Today my life Begins

Chapter 14

She flicked on the light and Bruno's voice growled at her "Turn it off". She peeped round the corner and he was sitting in the armchair staring out the huge picture window towards the bright lights of Vegas. "What's wrong baby" she spoke softly as she began to move towards him. "I SAID...TURN IT OFF" he yelled as he continued to stare out at the city, causing her to jump , he had never yelled at her like that before in fact she'd rarely seen him really lose his temper. Quietly she stepped back and flicked off the light. "Can I switch the lamp on please, I can't see to get undressed" she asked timidly as she stood there in the dim light from the moon, that filtered into the room. "If you must" he grumbled, still not even glancing at her. She didn't like this side of Bruno especially as she had no idea what was causing him to act this way.

She turned on the lamp and sat on the end of the bed to remove her shoes. She glanced up to him and tried to figure out what had gotten him so angry. Maybe one of the guys had done something to piss him off, she thought. She pondered the thought, but she knew Bruno and she knew he never really got pissed at any of the guys when they were out partying. She knew if it had been at rehearsals that would be different he openly admitted he was a tough boss and pushed them to their limits, but he was a whole different being when they were out. She continued staring at his profile, cautiously she stepped to the side of him and knelt down, "Will you tell me what's up B" she asked her voice barely above a whisper. She felt nervous as she studied the side of his face in the soft light of the lamp. His features looked tense, he bent to the floor and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, which was piled high with cigarette ends. She noticed the bottle of tequila that he'd been drinking by the side of the chair, which by now was two thirds empty. She went to rub his knee when suddenly Bruno shot to his feet and grabbed Kiana by the forearms yanking her from the floor and began pushing her back, she stumbled back until her legs hit the bottom of the bed and she fell backwards onto it. Bruno towered over her, his eyes were dark, his face full of anger. "You fucking did it to get back at me didn't you" he shouted at her the stench of stale alcohol on his breath almost made her gag. She had no idea what she had done, "Done what, what did I do" she asked him keeping her tone calm she didn't want to make matters worse, while trying to rack her brain thinking what she could have done to cause this much anger in him.

"Don't you dare sit there and pretend you don't know what you've done" he paused and swallowed. His eyes almost popping out "I fucking saw you, I saw you with your fucking mouth all over him" he spat at her. Then the penny dropped, the guy in the club Bruno had seen the kiss, that's why he stormed out. Bruno turned away from her stuffing his hands into his pockets, his face red, his eyes wide and full of hatred. Kiana's shoulders slumped as the full horror of what Bruno had witnessed came to light. Bruno began pacing back and forth shaking his head as if recapturing the image from the club in his mind.

"Bruno" she said quietly "I didn't kiss that guy, he came onto me I swear, I wouldn't do that, surely you should realise that". Bruno stopped and spinning on his heals glared at her trying to process her words, but failing, he couldn't get his drunk brain to realise that she would never cheat on him. He was sure this was her idea of getting even for his indiscretion just a week earlier in Hawaii.  He'd seen her with his own eyes, and that guys mouth was all over hers. She had to be cheating, what other explanation could there be. Kiana tried to stand but he pushed her back down and straddled her legs, pinning her arms to the bed. Kiana felt the tears pricking her eyes, she didn't want to cry but she was genuinely frightened and hurt that he could think that. Bruno noticed the single tear trickle down Kiana's cheek. "Don't you dare turn the fucking water works on" he hissed through clenched teeth. "I tell you what, I don't care cry all you like". His words cut Kiana like a knife, why was he being like this.

Bruno glared at her once more before he got up off her and headed to the bathroom, he pushed open the door then turned to her and with such venom in his voice growled "I'm done with you", slamming closed the door leaving Kiana sitting there stunned and shocked. She had to make him understand that she hadn't done anything wrong. After a short time the door opened and Bruno walked over to the table and picking up his cigarettes and lighter stepped out onto the balcony. She watched as he lit his cigarette and blew the smoke skywards. He leaned his body over the rail resting his arms on it and stared out to the lights of Vegas.

