Deadly Obsession - Chapter 24 (Patreon)

Charlie

If I’m being honest with myself, I thought that Romelo was going to take me back home, and call it a night. But I should have known. He’s full of surprises tonight.

“Charlie.” Romelo lightly shakes me awake. We’ve been in a car for hours from the plane ride. I don’t know where we are. I sit up from where my head was resting against his shoulder, and my eyes widen in complete and utter awe as I see the world before me.

Snow. Even now there are ice crystals falling over the land. It’s stunning. Beautiful. I look further and take in the beautiful cottage that sits at the top of the mountain. Romelo places my hand in his and helps me out of the car. Before I can take another step, he reaches under me, picking me up and begins carrying me to the door.

I can’t help the blush that crawls up my cheeks at the gesture. He walks me over the threshold, setting me down gently.

“I’m going to get the luggage,” he says.

He places a quick kiss on my cheek and heads back to the car. I look around the beautiful entry area, and make my way into what seems to be the living room. There’s a large glass window that showcases the snow and mountain around us.

I stand as close to the glass as I can trying to get a better look. I’ve never seen the snow like this before. I’ve never been anywhere outside of Romelo’s childhood home, and Romelo’s home. I feel him behind me, and he places his hands around my hips, pulling me close to him.

“What do you think?” he asks. I open my mouth, unable to form a sentence. Lucky for me, he knows me so well, he knows that I’m speechless. He laughs softly.

“I remember when we were younger, and it snowed. You were so confused on what was happening and how. You were never brave enough to actually go and play in it. And that night you said the strangest thing. You said, ‘could you imagine if the whole world was covered in snow’.” He pauses and laughs.

“It didn’t occur to me until a few days later you had no idea what the world was like... So I want to be the one to show you,” he says. I shake my head, tears falling down my face. It’s moments like these that make me wonder who this man is. He remembers conversations from years ago, and makes them come true.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. I feel Romelo behind me, and he wraps his arms around my waist. I turn in his arms, looking at his face, and taking in those cold cold eyes. I can’t help but smile as I think of the irony of it all. He’s just like snow, beautiful but cold.

“Why?” I say. He searches my face, and pushes my hair from my cheeks.

“It makes you happy, doesn’t it?” he asks. My eyes widen in realization as I take in his confused appearance. Romelo doesn’t understand human emotion. He never has. That’s why my life has been the way it has with him. He’s trying to figure it out. Figure out how to be... human.

I smile, nodding my head.

“Yeah. It does,” I whisper. He places his hand along my cheek.

“You’re my world, Charlie. You know that, right?” he asks. I nod my head again. I understand. I understand everything now. I place my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It never changes. Always steady. Always calm.

He places a finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. His eyes drop to my lips, and he leans down capturing my lips between his. He hoists me up without breaking contact, and takes me upstairs.

I’m so lost in his kiss that I don’t realize we’re in the bedroom until he drops me on the soft sheets. He doesn’t miss a beat. He’s over me, pulling his jacket off. Then he pauses, and stands up tall. He holds his hand out for me and I take it. He slowly pulls me off the bed, and switches sides with me. He takes a seat on the edge of the bed, and turns me around.

I feel his fingers as they slowly unlace the corset of the dress I’m wearing. I don’t know why, but for some reason I feel nervous. The fabric slowly loosens around my body and he pushes the dress away from my shoulders. He turns me around to face him, and I have to bite my tongue to keep the gasp from escaping my lips. He’s focused. So focused. His eyes travel up and down my body, but not in a way that makes me want to hide. It’s in admiration. Appreciation. His gaze moves up and he reaches up pulling the pins out of my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders and down to my waist.

“Beautiful,” he whispers. I smile at that. He grabs ahold of my hand, pulling me down onto the bed with him. He rolls over my body and leans into me, kissing me again. His lips travel to my throat and he places light kisses there. I let out a sigh of pleasure as my body gives in to his familiar touch.

* * * * * 

My life has been like a wonder. This strange high that Romelo is on has lasted for days. He’s taken me hiking, we’ve gone swimming in the hot springs, and he even helped me build a snowman. His idea, not mine. I didn’t even know what a snowman was. I don’t understand why he’s been like this. Even now, he’s abnormally blissful. It’s unnerving to be honest. The fact that it’s lasted so long.

“What are you doing?” I look up from my cup of coffee to see Romelo walking in the room. He’s pulling a shirt over his head, which makes me a little sad to be honest, but I hide it. His eyes travel to the mug I’m holding and he gently grabs it from my hands, pouring it down the sink.

“Why don’t we try something a little more soothing. Like tea?” he says. I frown, but don’t protest. I was definitely fine with what I was drinking but he doesn’t care about that. He only cares about what he believes is best for me.

He places a kettle of water on the stove top, turning on the flame. After he’s sure it’s heated he walks over to me, pulling me in an embrace. He places a light kiss on my forehead, and just holds me.

“Are you happy, Charlie?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say automatically. This is a question he keeps asking. He’s quiet. He then let’s out a soft laugh.

