36. Vince
Vince
It had been over a month since the wedding. Slowly, her personality was coming back. Some of the worse abuse is often not seen. She wouldn’t tell me what had happened. Though it was clear someone had fucked with my wife’s beautiful mind. Breaking her.
“Okay, I’m ready.” She rushed down the stairs, holding her heels. “Sorry, I got distracted.”
Fuck . How the hell was I going to keep my hands off her? Gently, I grabbed her hand, stopping her from rushing out the door.
“Vince, what are you doing? Aren’t we already late?”
Lowering to my knee in front of her, taking the heels from her hand.
It had taken me weeks to get Madeline interested in wearing heels again. Anything that used to make her happy, she wouldn’t let herself have. Almost like a form of self-punishment.
She even refused to get her shoe collection from her mothers.
Taking her hand, I placed it on my shoulder, lifting her foot, slipping the heel on.
Tonight, she wouldn’t be leaving my side. I’d make sure of it.
Pulling the straps behind her ankle, over her foot, under the heel and back around her ankle.
“Of course, you know how to tie them,” shaking her head, smiling. “Is there anything you don’t know how to do?”
Standing back up, I took her hand. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t know?”
That small frown on her face. God. I knew how to tie the straps of her heel. After years of watching her, do it. Why did the bare minimum impress her?
I opened the front door.
“You didn’t tell me that they were waiting for us!” She whacked my chest, looking at the line of black wagons.
“They can wait.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and lifted her down the steps.
One of the guards opened the back door. Holding her hand as she stepped up. “Do not get out of the car until I get you.” I reached for the seatbelt.
“Wait. What?”
“Standard rule of the family. We never share a car when traveling together. Lowers the chances of us all being killed at once.”
We broke the rule once, and Cecilia nearly died. A few seconds later she would have been in the car with mom and not walking towards it when it blew up.
“I understand that,” she held my hand, “But I’d rather die in the car with you. Then watch it. So, if that’s how I die, so be it.”
She had a point, or perhaps when it came to her, I couldn’t say no.
I stared at her hand on mine. It was rare these days for her to touch me.
“Please Vince,”
The lack of power I have when she asks anything of me should be studied.
I nodded, closing the door and walking around the car. There was no doubt my brothers would bring this up later.
But an unwanted lecture from them would be easier to live through. Then knowing Madeline was two cars back, upset with me.
Another Casino, another opening. The same boring questions and scripted answers. On nights like this, I was thankful that Bastion and Luca were good with people. If I was in charge of answering questions, the headlines that were released wouldn’t be promotional.
I opened the door to the private function room. I had been gone not even ten minutes and Cecilia had taken my seat next to my wife. Bastion placed a drink next to Madeline, sitting on her other side.
Cecilia glared at him, “Go away Bas. Can’t you see where talking?”
“Me sitting here doesn’t stop your mouth from moving.”
“Vince!” Cecilia yelled, looking over her shoulder at me. “Make him leave. He ruins everything!”
Worse than children. Taking my whiskey from in front of her. “Bug, are you okay?” surely that one conversation with Bastion wouldn’t make her this tearful.
Rolling her eyes, she reached for her glass, refusing to look at me.
I didn’t have the patience today for twenty questions. Walking around the other side of the table, dragging a chair out, pretending it didn’t bother me, I lost my seat.
Rome pulled a seat out next to me. “Any fall out from last night?”
Right. The college students. “Accidental overdose from what was reported.”
He shook his head. “I still don’t know how that bastard got a gun through security.”
The girls’ bodies were viewed and identified this morning. Lucky for us, the man hadn’t shot them in the head.
“Did you move the product?”
Rome tapped the table, “Yeah, um thanks,” He turned closer to me. “For not telling Nik, and you know. Not giving me a lecture.”
“You learned a lesson, right?”
He grunted. I was sure last night would have costed him a lot of sleep. Even a temporary drug hold can cause problems. Especially at the strip clubs that are known for drama.
“And the shooter? No issue with him?”
“I’m sure a missing report will eventually be filed, but,” I shrugged, “seems more like the type of guy people would be grateful is missing.” Murdering his ex-girlfriend and her best friend, out of jealousy.
“Vince, I want this,”
I looked across the table at Cecilia holding her phone to me.
“Ask Nik.”
Normally, anything she asks for leads to prolonged headaches.
“He said I had to ask you.”
Of course he did.
Taking her phone. “No.” I handed it straight back to her. I was not falling for this again. The last yacht ended with an ocean salvage crew. “I told you, from now on you rent them. That’s it.”
“But if I rent it, I can’t remodel it and look.” she swiped the screen, showing me another photo. “I have a mood board.”
“Still no.”
“That’s not fair! I have a name picked and everything !”
“Let us guess, The Sinking Cecilia.” Bastion laughed, handing something to Nik.
“Cecilia, don’t. Put it down.” I pointed at her, seeing she was seconds away from throwing a spoon at him.
“Why does he never get in trouble? Bas is your favorite.” Ceci pushed back in her seat, pouting. But I knew exactly what she was doing, trying to guilt trip me into buying that floating headache.
Staffing the crew, the maintenance, the tantrums and crying, I would be forced to listen too when anything mildly goes wrong during the remodel. Then I would have to find a way to solve all these problems that would come up.
The private doors opened again. I frowned, looking at Nikolai. By his expression, he wasn’t expecting Sofia, either.
“Great.” Ceci muttered. “The bitch can’t take a hint.”
