today, I wish you’d said. I’d have done it.”
That’s it.
Tears break from my eyes. “It’s not too much. I don’t want you doing everything. I want to handle these things alone. I was... but now I’m not. I’m falling apart at the seams.”
“Do you still want to be with me?”
The worry in Red’s voice shatters me further.
“Of course I do,” I sob, unable to stop the next wave of emotion.
“I feel such a failure. How it was today and the way those men spoke... What they said about you as well. I... I did nothing about any of it. I’ve made everything worse. You’re right, I was embarrassing. I...”
“Forget about them.”
Red pulls me against him, his strong arms no longer irritating, but necessary for my ultimate survival within myself. But he doesn’t understand.
“I can’t forget about them. I can’t forget about any of it.” I’m talking in riddles and not helping things, I know, but I no longer know what to do.
Holding me at arm’s length, Red studies me, his piercing gaze running over every millimeter of my face. I’m sure he can see into my soul. After all, he owns it.
“You’ve been acting off for a few days now, so something must have triggered it,” he says quietly. “Is it Maria or if Liam’s said anything to you, then...”
“It’s not them. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s me.” It’s no use. I’ll have to tell him. There’s no other choice.
“Arianna? We were getting things back to how they were. How I want them to be and how I thought you wanted them to be, so what’s happened. I love you, princess, but... but you’re acting like you don’t want me anymore.”
I take a deep breath. “My period is late.” My voice is hollow. Hollow and empty. “It’s late by several days...”
The room is silent. I don’t want to look up and see reflected back at me how I feel - confusion and fear, but I fear it is what I will see on Red’s face.
“But that test you took before?” Red looks confused, but there’s no fear.
I finally look up. “I got it wrong. I did the test eight days early, rather than six. That was too early. The test was wrong.”
Red blinks, a nerve ticking in his jaw. “And you’re sure now?
I nod. “I’m sure. I did another test, and it came up positive.”