“If only my parents could see what I’ve become. What they created.” I tense at the mention of his parents. I hardly ever think about them. I’ve locked those memories away. And when he talks about them, he becomes the monster he was the night he took them out of this world.

“Our lives, once we return to the real world will be so much different than before. You know that, right?” he says. I nod my head.

“I was thinking that maybe when we return, we might just move somewhere a little more secluded.” His arms tighten around my waist and he leans in to me, kissing me softly on the cheek.

“That way things won’t change between you and I,” he murmurs. I shiver from his tone. There’s the man I fear.

“How would you feel about that?” he asks. I don’t know how to respond. Honestly, I don’t want to move. I’m used to the home we have. The one I’ve grown up in. Even though it holds awful memories, it’s where Romelo and I became who we are today.

“I... I want to stay in our home we have now,” I say. His eyes slightly narrow.

“Why?” His voice is cold. He doesn’t like disagreement.

“I... It’s just what I’m used to,” I say.

“Well, things aren’t going to be the way they used to be. You know that, right? Do we need to have this discussion again?” I shake my head, not wanting to piss him off. He smiles. Even though he’s calm, something about his aura is off. He’s only ever this way before he’s about to take a life.

“You do know that sometimes, I have to do things that you may not like, but for your sake. Right, Charlie?” he asks.

He presses a kiss against my forehead, and begins pulling me towards the stairs.

“Come. Let’s get a bath.”

* * * * *

Muffled voices. It’s quiet at first, but as I am pulled from my slumber, it gets more clear. I slowly sit up in bed, and immediately begin feeling for Romelo. The sheets are cold which means he’s been gone a while.

I look around the room, and he is nowhere to be found. The voices are much more urgent, and then get silent. I move my legs over the side of the bed, and make my way to the door. My hands are shaking as I wrap them around the knob, turning it and pushing open the door. The hall is illuminated by a warm glow.

The voices aren’t as mumbled as I make my way down stairs, and I can hear them more clearly. My blood runs cold when I hear Romelo.

“You’re doing good,” he says. His tone is filled with joy. It’s evil. My throat is dry and my legs are shaking. My mind is screaming at me to just turn around and go back upstairs. I hear a sickening crunch, followed by a muffled groan, then Romelo’s laugh.

“Shit I thought I had you on that one,” he says.

“Just two more. Or you can give me the information I’ve been asking for.” I pause. I know what he’s doing. Interrogating. Working. Hurting. I slowly back away from the corner, back towards the stairs.

“Charlie sweetheart. It’s too late I know you’re there.” Romelo’s voice comes out louder than it was previously. I freeze in fear, and don’t move.

“Come on out here,” he says. I can feel my body tensing up. I don’t want to. But I know that I have to. I straighten my back, and make my way from around the corner. The first thing I see, is Romelo. Then the blood. Then the bodies.

I freeze in complete and utter terror. The once clean living room is painted red. Images flash across my mind as I remember his parents. I stare with wide eyes at Romelo, and try and back away from him. But his eyes narrow at me. And that’s all it takes for me to stay put.

“Looks like you lost,” he says. He takes the pliers he’s holding, and raises them above the man’s head, about to bash his head in, but he opens his mouth.

“It was never about the wedding! It was about securing his position! They were supposed to get a confession, and lock you away giving leeway to take down the Pasquino empire! It was going to be a huge step up for the government. Payback for the secret organization you people destroyed! Once he got rid of your Capo, and you were in the custody of the government, the control would fall to you, since you are the right hand, and you would be under his control because of his daughter! Please! That’s all I know! I got a wife and kid, please don’t do this!”

Romelo wasn’t counting on that. I can tell by the way he cuts his eyes to me immediately gauging my reaction. But I don’t know how to react. All of this information is bombarding me so fast. The mans last sentence is stinging me.

“Under his control because of his daughter.”

Me. He’s referring to me. I look to Romelo in confusion. He brings the pliers across the mans face, and get’s ready to do it again.

“No!” I scream. Romelo looks at me, his anger catching me off guard.

“No?” He says.

“He.. has a family.. Don’t take him from his family,” I whisper. Romelo stares at me, and laughs. It’s soft, and then it grows. He walks around the man, and beelines straight for me. I automatically back up until my back is against the wall. Romelo is standing over me, his gaze boring into mine. He’s silent. He just watches me. I can see the plan forming behind his gaze. And I see the moment he realizes how much he likes this newly concocted plan. He smiles at me, and reaches down with his blood drenched fingers, pushing a strand out of my face.

He grabs ahold of my jaw, and pulls my head forward, placing a soft kiss against my forehead.

“Ok,” he says. He turns away from me, walking back to the shivering man. He pats him on top of his head.

“You’re going to live. So don’t you worry about a thing.” Romelo looks back to me.

“It seems that there has been a revelation of a new issue. So sorry, Charlie. Our honeymoon has reached its end.” I don’t hold back the shiver that runs up my spine. He’s back. Whatever kind of high he’s been on lately has completely dissipated. Because the old Romelo is back. And he’s back with a vengeance.