Chapter Twenty

Car rides with Inanis have become the bane of my nightmares. Maybe it was because the longer I was around him, the more I wanted to slit his throat with my annoyance.

He really just can't sit still.

We spent the entire ride to the restaurant arguing.

"The first night I get out of the house and I have to spend it with you." I inched away from him, "Did you think it'd be funny to lock me up like an animal? Am I never allowed out of the house on my own again?"

Inanis huffed, "You're quite feisty today."

"You're quite the nuisance."

He shifted in his seat for the millionth time, "Well maybe if you'd have asked nicely, I'd let you go out earlier."

I snorted, "No you wouldn't."

"You're right, I wouldn't, but it'd be amusing nonetheless."

"And so I'm your prisoner?"

His eyes narrowed, "Do you not realize everyone who hates me is going to go after you? You may have a death wish, but I'd rather not look like the fool who couldn't even protect his own wife a month into their marriage."

"Oh, so this is about your pride."

"This is about me not wanting to lose my wife just yet."

"Just yet? Do you plan on replacing me in the future? Because if so, I'd gladly ask you to show mercy and do it now."

Inanis began massaging his temples as he sighed, "Keep talking like that and I will gladly suffocate you in your sleep."

"Try it."

"Don't temp me, rat."

I rolled my eyes and stared back out the window. His energy was endless, as I could feel him shifting back and forth, his ADHD obviously didn't take too kindly to being cooped up in a car for hours on end.

As annoying as it was, I couldn't yell at him for it. It's the one thing out of million insufferable things he does that he actually can't control.

Well, he could if he'd just take his goddamn medicine.

I turned back to him and watched as his foot was restlessly tapping against the car floor. He kept drumming his fingers on his knee as his gaze went from the window, to his hands, then back to the window.

I wondered what he was thinking. I wondered if could even think of one thing at a time.

"Why don't you take your medicine." I said out loud, bored of the silence, bored of trying to understand him. Not that it meant much to me even if I did find out his secrets.

He turned to me, the tapping of his foot stopped. "I don't see how that is remotely any of your business."

"It is if I have to live with you and spend every passing second with you." I sighed, "I'm not judging, if that's what you're thinking."

He scoffed, "You judging me is the least of my concerns."

"And what are your concerns? You, Inanis Messor, what do you possibly get concerned over?"

He attempted to lean back as a casual gesture, but immediately sat back up as if the boredom was taking over his body. He seemed miserable, always having to move, it made no sense to me that he didn't take the medication that would prevent him from feeling like that.

I don't feel sorry for him.

But I don't think he should suffer for something that can easily be fixed with the swallow of a pill either.

He blinked at me for a mere second before turning his head away, and waving his hand, "You bore me, really, that is the most concerning thing of all."

I groaned, "Why don't you just answer my questions seriously for once."

"Why should I? Like I said before, it's not your business."

"We are married, everything about you is my business, which, by the way, is your fault, not mine."

"Yes, you never seem to forget to remind me."

"Just want to make sure I drill it in your head that everything bad is your fault and I hate you."

"Thank you, I'm aware, I've considered it, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't care." He turned back to the window, "Now shut up before I sew your lips shut with my fingernail and a bootlace."

"Your threats are empty just like your skull."

"My dear wife, if that were the case, I wouldn't kill people for a living."

"I'm not convinced you aren't just a psychopath who likes to get paid for killing."

"Unfortunately for you, and for me, I'm no psychopath, but you are right, I do love the paycheck of a killer."

I shook my head in disgust and said nothing more the rest of the ride. I realized arguing with him tonight wasn't as relieving as it usually is. Thoughts of last night kept reoccurring in my brain, and no matter how many insults I spat out, none of it made me feel better about what happened.

I really only wanted to hurt him. Hurt him with my words, but yet I was feeling more hurt than anyone.

It was so unfair. He deserved to be hurt, so why did he let every insult bounce off him like nothing?

We arrived at a very elite restaurant only an hour later. Inanis got out the second the car came to a stop. I followed him closely behind, secretly glad myself that we were finally here.

Walking into the building, I was taken back by how luxurious everything was. I've been to many expensive restaurants with my father, and of course, I dined in the White House with Inanis, but even that didn't compare to this place.

Gorgeous sculptures in every corner, elaborate paintings on the walls. A marble trim running across the walls like ribbon. This place was beautiful.

A waiter guided us to the table where Mr. Rodney, the governor of Missouri, and his 'assistant' who everyone knows he had an affair with. Cheated on his wife of seven years with her just because she was slightly more attractive.

I bit back my disgust.

They both stood when Inanis and I approached them. Mr. Rodney was smiling, and it was painfully obvious that it was forced, strained even. "Inanis!" He said, feigning mirth, "So glad you could make it."

