The Deal

14. Mistake

Isabella rose

We pretend that nothing happened for the whole night. Up until all of Valentinos friends leave.

He closes the door behind them and then turns to me. We stare at each other silently.
"So... we both regret it, let's just move on and never speak of this again" I say because I'm very sure he regrets it. It was wrong.
"Right?" I ask and a part of me wants him to say that it wasn't a mistake.

He's quiet for a moment before answering. "Yeah it was a mistake, and soon I will no longer have to see your face again." he says. Is this a joke to him. I'm literally going to be tortured as soon as I get to Dante. Asshole. "I hate you" I say out of anger.

I don't know what I hoped for. I don't know why I keep putting myself in this position. It's my fault. I should've never went after him. I kissed him. I am to blame for my stupid actions. To even think he could like me the slightest. He's just as cruel as he was the first day I met him. He would never care for me.

"I don't want to go back!" I yell.

"What?" He says looking tired.
"To Dante, you can't force me there I can't go back" I repeat.

"You made a deal!" He raises his voice scaring me.

"Did you think you could just come here talk to me like you have done this past few weeks and I would forget about our deal?" He says and my eyes are on the floor.

"I kept mine and so shall you, don't test me Isabella, you are going to get me those papers and nothing will change that, I don't care if you end up dead, a deal is a deal!" He says.

"You're disgusting! You're sending me away to a psycho!" I say crying while screaming. I know this is what I promised him. And it's all my fault.
"You sick fuck, and here I thought you had a good side!"
What am I saying. I need to stop.

He picks up his gun. Pointing it at me.

"Do not yell at me, I never claimed to be good I've always been this way. A killer." He says making me cry more. He's wrong, he has not been this way. He was kind. It's someone I don't recognize now, he's scary. If eyes could kill I would be dead by now.

"Do it!... just do it" I say moving closer until my head is at the tip of his gun. My hands are shaking. I never wanted to die. Not now at least.

"You keep surprising me, brave enough to stand in front of a gun" he says putting his gun down. I let out a relieved breath.

"Please Val... there should be another way" I say, he doesn't look at me. Just the wall behind me.

"A deal is a deal. I'm going out for some work" Valentino says then leaves. I fall to the floor.

I'm leaving in just two days, and nothing will make Valentino change his mind about sending me back. I guess I hoped he would want me to stay after everything we have went through.
I thought there was something there. Maybe I'm too delusional. It's like the universe doesn't want me to be happy.

I refuse to go back there. Back to Dante. It hurts even mentioning his name. All he has put me through, it was like hell. I still have nightmares about that night.

The night when... he let his friends rape me and pretend like he didn't know. How he had sex with me the same day that happened. He knew I was dying inside, how I hated my entire body. I just wanted to crawl out of my own skin. He pushed himself inside of me knowing what I had gone through just before he came back. I cried. And at that moment I knew I was never going to be loved or respected. So I ran the day after. And now I can't go back I just can't.

I can't keep the deal I made with Valentino. So for the second time in my life I have decided to run away.

I pack a little bag with clothes. And write a note.

I've thought a lot about this day. How I was going to be sent back to Dante's mansion, and I just can't keep my promise. I can't help you the way we planned.
The address to Dante's mansion is maple street 12...
Hope you get your revenge.
Forgive me... I'm sorry

/ Bella.

I go outside and the guards block my way. "We have orders that you can't leave" they say.

"Common guys stop this nonsense I'm meeting up with Valentino" I say smiling.

"No it's strict orders from the boss"

They lock me in my room and I can hear them call someone. I suppose it is Valentino. Fuck.
I look around the room. I loved this room. I was safe here and now I have to leave this place.

I spot the window. I open it get up on it. I look down. It isn't that high, I can make it.
I land on my feet and laugh at myself, proud at my perfect landing.
I try to be quiet since there are guards on the backside too. I walk close to the wall. Suddenly they all start running to the front. And this is my chance. I run like I have never before.

***

I've walked for 30 minutes now.
I spot a motel and decide to go in.
"Hi how can I help you" an old man says at the register. I give him a sweet smile and tell him about my situation.

"I promise to find a job as fast as possible, and I'm going to pay for my stay here as soon as I get the money" I say as he thinks about it for a moment.

"Of course you can stay, sounds like you're in much trouble and I won't let you sleep on the streets, stay for as long as you'd like" he says and I feel so relieved. "Thank you so much sir" I say.

"Call me Châu" I nod at the sweet man and he shows me to my room.
It's not a fancy place but good enough.

"Châu?... I hope my stay here could be private, so if someone asks don't tell them I stay here" I say laughing.

"Of course I won't tell a soul" he says patting my shoulder then leaving me alone.

I close the door and try to get some sleep.
I'm safe here where no one can find or hurt me.