She turned slowly and the man grabbed her by the wrist.
This was bad she thought.
The man was muscular and it was frightening.
She silently wished Mateo would come get her before whoever this man was, would hurt her or even worse, kill her.
"A runaway bride I see, leaving your husband so soon?". He asked and Tallulah struggled to free herself from his grip.
He was just too strong plus he was already hurting her injured wrist.
She thought about screaming but decided not to. She could either scream hoping Mateo would hear her and come save her yet punish her.
Or let this man kill her.
The man let go of her wrist which she was thankful for and the lights came on.
She almost sighed in relief but didn't know if it was an option.
"Do you plan on leaving me?"
Mateo asked angrily crossing his arms.
"But wife, we're yet to consummate the marriage".
"I….I…". Tallulah stopped there not knowing what to say.
She couldn't just say Hey! Mateo I was about to leave you.
Mateo's face grew furious. Tallulah was sure he was angry.
To prove that point, he harshly grabbed her wrist and dragged her behind him as he walked a pace she could not keep up with.
When they walked into the house, he dragged her up the stairs and to her room, flinging her to the bed as soon as they entered the room.
Tallulah already had tears streaming down her cheeks as Mateo paced back and forth near the bed.
"¿Qué te pasa?".
(What is wrong with you?)
He asked as he stopped pacing and turned to Tallulah on the bed.
Tallulah did not understand what he just said but….
"I didn't want you to…."
She stopped there as more tears spilled.
"Kill you?". Mateo finished for her and she nodded quickly closing her eyes tightly.
"Non bellisíma". He said and bent halfway looking closely at Tallulah who sat at the edge of the bed like a disobedient child facing her strict parents.
"¡Deja de llorar por todo!" ("Stop crying about everything").
He coaxed in Spanish and used his thumb to wipe away her tears.
Tallulah just sat looking at him without uttering a word.
"I won't kill you princess". He said and stood upright. Tallulah almost sighed in relief when he added. "At least not yet".
Tears stung her eyes again as Mateo folded his hands.
"You know what I hate the most?".
He asked bending to her face level again.
Tallulah shook her head slowly.
He chuckled and moved a strand of hair from Tallulah's face.
"When someone proves stubborn and thinks she can outsmart me".
Tallulah looked away feeling guilty but Mateo turned her face to meet his.
"Better behave, tesoro" (Darling).
He warned and got even closer, their faces an inch apart.
He moved to her side and whispered into her ear.
"Trust me princess, you do not want me to tame you". He said and looked into her eyes again.
Tallulah shook her head slowly and swallowed.
He stood upright again and folded his arms.
"Your behaviour says otherwise, someone is being a bad girl".
Tallulah knew he was referring to the dress he sent but she refused to wear.
Mateo just turned and walked to the door then opened it. He turned and looked at Tallulah.
"The wedding has being postponed".
Then he walked out and banged the door locking it from outside.
Tallulah realized that was what the bodyguard earlier tried telling her before she interrupted him requesting for water.
She wiped her eyes and sighed then curled up in bed sobbing.
Mateo walked into the basement where his men were still making preparations for the attack against a Mafia rival.
He walked over to the table and opened the map. His men gathered round.
"Now here's our target, we attack head on but maliciously. We have to be alert, do you understand?".
"Yes sir". The men replied in unison.
"Good!" Mateo said and clapped his hands.
"Get the weapons ready".
He turned and walked over to a table and one of the men dragged off the cloth covering it.
The weapons were arranged accordingly.
Mateo observed the weapons and nodded affirmatively.
"Thompson M1 SMG, two handed machine guns, rifles, pistols,shot guns..."
He called the weapons on the table and the list went on.
When he was done, he took the shotgun and put it by the side of his pants.
"I believe you are all set. Walkie-talkie, shotgun, teaser. We move".
The men started moving things out of the basement to the van parked outside.
Mateo also went outside and gave a few directives before getting into his Lamborghini.
Back in the room, Tallulah's eyes fluttered open and she realized the room was dark. Only the lamp illuminated very little light which one could barely see well.
She didn't remember turning off the light bulb in the room though.
She slowly sat upright and looked around then caught sight of a silhouette standing by the window and staring at her.
She rubbed her eyes and moved to the edge of the bed placing her feet into her flip flops.
The person started moving towards her steadily.
"I want to be alone". She said not knowing exactly who it was but standing up anyway.
She was taken by surprise as the man grabbed her by the neck, his nails digging into her skin.
Tallulah started coughing as she held his hand trying to remove it from her neck. She desperately searched for air.
"Please, you're…. hurting me. I can…not b..reath".
She complained in a shaky voice.
"The point isn't for you to breath, donna".
He said and intensified the pressure of his grip on her neck.
"Aww….". He complained and let go of her neck holding unto his clutch that Tallulah had just knee-kicked.
Tallulah shot for the door but he stopped her by grabbing her hair in a tight grip.
"Why you little….". He started and flung her to the floor. "Now I won't take it easy on you".
Tallulah fell onto the tiled floor with a painful thud. He then kicked her several times.
Tallulah started moving backwards and shaking her head.
"No,no,no, please".
"Didn't think about that before doing what you did huh?".
He got on his knees and unzipped his pants. He caught her by the leg and dragged her towards him.
He covered her mouth with his hand and there was silence, the only thing heard was the sound of Mateo's car driving out.
"Hear that? Mateo is….out". He gave a condescending chuckle. "No one can save you now my dear".
Tallulah tried screaming immediately he uncovered her mouth with his hand but couldn't.
Her voice had gone low due to the choke.
He caressed her cheek and moved to her neck then down to her collar bone. He started touching her inappropriately.
Tallulah kept pushing him away but he was stronger.
"Not a chance". He said and sent a hot slap across her face when she kept struggling.
"Don't you wanna know how I got in? Or you'd rather hear about how your husband has being tricked?".
Tallulah shed tears as he never stopped touching her. she kept pushing hard.
"We distracted him so I'd spend some time with you".
He went in and started kissing her neck fiercely.
Tallulah summoned all the energy she had and pushed him but it didn't work.
Instead, he moved her dress up revealing her thighs.
He caressed her thighs and pushed the dress even further, revealing her underwear. He smiled.
Tallulah struggled and kicked to no avail. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she kept begging for mercy.