My Dangerous Husband

 Heaven Michaels:-   It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone had gathered for the graduation ceremony, one by one the names of the students who were graduating this year were being called out. The students walked up onto the stage to receive their degrees and it was such a joyous occasion, but when I looked at the audience, which was full of family and friends, my dad was still nowhere in sight.  I have been calling him for the past thirty minutes, but with no luck, his phone just kept ringing out and then went to voicemail. This was so unlike my dad, he always answered my calls no matter what he was doing, and if he was unable to he always called me straight back. I was starting to get worried and could feel my stomach knotting up, something must be wrong that's the only explanation. The speaker was getting closer and closer to calling my name out, so I decided I would try one last time to call my dad. I dialed his number and yet again it started ringing and went to voicemail.   "Dad, where are you? Please pick up the phone or at least call me back." I said, leaving him yet another message. I hope he gets here soon, I don't want to receive my degree if my dad isn't here to watch me.   "Still no answer?" Marianna, my friend asked me and I shook my head, looking back down at my phone.   "No, nothing. I'm getting really worried, this isn't like him at all. I was only nervous at the start of this, but now I'm worried as well and it's making my stomach hurt." I replied, willing my phone to ring.   "This is meant to be one of the happiest days of my life, but how can I enjoy it if my dad isn't here to celebrate with me. He is the only one I want to share this with." I continued while calling my dad again, but still nothing.   "Ok tell me, why are you so worried and nervous?" Marianna asked me, causing me to stare at her in disbelief.   "Stop acting dumb Mari, you know why. I'm worried about my dad because he isn't here and isn't picking up the phone. I'm nervous because I have to get up there in front of everyone and accept my degree on my own." I said, slightly snapping at her.   "I'm sorry, I was just trying to take your mind off it, that's why I asked you the dumb question. I have to admit though, I'm a little worried too. Your dad is really responsible and I can't see him missing his only daughter's graduation unless there was something wrong. Your dad loves and adores you too much to miss this." Marianna replied, placing her hand on my left shoulder and squeezing it to comfort me. l looked back down at my phone, but there was still nothing from him.   "You know how important he is to me, since my mom died giving birth to me it's just been me and my dad. I never felt my mother's absence because my dad was always there for me, playing the role of both mother and father. He always put me first no matter what, even when he was at work, he would drop all of his cop duties the second I called him, and now on a day as important as this, he's not here. Something must be wrong, I can feel it in my stomach." I said, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes.   "Mari, I'm really scared. I can't receive my degree without my dad witnessing it, I want to see the proud look on his face, I want him to take pictures of me and I want to see him clap for me, like I know he would." I said, my voice slightly breaking as I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.   "Sssh, it's okay, calm down. I am sure he is fine and is just running late or stuck in traffic somewhere. Hey I've got an idea, why don't you call your best friend Giovanni and ask him to see where your father is?" Marianna said, looking at the audience.   "Where is Giovanni? I thought he would have been here to support you and watch you get your degree." Marianna said, looking back at me, confused. Giovanni's my childhood friend, ever since I was seven and he was ten. We grew up together and even went to the same school, but being a senior, he graduated before me and is now in college. We were inseparable and at the age of fourteen, I developed feelings for him but never acted on them. Even now I have kept those feelings buried deep inside of me, I didn't want it to ruin our friendship. He and my dad are the most important people to me, I needed them like I need air to breathe. Giovanni has always protected and been there for me, during the good times and the bad.   "I've been calling him, but just like my dad, he's not answering. This is one hell of graduation, my two favorite people are nowhere to be found and it looks like I'm going to receive my degree without them." I said, throwing my bands up to my face, as my tears started to fall.   "Why do you say that? they still have plenty of time to get here before they call your name out." Marianna asked me, looking confused.   "No they don't, it's my turn after those two students," I said, pointing to the line in front of me, Marianna tilted her head and her eyes grew wide as she saw that they in fact wouldn't be here in time.   "Oops! I'm sorry Heaven. I am sure your dad and Giovanni will be here when you're on stage." Marianna said, nervously smiling at me.   "I hope so," I muttered to myself, feeling even more uneasy about their absence. I quickly wiped my eyes and dialed my father's number one last time, in the hope that he would answer, but still nothing.   "Next up is one of our brightest students, I would like to welcome Miss Heaven Michaels." The speaker announced, I stood up and looked around to see if my dad or Giovanni had finally shown up, but there was still no sign of them. I held my head up high, plastered a smile on my face, and with a heavy heart walked up onto the stage, talking slow steps. I never would have imagined this moment would turn out like this, I had always pictured it differently. I shook hands with the speaker as he handed my degree and smiled, walking over to the podium. I was meant to be giving a speech, but the one I had written was for my father and he wasn't here to hear it, so it seemed pointless. I stood at the podium looking out at the expectant crowd and I froze.   "Thank you," I said those were the only words that came out of my mouth. I walked back to the seating area and sat down in my reserved seat, my face turning red with embarrassment. I watched on as the other students received their degrees and I felt so jealous hearing their family and friends clapping and cheering for them. Marianna was up next, she walked on the stage and received her degree, I smiled at her and found the strength to clap for her, but I was still sad. She walked over and sat down next to me, pulling me into a hug and comforted me.   "We did it! We did it, Heaven. We graduated high school!" Marianna squealed in excitement.   "Yes, we did," I said, not being able to hold back a weak chuckle at her excitement. Everyone had now received their degrees and it was time for the ceremony after party, but I was in no mood for it. I looked out at the audience one last time and sighed, as I saw parents hugging their children and congratulating them.   "Listen, Mari, I'm going to go home. I'm so worried about my dad, I need to find out why he wasn't here." I said, looking back at Marianna.   "What!? Seriously!? It's our graduation, please stay for just one more hour. Please, pretty please. Besides, there is a handsome boy over there who keeps looking at you." Marianna said, pleading with me and giving me her best puppy dog eyes, but I didn't bother looking and just shook my head.   "Sorry I can't and as for boys, you know my history. It's not a good idea, I don't want anyone to get hurt. Every single boy I have dated or been involved with ends up having some mysterious accident and dying. I'm not going to risk it. I think I'm cursed." I replied, looking down at the rolled up piece of paper in my hands.   "Heaven, when will you get it through your head that they were just accidents. It wasn't your fault and you are most definitely not cursed.  Just live your life for once and enjoy it." Marianna said, scolding me, but she didn't understand how scared it made me feel to get close to someone.   "I'm sorry Mari, but I can't, it's just not possible and I don't want anyone to die because of me," I replied, with that being said I hugged Marianna one more time and then made my way out of the venue. I called my dad and Giovanni again, but still no answer, I had been trying for over an hour to call them and it just kept going to voicemail, so I gave up and called a cab. Twenty minutes later, the cab had arrived and I was finally on my way home to find out what was going on. The driver pulled up outside my home and I saw that my dad's car was in the driveway, I quickly paid the driver and got out, running to the front door. I couldn't hear any noises coming from inside the house, I took my keys out of my bag and opened the front door.    "Dad! What happened? You missed my gradua…." I started to say but was stopped dead in my tracks, as soon as I reached the living room. My dad was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, he was bloody and beaten.    "DAD! DAD!" I screamed and quickly ran over to him, my dad looked terrified and kept shaking his head, as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and started to dial 911. Suddenly my phone was snatched out of my hand and I was thrown backward onto the couch, as my dad looked on. I was terrified but forced myself to look up and there was a man standing next to my dad, he was covered head to toe in black except for his eyes. He was wearing a black overcoat, gloves, boots, and a fabric mask, but his blue eyes caught my attention the most until I saw the dagger he was holding.   