I Tried

xvii

I sat in the bed quietly holding Jamie in my arms when Maria came into the room with a tray of food. I smiled as she put it down on the bed and held out her hands so I could eat and not worry about Jamie.

She sat down and I smiled watching Jamie play with the strings on her apron. But he accidentally untied it allowing everything in it to fall to the ground. I reached down and tried to pick up the pill bottle but she quickly grabbed it from me.

"What is that?" I joked but it slowly fell seeing how nervous she was. "Maria?" She spoke quickly saying "Its my birth control, I'm really sorry it's just with the schedule change I didn't have time to go back to my purse and get everything ready for yours and Jamie's meals."

I smiled nodded and grabbed her hand softly "I'm not angry, why would I be? I was just curious." She nodded relieved but then an idea hit me. "Maria?" She hummed looking back at at me but her smile fell seeing the serious look on mine.

"Can I ask something of you?" She was hesitant but she nodded. "Is there anyway you would consider sneaking me a pack of birth control or at least morning after pills?" She looked at me confused.

"I may not be able to control mine or Jamie's futures but I can control wether or not Antonio can ruin another innocent child's life." She thought for awhile with a somber look on her face but after some time she looked up and nodded.

"But if you get caught with them-." "I know, but I would never tell him anything about where or who I got it from. I may not be very strong when it comes to saving myself but I defend my friends." She smiled even brighter hearing me say it and nodded.

After a while we went back to eating and playing with Jamie. I didn't know how this all would turn out but I knew that I wanted to try. If I couldn't get away from Antonio once again I could keep this for myself.

~~~

I was sitting in a chair on the balcony listening to Jamie giggle in the garden with Maria. I was just sitting and sunbathing comfortably when I heard his voice "Imagine how many days you could've spent like this if you hadn't run from me."

I sighed sitting up now longer enjoying my day. "The boy?" I asked not knowing what I expected of him. I turned my head looking at his feet and he chuckled. "I did as I promised. I transferred him out of the manor." "To where?" I genuinely questioned.

His jaw clenched hearing me ask about the poor boy. "My father's manor." I nodded and it was silent for a moment until Antonio spoke in an annoyed tone "You don't even know how much rage I feel when you worry for that boy over your husband."

I froze stiff as a board when I felt his hand on my neck. "I'm sorry Antonio." I spoke softly trying to calm him down but he only scoffed at my response. "Actions speak louder than words, amore mio." I clenched my eyes shut hearing his tone knowing what was coming.

"Kneel."

I was frozen. We were outside. Everyone would see.

"Antonio-."

"Veronica, I need you to listen to me." I swallowed any self respect I had gained in the short time and turned to face him sliding off the chair and kneeling in front of him. He slowly unbuckled his belt and unzips his suit pants.

I tried to zone out as I went through the movements when I felt him brush his thumb against my lips. "Open your mouth Veronica." I did whatever he wanted wanting this to be over as soon as possible.

When I felt him push my lips apart he abruptly pulled my head forward. I wrapped my lips around him. I tried to push away for a breath but he pulled me in closer I couldn't breath. I gagged with him reaching the back of my throat. He thrusted his hips over and over again groaning.

When he caught a rhythm he suddenly chuckled and I looking up at him. He looked down feeling my hesitation when he spoke making full eye contact "Everyone can hear me fucking your throat Tesoro mio." I tried to push away from him but he grabbed a tighter grip on my hair.

It took what felt like forever for him to come close. When his thrusts got sloppier I could feel him pulsing against my throat. "Swallow." He spoke solemnly. And just then it hit the back of my throat.

The taste of him had me fighting not to throw up. He watched me with that satisfied grin on his face. He grabbed my cheeks squishing them together pulling me up to his face "Ti amo. Spero che tu lo sappia amore mio."

And he let go of my face with a push before walking back into the house without a second glance.