You're My Peace of Mind

Part 6

Looking at myself in the mirror I couldn't believe the bruise on my neck from Val choking me yesterday. This man is really trying to kill me I thought to myself. My train of thought was broken by a knock on the door, "What?" I asked annoyed. It was 8am in the morning and I hadn't had my coffee so I was in no good mood. "Hello Dear! Just want to clean the room." A woman whom looked only 10 years older than I walked in.

"Oh, Hello!" I said bashfully now regretting that I was so rude to the lady. " I'm sorry I thought you were someone else" I said explaining "Who, your husband?" She said laughing. I rolled my eyes at the word husband. "My name is Claudia" she said kindly as she went in to hug me. "Finally a beautiful female in this house" she said pulling away from the hug. "Oh I know I'm beautiful thank you" said a voice behind her.

Kelly was standing in the door way. She was wearing a long red maxi dress and her hair was in a messy bun. Kelly was actually really beautiful, she had clear blue eyes, high cheek bones and a perfectly straight nose. "So Val told me to take you shopping." She said not so eagerly. "Why? There are so many clothes in the closet." Was all I was able to finish before she huffed mumbled something and walked away. "She just jealous because Val married you not her." Claudia said turning towards me.

As she was saying that Val comes walking into the room with Kelly smiling behind him. "Claudia get out" he demanded. Not sure what Kelly told him but he looked pissed as Hell. I stood there looking at Claudia with pleading eyes not to leave me with this monster. "NOW!" He said grabbing Claudia by her arm out the room and shoving Kelly who was no longer smiling out the room. After he closed the door he took some time to turn back around, I took that time to run into the walk in closet locking the door behind me. "Vivanna open the door" he said softly almost like a whisper. I didn't answer instead I hid behind some clothes hanging. "Open the Fucking Door" he said screaming and banging on the door. 5 mins had passed and everything was quiet. I came out from hiding to go to the door. I pressed my ear to the door and heard nothing so I decided it was safe enough to come out. "SHIT" I said as I tried to open door but couldn't. He jammed the door so I was stuck in the closet. Day 4 of my marriage was going perfectly I thought to myself. I sat on the floor and thought to myself this was not how I imagine marriage, all the romance books I read this is not how I expected my marriage to be.

"Mrs. DeLaruso" a warm familiar voice called waking me out of my sleep. " Its time for dinner." Claudia said I woke up confused how I was in my bed. " He unlocked the door and put you to bed" she answered as if she was reading my mind. "Where is he?" I asked now it was my turn to be pissed. "In the dining hall, He is waiting for you. He requested to have you dressed nicely Ana." She called as I ignored her and starting making my way to him. I don't give a crap what he wants I thought to myself.

After making a few turns and opening some doors I realized I was lost. "Damn this house is huge." I said to myself out loud out of frustration. "You know nothing about huge" said Joe laughing coming up from behind me. " I'm looking for your cousin." I said to Joe who started to laugh uncontrollably. I didn't even know that Joe had arrived. I normally would have been excited and offered to hang out with him but right now I had to talk to Val. I started to get annoyed after a while. "Whats so funny?" I said rudely. " Its just the other night I had no idea that you were Val's girl. I was gonna ask you out before Duffy came but I'm glad I didn't." " I'm not his "girl". " I replied annoyingly. The way Val treats me and threatens me I don't feel like his girl or wife I thought to myself. " So why are you here then?" Joe pressed on. " I was kiddnapped." I said flatly as I continued on my way to find Val. Not sure what I would say to Val when I saw him or why I'm so mad at him. Maybe its because my exceptions of marriage was being tainted by this evil man.
I finally walked into a small cozy living room with dim lights, a fire place and a long wooden table. At the end of the table sitting down eating was the devil himself. I cleared my throat to make my present known.

" Sit down." He said continuing eating and never look up at me. I was stubborn sometimes too stubborns for my own good as my mom would put it as just crossed by arms and continue standing. Val continued eating as if I was not there. Finally he spoke " You know eventually you will have to listen to me." This time he put down his fork and knife and looked up at me. " We have somethings we need to discuss, please sit." He said formally. Knowing what he is capable of and that he said please I decided that it would be best if I sat down.

Claudia placed a plate of food in front of me and poured me a glass of wine. I picked up the glass and drunk the wine within 5 seconds. Placing the glass back down, Claudia had a look of horror on her face while Val just stared unfazed. Clearing his throat, Val began " So Viviana, under the circumstances of our marriage and neither one of us are a fond of one another but in order to get through this marriage we will need to respect each other. With that being said I apologize for any wrong I have done to you over these few days." He said those last sentence as if teeth were being pulled out of his month.

I sat there dumbfounded I couldn't believe he apologized. He was looking back at me as if he was waiting for me to say something. "Ok." Was all I felt the need to say, as I had nothing to apologize for. "OK?" he said mocking me. I can see the angry written all over his face and storm brewing in his eyes. "Listen when I apologize I except something more than just OK." He said sternly. "OK." was all I could say. Huffing he continued " We will have an understanding, we will sleep in separate rooms, your day will consist of helping Claudia around the house. For what ever reason you have to go into the town, Duffy, Stephon, and Sonny will accompany you. Those three will be with you wherever you go. Everyday at 6pm sharp we will have dinner. I expect you wash up and look presentable for dinner because sometimes I may have company with me. Understood?" He said.

I nodded my head and he went back to eating his dinner. "Where are we?" I finally got the courage to asked the question that has been burning my brain. " Why?" was all he asked. I shrugged my shoulders feeling intimidate under his glaze to say the truth. "Well until I'm assured you won't do something stupid, I can't tell you." He finished as his phone began to ring. "Ok, I'll be right there." was all he said to the person on the other line as he got up from the table. "Good night Viviana." he said as he walked out of the dining room.