LETHUTwo days, two full days was all it took for me to completely fall into utter and soul wrecking depression. When my periods hit town, I fell into a deadly rut.Where was Elio? Was he okay? The texts I sent Salvatore to pass onto Elio had no replies. My heart beat in an absolute cripple yet at the same time I knew Elio wouldn’t want me to be that concerned. He would want me to take care of myself just like he did so I tried to sleep, tried to eat as much as I could after breaking my fast at night.The two weeks were the most horrid of my life. The wedding planning kept me busy but I was still dying inside every second that passed with Elio not by my side. Salvatore assured me that Elio was fine and that he would be back which was why I tried so hard to be involved in the wedding preparations. I wanted Elio to come back to the most perfect wedding for both of us. Irya and I worked day and night. There were a lot of things to do and time was not on our side. At first Irya had been
ELIO Tik tok Tik tok Tik tok. I could see her in my head. I could see her hair spread over the pillow, a contained mess with her hands fisted on the sides of her face. Her lower lip quivered as she let out a breath, it slipping through the small gap between her lips. I could see the sun creating a halo over her, nearly blinding me as she shone right before my eyes. Her face turned to me, so still and perfectly asleep. Her skin glowed against the rays, her dark and pink lips slightly wet. Her nostrils flared with each breath she took. Tik tok Tik tok Tik tok. Elio. Her voice echoed and I turned my pounding head to the side, a small part of me hoping my eyes would lay on her beautiful face but why would she be in such a place. The filth on the walls was hidden by the darkness. The moans coming from the next room sent my already unsettled stomach on a frenzy. My eyes burned even with the darkness covering us away. My fingers danced in a sequence with the burn felt deep to the
A gun on each hand, walking in as if I was God himself. If it was my time to die there was no going around it at that point. I never missed, not even once. Each bullet found its target, Bartise and Asherah next to me. Bullets tore through the door from behind us, Ramen taking out his own from wherever he was hiding. It seemed to all happen in slow motion, my body lowering, sliding through the floor as the bullets tore through from both sides. “Fuck!” One of my men shot out but I had no time to check. My rounds were done, throwing the empty gun with my knife quickly pulled out. I groaned as a bullet tore through my leg and another through my already injured shoulder. The pain was paralyzing on top of the shots I had already taken. I span up, my knife finding its target. I held the body before me like a shield and let all that came to hit the dead body. Blood from my victim flowed as my arm wrapped around his slit throat. My free hand hung over his shoulder, shooting blazing bullets.
LETHU The flight was supposed to take two hours at most. I swear we had arrived at Verona but something happened and the jet turned back. Why had we turned around? What happened? Mamma and the others had the energy to keep asking but I did not. I was frozen in my seat and I just knew something was very wrong. I was curled into myself, my mind gone but I could not tell you where it was. I was scared to even say it but I knew something happened to Elio. I kept pushing the thought away in hopes of it not being true. I did not want to bring bad luck to us by even thinking of it but the feeling and thought wouldn’t leave me. I could feel it in my core. I paled by each minute that passed. The guards were not letting anything out, not responding to Mamma’s threats at all. All they said was that they were taking us back home. The flight back took another two hours and by the time we landed I could not even speak. I shot up the chair, Mamma holding my hand and patting my back while she tr
The last time I was in a flight that long Elio had been with me. It had turned to yet another best night of my life. I had run my fingers down his sleeping face, tracing his soft skin. I had watched his lips tug now and again which had been the cutest thing. I wanted to cry but I just couldn’t. There was no single person on the jet. It was the pilot and myself. The silence would kill me. Salvatore had tried giving me survival tips but I had not heard a single thing. His face came back to me as he hugged me tightly, telling me that he would find me if anything happened, that they would always find me. It was all a daze to me, just a blur before my eyes. I wore two pairs of leggings, tightly strapped boots, and a large jacket, ready for anything. I thought of all the fighting moves I knew and came up with nothing. I was walking myself to my own death. There would be many of them and just me. There was no chance of survival even if I was the best martial fighter known to men. I did no
After seeing the Lombardi fortress nothing shocked me. I was in awe though at the large beautiful mansion as we rounded the driveway. It was ‘Mexico meets luxury’ at its best. It was glamorous yet unique and something you could not find anywhere than Mexico. I was in love. The cars stopped, and the doors opened with the guards in my car hopping off. The valet opened my door, bowing in respect. I placed my hand in his, slipping out to straighten up. The guards rounded the car, standing right next to me. The driveway was paved, a fountain at the center with palm trees edging the house along with flowers. The front door was opened, two women stepping out, holding the doors open. The guards mentioned for me to move and together we walked up. The walls were white, wooden ceilings which I would hate but they looked really nice yet we were not there for the architecture. “Welcome ma’am.” The women greeted, smiles on their faces, a contrast to what I was feeling. A woman draped in luxur
