Melina can’t take her eyes off Thomas as Leo drives them back to the hotel. Her feet bounce off the ground quickly as she bites her nails and stares at him. He was just released from the station. Fortunately, her sister did not arrive before then. Thomas hasn’t said a single word to Melina since he was released, and he hasn’t even given her his signature glare when he’s angry with her. Not knowing what’s going on in his head is killing her. It’s the most heinous form of torture ever. Not knowing when your doom would come. Melina can only hope he believes her and that she had nothing to do with his arrest. But who will believe her? She’s going to die tonight.
They step out of the car once it arrives at the hotel. Melina doesn’t even dare to walk in front of him as they step inside. They walk straight to the elevator and take it to their floor. She wishes the elevator would just stop, and they would never arrive.
“Leo, ask the staff to move everyone on this floor two floors down,” Thomas says as the elevator doors open, and he steps out.
Melina’s eyes widen. Why is he asking Leo to do that? Her heart rate quickens as she imagines the horrible things that could happen to her in the next few seconds. She forces her legs to move and step out of the elevator.
“Okay, sir.” Leo presses the elevator button return to the ground floor.
Now that they are alone, she expects Thomas to grab her and drag her to their room, but he doesn’t. On her brow, beads of sweat form. His calm demeanor makes Melina even more terrified.
He heads to the bar and pours himself a drink inside their suite. Melina stands by the door, unsure whether she should go to her room or stay here. She decides to go to her room but only takes two steps before stopping and screaming as Thomas misses hitting the cup at her feet. She looks up at him, wondering if he missed on purpose.
“Take another step, please, and I’ll make sure it’s your last,”
Her eyes widen in terror. These are his first words to her since being arrested. She’s truly going to die tonight.
Thomas grabs another glass and pours himself another drink. Melina stands in her spot, trembling, her mouth sealed, trying to control her breathing. She fears that even breathing too loud can set him off right now.
A few minutes go by with Thomas just drinking and doing nothing. Melina rubs her knees and shakes her legs slightly as they begin to ache from standing still. She can’t even keep track of how many glasses Thomas has consumed in the last few minutes. She’s surprised he isn’t drunk given the amount of alcohol he has had.
Melina jumps and nearly walks into broken glass as Thomas’ phone rings. She steps back so she doesn’t step on it. Thomas answers his phone and hangs up in less than a second. He didn’t even say a word to the person on the other end of the line. Melina looks at him, hoping to finally be released, but that doesn’t happen.
Thomas stalks towards her, his signature furry burning his eyes. He must be ready to unleash his wrath on her right now. She steps back from him as he casts laser beams at her with his gaze. Hitting her back against the door, she jumps as her steps come to a halt. Looking down at the doorknob, she considers opening the door and making a run for it but chooses not to. That will only aggravate Thomas because he is only a hand stretch away from catching her. Melina turns to face him and attempts to speak, but only stutters. Fear has gripped her tongue, so she pleads with her eyes for Thomas to forgive her.
“Melina,” Thomas says in hushed tones. Her breathing stops, and she is filled with horror as she feels his breath fan her neck.
“Please,” she finally says. Tears well up in her eyes. “I’m sor…,” her words become suffocated in her throat, as does the flow of air to her lungs. Melina’s face reddens as Thomas’ hand tightens around her neck, pushing her into the door.
“I should fucking kill you,” he exclaims as her veins pop out on her face, ready to burst at any moment.
“Please,” Melina begs, tears streaming down her cheeks. She places her hands above his, trying to pull it away. His eyes are void of emotion.
“Tommy, Please,”
Thomas’ hands suddenly loosen around her neck and pull away as if her words had burned his skin. Melina falls to the ground and quickly inhales air. She beats her chest and massages her burning throat as she coughs loudly. This is the second time Thomas has tried to kill her. She can’t believe what would have happened if she hadn’t referred to him by his nickname, which she is the only one who is permitted to use. Even his family was forbidden.
Melina flinches on the floor as she hears something close to her hit the ground. Looking up, she is filled with dread as she discovers what caused the noise. She scrambles to her feet and presses herself against the door.
Oh, my goodness! He’ll hit her.
“Please, Thomas, I beg you, don’t hit me,” she sobs. She pulls her knees up against her trembling body. He was holding a belt. She couldn’t believe it.
Thomas says nothing and simply stares at her. His chest rapidly rises and falls as he glares at her. Melina’s eyes widen, seeing his knuckles turn white as he tightens his grip, preparing to hit her. She screams and jumps as Thomas whips it close to her feet. She buries her head into her shaking knees as he whips above her head on the door, barely missing a strand of her hair.
Oh my God, he’s going to kill her today.
“Why can’t I fucking hit you?” Thomas yells, smacking the belt close to her feet. “Why,” he smacks it on the door above her head. “Why, fucking why” to the right and left sides of her body. Melina trembles against the door with her eyes closed and head tucked between her knees.
She jumps, sniffing Thomas’ cologne, and tries to hide more. He’s probably bending down. “I want to hurt you, Melina, but I fucking can’t. Tell me why I fucking can’t. Tell me why,” she bites her lips to muffle her sobs as she fears they will exacerbate her situation.
“Fucking look at me when I am talking to you,” Thomas says, grabbing her hair and pulling her head up.
“I am- so-r-r-r-y,” she says as she turns to face him with her tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes.
“Did you think it would work? Did you actually think you could get me arrested and then flee? Are you that dumb, Melina?” he tightens his grip on her hair, and it starts to hurt.
Melina can’t believe this is what he thinks. How will she prove that it was never her intention to have him arrested?
“Th-hat was never my plan, Thomas. Please, you must believe me.” Her hands come together, begging, but they cannot stay still.
“I need to punish you for this. Get the fuck up,” he says, pulling her up by her hair.
He lets go of her hair and walks over to pick his phone. Melina falls to the ground as her legs can barely hold her up with the way she’s shaking. She tries to get up but is unable to do so before Thomas grabs her and throws her over his shoulders, walking them out of the room.
“Get the car ready,” Thomas says to Leo, who is standing outside the door.
“Yes, sir,” Leo responds. Melina’s eyes meet Leo’s, and she is saddened even more as Leo looks at her with pity.
They take the elevator to the first floor. As they walk out of the hotel, Melina uses her hair to cover her face. Thomas doesn’t even care that people are staring at them as he throws Melina into the backseat of the car. He climbs in after her, and the vehicle accelerates to only God knows where.