Page 5 of Vile Emotion
“What do I own, Juli?”
“Me.” She answers as her tears fall down her face.
“And you crying doesn’t do anything for me. Cry all you want, Juli, it means nothing to me. I am going to be that devil that you thought you’d never meet. I will drag you to hell, make sure you get drenched in the lake of sulfur and then drag you back out of hell to face the next day on earth.” I point to her temple. “Always. Remember. That.”
Once we getto the estate, there are reporters that are huddled up in front of the large black gates with the Crowne last name.
“Shit.” Cassius curses. “I told Nina to take care of it and make sure that there was no stopping us from getting in.”
“It’s fine. Bernard sees us. I told him to make sure Ricky doesn’t see any of this. He doesn’t need to be in front of the media at all.”
As soon as I say that, the gates open up and Cassius drives in. My hand lifts and grabs her jaw again making her face me. “You don’t walk alongside me. You listen to the instructions I give you on how to walk with me. Are we clear?”
“Yes.”
Good. She’s not stupid. I hate stupid people who don’t think about anything else.
4
“You can’t hold my hand, Juliana. I’m going to treat you like the monster that you are.” Taking my hand, he places it behind him and instructs me to pinch the back of his jacket. “Walk behind me, not next to me. One step behind.”
Honestly, this is no place for pride. I lost my pride when I had to fight in the shower naked and learn how to stay to myself. Prison doesn’t make you strong, it makes you vulnerable and adds to your anxiety. It drives up your paranoia and gives you insomnia.
Without fighting it, I do as I’m told and follow Alaric while holding onto his suit jacket that screams money. I know money. I used to be part of that world but Edwin took advantage of it and now, I have to fight to just survive. There’s nothing to my name and it’s because I was a fool. A stupid girl who got into a stupid relationship with a stupid man. An abusive one too.
Alaric makes me fear the very next air that I breathe but Edwin makes me want to sink my body in acid to forget his touch.
“Juliana! Juliana!” Reporters call my name out.
There’s nothing for me to say in response. I keep my head down and follow whatever Alaric has to say. I have to leave here in one piece and in order for me to do that, I need to heed his every warning. “We have questions for you! Please, Juliana, answer us.”
Alaric stops in his tracks and abruptly turns around, almost knocking into me. He lets out a warning growl and I step to the side getting out of his way. He grabs my hand and practically drags me towards the gate where the reporter is.
“You don't ask my wife anything, I do.” He growls in the reporter’s face through the black bars of the gate. “She answers to me and me only.” He says smugly. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” He turns those expressionless hazel eyes towards me.
“Yes, Alaric.” I answer.
His brow kicks up from the use of his first name and honestly, it’s as foreign coming from my lips as it is hearing it.
“Alaric, huh?” He repeats as he tilts his head to one side and then the other ignoring the reporters. Alaric steps closer to me invading my privacy.
The back of my head slams into the bars and Alaric slams his hands on both sides of my head. He lowers down to my shorter height and gets so close to me, I don’t know if I’m breathing.
“I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
Alaric’s unwavering glare has immobilized me at the moment that if he were to shove me, I’d just drop. “Get your ass in the house, wife.”
Shutting my eyes tight, I whimper because the memory of Edwin is so tangible, it makes me dizzy. I feel Alaric as he moves in closer, his face a breath away from mine. I don’t have to open my eyes to feel that.
“Don’t even think about making a scene, Juli. Straighten the fuck up or die right here in front of the reporters.” His threat is so potent that my eyes automatically pop open.
“I wasn’t going to make a scene.” I respond and straighten my back, not cowering in front of the reporters. I reach behind Alaric and grab the back of his suit like he told me to. My eyes shoot up to meet his, as he grunts something inaudible but his hazel eyes burn with an anger that cannot be dissipated. I know it all too well, I’ve seen it in Edwin’s eyes.
“Get your ass in the house now and don’t look back.” I can tell he doesn’t appreciate me answering back.
5
Juliana doesn’t say anything as she nods her head and heads towards the front door of the house where Cassius is. Instead of paying attention to the reporters, I turn, watching her with vengeful eyes. There’s something about her being in front of me rather than me having to glare at her portrait every night before I go to sleep. I’ve wanted to choke her out and sometimes I dream about it. A rush of adrenaline spikes and travels through my body the second we both step into my foyer. Once Cassius shuts the door, I reach out wrapping my hand around the nape of Juliana’s neck pulling her back toward my person. A squeal of surprise escapes her lips as soon as I turn her to face me. The swallowing is apparent as I push her back against the wall and wrap my hand around her throat as I’ve been wanting to for five long years. I could’ve visited her in the prison or while she was in solitary confinement but that wouldn’t have helped me or given me the satisfaction because I would have to leave so that I wouldn’t raise suspicions.
