Four

The next morning the skies were still a bluish gray minus the exception of the rain when Nicholas drop me off at the Bellucci's. The weather was still gloomy but I was actually looking forward to seeing Nevi again. Sadly for me when I reached the living room he was nowhere in sight.
“He is not here.” His mother said. She must have notice my all too eager eyes searching around the room for him. “He got an early called this morning and had to leave right away. But he made sure Shadow would be in his best behavior for you.” She said in form of apology. A sneaky smile to her that I felt sure meant she knew of my attraction for her son.
“Now come on. I want to show you around the house.” We started walking the separate rooms as she explained each of them. “To be perfectly honest I hadn't plan to buy a house this size,” She specified the entire area with her hands. “I was hoping for something small and ended up with this instead. The house has twelve rooms in total. Four bedrooms, three of them have the bathrooms inside so those don't count, two baths in the hallway, a living room, the dining area, we have a nice library, a parlor of course.”
Who had a parlor in their house now a days? I wondered. But Mrs. Bellucci made it sound like it was mandatory. We kept on walking down the halls. Her impeccable white dress neatly iron and outshining my simple sweatpants and white cotton shirt.
“And last but most certainly not least there is the ballroom.”
She waved to a spacious empty room that had beautifully narrowed windows and a waterfall chandelier right in the center. The closest I could compare its floor to was the board of a checker game. And at the other side stood a wide french door that appeared to lead to the back part of the house. “Do you like it?”
“It's beautiful.” I said honestly. But-“Why do you need a ballroom for?”
“There is a few of us Italians that love to host parties. Dances, gatherings. Anything with a big crowd.”
“And you are one of them.” It wasn't a question.
She curtly nodded. “Perhaps someday I will hold a dance in this great room for my son's weeding. As a parent I would love nothing more but to see him happily wed and with a family of his own.”
Somehow thinking of Nevi with another woman, high class or not, made my blood boiled. I felt like Nevi belong with me, that we belong together, and that he has been the none perfect man I've been waiting for ever since I could remember. And from the looks of it so did his mom.
“I think he is quite taken with you my dear.”
Who, the dog or the owner? But I think I knew the answered to that.
I felt the heat in my cheeks.
“Have they been together for a very long time?”
“My husband bought Shadow for Neviani when he was a mere pup in one of his trips to Alaska. They've been inseparable since.”
“Your husband. Where is he? Did he remained in Italy?”
At the sad expression of her face I knew the answered to my prying question. I felt sorry for the kind woman. “I'm sorry for your loss Mrs. Bellucci.”
“Monica. I thought we had establish that already.” She chided. “I miss my husband every day Miss Barton. But I know he is with us always. Specially when I see Shadow with our son.”
She spoke with such fondness of her dog that I felt envious. I bet this woman love her pet more than my own parents did me probably.
“Would you like to see the backyard?”
She led me to the french doors and I almost had a heart attack. My shock at the sight of her backyard was so great I blurted out without thinking.
“This is your backyard?” I asked aghast. “This is more like your own personal forest.”
The spread out space of mowed lawned seemed endless; large rocks were buried to the earth. There was a pretty gazebo with curtains at the far end but what held my attention the most was the assembled of tall trees standing behind a half circular row of blooming bushes. The trees concealing anything that laid beyond. I bet there was a big possibility that if I dare venture inside of those trees I would never find my way back here. Her backyard a mystical world of its own. I stared opened mouth in astonishment.
“This is insane.” I exclaimed. Almost giddy with excitement.
Mrs. Bellucci found my reaction amusing. “I assume you approve then?”
“This is amazing Monica.” I said recalling how she wish for me to address her by her first name. “And all of this is yours?”
“Yes. Just a couple of acres. You'll probably see a few rabbits and deers pasturing around the area.” She said this as if it were an every day occurrence. “I get to feed them whenever I get a chance and when I am not working at the office with Nicholas until sundown.”
“I see…”
“Now come on. I think it's time you get to bond with Shadow.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Shadow was in the library lazying in one of the bay windows with his paws tucked under his chin and his pointy ears perking up at the sound of the door opening. I froze at the intensity in which he watched me with his sapphire blue eyes.
“Shadow, this is Renata. The young signorina you decided to scared half to death yesterday.”
Shadow seemed to be listening carefully to his owner never once taking his eyes off of me. They follow me as I walked cautiously a couple of feet behind Monica. “Remember what Neviani said to you this morning?”
She switch to her language and the dog began wagging his tail slowly; like a snake trying to fool you into thinking it was harmless but waiting for the right moment to strike. I started to feel lightheaded.
No Ren, I scolded myself, you can do this. Don't let your fears control you. You control your fears.
“Renata dear, come here, it would be helpful if you get closer to him.” Not sure that was such a wise idea, I hesitated to shift closer to them. Shadow rose to all his black glory then, sniffing the air two or three times, and making me feel nervous. Monica took my hand.
“Shadow, I will have Renata pet you so try to be on your best behavior.”
It took all of my will power to force my body NOT to tremble as my hand got closer to him. Thing is, no sooner had my fingertips brush his black fur, than Shadow had taken a strong hold of my arm. I never saw the bite coming. His sharp teeth sinking painfully into my skin and causing me to scream shrilly in both horror and fright. I started pulling on my arm in desperation but he wouldn't let go. My vain efforts to get free only making him angrier and provoking him to bite harder. I became terrified when he started pulling angrily on my arm causing me more pain.
“Let go!” I screamed over and over again. Desperately dragging him along with me as I tried to get away from him and the audience of spectators enjoying the show. “Ouch! You're hurting me. Please. Let go of me. Somebody help!” I reached out for anyone that would offered some aid but no one volunteered. My eyes frantically looking around for Nick. I was ten years old again and frightened for our lives. I could hear someone yelling but my attention was focused on the ferocious animal attached to my arm like a leech and the laughter of the others. I sobbed as I was trying to hit the beast. “Let go! Please don't kill me.”
And then it was all gone; the terrible pain remaining. I crawled away from the monster. Seeing the shadows of the men laughing mockingly at me. Their barks of laughter making feel small and helpless again. My vision blurred and I weep.
“Oh god, Renata, I'm so terribly sorry. Please don't move! You're bleeding too much. Stay there.” What was Mrs. Bellucci doing at my house? She sounded extremely worried, too.
“Where is Nicholas?” I said ignoring the pain in my arm. “Is he safe? Did they hurt him?” I needed to make sure he was safe. That I had kept him out of harms way.
“Nicholas.” I mumbled before I fainted.