The Mafia's Bride (Book 2)

Chapter 36

Harley's P.O.V
The water cascaded down my hands, manoeuvring their way around my fingers, washing away the soap. I took the sponge, washing the chopping board I had just used. At that moment my head snapped around so quickly. My heart was beating from my throat as my eyes took in every inch of the room. I had caught a dark passing figure at the corner of my eye. Satisfied that I was just seeing things, I turned around, finishing up the dishes I had just used.
The house had never been so scary, the sun was had set, darkness creeping through the sky, claiming it as it's own. All the lights of the house had been lit up the minute the shade of the sky got darker. I placed the dishes on the rake before cleaning the sink and went to check on the two steaming pots on the stove.

Klaus would have been the one with his black apron, looking so handsome and I would be helping him; chopping something, laughter filling the room with no care in the world. As of now the house was so quiet it sent shivers down my spine, it was cold and dull as if all the happiness had been sucked away. But it had, Czarina had cried all day, refusing any food only to cry herself to sleep over and over again. I had gotten the best of her scratches and punches, leaving my face burning to no end.

I leaned against the marble counter, my hand on my face as I tried to hold my tears down as my body shook, missing every inch of his being. He had left, taking away my heart with him as all that was left was a burning sore. At the top of it all I just hoped he was okay, hoped he was safe and warm.

A sound had me jumping up with my heart drumming again. I slowly opened the drawer, pulling out a butcher's knife. My mind kept on telling me to not move from where I was but my feet carried me out the door, around the corner, my eyes scanning each and every corner of the floor. Never had I been so paranoid, everything that happened had taught me that this world was filled with so much darkness and no one was safe.

Having convinced myself that maybe it was just the hardwood floor or something. I walked out to open the TV before I lost my mind, it made me feel at ease as I would not be hearing these odd sounds. The Kardashians were playing, their voices soothing me, giving me false hope that I was not alone.

I made my way to the kitchen stirring up my pots, switching off the stove hoping my food would not kill someone. Taking out two large Tupperware containers I dished the grilled steak, potatoes and lettuce closing the two containers then taking two more which I put two bananas, two apples along with oranges for each of the men. I picked up the walker talkie, switching it on.

"Hi guys, food is ready, please come get it. Over." I said as soon as I heard the signal scramble.

"Copy that Ma'am." One of the two men said making me almost laugh at how cheesy it was.

I took out three litre bottles of water for them, leaving it all on the counter as I dished my own meal then packing the rest in containers to be put in the fridge. The pots were rinsed then put in the dishwasher.

The doorbell went off, having me make my way to the door of which I checked who it was on the pip hole before unlocking the door, opening it ajar with Ragnar standing there, his hands on his back looking alert.

"Ma'am," He bowed his head a little as he greeted me.

"Hi Ragnar, come in please." I stepped aside as he walked in with his heavy boots echoing all over the house. I walked towards the kitchen, him following behind.

"How are you guys out there? Are you warm enough?" I asked, sorting out their food.

"Yes ma'am," he answered with his deep bass voice.  I nodded my head.

"If you need anything, anytime, please just say."

"Thank you ma'am," He said taking all the staked up containers which I would not have been able to carry but he of course could with his large arms that could kill you with just one slap.

He bowed his head before turning and leaving as I rushed after him, closing the door and locking it as quickly as he stepped out. I walked back to the kitchen, seeing my food.

A loud scream had me sighing, the headache I had felt intensified making me feel as if my right eye would pop out. I took the plate and put it in the microwave before making my way upstairs. Getting there, I turned on the lights in Czarina's room, scanning the room for intruders before walking in. Her loud cries had me cringing as they intensified by the minute, I really thought she would have burned out her voice by now but no.

Getting to the crib I picked her arm feeling her body burning with such heat it was scary, her face was red. My heart drummed in my chest with so much fear. I stood up, turning around not knowing what to do and which direction to go. I had never been so clueless in my life. She was getting hotter and hotter, her sobs wrecking her body leaving her shaking.

I ran to the bathroom, opening the tap, filling water in her bathing dish after which I took off her clothes putting, her in the water so she could cool down. It seemed to work as her body went cooler and cooler yet her screams still as loud as before as she kicked and kicked. After washing her I picked her up, wrapping her with a towel around her tiny body. I held her to my chest, feeling her shake there, begging for him, wanting him to come back but he wasn't. I had to be her rock, had to be strong and keep her safe.