"Yes, well that makes only one of us." Inanis said, despite it being an insult, he said it with such confidence that it sounded right.

Mr. Rodney cleared his throat, as he turned to me, "You must be Mirea, it's very nice to finally meet you." He held his hand out, and reluctantly I took it, and watched as he rose it to his lips, and planted a wet kiss on the back of my hand. I shot Inanis a repulsed look, and but his eyes were fixed on our hands, probably amused at the whole situation.

"Well, uhh, this is Felicity, my secretary." He beckoned to her, and she gave us both a flattering smile.

"Hello, it's quite the honor to meet you." She held her hand out to Inanis, and he just stared at her, not even slightly phased.

He didn't take her hand, as he instead, took my hand, and pulled me to sit beside him at the table. "Let's cut the introductions, we all know who we all are." His eyes trailed up Felicity's body, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say a bold look of annoyance flashed in his eyes. "You're a whore, and he's a bigger one. Of course, I'm not here to judge, isn't that right, wife?"

I stared at him skeptically, before realizing I needed to actually respond, "Uh, yes, of course not."

Both Mr. Rodney and Felicity shared a nervous glance as they both sat across the table from us.

I watched Mr. Rodney take a rather large drink of wine, before sloppily wiping his mouth with the sleeve of what was probably a very expensive suit.

This was all very awkward.

Inanis leaned forward, improperly resting his elbows on the table, "So, why did you invite me and my wife to this delectable dinner? You see I have such a busy schedule I do wonder what could be so terribly important that you thought it was only necessary for me to come all this way. . . " He trailed off, allowing his words to unnerve the both of them.

Really, Inanis's schedule wasn't that busy. Most people were too afraid to be around him.

Mr. Rodney began to massage his temples with his fingers, "Okay." He sighed, "Listen." Inanis looked like he was doing everything but listening. His eyes trailed to Felicity, then to the array of different knives on the table, to the window behind us, which overlooked the city. "I know everyone has speculations that I cheated on my wife."

Inanis's gaze flicked back over to Mr. Rodney, "That's because you did cheat on your wife."

"She cheated on me first!" He shouted so loud, it felt like the entire restaurant had gone silent.

I looked uncomfortably at my husband, only to find him rolling his eyes, "This is rather boring, Mr. Rodney, my job is to kill the bad people, not sort out your marriage."

"I know my name is in your selection for next week's killing, and I want out. I'm innocent."

Inanis shot me a mocking glance as if to say "I told you he was trying to save his ass", before returning his gaze at Mr. Rodney, "And what do I get in return?"

Mr. Rodney shifted in his seat, "What do you want?"

"What I really want is to drive my cleaver over each and every artery that's keeping your grubby carcass alive."

The little hope on his face suddenly vanished, and I realized I was watching a fragile man get broken, "I-I have money if that is what you want."

Inanis sucked in a breath before standing, "Well, if that is all you wanted to say to me, I believe it is time for me and my wife to get going."

Inanis began to leave, assuming I would follow him. I stood from the table, and watched my husband before turning back to Mr. Rodney, who was now openly crying in front of the entire restaurant.

It's not like his pride meant much anymore anyway.

"I'm sorry." I tell him, despite him cheating on his wife, he doesn't deserve an ending as harsh as what his will be. Nobody deserves that.

Felicity was trying to comfort him, as he eyed me with such intent, "Talk to him. You're his wife, talk to him."

"I have no control over what my husband does." I turned away from the both of them and began walking to the front of the restaurant where Inanis was no doubt waiting.

Felicity suddenly ran over to me, and grabbed my arm, taking me by surprise, "You're underestimating your power over him." Felicity spoke in my ear, "Inanis Messor is known to be the coldest Bone Cutter since Virtus Lux." Virtus Lux was the second American Bone Cutter, his killings marked through the late 60's, 70's and 80's, and he was brutal. Went through six wives due to him killing them in their sleep for the fun of it.

Inanis may be a pain, but he was not Mr. Lux.

"And yes," She went on, "As cold as they say he is, he looks at you like you are his diamond, his partner, his best friend."

I frowned, "You're wrong. You've only known him for a few minutes, I live with him. You know nothing."

"All I'm saying is that you have power over him. You can control him, you just have to play with your title as his wife." There was a desperation in her tone, one that proved for some reason she truly loved Mr. Rodney. "Please, save Rodney, please don't let Inanis take him from me."

Our eyes locked, and I felt my stubborn heart ache at the tears that began to form in her eyes. I knew that desperation she was feeling. I remember it well. "Okay." I finally tell her, "I'll see what I can do."