“You’re bleeding again. Dammit,” He rushes over and rips open the shirt, sending buttons flying all over the place.
I yelp and jump almost out of my skin, to which he curses yet again.
“Language!” I hiss out of habit.
“Oh, sweetheart, you haven’t begun to hear me curse.” He pulls me closer to him by the lapels of the shirt he just ruined, forcing me onto my toes so that I’m closer to his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were bleeding?” His words bounce around my head as I stare into his dark eyes, searching for the words.
“I, I didn’t notice.” I clear my throat as he lets me down slowly and lifts the shirt slightly to see the wound.
“Hmm, not too bad. Looks like you tore one, but it should be fine. I need you to be more careful. Try not to stretch it. Come eat.” He helps me to the bed, and I slip under the covers before he sets the tray on mylap.
“I wasn’t sure what you ate of or if you have any allergies.” I glance at the scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and toast.
“This is wonderful. Will you join me? I think we should talk about my grandfather’s expectations. Or more over, how are we going to get out of it?” I pick up a piece of toast and bite into it to test my stomach, which still feels rather queasy from whatever drug was used on me.
I never thought he’d stoop so low. Not with me. What a fool I am.
“There is no way out, Rosario. If we don’t give them what they want. They will kill us. It’s that simple.” He pours me a glass of orange juice from a carafe and lifts a cup of coffee he had on the nights and to his own lips.
“So we what? Find a priest and get married? No argument?” He arches an eyebrow as he drinks his coffee.
“How would fighting help us? What exactly do you think that life would look like? On the run, looking over our backs forever? Trust me, I tried that, and yet here you are. Delivered to me like some sick present. No, I wouldn’t put a woman through that life. Hell, I don’t want to live it myself, but I made that choice; no one forced it on me. So yes, we’ll. Do exactly what your grandfather wants in name only. He wants you to carry my child fine. We’re in Switzerland, and the medical advancements here are years ahead of the rest of the world. We can design the perfect child in a lab and have it implanted in weeks.” I dropped the toast I was holding to my lips in disgust.
“So I’m to be an incubater?” I push the tray away, spilling the orange juice in my haste.
“Cheese and crackers. I’m sorry. I’ll change the sheets,” he waves off my concern with a little chuckle.
“You don’t curse?” I shake my head.
“The nuns frown at that type of language.” He clots the drops of bright orange soaking into the white duvet cover on the bed.
“I admire your creativity. And no, you will be the mother of my child, apparently, and even though they can force us to marry and reproduce. How we do that is still up to us. I won’t force you to have sex just so you can get pregnant. Your first time should be with someone you love, and I will not rob you of that.” I giggle and then burst into laughter so hard that I clutch my side so as not to bust open any more stitches.
“Mr. Romano, I shall remind you that I was raised to be a nun. I was marrying Christ. The marital act was never going to be an option for me. I appreciate your kindness, however, I do not care to be the next virgin mother.” He straightens his neck as he thinks over my words.
“Please call me Bruno. What would you suggest then?” I take a deep breath and slowly blow it out.
“I shall like to know the man I’m supposed to marry. Then we worry about the child. No point in counting our eggs if we’re going to break them for omelets.”
He grins as he goes back to drinking his coffee, so I pick up my fork and try the eggs that have gone cold, yet I clean my plate because I’m starving.
Chapter Six
Bruno
Two weeks later
Ipunch the pillow for the millionth time, trying and failing yet again to get comfortable on this godforsaken couch. Rosario has told me every night she’d take it so I could have my bed back, but in truth, it’s not mine anymore, not when it smells of her.
The moment I was able to get into town, I rushed out to get her some essentials.
The way the old man at the drug store watched me suffer through figuring out maxi pads was horrifying. I’m sure the gossip in town grows about the recluse man on the mountain. Hell, we even had a visit from the sheriff to make sure things were well.
I’m sure the old fuck told everyone I had kidnapped some poor girl and was holding her hostage.
He wasn’t half wrong.
