*Lucia*
It has been over three days since I met Jason but I couldn’t get him off my mind. I felt guilty every time I looked at Bruno, I was thinking about another man while all he thought of was me. I didn’t know what to do with Jason. I didn’t know what to feel towards him, of course, I know I don’t love him anymore. I wonder what Sarah stood to gain from tearing us apart. Was sending me off a mistake?
Sigh.
Different thoughts ran through my head as I stirred the vegetables in the cooker. I had refused to go to the club. Being in the same office as Bruno while my mind was filled with Jason would suffocate me to death, and I wasn’t prepared for that. I flung my neck to the side, massaging it with my free hands. My legs ached. I had been in the kitchen since noon, and now it was already evening. I was trying to distract myself but ended up doing more thinking than I should.
I closed my eyes, switching off the cook.
I walked to the side. My hands moved to my back untying the apron I had worn. I hugged it and turned. Bruno would be here any time soon. I had burnt so much food while cooking and could only serve a few which were still in good condition.
I was still setting the table when I heard a loud sound. And it came again. I held my ear as the gunshot echoed. I wiped my hands and walked up to the sitting room. The two men that were placed by Bruno were no longer standing in the assigned spot. Panic went through me. Hearing the reverberating sounds of gunshots, my already beating heart accelerated as I stared towards the stairs. My phone was in my room and there was no other way to get to Bruno.
I could fight them off, but they had an advantage: they had guns. I stood no chance. The only thing I could do was walk as fast as I could to my room before they burst into the sitting room. My left foot was on the first step when the door was pushed open. “Lucia,” I heard my name and froze. I recognized that voice.
Jason.
What was he doing here? Was he the one shooting? I turned to him. He wore all black, his face was masked, and his hands gloved. His eyes darted around as if looking for anyone who may attack him from behind. He walked to me. I wanted to walk back.
Run…
My mind screamed, but I just stood. I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me; just something about him made him look so dangerous that I could hardly look into his eyes.
Jason grabbed my hands, “leave with me,” he said and began pulling me. I stood my ground. And struggled out of his hold. “what are you doing?” He asked, not in anger but with concern. With the same emotion that he had always used to look at me. “come on, we don’t have all the time in the world, let’s leave before more men come in,” who told him I would be leaving with him?
The room was bright, and slowly, Jason removed his mask. His brown hair fell on his face. He oozes handsomeness. But his eyes were the same. How did I ever think…. How did I…? But it was too late. No matter how I thought about it, I just couldn’t leave Bruno, no matter how much guilt I felt or pity, I was so much in love with Bruno. Hot tears slid through my cheeks, and I didn’t bother to wipe them off as I stared at his hands that were extended towards me.
“Why are you crying?” He took a step closer, “did that bastard lay his hands on you?” I shook my head violently, wiping my tears off with the back of my hands. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the TV still playing; my favorite show had begun, but I was in no mood for it.
“Please leave Jason. I am in love with someone else. I meant every word I said the other day. You are a handsome man, and I know you will find someone out there who would love you without failing you as I did,” I said, trying to sound bold, but my voice came out softer than I planned. “Please leave before Bruno comes back,” I pleaded, but he didn’t move.
“Are you afraid of him? I know he must have threatened you after buying you. I’m sorry you have to go through all that. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but I can’t leave you with that monster, never. Please come with me. Come back home with me. I’ll be beside you. You don’t have to be afraid of him. Not when I am here.” He said.
“Bruno didn’t threaten me. We are in love.” I said a bit too sharp.
“No. You love me.” He insisted.
“Not anymore, Jason. I’m sorry, but you have to leave now.
The light suddenly went off, and I switched on, but this time, it was dim and slowly grew bright. To my surprise, Bruno was behind Jason when the light became brighter. His gun pointed at Jason. I tensed. Bruno was here. This was what I wanted to avoid. Their encounter. Bruno was merciless and wouldn’t mind blowing off Jason’s skull.
“Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing in my house?” Bruno asked coldly, not removing his eyes from Jason for a moment. I don’t know how he had managed to disarm Jason, whose gun was now a few feet away from him. “Lucia, come on to my side,” he said. Jason got another gun from his jacket and pointed it at Bruno.
Before I could move an inch, Jason grabbed my hands, “don’t,” he said, holding me back.
“Who are you, and how dare you touch her?” Bruno asked.
“You have something that belongs to me, and I came to retrieve it,” Jason replied, his eyes moving to me. Oh, Lord. How was I going to get out of this mess?
“What?” Bruno raised a brow.
