Chapter 12
Juliana has been hiding or what she thinks is hiding for a bit now…
I finally exited my car that I bothered to drive today instead of making Cassius come with me. I didn’t care for pleasantries with anyone nor was I going to be immediately bombarded by the media with their flashing lights.
Juliana was smart to go to a smaller town outside of where we live. It shows that she has some sense in her. Normally, when you’re escaping someone, it is easier to get caught up in thinking that being further away will have them not crossing county lines to find you but that’s not how it is.
The closer you are, the less likely they are to find you but Juliana doesn’t realize that wherever she goes, even if it's several feet underwater, I can track her. When I told her I’d be embedded into her bloodstream I meant it.
A waitress that she has grown fond of welcomes me into the mom and pop diner and I point to where I want to sit. Without any hesitation from her, she walks me over to the section that Juliana works in.
She’s not here yet and I anticipated it to be this way.
Without taking my eyes off the door, I order a coffee while I sit back in the booth waiting until the very moment she walks in.
Just like her, I wasn’t stupid enough to wear a suit or drive my usual cars. I drove up in the pickup truck that I barely drive and wore a simple black t-shirt along with dark blue jeans completed with black boots.
I don't remember the last time I dressed down like this because I swear I was born in a suit but sometimes, in order to do what needs to be done, you have to change your appearance for a little bit.
I roll my neck not liking that there is a kink there and I know that it’s from Juliana forming it. It hasn’t left my side since she decided to take matters into her own hands, hands that couldn’t run away from me even if she tried to chop her own off.
The bell rings letting me know that Juliana has entered the diner, she’s smiling because she thinks she’s safe. I don't want her to see me yet so I place the menu over my face. I don't need to see her to know where she’s moving to.
She has her hair up in a low ponytail out of her face and there’s that smile she’s had ever since she thought she got away from me, someone that she ruined their life but she smiles as if I was the devil. As if I was the real culprit here but it’s not me. It’s her.
The cause of the pain that I cannot get rid of. The reason for the anger that bubbles at the surface that gets ready to erupt no matter who is there.
My mind conjures up a similar smile; my deceased wife.
She would be so pissed that I was calling someone else my wife.
That she was taking her place but if she only knew or let me explain that there was no need for it.
The color red distracts me for a second on the right side of me and I turn to face whoever would dare sit with me, right next to me and I sigh…
Carmen. She’s sitting there with her arms over her chest without speaking, just staring at me as if she knows that I am better than that. Like I shouldn't be here.
This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen Carmen but my eyes are a bit blurry because I haven’t seen her in a while. Ever since I made Juliana my wife over her, the only woman I would ever love.
Carmen doesn’t say anything, she just watches me with disapproving eyes and I know what she wants me to say or rather what she wants me to do.
To let go. But here’s where the issue is…
Should I let her go or let Juliana go? I don’t want Juliana around for good things, I want her around to transfer the pain.
To give it to the person who really deserves it.
“Hi, can I take your ord–.” Juliana’s words die on her lips as my eyes snap to hers.
My gaze and demeanor is angry because I know just like that Carmen is gone again. Juliana tries to take a step back as her hands tremble. She drops the notepad and pen and my lip curls in anger.
She reaches down to pick it up and I lean in closer to her.
“When you stand up, act like you have some decorum, Mrs. Crowne. Don’t give me or my family a bad name. You already tainted it before I met you and now, it’s time for you to rectify my name.”
My words slip out through my lips and transfer to her like a black mamba detaching itself from me and circling around her starting from the ankles as it slides up making sure she knows there’s no breathing room for her. I will devour her soon and we both know it.
“Please…” Juliana begs me, whispering so that no one can hear the patheticness dripping from her lips.
“Did I ask you to beg me? In public, you represent me so don’t start that bullshit. Now, take my order, wife.”
Juliana doesn't say anything, she just watches me for another minute and she’s taking so long that her manager comes over, placing a hand on her shoulder as if he has the right to touch her.
“Is everything okay here, sir?”
My eyes don’t leave his hand on her shoulder until he gets uncomfortable enough to remove it and then I turn to look at him in his red face. “Why are your hands on my wife’s shoulders? Is that what this is? You go around touching women that don’t belong to you?”
His face contorted in confusion. “We don’t own women.”
My chuckle escapes faster than I need it to. “Do I own you, Juliana?” I ask her.
“Yes.” Juliana answers without hesitation as she moves away from her manager and tries to walk away.
“You haven’t taken my order, wife. Don’t leave your job now, that’s not proper, now is it? Where’s your two week notice?” I taunt her.
Juliana forms a fist and crumples the notepad in her hand while the man looks like he no longer has the air to breathe as she faces me. Her eyes are red with unshed tears and I cock my brow.
“What can I get you, sir?” she grits through her teeth.
The smirk comes back on my face as we engage in a death glare, one that she would have to crawl out of my hell to be able to beat me at.