We walked back to her room where I dressed her in a fluffy warm jumpsuit as it was a little bit nippy. When I was done her cries had died down, I took that chance to give her bottle. She drowned down the liquid in a matter of minutes, gulping it, her hands holding on the bottle as if her life depended on it. She drank until her eyes went droopy and when they shut I pulled away the bottle, putting her back in her crib and pulling her two blankets, tucking her in. I sat there, staring at her for a few more minutes. I wanted to make sure she was okay, watching her chest rise and fall with her lower lip quivering now and again. She was so beautiful and no matter what happened I would protect her till I draw my last breath. With Klaus gone everything seemed so real, the threat on our lives seemed so real and I just prayed for all of us that we would get through this. Taking a deep breath I stood up slowly, making my way to the door which I opened, switching the lights off before closing the door behind me sure not to make much noise.

I had lost my appetite with my head making everything blur as I took each step. With the support of the wall I got to our room, closing the door behind me to lean on it as I felt like I would collapse anytime. It was with the little energy that was left that had me walking across the room to the bathroom where I discarded, my clothes getting in the shower and opening the tap to let the water heal me.

The wall was my support as the water rolled down my face, covering my tears as the sob tore through me. Everything reminded me of him, everything smelt like him and just not knowing how he was left me paralysed. I had stood there, watching him ride away. I had told myself to be strong, to hold on to my baby as my heart was shredded into pieces. Why was it so hard without him? Why was it so painful seeing him leave? There is nothing that made it so hard than Czarina's screams.

I took up his shampoo, pouring it on my hand as the smell clouded my nostrils, making me close my eyes as memories of us in this same shower went playing in my head. The first time he had made love to me, the late night showers, the conversations with him in the shower and me taking a dump, pissing him off to no end. My heart ached, it cried for him.

I took my bath, being so slow with the headache making it hard to even open my eyes. I walked out of the shower bare. Taking the towel I dried myself, I brushed my teeth then made it back to the bedroom. I walked to the closet where I took his t-shirt, pulling it over my head with his scent wrapping itself around me making me feel warm.

My feet carried me to the bed where I climbed in after switching off the lights. I lay there in the darkness facing his side, just looking at, it knowing that he would be staring right back at me right now. My fingers went tracing on his pillow, feeling the fabric against my skin. The ring shone in the dark, I looked at it feeling my heart find peace as I told myself that he would be safe, he would make his way back to us.

I closed my eyes, brought my hands together as I prayed, praying to the lord above, asking for his guidance and protection, asking for him to shine his light in this dark tunnel. I prayed, putting all my faith to him knowing he shall never forsake me.

I did not know when sleep came but a scream jolted me back to the living as I kicked my blankets away, rolling over the bed to fall down on the floor. The room was pitch black, nothing in it being seen. My ears caught the outside, rain lightly tapping on the roof. I could hear the wind as the trees swayed to its tune.  I stood up wrapping my hands around my body, my heart drumming so loud it was almost all I could hear. The cry came again sending a chill down my spine. I switched on the room, my eyes scanning all around to make sure nothing was lurking in the corners. Satisfied I made my way across the room only to halt from a sound of a man talking. Turning around I walked back to the side table where I picked up the walker talkie.

"Copy! Is everything alright?" The voice came again.

"Yes, sorry, the baby just woke up." I said back, surprised at his response and that he was still awake at the hour of the morning.

"Are you guys okay there?" I asked seeing that it was cold and raining.

"Yes ma'am,"

"Okay, be safe guys."

"Copy that ma'am," he said back for the signal to die. I put the walker talkie, down rushing out of the room, making sure I look to the right and left of the passage before walking out. I ran as fast as I could through the dark passage, opening the door and sliding it to close it after. I switched the lights on, walking to the crib.

Her screams had me cringing. She was so loud, my ears started ringing. Scooping her up, I brought her to my chest as she bawled her eyes out.

"Shh baby, I am here. Daddy will be back soon, shh." I tried talking to her, I sang moving around, trying everything but her cries went louder and louder. Her body shook, eyes out wide as if she had seen a ghost. I looked around the room, my heart beating fast as Panic hit me. She had seen something, something was wrong. I slowly walked into the bathroom opening it, switching the lights on. It was empty. I walked back the room, opening cabins, anything that anyone could squeeze in but nothing.

I walked back to the middle of the room holding her away from my chest, staring right at her face.

"What is wrong baby?" I asked, my hands getting shaky, the feeling creeping its way to my spine as she cried louder and louder, her cry filled with so much sorrow it tore through me. I felt my tears well up, my heart clenching in my chest.

I wanted to comfort her, wanted to tell her everything was alright but I could not move my lips, I could hardly blink, tears pooling in my eyes. She screamed, she screamed as if her life was slipping through her fingers.

"Da...da,"

As soon as those word was uttered there was nothing that held me from collapsing to the ground for I knew, I don't know how but I knew.