“I’m taking Lucia away. And I think it would be better if you lower your gun and allow us to leave without shedding any blood,” Jason said. And Bruno just stared at him as if he had gone mad. I freed myself from Jason’s grip and moved to Bruno’s side. “I can explain,” I said. Bruno just stared at me, then at Jason. From his gaze, I could tell he knew what was going on.
He shook his head as if trying to say whatever I would explain shouldn’t be what he thought. “Fine, tell me exactly what is going on, Lucia; why are you alone with him?” He asked me, and I sensed a bit of disappointment in his voice.
“She is my girlfriend. My woman,” Jason declared.
“Jason. What the fuck are you saying?” I yelled at him. My eyes tinged in anger. Here I was trying hard to explain to Bruno and he was busy making matters worse. “I already told you I’m no longer your girlfriend. I made that clear at the lake and also at the restaurant; what don’t you understand?” I said before I could stop myself.
I kicked myself internally.
Why did I have to say that? “You made it clear at the lake and in the restaurant?” Bruno said, barely audible. He faced me, dropping his gun. His eyes were bloodshot red. They carry hurt, and disappointment. I shook my head, he was misunderstanding everything. “You’ve been seeing him behind my back?” He asked, his voice lower than I have ever heard him speak.
“No, I swear on my life, it’s not what you think,” I said, taking a step close to him. I wanted to explain to him, but he didn’t seem ready to listen to me. He didn’t want to listen to me. His eyes hardened, and he turned to Jason, who was still standing by the side. “Lucia,” he said, pausing, and then he continued, “Lucia Is. My. Woman, ” he declared, emphasizing every word. “And you should know better than anyone that she is not going anywhere.” Bruno declared.
My eyes were still fixed on Bruno and I didn’t know when Rave entered the room. I didn’t know he was inside the room until I heard Jason groan. Rave had taken his gun away and was now pointing his gun at him. Bruno smirked. He knew Rave was coming.
“On your knees now,” Bruno commanded. My heart slammed within my chest. I warned Jason. I didn’t want him to get hurt. Though I was once angry at him and I was no longer in love with him, I didn’t want him to get hurt and I recognised that look in Bruno’s face. He wasn’t going to let Jason off. I prayed silently. Hoping no one would end up being hurt.
Jason refused to kneel but Rave made him. Forcing him to the ground until his knee came in contact with the cold tilted floor.
Bruno walked towards him and pressed the tip of his gun into his head. “Any last word before you die?” He asked and tensed. No, Jason did nothing wrong. If anyone deserves death, it has to be Sarah, the one who has separated us.
I held onto Bruno’s hands, tears flowing from my cheeks and gathering on my jaw before dropping. “Please don’t hurt him. Please, he doesn’t deserve this. Everything is a misunderstanding. Please let him go, and I promise to explain.” I said, sobbing.
“Lucia,” Jason called, and I turned to him with tears streaked to face him. “I love you and will always do, even after I die,” he said and tried to smile. His smile was soon replaced with pain as Bruno pulled the trigger, and the gunshot resounded in the room.
My eyes widened.
Jason fell to the side, holding his arm. Bruno had shot him in his hand. My hands flew to my mouth. Bruno had shot him, I repeated in my head. I dropped to my knees, holding Bruno’s legs. It was as if a tears gateway had been opened as tears kept coming down with no attempt to stop anytime soon.
I felt Bruno’s eyes on me. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I knew I shouldn’t do this for another man. I knew that my tears were what made him more angry, but I couldn’t help it. Jason’s life was in danger, and I couldn’t just watch him die. I had loved him once upon a time, and he had always been nothing but good to me. “How could you…? Bruno began but stopped midway.
I managed to raise my head and saw him close his eyes as if trying to control his anger.
“Please,” I muttered slowly. I looked down now, not able to handle his piercing gaze. I would explain after this, but for now, I need to take Jason, who was groaning in pain at the side, to the hospital.
Bruno released his legs from my hold and stormed off. I crawled to Jason, trying to pull him up. But I couldn’t. I ran a hand through my hair. Why was my phone inside? I needed to call an ambulance. If he stays here for too long, with the way he bled, he may not make it alive.
I asked Rave for help but he didn’t move. He kept looking at me struggling to help Jason as if wondering what truly was going on. Maybe he was touched to see me struggling and walked to me. He calls two other men who helped in helping Jason into a car and they drove him off to the hospital.
I muttered a thank you to Rave, who just grumbled. I could see he was itching to know what was going on, but he didn’t ask any questions.
I closed my eyes, wiping the sweat and tears off my face. Now I had to face Bruno.