Vittorio
Sharon’s high-pitched screaming finally brought him back to reality.
When Vittorio finally relaxed and turned towards Sharon, he had never seen her look so horrified. Even the night he’d rescued her, he hadn’t seen her look so shaken up. He looked back toward the body, surveying the carnage he’d inflicted. Crimson blood spattered up the walls and pooled around the corpse’s head. The mangled face sent a wave of regret crashing through Vittorio. He realized he had very likely overdone it.
“You’re a monster!” Sharon cried. Vittorio watched her stumble to her feet and reached to help her, but she winced and drew away from him.
“He was going to kill you!” he argued. “I can’t, I don’t… I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Stay away from me,” Sharon insisted. Unfiltered fear shone in her eyes. She slowly backed towards the door, never taking her fearful gaze off Vittorio.
“Please, Sharon, I love you.” he insisted. “I’d never hurt you. I only want to keep you safe.”
“You didn’t have to kill him to keep me safe!” Sharon yelled. Once she bumped the doorway, she turned and ran from him. Her bare feet sprinted down the hall and Vittorio hurried to follow her.
“Come on,” Vittorio tried to reason with her as she ran up the stairs. “You’re being ridiculous.”
Sharon whipped around to face him, flushed and crying. “Ridiculous? I’m being ridiculous? Am I the one who beat a man’s face in, then shot his barely conscious body? You’re a fucking animal.”
“He was going to kill you!” Vittorio replied, incredulous. “Would you rather I let him do that? Are you out of your mind?”
“You still didn’t have to kill him!” Sharon huffed. She turned and continued running.
Vittorio stayed close on her heels, still desperate for her forgiveness but losing his patience with her dramatics. He snatched her by her elbow and brought her down a step, so they were face to face.
“Look,” he explained. “I know you don’t understand exactly what it is that I do and, frankly, I don’t want you to. I live an ugly life Sharon. I see a lot of bad things, I do a lot of bad things, all on a pretty much daily basis.”
Sharon sniffled but otherwise listened quietly as he spoke.
Vittorio heaved a deep breath. “I know it’s a dark life I lead, but the truth is I don’t have a choice. I carry the name, I carry the blood, this is me. I wanted to keep you out of it but now… here it is.”
Sharon chewed her lip, still watching him with trepidation. Two weeks ago, Vittorio would’ve relished her fear, but now it just broke his heart.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” Sharon said finally. “That was… horrific. I thought I loved you, but I don’t know if I can love someone that’s capable of… that.” She shook her head, as if trying to shake away images of blood and broken teeth flying across the room.
Her words stung. “I promise,” Vittorio told her earnestly. “I’m the same man you thought you loved. I’m still me. I still love you, too. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you never have to see anything like that again.”
“How can you make that promise?” Sharon asked. “If this is what you’re doing in your day-to-day life, how can I ever avoid this if I’m a part of your life? Am I just supposed to sit in your penthouse all day, bored and wondering how many people you’ve slaughtered?”
“I didn’t slaughter anyone.” Vittorio rolled his eyes. “You really need to calm down with the drama. I killed a guy who was going to kill you. I defended you.”
Sharon gasped, her face twisting into a sneer.
“You wanna know what?” Vittorio continued. “I don’t even feel bad either. I’d go to the ends of the earth. I’d kill a thousand men if it meant protecting you.”
“Sorry, I’m not interested in being wooed with bloodshed,” Sharon sneered, turning to leave.
Vittorio reached out to stop her, but she jerked her hand away. Irritation bubbled within him and before he could stop himself, he blurted, “I fucking own you! You know you’re not going anywhere, right? This is your life now, sweetie.”
Sharon stormed down the hallway, her hands balled into little fists at her sides.
“Stomp around all you want!” Vittorio hollered, officially out of patience. “Not going to change anything!”
Sharon flipped him a middle finger over her shoulder and Vittorio felt a fresh rush of anger. He started running and chased her down the hallway. Sharon heard him coming and ducked into the nearest bedroom.
Vittorio heard the lock click on the door just as he skidded to a stop in front of it. He pounded his hand on the door. “Fucking let me in!”
“No!” Sharon rebutted from behind the door. “I need to be away from you right now.”
“Well, while you sit in there and pout like a child, please feel free to reflect on the fact that that piece of shit was here to kill you. You’re in danger and I’m the only one you can depend on. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t,” Sharon said meekly. “I just need some… time.”
Vittorio felt his anger dissipate. He really did love this girl and he really had subjected her to something awful. The least he could do was respect her space, at least for a little bit. “Fine,” he told her. “Come find me when you’re ready.”
“Okay.” she replied, still sounding weakened and sad.
“And Sharon?” Vittorio ventured.
“Yeah?”
“I love you. I mean that. You’re the only good thing in my life. Please don’t take that away from me.”
Vittorio waited a long tense moment before she finally said, “I love you too.”
He walked away, exhausted. He’d have to go deal with the mess in the dining room before he permanently scarred the staff. He hoped Sharon would at least join him in bed later.
She never did.