And that was concerning whether I found Vincenza to be a threat or not.
Chapter12
Observation
Ettore
My cellphone was gluedto my hand.
Vittoria was quickly becoming my favorite reality show and I was man enough to admit I had sunk all the way down into obsession. I watched her every chance I got. Between work and the kids, I did not have a lot of free time, and yet, I found a way to watch my wife go about her days. I itched to be close to her and, sadly, this was the only way how.
Could I have made the time to visit?
Of course, but the strength it would take to leave her again was more than I had in me. So, I merely observed.
It was four weeks in and she still hadn’t yet learned she was being watched. The first ten days were touch and go. She didn’t do much more than walk from room-to-room in a stupor, fighting her depression. I expected this to go on a while, but by day twelve, she surprised me.
She woke, threw off the covers and staggered into the bathroom. I switched cameras and watched as she placed her hands on the edge of the sink, looked hard at her own reflection and frown deeply. Even with the puffy eyes and knotted hair, she was still the most beautiful creature to have ever walked the earth. With a shake of her head, as if she were disappointed in herself, she began to undress. My brows narrowed when she stood naked, glancing at her own reflection.
It had been less a month but the stress had an obvious effect on her body.
Her soft curves had become far more delicate. Her stomach dipped inwards and just underneath her small breasts, there was a bump on either side which I quickly realized was the tops of her ribcage protruding.
I didn’t like what I saw, but then again, neither did she. Vittoria’s lips thinned as she took in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. She stepped towards the shower, turned the knobs inside and then, a sound of annoyance left me as steam filled the room and it became harder to see.
Some would say it was morally wrong to witness my captive wife shower, especially when she didn’t know she was being watched, but I did not give a solid fuck. She’d already attempted to kill herself once before. How was I to know she wouldn’t try that shit again?
She was mine and I protected my own.
On day thirteen, Vittoria started a routine. She showered in the morning, dressed from the clothes I had bought for her, ate a small breakfast, then picked up a book ‘til lunch. She chose either an apple or banana for lunch, then changed into something looser, moving to the living area where she turned on the smart TV and accessed an online yoga class. She spent the next forty-five minutes bending and stretching in ways that made my pants feel oddly tight around the crotch. After yoga, she watched a little television followed by her daily exploration of the house. By five p.m. she had cooked herself dinner. Tonight, her menu was spaghettiaglio e oliowith freshly grated parmesan over the top.
It was only the day before that Vittoria discovered the smart fridge in the kitchen allowed her to add items to the shopping list. It pleased me that she was using it. The newest additions on it were tomatoes, cucumbers, sourdough bread and triple chocolate ice cream. And it was a good thing too. I enjoyed watching her eat.
By day seventeen, she was looking more herself and as she fell back into her own personality, I got to witness it for the very first time. Especially when, after a mug slipped from her hand into the sink and broke, she jumped back and said, “Eeek.”
She actually said it. She didn’t make a sound of fright. She fucking said it.
“Eeek.”
Can you imagine?
Yeesh.
It seemed more and more unlikely that this woman was the poised assassin she made herself out to be. Even less likely when, on day twenty, I sat back in my office chair as she stared out of the bedroom window, into the backyard. With a determined look of concentration on her face, she crossed her arms over her chest and stood there, still as a statue. Although it didn’t show on film, I knew what she was focused on. She glanced out at the immaculate pool and made a thoughtful sound.
Seeming a little annoyed, she moved then, sitting on the edge of the bed. Now, Vittoria rarely spoke to herself and when she did, I couldn’t always make it out, but this, I heard.
“What would Vincenza do?”
And my brow instantly marred.
Alright. That certainly got my attention.
What is she up to?
The one place the boys hadn’t fitted a camera was in the walk-in closet. I could see directly in, but only at an angle and when Vittoria disappeared from sight, the tensing of my stomach spoke of how little I liked that. My jaw clenched as she fluttered in and out of view, and I was finally able to breathe again when she stepped out wearing a black one-piece bathing suit. And I relaxed a little now knowing where this was going.
The boys had their strict instructions. Vittoria was not to leave the house under any circumstances. It would be interesting to see how she went about this.