I was frozen to my spot as his glare penetrated through me, he raised his hand and pressed his index finger to his lips, signaling for me to stay quiet. He walked around and stood behind my dad, placing the dagger to his throat, but he never took his eyes off of me. I was so terrified that I couldn't talk, the man pressed the dagger closer to my dad's throat and I saw a trickle of blood sliding down his neck.   "NO….NO…..NO! PLEASE LEAVE HIM ALONE! TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT! JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE! WE WON'T SAY ANYTHING! JUST LET US GO!" I pleaded, thinking he was a robber and my dad had caught him breaking in.   "Sshh!" The man said, his tone dangerously low, while he looked me up and down, his eyes filled with filthy lust. I felt disgusted looking at him, but I needed to keep eye contact, that's what my dad taught me, never look away.   "Please….leave him alone….please," I begged, but his eyes seemed to change as if he was smiling under the mask.   "Tsk….Tsk….Tsk." The man said and the next thing I know he's sliding the dagger across my dad's throat and blood is gushing out.   "NOOOOO! DADDY! NOOOO!" I screamed, loudly, tears streaming down my face as I watched unable to move. This morning my dad was full of life and now I was here looking at his beaten and bloody body, watching as his life left him.   "YOU BASTARD!!!" I screamed, tears freely falling from my eyes. The man slowly walked towards me, pointing the dagger at me and I gulped, thinking he was going to kill me, but instead, he winked at me and started walking to the front door. The fear and shock I had left me for a brief moment and was replaced with anger, as I picked up the nearest thing to me and threw it at him, hitting his leg. The man took off running, groaning in pain, and limping as he left. I quickly rushed over to my dad, dropping to my knees next to him and covering his throat with my hand, trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding, but he wouldn't open his eyes.   "DAD! DAD! DADDY! PLEASE!" I screamed, grabbing my phone and dialing 911.   "Hello, what seems to be the probl…" The operator started to say.   "PLEASE COME QUICK….IT'S MY DAD….THE MAN…." I said, panicking and trying to stop the bleeding.   "Okay, calm down and tell me what's happ…." The operator said, but I cut her off.   "HE'S BLEEDING! THE MAN SLIT HIS THROAT! PLEASE COME QUICK!" I screamed, dropping my phone and applying more pressure to my dad's throat, as the blood gushed out between my fingers.   "DAD! DADDY! PLEASE WAKE UP! DADDY!" I screamed, but he still wasn't opening his eyes.   "DAD! DAD! DADDY DON'T LEAVE ME! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME! OPEN YOUR EYES! PLEASE! I NEED YOU! OPEN YOUR EYES! PLEASE!" I screamed, bursting into tears, but it was no use. He was gone. My dad was gone. I took my hand away from his throat and fell to the floor, hugging his legs, and sobbing my heart out. I heard the front door being pushed open and the creaking of the floorboards, but I didn't move. I wouldn't leave my dad. My heart started to beat faster as they approached, but still, I couldn't move.   "LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU BASTARD! ISN'T IT ENOUGH YOU TOOK MY DAD FROM ME! NOW YOU'VE COME TO KILL ME TOO!" I screamed, not looking up from my dad's lifeless body.   "Hea….Heaven…." Giovanni stuttered, I turned and saw him standing in the doorway to the living room, with a look of pure shock on his face.    "Heaven….Oh my god Heaven, what happened?" Giovanni said, rushing to my side and checking my dad's pulse.   "What happened? Who did this?" Giovanni said, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into a hug, as I broke down crying in his arms.   "M...mm...my...da….dad, he...he...is dead." I stuttered between sobs, gasping for air.   "Th...the...mm..mman...kill...killed him," I said, Giovanni lifted my head and cupped my cheeks, so I was looking into his  blue eyes, the same color as the killer's eyes, I thought.   "Heaven, hey, hey, look at me. Look at me. Don't focus on anything else, just look at me." Giovanni said, I looked at him wide-eyed and in shock. He was panting like he had run a marathon and his face was flushed.   "G...Gio, why are you so out of breath? Where were you? How come you got here so fast and suddenly?" I asked him, suspiciously. He couldn't, he wouldn't, it couldn't have been him, could it? Precap:- "What happened to your leg? Why are you limping like this? And why is there blood on your shirt?" I asked Giovanni, who looked away, trying to avoid eye contact.