“Two hours, a two-hour call. I tried going this way and that way but he was not letting me get off that easily. He was fast, telling me why it was in my best interest to take his offer. With that boy’s mouth and the other’s fist, whuuuu, I see how they got where they are in a span of four years. The boys are dangerous. Salvatore is the arm and Elio is the fist. The arm can survive without the fist but cannot do much lifting. The fist can not survive without the arm but together, phuuu, unstoppable.” I gave up, Eduardo was having too much fun. It was as if he had never had anyone to talk this with and it was his time to shine. He drank half of his drink and placed down the glass. “Alvaro, you won’t even offer Lethu a drink?” Eduardo asked with wide accusing eyes. “She will not accept sir,” Alvaro said. I was grateful. “Aahh, okay. This is Alvaro and Felix. I am sure they did not introduce themselves. They are your personal guards when you are here and their sole responsibility is
The way I slid through the seat, it was something from a Matrix movie. The funny part was how the guards took my rush, literally running themselves. The cars were already lined, and my door opened. Alvaro slid from the other door, all doors closed and the cars began moving. They slowed while in the compound but once out, they were blazing through. I did not wish to be in the front car, if mine was basically flying, the one in front was just wheezing I guess. I was not scared this time. My face was stuck between both front seats, just watching with eager eyes as the first car ate the distance away. I watched each swerve, hands on the chairs to lock myself down with each turn. It seemed as if Eduardo had hired car racers because wow. The traffic lights were blown and I was thankful it was night because I did not want to see the chaos that would have happened if it was during a busy day. I was sure they wouldn’t have slowed down. Alvaro was staring at me with such an intense gaze, h
I felt the lights then saw them. I felt as we walked through the house. I ran my hands into Elio’s hair, pulling him to me as if I wanted to infuse myself into him. His hands ran up to my waist and when he pulled back I kissed his jaw and lower to his neck. Soft music suddenly filled the house and water soon sprayed on our naked bodies. A deep shiver ran down yet not even it would tear me from my heaven. We were no longer just kissing because it felt like we were devouring each other. I felt as if he was kissing me deep into my heart. His hands tightened on my waist and I did not protest as he lifted me off. I found my footing while buried deep in his essence. He turned me around, kissing my jaw down to my neck as I leaned my head back on his shoulder. A moan pulled from the deepest hole in my core. I arched my back to him as his hand grabbed and mold my breast with such hunger. His other slid down my belly. I spread my legs for him, his dick pressed hard on my back. His hand ran dow
“Husband.” I coaxed, the car flying off the road. Wind blew through the thrown-back roof. I felt free, felt unbound, and cosmic. Elio’s groan and warning look had me giggling. I pushed off the seat, my hands moving up my thighs. I felt Elio’s eyes which made me turn my head to stare at him. His eyes couldn’t even budge as I pulled the underwear I wore down. He turned to the road for a second then back. My white lace underwear was unhooked from my feet, bringing it to my face to sniff. “Lethu bella tentatrice, per favore, ferma il mio amore.” Lethu beautiful temptress, please stop my love. He begged, pressing on the gas. The white lace flew to his lap and I watched as he pulled it up to his face, sniffing it. His eyes closed and when they opened I knew I was in for it. The car took a swerve fifteen minutes later and we were down and near the beach. I could hear the water crush. I could smell them and I could feel them already kissing my skin. We drove up a narrow tropical driveway th
I changed to my reception dress and I danced what seemed like hours with Elio. He spun me around the dance square with my smile so bright my jaw nearly dislocated. After him I danced with Salvatore. It was three full songs of him just waltzing me in his arms. “What do I call you? Sal? Big Bro? Volturi? Oohh, I like that one.” I chirped up as he spun me away only for my body to spin back into his arms. His face fell into a frown. “Do I even want to know what that is?” He questioned as I giggled. “You should watch the twilight movie and the breaking dawn movies. I promise you will like them.” I grinned, him corking a brow but then relaxed. I knew he would watch them and I wished I could see his reaction. I would pay money for it. My insides melted for the hundredth time. He picked me up, my palms on his with my whole weight on him as we turned around. As sad as it had been back then, the wedding being postponed was a blessing because there I was, dancing like a princess with the men