Kiana stood up from the bed and composing herself quietly made her way to the balcony. She stood behind him licked her lips and took a breath. "Bruno can I please speak to you, please let me speak without interruption". She waited for an answer "So speak" he mumbled. She began to explain what had happened at the club, Bruno never moved, he never looked at her, he just continued to lean on the rail smoking. "So I didn't kiss him Bruno, and I didn't want to cause a scene" she swallowed "I love you and I didn't want any bad publicity for you, that's why I didn't slap him or knee him in the nuts".

Bruno flicked the butt of the cigarette over the balcony, after a minute he turned "So your saying he more or less forced himself on you" he questioned. "Yes, Bruno you can't honestly think I would have encouraged that guy". Her lip quivered as she looked into his eyes, but she didn't see the gentle look of love that she usually saw. He glared at her before turning and stepping back into the room, he grabbed his jacket from the sofa and headed for the door. "Bruno wait where you going?" Kiana hurried to him grabbing his arm and stepped in front of him. Bruno's eyes travelled to to her hand that gripped his arm and back up to meet her eyes, "I'm going out" and shaking her grip from him stormed out, he heard the door open again and Kiana's hushed voice begging him to stay. He needed to think and he couldn't do that where she was, he glanced back at her standing in the doorway then stepped into the elevator. Kiana couldn't believe he'd just left, she was angry and upset and at that minute she could have quite happily packed her things and left.

She plopped down on the huge bed and stared at the ceiling watching the shadows made by the soft glow of the lamp. She was startled from her thoughts by a soft knock on the door. Jumping up and racing to the door, she flung it open thinking it was Bruno back to talk things through. "Hey Kiki is Bruno there I just need a quick word?" he peered over her shoulder expecting Bruno to show. "He's not here Phil, he left and I don't know where he's gone", Kiana blinked rapidly to stop herself from crying. "What happened?" he asked softly while pulling her into a hug. Kiana loved Phil like a brother he always knew the right things to say and he also knew how stubborn Bruno could be. Kiana stepped to the side allowing Phil to enter the room, gently closing the door she flipped on the light. Kiana explained to Phil about the guy at the club, and about how Bruno had seen him kissing her. "So now he thinks I did it to spite him" she finished. "Spite him why would you want to spite him, I don't get it" Phil looked confused by Kiana's last sentence, she had forgotten that neither Phil or the other band members knew about Bruno's little indiscretion in Hawaii, oh shit now she'd have to explain that.

She told Phil about the incident, and watched as his eyes grew wider and he shook his head not quite believing what she was telling him. "So he's convinced you kissed this guy, knowing he was watching as a way to get back at him, Sometimes I just can't understand how his fucking mind works" Phil assured Kiana things would be fine and that Bruno had probably gone to the Casino. "A few hands of poker and he'll be fine, you know it relaxes him". He kissed Kiana's cheek and pulling her into a hug asked "Do you want me to stay with you?". Kiana forced a smile and shook her head "No I'm fine....or I will be" she sighed. Phil returned her smile and rubbed her arm "He'll be back soon" he said quietly as he opened the door. He saw the pain in her face and with a nod of his head closed the door and left, leaving her with her mind racing and her stomach tying itself into knots. "That fucking man sometimes I swear I.... ugh!".

Kiana got undressed and slipped between the sheets, she text Bruno asking if he was ok she was worried, she didn't like the thought of a very drunk Bruno let loose in Vegas alone. The memory of his previous mistake while in Vegas was all too prominent in her mind. She shook her head Bruno wouldn't be that stupid, not a second time. She waited for a reply.....nothing, she rang him but his phone went straight to voice mail, he was being stubborn and no amount of ringing or texting was going to make him answer. Kiana eventually gave up and laid her phone on the night stand, she turned off the lamp and lay back. She was sure she wouldn't sleep, but after what seemed like hours she eventually drifted off to sleep.