3. The monster from nightmares!

Marona's POV 

I couldn't sleep for the whole night after thinking about the coming few days. How am I going to deal and survive in that house?

"You are applying juice on bread instead of butter."

Della's sharp tone brought me back into reality and I realized what stupidity I was doing. 

I huffed while placing the bread down and sat at the table. 

"Thanks for snapping me out"

"It's necessary or else people tend to do stupid things when they are not focused."

Her tone was off. 

"Meaning?"

I asked confused. 

She sat beside me and grabbed my hand gently in her hands.

"Meaning, you don't have to do things which don't make you happy. You tell this to people then why don't you follow that. If you don't want to go, then say no!.. He is your husband and he should watch out for your comfort also. I am sure that you haven't said no even once because God knows what happens to you in front of him... You become a goddess of devotion and sacrifice."

I smiled at her words.

"It's not like that, Della... I am his better half and it's important for me to support him."

"The same goes for him."

She scowled. 

"I don't see him looking after your dislikes and likes... And what surprises me is, you don't care about yourself either... Marriage is half half thing, I don't see that happening here... It's always Laurence."

"Laurence has accepted and supported me when I was alone in my life, Della... He took care of me, now it's my time"

She doesn't know the complete truth but that's okay. 

Laurence stood against his family for me and that shows how much he loves me. 

"Whatever you say, I hope something happens in your life which will make you think for yourself..."

She retrieved back to the kitchen and forced me to think if a situation like this would really come into my life?

"Ready?"

Laurence came downstairs in his suit and a smile on his face. His smile made me forget my stress. 

"Yes!"

I smiled back. 

After breakfast we headed towards our car and I took a deep breath as the car roared to life. I looked at my house sadly as it disappeared behind the trees and bushes. 

I never intended to stay away from Laurence's family when I wasn't aware of their reality but when I saw the horror then I gave up. I wanted Laurence and myself to be safe from that craziness so I convinced Laurence to buy a house which was on the opposite side of the city from the castle and he agreed. He didn't want me to deal with that craziness either. 

That place is filled with darkness and people living there are darkness itself. The sane human will turn insane in that house and I don't doubt it. 

I breathed, shifted and looked out of the window restlessly as Laurence got lost in his work. This man is so workaholic. 

The car came to half after an hour and I almost cried but controlled myself. 

"Finally!"

I heard him sigh beside me. 

I got out and followed him towards the door. The castle is huge as it was built in mediaeval times. Delgados were part of high authorities hence the castle was gifted to them. 

But I don't know what made them enter the mafia world. Maybe for power and money because as far as I know, Delgados hold immense power in this country and influence any decision they want. 

They are so rich that even their servants come to work in branded cars. 

The line of men in the garden is a sign that security is top notch which also means that the danger is equally strong. 

As I entered inside, I saw a line of people in the living room to greet Laurence. This is my first time coming here after marriage and it does feel awkward to see them together. 

They are standing together like a happy family but everything is fake. The smile holds nothing but venom and words hold nothing but conspiracies. 

"My boy, my lion..."

Leonardo came forward and engulfed Laurence in a hug. He is equally fond of his father's love. 

I don't mind his bond with his father but Leonardo is a living monster in this world. He has done all kinds of dirty work and if you hear it then disbelief will feel like a small word. 

He has burnt his first wife alive, the second one is missing and no one is bothered to look for her and the third one is still intact but bruises on her face says that she won't be surviving for long. 

He is an abuser, he doesn't leave a single woman who comes in front of him. Kills children, destroy women and slaughter men. 

It's not wrong to say that people fear him and that's why they listen to him, it was never the respect. Due to his brutality, people often call him the mad King & mad man.

His grey predatory eyes fell on me when he was done greeting Laurence. I shifted uncomfortably in my place because even his look feels violating. 

He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it with his old and dirty mouth. I quickly pulled it back while hiding the disgust on my face. Shit, I feel dirty. I shuddered in disgust.

"You finally brought my son home!"

He smirked. 

I didn't say anything. He is a psycho and God knows what meaning he will grab out of my words. 

"Laurence, my child... How are you?"

Patricia, the third wife of Leonardo hugged him. She is young, too young than Leonardo. She is beautiful but still abused by Leonardo like his other wives.

One thing I can say about her is, she is fake. She fakes love towards all Leonardo's kids when he is present. She is selfish and wants nothing but money and power which comes to her as King's wife. 

She looked at me and smirked. 

"Welcome to the family"

I just gave her a nod, I am not interested in talking to anyone from this family except my husband. 

Then came forward the man whom I knew before I met Laurence. Rafael Delgado! He is equally as psycho as his father. I still remember how he fearlessly answered in the classroom that he is studying medicines so he can kill people better. Everyone was shocked by the craziness he holds. Thankfully, after that year our classes got divided and I never saw Rafael. 

