Page 3 of Dull
She had a lot of pain and trauma in her past, and he hadn’t exactly lessened it.On their wedding night, he’d not been patient, and rather than prolong her suffering, he’d done everything he could to end it as quickly as possible.That had been foolish of him.
Running a hand down his face, it had been one mistake after another with Clarissa.She wanted a divorce, had even asked for one.No one would grant it.This was a business deal.He didn’t know what her family had said, but in the past year, they’d not come running to her rescue.She had been left alone.
After several hours of driving, he arrived at Giovanni’s home.He passed the security checks, and even though it was a long time to get to his friend, it was better than staying at home in that fucking cold house.
He would only hear her crying in her fucking sewing room.Part of him hated her grandma for getting him to install it.The first time Clarissa arrived at his home, it had been awkward.The day after the wedding, there had been lots to deal with, and a honeymoon was a luxury he couldn’t take.Of course, he didn’t tell Clarissa that.However, he remembered the moment he showed her that freaking room.She’d been so happy and delighted, she threw her arms around him and thanked him.It was probably the first and only time she’d shown him any real emotion.
Giovanni was waiting for him as he pulled the car into “park.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”Giovanni asked.“And without a phone call ahead.”His friend was smiling, though.
“Unfortunately, it is not you I’ve come to see, but your wife.”
“My wife?”
“Yes.I need to speak with Mia.”He was aware Mia was pregnant as Giovanni had become even more protective than normal.
It looked like the man before him wanted to refuse, however, they entered his home, and Giovanni took him to the main sitting room.Mia was wrapped up in a blanket, a movie played, and the moment she saw him, the smile on her face disappeared.
She went to get up, but he held his hand out.“Clarissa is not with me,” he said.
“Lorenzo would like to talk to you,” Giovanni said.“I’ll go and grab drinks for everyone.”
Lorenzo appreciated his friend giving him space.
“Where is Clarissa?”Mia said, snuggling back beneath the blanket.
“She’s at home, but I need you to help me.”
“Why?What’s wrong?”
He had never been the kind of guy to ask for help.He didn’t need help.He was perfectly capable of handling everything himself.He sat in the chair opposite her, and the truth was, he hadn’t gotten anywhere with Clarissa.Something had to give.
“I need to know how to win Clarissa,” he said.“I honestly don’t have a clue.Look, I know she heard the things I said, and I’m sorry for them, but we’ve got responsibilities—”
“Don’t,” Mia said.“Don’t make this about chores and family duties or what you owe, or anything like that.”
“I need help,” he said.
Mia looked at him, and he didn’t know why but it was like she changed.“Look, the truth is, I don’t know how to help you.None of us really do.We’re all friends, because at different times, we reached out to each other.We’re similar in age, daughters of mafia men, all being assigned who to marry.Clarissa was one of the last people we got to know.She wasn’t in school.She didn’t mingle in our crowd for a long time.I didn’t even know what happened with her sister.I didn’t even know she had a sister.”
He’d known about her sister.What he didn’t know was that Clarissa had been the one to hold her as she died.There was no way he could tell her she was lucky, that it was a gang newbie fighting for his spot, otherwise, if it had been a gang hit, she would have died as well.That was just cold and heartless.
“Clarissa has always been quiet and withdrawn.She is not someone who gives information easily, but if you want to try and reach her, why not attempt to get to know her?Understand the way she ticks.I know she loves that sewing room, and she loved her grandparents.I know your marriage terrified her, and she doesn’t know the first thing about being a wife.You’ve got to give her time.Be patient with her.”
Patience was not something he had ever possessed.