I knew there were over a thousand guests scattered on both sides but I could only see blurs. I heard the buzz, so many drones capturing the whole moment. I heard the weeps, the guests even more emotional. My eyes fixed further down the alter where I was going and I could not help but gasp as my vision cleared. I had last seen Elio the morning before when Salvatore and all the men took him away for a day and night to remember. He stood in his black tux looking so good. His eyes were on me, never faltering. His leg shook and I knew he was holding everything back from just weeping as I was. I was full-on crying and it was so embarrassing. By the time we reached the end I was not even sure I could stand on my own. “Who gives her away?” The officiate asked. “I do.” Mom spoke, pulling her arm from me. Elio descended down and held out his hand. Mom put my hand in his before he kissed my cheek then Elio’s. “I love you both.” She whispered and it nearly left me scattered on the floor lik
Two Months Later “Champagne?” My fifteen-year-old sister gestured, the glass filled with the sparkling liquid held out for me. I narrowed my eyes at her. “Hold it for me sis.” She turned around and I watched as she scoured the room for mother’s eyes before she quickly took a sip. It was why she took the champagne glass in the first place. I chuckled, shaking my head. About seven people ran around me, picking a certain part of the dress, pinning, or dusting something off. They were all in panic which hid my own panic. Eyes from the girls were on me as they dived in the delicates offered in the room. I folded my moist hands, eyes moving around the large room again with red the only thing I saw. Elio took it upon himself to make sure I woke up with every part of our room filled with dahlia flowers. There were boxes on boxes of red, pink and white dahlias. I blushed and nearly giggled while recalling the smell that had hit my nostrils as I came alive from dream land. My head had tu
Giving Elio his sponge bath was the highlight of my days as the week progressed along with spending some time with my mother. It was the only time where no one else occupied the room, leaving me with Elio to take care of him. It brought some light back in me. If anyone walked in they would label me crazy because the whole process was spent with me just talking his ear off or singing to him, hoping my terrible singing would wake him up. I realized just then that he was my best friend and not being able to hear his voice over the days tore me apart. I refrained from telling him about my mother and siblings because I wanted to do it when I could stare in his eyes and see him excited for me. In a span of three days I had learned so much about my mother’s life and culture. She taught me so many things and I could not wait to have cooking dates with her which we put a pin on because she and my siblings were leaving in a day. It saddened me but surely Elio and I would visit whenever we coul
Death. You can dream about it. You can talk about it. You can prepare for it but when it hits, it breaks everything in you and shows you that you can never be ready for it. Silence. A great abyss of silence. I saw them talk. I saw them walk. I saw them stand before me, eyes staring and lips moving but all I heard was silence. I curled myself in the chair, feet on the suede. A fleece blanket covered me, not sure when it was draped over but it brought me warmth. Head on my knees with my left hand holding on, afraid to let go because I was afraid that if I did then they would snatch Elio away. Internal bleeding, fractured ribs, torn muscles, ruptured spline. The list went on and on. The doctor’s words came and went as they had in the three days of my grief. A hand fell on my shoulder, my body jerking in fright, my eyes turning—red and burning. Brown eyes stared at me, never leaving. I could see the sadness, the heartache, reflecting pain I could not describe. For long minutes I jus
Mamma led us to the dining table where food lay in abundance. It seemed they had prepared a feast for Elio’s return. Mamma pulled Elio’s chair and he pulled mine back. We sat down, smiling and thanking as Mamma fussed over him, asking how he was, touching his face, kissing his cheeks, and plating his food. I took my own plate, just filing it because I was dead hungry. The few house staff stood by the door, watching and listening. Other family members, far many than those I left, took their seats. Dario stared at Elio intensely and as my eyes drifted around, Salvatore was nowhere to be seen. Irya sat on her chair, no one next to her. Three new people walked through the doors and I nearly splattered apart right there and then. My eyes went wide. Brown eyes stared back at me as if they had been waiting a lifetime to connect to mine. My world shook and crumbled all around me. I did not know if to cry, shout, jump, or just run. I felt like running, running from the truth staring right at
I don’t know when I fell asleep but I do recall hearing screams somewhere. I heard the crash of glass and I shrunk into myself before darkness engulfed me. In my dreams more trauma waited. In my dream I had been late and when I got to Eduardo he told me it was too late, that Elio had passed. The grief rocked me so hard I could feel myself shiver hard even in sleep. I tried shifting around the sheets to find warmth but none was provided. At a point I cried, weeping for my lost love and the feeling haunted me even as my eyes peeled open. My chest was so sore I couldn’t stop rubbing it. My body ached as if I had been thrown into a hurricane. The sheets were all twisted around me, some hanging to the floor. A trickle of sweat ran down my spine and instead of feeling rested, I felt as if someone murdered then brought me back to life. Movement caught my eye and that was when I saw Elio, his back turned to me. He was buttoning up his clean navy shirt, his hair combed back to perfection. Th