Never taking my eyes away from him, I get up from the bed and walk to my bag on the dresser. I pull out my phone and dial. A few seconds later, he answers.
I cry into the phone. “D, can you come and get me please?” I say to Darius.
He asks what’s wrong, and I explain to him Michael and I had a fight and that I need to leave. I need to be alone.
Defeated, Michael sits on the bed. “You can put the gun down, Zaira. I’m not going to touch you.”
“Oh, and after all the lies, you expect me to believe you?” I yell.
“Can’t we talk about this? Let me explain, please,” he says, pleading with me.
“No fucking way. My father was right. You killed my mother and now you’ve killed my father.” At the time, I never believed that the Vitalis killed my mother, but after remembering that I saw Michael shoot my father, I know it must be true. “My father. You’re a murderer, and I can’t believe I fell for your charade. You never loved me. This marriage was a power play to unite our families.” I begin to lower the gun. I’m tired, and I see he’s being very passive.
He prepares to stand, and I raise the gun back up. He holds his hands in front of him and says, “You are so fucking wrong, Zaira. I’m not a murderer.”
“I saw you, Michael. It was you who fired the shots that killed my father and Victor. I saw you right before I fell. Don’t lie to me.”
He gets up from the bed and walks to his suitcase. He pulls out a pair of jeans and a shirt and quickly puts them on. “Fine, Zaira. Believe what you want. It’s obvious you have no desire to hear what I have to say tonight. We can talk about this when you are being more rational. You will see I’m not the enemy, Zaira, and I sure as hell am not the villain you have convinced yourself that I am.” He walks to the door and turns back toward me. “You don’t have to go anywhere with whoever you called. I’m leaving,” he says and storms out of the hotel room.
The tears I had been trying so desperately to hold back flood, and I can’t stop crying.
A few minutes later, I hear a knock at the door.
“D?” I call out.
“It’s me, Z,” he replies.
I rush toward the door and realize I am still naked. After grabbing my robe, I quickly put it on and go let Darius in.
“What happened?” he asks as I fall into his arms, crying.
“I remember everything, D. Everything,” I say.
“Oh,” he says, and it occurs to me that he knew. Of course, everyone knew. Oh my God, I feel so stupid. Everyone knew I was marrying the man who murdered my family. Why didn’t anyone stop me? Why didn’t my brother stop me? Vince has known about the Vitalis. He knows they killed our mother. Why would he allow this marriage…unless Michael has something on him and forced him to go along with it? That has to be it. Vince would never subject me to a marriage like this. Never.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I ask him, backing away.
“I’m not sure what you are asking that I knew, Z.” he says.
“Tell me the truth. Did you know Michael murdered my mother?”
“No, I did not know that,” he says, and I look at him curiously, trying to see if he’s lying.
“And my father?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes, I knew that.”
“You know what, Darius? I just want to be alone. Would you mind staying outside the door in case Michael comes back?”
“Of course, Z, but if he comes back, I can’t keep him from coming in. He’s my boss, and I can’t go against him. But there is one thing I am certain of. I know he would never hurt you, Z. He loves you,” he says and then turns and walks out the door.
I lie on the bed and continue to cry uncontrollably. Eventually, I cry myself to sleep.