Nik and I shared a look. When the girls fought, it got mean and nasty fast. It usually ended with weeks of silent treatment until we intervened
“What have I done to deserve both of them home at once?” Bastion grumbled.
Sofia pulled out a seat next to Cecilia, who immediately turned to glare at her. One look shared, and I knew how this would end within five minutes.
I stood up. "Ceci, up, we’re changing seats.”
“I was here first. Tell her to move!”
“I asked you,”
“Typical. You always take her side.”
“It was my seat first. And I want to sit next to my wife.” I walked around the table. “Don’t make me ask again.”
“Why can’t Bas move?”
Nik grinned at the end of the table. Of course he won’t say anything. A month of dealing with these types of petty arguments on his own.
“Fine, both of you can move. Bastion go sit next to Luca, Ceci, next to Rome.” Grown fucking adults, acting like children. “ Now .”
Both dragging their chairs back, walking around the table.
Taking my seat back next to Madeline. Slowly the conversation returned to the table. Running my fingers down Madeline's spine. I was far too interested in exploring her back, then paying attention to what my family was talking about.
I had only just earned the right back to touch her.
Backless dresses had to be my favorite. Everyone seeing my name tattooed across her back. That this beautiful woman was mine.
Madeline laughed at something Bastion said. I brushed her hair back. I hated it when it got in the way of me seeing her.
Fuck. I had missed hearing her laugh.
I touched her knee, she was cold. Maybe I could get the heating turned up.
The girls bickering got louder, which stole my attention. I looked between Ceci and Sofia and Rome. I must have missed something.
“Sounds like Cecilia's type, tragic and toxic.” Sofia glared at her across the table.
“Get a life, Sofia, and preferably not mine.”
I looked at Nik. He can deal with whatever that is. I just wanted to drink my whiskey and touch my wife’s back.
“Oh, I’m sorry for caring.” Sofia looked up at the table. “Cecilia has been dating a psychopath.”
I sighed, “Sofia. Unless he hurts her, it’s none of our business.” I kept my hand on Madeline's back and reached for my glass.
“He does! He chokes her out. He spikes her drinks. I’ve seen him with a knife at her throat, when she was passed out on her bed! And she is always covered in bruises! He is a fucking toxic psychopath!”
Surely Sofia was lying. Though by the glare Ceci was giving her and the lack of yelling.
My hand froze on Madeline's back.
“Cecilia, is this true?” I looked between them. “Sofia, if you’re lying, you better admit it now.”
“I’m not lying. And that isn’t even half of the terrible shit he has done to her.”
I looked at Nik. He seemed to be having the same reaction as me.
“How long has she been seeing him, Sofia?” I asked, considering Cecilia wasn’t saying anything.
“Nearly a year. And she is getting worse the more time she is near him.”
“Shut up Sofia!” Ceci yelled at her. “I’m sorry I’m not vanilla like you, and fuck my bodyguard.”
“You don’t even see how bad you’ve got around him! Admit it. The only reason you’re here this weekend is because of him!”
“Admit the only reason you came is to stalk me!” Ceci yelled back. “You’re so pathetic! Get your own life!”
“Cecilia, don’t speak to her like that.” Nikolai stood up.
Rome seemed ready to grab Ceci, knowing damn well she wasn’t above jumping across the table.
“Fine, I’ll be pathetic as long as you don’t end up killed by him!”
The next second, Cecilia threw her glass at Sofia, hitting her in the face. Sofia screamed so loud in my ear. Deafening me.
“ Enough !” I hit the table, standing up.
Pure white fucking anger goes through me as I see Sofia’s face. The blood wouldn’t stop. Split open right beside her eye. Taking the cloth Bastion handed me, I held it to her face.
“How bad is it?” Nikolai walked to the other side.
Nik took over, holding pressure. He’ll take her to the hospital, while I find out this fucker's name.
Looking at Cecilia, it was the lack of guilt in her eyes that made it worse.
Madeline stood up. “I’ll go with Sofia.”
“Wait,” I cupped her face, “I’m sorry.” I saw her flinch, well more like jump. Fuck. I should have known better. “I’m so–”
She cut me off, kissing me. “I’ll see you at home.”
Bastion, Luca, and Rome left the room, leaving me with Cecilia.
My eyes were glued to my little sister. We raised her better. Well. I thought we had raised her better.
Cecilia sat down. “Okay, get to it then. They’re gone. Scream at me.”
Out of all of them, she had always been the hardest.
Slowly counting to twenty, before walking around the table to sit next to her.
Was this fucker the reason she had been so distant, her need to party so hard? Three times she had been held by the police. I’d put it down to her having fun, but clearly I’ve fucked up. We gave her too much freedom.
“Explain.”
Reaching for my cigarette packet. Once I know this man’s name, my night is about to get a lot busier.
“Does it matter?”
Flicking my lighter. If I make it to thirty, without having my first heart attack, it will be a miracle.
“It matters to me, bug.”
She continued to stare at the table. “Can you please just yell at me instead?”
Well, maybe I hadn’t failed her completely. At least she is showing some guilt.
“It’s over okay. Months ago. Just go with Sofia.” Her knee suddenly started shaking. “They woke up one morning and decided they were done with me.”
Practicing my breathing techniques.
“But you can’t kill them. I think um I love them. So. I’d never forgive you.”
“Them?” I repeated, “Is that their pronouns or?—”
“No, it's two.” She finished her drink. “I was dating two of them.”
Fan-fucking-tastic.
Of course, Cecilia would have to fall in love with not one but two psychopaths. Because my ability to stay calm under impossible circumstances hasn’t been tested enough.