We did some projects together though, he is extremely intelligent and talented. What I noticed about him is, he doesn't hurt you until you piss him off. But once you mess with him then he doesn't care if you are a woman or man, he destroys you. I have always maintained a safe distance from him and he never crossed my paths beside studies. In fact, he always looked at me with respect if I am not wrong. 

"Greetings, Laurence... All the best!"

There is a hidden meaning in his words. I know that Rafael is also trying for the throne because he is second in line. 

I am worried because with closed eyes I can say that Rafael is more cunning, powerful and intelligent than Laurence. 

He just gave me a respectful nod of acknowledgement while stepping back. Thank God, he is not like his father in case of women. 

Then came Damon Delgado with his genuine and charming smile. He first greeted me and then his brother, he is the only one who feels like a sane person in this family. He doesn't give creepy vibes or any feelings of danger. The man who is loved by all women around him and he sticks to that image. 

"You should greet the soon to be King first, Damon. Not his wife."

Patricia tried to use her oversmart mouth here. 

Damon chuckled softly. 

"We respect and acknowledge delicate and valuable things first, I did the same here... And the queen deserves the same respect as the King"

He made me smile, he definitely knows how to win hearts. There is a human between monsters and I am glad to find one. But one drawback is, Damon is a womaniser. He doesn't belong to one woman. 

After him, Jackson and Tyson greeted us. One always looks like a creep and the other one hasn't grown up yet. 

Then Mariana and Katrina, the sisters and I haven't talked to them much so I don't know their personalities. 

Lovina is a known character to me and she definitely knows how to play games in silence.

Everyone present here looks like blood sucking creatures who are ready to kill each other for survival. 

Leonardo has created his big crazy family. 

Even after trying to distract myself, my eyes were looking for that one person who seems to be absent. 

I felt relieved, thank God that he is not here. 

I can't stand him, he is a psycho and whenever he looks at me, it feels like he is going to fetch my soul out of my body. His eyes ask me to run away from him as far as I can because if he finds me then he will kill me. 

His mind is sharper than mine, he thinks two steps ahead. He is the first one who defeated me and my instincts. 

He destroyed me in front of everyone, he declared me as a liar, I was shamed by people, I was proved attention seeker and what not. 

All this happened even when he was at fault. 

I thought he would leave me alone after that but his last words still rang in my mind. 

'Run as fast as you can and hide somewhere, Amore. Run and hide somewhere safe because if I find you then you will cry for the rest of your life.'

He whispered threateningly as I cried and begged in front of him.

That threat and determination in his eyes while saying those words always gives me nightmares. 

He is one of the reasons why I asked Laurence to buy a separate house because in no situation I want to face him. 

For me he is a walking death and darkness, he is brutal and psycho, he is cunning and a destroyer. 

My heart picked up the race when I thought about facing him. What would I do if it happens now?

"Welcome brother!"

I heard that familiar strong voice, filled with confidence and darkness. 

My heart skipped a beat and I almost saw a blackout in front of my eyes. If his voice can do this to me then imagine seeing his face. 

My forehead started sweating and I tried to calm my breathing when I realised that I am having an anxiety attack. 

No, shit! This can't be happening now. 

I looked down and my heart threatened to throb in my throat when I saw his leather shoes standing near me. I didn't dare to look at him but that familiar smell filled with spices and leather gave me deja vu. 

"Sorry, I am late!"

More words slashed my confidence like his favourite knife would do. 

I couldn't win against him and I'll never be able to do that. 

Instead he will always give me this feeling which shows that he always has control over my mind and body. 

Mikhail Delgado was always my nightmare and he will always haunt me. 

I flinched when he grabbed my hand and kissed it exactly where Leonardo kissed. His father made me feel disgusted but his touch wiped off that feeling. It filled me with pure fear instead of disgust. 

"Welcome home!"

I could sense the underline threat in his voice. 

I forced my head up and my heart felt like it shattered with thunder when my emerald eyes met his grey one. 

He has grown into a big man now, which means he is stronger than before. He looks huge, so huge that my eyes can't fit his frame at one glance. 

The sharpness in his eyes and on face makes me feel vulnerable. 

How do I fight against this monster now? He will crush me under his feet like a grass. 

My eyes darted towards my hand which he is still holding in his firm hold. It was threatening and challenging. 

When he let it go, then I realised that I lost the support and the dotted darkness took over. I felt my body giving up and falling backwards in numbness. 

I heard gasps but then strong arms held me up and firm, saved me from falling. 

I blinked my eyes to see Laurence because I was hoping that he is the one who caught me. I was thinking that he will never let me fall. 

But when my vision cleared a bit then my world flipped again. 

"Mikhail?"

I mumbled in disbelief when I noticed him holding me. I was close to his chest. Our faces were fanning with each other's breathing and I was too close to see his evil eyes clearly and it was dangerous for my life. 

Weird numbness travelled in my body like my body is leaving the soul.

"Caught you, Amore!"

He whispered in my ears with his mischievous smirk and the darkness washed over me completely with the impact of his few words.