Chapter XI

Next few days were so…different. Even though everything was better between us, there was this invisible wall. At night we would cuddle in bed but during the day it wasn’t as perfect since Salvatore has been away most of it. He told me there was some deal he was closing, that’s why he wasn’t coming until late hours. And I hated this part of me that still couldn’t believe him and kept pushing nasty images of him and Astrid tangled together. Therefor I was surprised to see Salvatore sitting on a couch as I stepped downstairs. It was only after dinner and I thought I would meet Alessandro there but instead there was my husband what brought smile to my lips.
He was eating chocolate ice cream straight out of cup, spread on the couch. His black shirt was half unbuttoned and his hair were falling to his face.
“You are crazy, eating ice cream when it’s so freaking cold.” I said without giving it another thought. He looked up at me with a small smirk dancing on his lips.
“What can I say? You just don’t know what is good.” He smirked taking a remote. “Mind to join me? I thought we might watch Phantom, exchange some notes.”
“I don’t see why not. I will just make myself tea.”
With a small smile I went to kitchen and turned the kettle on. I was feeling stupid because of how happy I felt all of the sudden. I couldn’t understand why he was making me so confused. I wanted to forget about that woman, start all over again and even though it was pushed to the back of my head I felt that he would eventually make it go away with just few of this smiles.
With a mug filled with steaming mint tea I made my way to the couch and sat next to Salvatore though I put my legs on the couch and leaned my back against arm rest. He started the movie and even though I tried to keep my eyes on it, they kept coming back to my husband. He so careless and peaceful.
“You prefer movie or play?” I was the first one to ask.
“They both have parts I like better than in the other so I’m saying either.”
“Same. Like, I love movie version of Point of No Return and from play…I don’t have anything right now – but will let you know if I remember anything.”
“Alright then, favourite song?”
“Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. Yours?”
“No One Would Listen.”
“Oh! That’s an amazing song but it breaks my heart. I know Erik did bad things. Like, really crazy psycho things but at the same time…when he talks about Christine it hurts. And knowing how much he idealises her even though she is just little bully that confuses him all the times? That man really needs a hug.”
Salvatore let out this beautiful laugh, shaking his head slightly. “You are right. It’s so saddening. Although I thought you might like your name owner at least a bit.”
“I liked her through first 10 minutes. Besides, my mother has chosen the name. She was actually the one to introduce me to Phantom. She read the book once and didn’t love it but regardless, she named me Christine and showed me a book from which she took a name.”
“I can just hope that your own Phantom wouldn’t have to struggle so much.” He smirked, teasing smile on his lips. I felt a slight blush and decided not to address it since I wasn’t quiet sure if he was modest enough and talked about himself. Not that I had anything against it – Salvatore was definitely my own Phantom.
“He deserved way better. And Raul? I never wanted anyone dead as much as him. Can someone explain to me why girl chooses a guy that put her in constant danger, make her do things she is scared of and underestimate her every word? She didn’t have to choose Erik, just see what a looser Raul really was.”
“I feel hate in your voice. And I share it fully.”
An hour, and one deep talk about the play, movie and book, later my eyes were getting heavier and I found myself leaning against Salvatore, my head falling to his shoulder.
“Sleepy?” He asked and I felt him shifting. I started pulling away thinking that he didn’t feel comfortable but instead he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me back in.
“A bit. But I want to finish a movie.”
We were locked like this for a long time, his firm body against mine as he was caressing my arm gently. It felt so...natural and so nice that I would happily do that more often. Like every day for example.
“Salvatore? I was thinking about that note.”
“What note?” His voice was a bit cooler and I felt his body stiffen slightly.
“The one that you gave me with pearls. I wanted to ask…do you feel this way about yourself?” I moved away slightly so I could see his face though he was looking straight ahead.
“I am a bad man, Christine. Not only because it’s in my blood given by family – because I’ve chosen to be this man. I did many bad things in life, all of them beyond what you can imagine. My soul is as black as the night sky and it’s disgusting. And I still blame myself for dragging you into this, into my life. But I let you have life on your own, away from all this mess, but was it any better? You got hurt…and then I’ve decided you would be safer with me. Selfish, am I not?”
My heart dropped at his words. Not only at recalling the events of many weeks ago but the way he spoke about himself. Maybe there was a bit of a concern about ‘letting me go and deciding I would be better with him’.
“You may think that but, Salvatore, you saved me. You saved my life and took me in to your life. You didn’t even touched me, shed blood for me. Does that make you a monster? I don’t think so. At least not I my eyes. I know that you kill men but…but I don’t care about it. I just want to think that you have good reasons behind it and they deserved what they got. And I already forgave you for Astrid. So you shouldn’t worry about that either.”
Salvatore looked at me, his eyes tender. He lifted hand and started caressing my cheek gently, his touch warm and so soothing.
“You are truly an angel. I’m blessed that you let me get so close to you.” He said quietly before leaning in to kiss my lips gently. This kiss was delicate and soft. After a long moment I drew away to look once again into his stormy eyes.
“I was meaning to ask you something.”
“What is it?” He asked with a warm smile, moving lost lock of hair away from my face.
“I…I already know the answer but I figured I could always ask. So, you see…I love school, always did and It was my dream to go to college, learn French and read all this books so…I want to go back to college.” I breathed out, biting on my lip with worry written all over my face. Some small part of me wanted to believe that actually would say yes to that.
“That’s not really a question.” He smirked.
“Oh, right.” I muttered, embarrassed blush appearing on my face.
“But you don’t have to ask me that. If that’s what you want, then I don’t see why not. Alessandro will drive you there and home and he will be basically there with you.”
I felt excitement washing over me but just few seconds later his words hit me fully. Alessandro would go with me? Like in attend school with me?
“No way.”
“I’m not letting you attend public college, where thousands of people are, on your own. I’m sorry to break it to you but you are a wife of Capo of one of Five Families. Beside the fact that I’m overprotective, especially when it comes to you, we never know when something bad is going to happen or when someone decides to strike.”
Blood boiled in my veins. Did Salvatore thought I was stupid? I perfectly knew who he was and what that meant. Regardless to a fact – if I were out in the open and someone decided to ‘strike’ Alessandro wouldn’t really do much.
“Are you for real? Alessandro is just one man. If something bad would be happening he wouldn’t be able to protect me either. Let’s say – what is completely crazy and I can’t believe I’m saying this about myself – someone decides to just freaking shot me. Do you think that Alessandro would do anything? He wouldn’t get a chance.”
“Then settled. You are not going anywhere.” He stated with a cold expression making me groan in frustration. I sprung to my feet, feeling strongest urge to stamp my foot but didn’t do so.
“But I want to.” I snapped instead.
Salvatore looked up at me and I wanted to wipe away that amused smirk.
“Then what about private college? We could find something that would match up your expectations and if it’s small enough Alessandro wouldn’t need to go there with you.”
I looked at him for a longer moment, considering his offer. It didn’t seem like a college experience that I always dreamed about but on the other hand he was right – there was no use in risking. After all I would still be getting my dreamed education and it would be without annoying tale that Alessandro was.
“Fine.”