EPISODE TWELVE
STEFANO.
I hissed painfully the moment the methylated ointment touched the wound.
Mom mopped the surface well , After stitching, She dressed the wound carefully.
I waited for her to step down the bed but she didn’t.
Soon, I started hearing whimpering from no other person than her.
Shit. This is why I don’t want to kill Chad. She will be heartbroken.
“Mom.”I called, holding my hands on my shoulders.
She withdrew her hands slowly from mine and stepped down the bed.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t want to, But Luca was too mad to listen to me. He tried to kill me, Mom.”
“I feel so sorry for putting you into such misery. I’m a bad mother.”She cried.
“It isn’t your fault, Mom.”
“You got hurt because of me, I should have let you do this before now. Amanda would have forgot about it.”
“I had to put you first. Amanda understood my decisions. I’m sorry it happened this way.”I held her hands, comforting her.
“Amanda never understood. She cut us off for a whole year. I’m a bad mother.”
“You aren’t. You made the right decisions for us.”
“I’m so sorry.”She sobbed and hugged me.
I wrapped my hands around her protectively.
She cried so much in my arms till she slept off.
I tucked her carefully in the bed before wearing one of the trousers in the closet.
I grabbed my phone which buzzed in my hands immediately.
I checked the ID. Amanda.
I sigh tiredly. She must have heard the news.
Shit. I keep messing up these days.
I picked the call after the second ring.
“Amanda. I’m so…”
“Are you okay? Is mom okay?”She rushed me with questions, cutting me off.
I took a deep breath before answering her questions.
“She’s fine. I just put her to sleep now. I’m fine.”
“I know you got hurt. I know you won’t tell me. I know you will keep it to yourself again. I know..”
“I’m fine, Amanda. You don’t have to worry about me.”I cut her off calmly.
“I’m so sorry for dragging you into my mess. I should have been a brave sibling for you.”
“You couldn’t have done more than what you did. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine, I forgot about the jerk already.”She chuckled, sniffling.
“How’s your business?”
“I stopped working. I got tired.”
“I told you earlier before this,”I teased.
Amanda doesn’t know anything about business but she keeps wanting to work which I find no reasons for her to.
She’s wealthy already without having to work.
“I wanted to prove you wrong, Jerk.”
“I will call you later.”I mumble, removing the phone from my ear.
“Your wife? Is she okay?”She asked quickly.
“I don’t know. She’s not bad.”
“You can start something with her.”
“I’m not interested. She’s not my type.”
“Why?”
“She’s too nice. Big blossoms. Big ass. And gentle. She’s not my type.”I said crudely to her.
“It doesn’t matter. You can keep her.”
“I’m not keeping her. She’s the one staying with me. I’m not interested.”I insist.
Amanda knew there’s no point arguing with me. She diverted the topic and ask about a few things before dropping the call.
Luca and Marcos left earlier to settle the cops. Hazel was still awake, waiting for me, probably.
She stood up the moment my footsteps got closer to her.
“Are you okay?”She asked worriedly. Her eyes were drowsy. She should be in her room sleeping. I wonder why she waited for me.
“I’m fine.”I mumble simply.
I ate little from the food since I have no appetite for food.
My head is filled with lots of thoughts and worries.
I’m too occupied to eat comfortably.
She dropped a tablet on the dining table with a glass of water.
“It will relieve you of your pains.”
“I’m fine. Hazel.”I groaned.
“You were bleeding earlier. I was worried about you, You’re not fine yet.”She insisted as if she was about to cry.
“Stop making a fuss about a slight scratch.”I huff.
I took the tablet on the table and gulped it down with the water.
Fuck. It’s bitter. She looked relieved the moment I swallowed the drugs.
“I’m leaving. Go to bed.”I mumble grabbing my car keys but she blocked me with her body.
“I will go with you. I don’t want to stay here.”
“Hazel. Please. I had a bad day today. Just listen to me and stay here.”
“I won’t see you every morning. Let me go with you. I promise not to cause any trouble. I will take care of you.”She rushed her words.
Her soft dainty hands moves up to my clothes, She held it tightly not wanting to let it go.
“Pack your stuff and meet me in the car.”
HAZEL.
I carried the small bag with me out of the house, The butler greeted me respectfully and closed the door behind me.
One of Stefano’s helped me with the bag. I ran into the car happily. I can’t believe he agreed to let me follow him home.
What do I really mean by taking care of him?
Stefano hates my touch and won’t allow me to get close to him.
“Thank you.”I said as we drove out of the compound. No answer, just like I expected.
After a long drive, we got home.
He stepped down and gave the driver one of his credit cards.
“Don’t come tomorrow.”
We got inside the living room, Stefano went straight to his room without saying a word.
“Don’t sleep on your arms, You will get hurt.”I say behind him.
He shot me a stare before going into his room.
*
THREE DAYS LATER.
STEFANO.
“I have things to do, Luca. I need to take out my stitches too.”I groan over the phone.
Luca has been pestering me to resume office fully. I hate that shitty place, It’s too stuffy and boring.
“I can’t handle the paperwork alone.”
“You have Marcos. He will do it.”
“You should learn how to deal with office work rather than shooting people.”He huff.
“It’s fun. I prefer doing that.”
“Psycho.”
“Any updates?”
“The cops came. We should claim Chad’s corpse.”
“They should bury it in the public cemetery. Don’t tell mom about it.”
“I won’t.”
He promised. We talked about a few things before ending the call.
I entered the kitchen with a cup of coffee. Hazel was there clearing the kitchen. She’s in a yellow baggy jogger with a big shirt.
She rarely shows her skin. She’s become insecure about her body after the words I said to her the first day we met.
I feel bad for saying those words. She’s not that bad. I just don’t like round women.
“Good morning. Stefano.”She smiled.
I nodded simply before bringing out the first aid.
“You want to take out your stitches?”She asked, walking up to me.
“Can you do it?”
“Yes.”She answers ecstatically.
Hazel brings out the necessary equipment for it.
I took off my shirt in her presence, She gasped the moments she saw the scars on her body.
They aren’t much but messy.
Gunshots. Knives cuts. Even ligature marks.
“Are you okay?”She asked worriedly. Her hands ran through my chest to my back, arousing me.
Fuck. It’s been a while since I last had a good sex last.
“Just take out the stitches.”I snapped.
Hazel took a deep breath before setting to work.
She was uncomfortable throughout, Her body will twitch at intervals like she’s in pain.
She stood up immediately she’s done taking the stitches out.
“Are you okay?”I ask, making sure my voice lacks any sort of empathy.
“Yes.”She said, turning her back to me.
“What the fuck is that on your butts?”I grimace.
She touched it slowly, Her face went pale immediately.
“Are you on your menses?”I asked. She looks so embarrassed and shy.
Is she actually menstruating?
Who still gets wet at this age?
“Yes.”
Shit.