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“Everything is fine, she is sitting right next to me, so why don't you ask her yourself.”
I turned my head towards the car's speaker. “Hello, Voralie.”
“Oh, hello sweetheart. I am sorry you had to hear our back and forth. If my son would have told me you were in the car from the beginning, I would have known better. How are you, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine,” I replied.
“Well, then what is wrong with my son?’
I glanced at him. “I honestly have been wondering the same thing myself. We left what I thought was a very pleasant dinner.”
He looked at me for a second, then back out the front window. “Mom, was there a reason for your call?’
“Oh yes, I was calling about the two of you coming to visit. I thought maybe next weekend you could come for a couple of days, and we,”
“What about this weekend?’ I interrupted, “We have some things we need to look into in Bellissindale anyways.”
“Great.” I could hear the excitement in her voice. “I will get everything prepared.”
“We will see you Friday night then. Did you need anything else?” Luka asked.
“No, that is all. I can’t wait to see you. I love you.”
“Love you too, bye.” He replied.
He hung up and silence filled the air again. It was uncomfortable, thick, and suffocating. I turned to say something to him but stopped letting out a sigh, my arms crossing to my chest. We pulled up to the gate, the guard letting us in. He parked and walked over towards my door, but I climbed out, not giving him the chance. A snort left his mouth as he turned and walked into the house. I stood there and watched as he made his way inside the front door. I shook my head and walked after him, up the stairs and into our room. He went into the closet, taking off his jacket and hanging it.
“What is your problem?” I asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You have been in a mood since we left the restaurant.”
He pulled his tie from his neck, hanging it on a hook. “Why the hell do you care?” He unbuttoned the sleeves of his shirt, then the front, pulling it away from him. And throwing it into the hamper.
“I don’t. I am just wondering what happened to put you in such a sour mood. Did Gianni do something while I was in the bathroom?”
“Nope.”
I sighed and turned, pulling off my dress and changing into pajamas. Something was clearly bothering him, but why was that bothering me? I turned and watched him walk out in pajama pants. I walked to the bathroom to take off my makeup, looking at myself in the mirror. My cheek looked so bad. Luckily it didn't hurt nearly as bad as it looked. It only hurt when I touched it.
He was sitting on the couch, his phone in his hand, he didn't even look up at me as I walked out of the bathroom. He always looked at me anytime I entered the room. I didn't care, he could be pissed at whatever he was pissed at. I grabbed the lotion from my drawer, sat on the edge of the bed, and started rubbing it up and down my legs. I glanced up in the mirror, he was looking at me. I turned and by the time my head had swung around his focus was back on his phone. I sighed and shook my head. I threw the lotion on the bed and stood up. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He huffed under his breath, focusing on his phone still, “nothing.”
I rolled my eyes, “whatever.” Sat back down on the bed and rubbed lotion on my arms. I put it back in the drawer and glanced at him in the mirror again. He was still enthralled by whatever was on his phone.
I stood up and walked to the closet, grabbing my purse. I took the envelope out and looked, making sure he was still on the couch. I opened it and pulled the paper and a couple of pictures out. There she was, he had found her. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, she looked so different. Still beautiful, but different. I was happy he had tracked her down, but I couldn’t help the sense of dread that washed over me. The guilt I felt well up in the pit of my stomach. She hadn’t just been fired and sent away. My worst fear was coming true, she had been put into sex trafficking. After that night I saw her, and what happened next, I knew. In my bones, I knew that was where she had been, but I hadn't let myself accept it. All these years she had been living in that hell, and it was my fault. She said she would always protect me and keep me safe. But my dad would never let anyone love me, would never let me love anyone else. He kept proving that. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked at the paper. Spotted in Alboreville, Bellissindale, Prottsville, and possible connections to Broaden. I folded them back up, put them in the envelope, and tucked it under my shirt. I walked to my vanity and looked at him in the mirror, making sure he wasn't watching. I quickly tucked it in the back of the drawer along with the collar and handkerchief. I grabbed my face lotion, rubbing it on my face before turning and walking back towards the bed.
He looked up at me for a split second and then back down at his phone. Shaking his head. I had had enough. I walked over and snatched the phone from his hand. “What is going on with you tonight?”
“I told you nothing,” he reached for the phone. I stepped back, putting it behind my back. He sighed and stood up. “Give me my phone back.” He gritted through his teeth.
“Not until you tell me what the hell your problem is.” He laughed, and shook his head, taking a step toward me. I took two quick steps backward, and one to the side.
“What cupcake? Don't like someone acting like you? Can't take a dose of your own medicine?”
“What? I do not act like that. All broody and pissed off.”
