War for Love

CH 5: His Place

Ezra dropped me off at his place, and left to meet up with the guys. Even though at the end of our conversation we promised to keep our distance, I really didn't want to hear my brothers 'busy' with their friends later tonight. Ezra said I could stay at his place and he would swear to my brothers to sleep in the car if it would make them more comfortable. I thought he was joking, but most likely he isn't. I know he doesn't want to disrespect them or me.

I walked around his place for a bit, curious as to who he is when no one is looking. I expected a typical bachelor pad of beer, sports, and probably w***e's clothes left from many one night stands. But it was the opposite. It felt homey. There weren't too many obvious personal touches, but I could see how everything here was something that represented him. The books on the shelf were mostly mystery and horror. His collection of movies were the same, and then there was comedy. I giggled, some of them were my favorites.

The art on the walls wasn't very colorful. It was abstract with dark hues. I studied them for a minute and could see why he would pick them. One looked so misunderstood. It had so many dark colors but if you really look at the lines and study the shading of everything, it's actually a garden. Another looked like it was a deep hole. It was depressing. I studied more and more paintings he had hung throughout the apartment, and I was able to get a peak at who Ezra is as a whole person. Just a misunderstood, lonely person who wants acceptance.

I found his favorite spot on the couch, it was worn in and honestly the best place to sit. Center of the television and fireplace, but also has a corner to lay all kinds of ways. The throw blankets were within reach, and I could see the front door, the kitchen, and the bedroom door. Everything was in view. There was even a reflection on the balcony window to see anyone who would try to walk up from behind him. I can't tell if this spot is the best because of comfort, or security. He's always on guard, even in his own home. That's sad.

Finally, I make my way to his bedroom. There is a massive king sized bed in the middle of the room, the comforter and sheet set black silk. There were a few pictures on the dresser and I smiled as I got a look at who he was as a kid. It made me feel good to know I made him smile earlier tonight just like he did when he was a boy. I saw a picture of teenage him with an older lady. I'm guessing the grandmother that took care of him. There was another of a married couple, I'm guessing his parents. The woman looked completely smitten, but the groom looked... void of any emotion.

The last picture caught me off guard. It was of my brothers, me, and Ezra on the day that I left for college. I never paid attention to the picture before, I thought it pretty basic until now. I was in the middle, my brothers around me smiling huge proud smiles, but not Ezra. He looked at me like I was on top of the world. Even in just a photo you can see in his eyes he was both happy and sad to see me go. How could I have missed the way he looked at me? Maybe because I always thought it wasn't a possibility.

My phone ringing caused me to jump. It was so quiet here with just me. I checked the caller ID, and my heart sank. Even though this could be done at a better time, the waiting was harder. "Hello?" I answered.

"Where the f**k are you?!" Joshua yelled. He has never cursed at me before. much less raised his voice.

"Um, I told you I needed some space, I came home." I decided not to yell, even though the Moretti in me wanted to remind him who the f**k I am. "I told you I would call when I was ready to talk, I still don't know what I want."

"Seems like you want someone else!"

"Excuse me?!" I finally yelled back. I was all for having a conversation, but he seemed determined to fight with me.

"Sara called me. She said she saw you getting really cozy with another man at some underground fighting s**t! Did you really need time to think about marrying me, or just a chance to f**k some other man thinking I would never find out!" I should have f*****g known she would say something, and of course the kind of person she is, she probably made it into something so much bigger than what she really saw. "Answer me, Alessandra Moretti!"

"Okay," I chuckled, completely getting pissed off at the whole situation. "I don't know what the f**k crawled up your ass and made you think you're a man, but don't ever talk to me like that again! You said my name, but remember the weight that name carries. I'm not some mousy girl you think you can call and demand answers while at the same time disrespecting me and basically calling me a slut!"

"If the heel fits, then strut in it because Sara said she saw you-"

"Sara sees whatever the f**k the acid makes her see." I laughed. "I was with my brothers to blow off some steam."

"And now where are you? Cause you're not at home, and as far as I can tell, that is not your brother's loft!" He screamed through the phone. "So who's f*****g apartment are you at?"

"Are you stalking me?!" I yelled.

"You really think I am going to let you walk out on a proposal and not know who you're with! You think the little gifts I have gotten you was just me being sweet?! No! I keep an eye on my investments!" I couldn't believe what the f**k I was hearing! This nice persona he has been playing and really is a controlling asshole! How long has he been keeping tabs on me. And here I was thinking I was some huge b***h for having feelings for another man, and Joshua called me a f*****g investment!!!!!

"Oh I cannot wait for my father to hear what the f**k you just said to me!" I laughed. "You might want to grovel to your daddy for forgiveness because you just lost a business realtionship with us!" I hung up the phone and threw it at the wall. I wanted to tear my f*****g hair out I was so mad!

I walked around the apartment, trying to keep my composure but I couldn't. I couldn't even call my brothers or Ezra to tell them to come calm me down. I tried to breathe, to stop seeing this murderous red in my eyesight, but I have never felt so f*****g used before! An investment! So every kind word was bullshit! Every nice gesture was just him making chess moves! I thought he was a good guy who deserved someone better than me since I didn't feel the same, and he was just playing monopoly the whole time!!

No matter what I did, I couldn't calm down and I eventually started crying from all of the frustration and anger. I wished I had went to my brothers place because at least if I broke their things, its kind of okay since I'm their sister and they are the same as me when they are angry, but I would never do that to Ezra's home. So until he gets back, I have to f*****g sit here in my anger and plan how the hell I am going to tell my father that his best friend's son is a possessive piece of s**t!

Thankfully, I didn't have to wait too long. About an hour after I broke my phone, both my brothers and Ezra came running through the door. They saw me sitting on the couch with my legs bouncing up and down and immediately started asking a bunch of questions, but I wasn't calm enough to talk.

"Either fight me, or take me to punch or shoot something." I grinded my teeth. They looked at me confused and worried. I have not gotten this mad since mom died, and I was a huge mess. "Now, please!" I yelled. Ezra went to his cabinets and started pulling everything out. Glasses, plates, bowls, everything! "I'm not going to break your things, Ezra." Then he surprised me when he picked up a plate and threw it as the wall and it shattered.

"You think I give a f**k about this s**t?" He said calmly as he passed me a glass. "Break everything. The TV, stab the couches, punch the walls. Tear this whole place apart if you need to." He shrugged. "If that makes you feel better then do it. I'll just fix it and buy more stuff."

And just like that. I wasn't angry anymore. Because even though Joshua seriously pissed me off, Ezra cared about me. He cared so much that he would let me ruin his first home he ever got on his own, just to make me feel better. How can he want to help me like this, and my father and everyone else see him as less?

I took a deep breath and put the glass down. My brothers were completely shocked. I am not a person that has ever been good at controlling my anger. "Joshua called." I gritted my teeth. "His stupid sister told him I was probably cheating, he basically called me a slut, oh and every gift he has ever given me probably has a f*****g tracking device in it because he 'keeps an eye on his investments.'" I explained. "That fucker has been keeping tabs on me probably the entire time we have been dating."

My brothers were yelling and talking about how they were going to completely f**k Joshua's life up. They couldn't wait to tell father, to see what he would do to retaliate against all of Joshua's family. My brothers were talking over each other and I could only stand there and try not to cry. Because even though Joshua is garbage, my father will most likely make an excuse for him. Because in this life we were raised in, a man has a right to know where his woman is at. He has a right to all the answers. How can I be true to who my mother raised me to be, without disappointing my father? How am I a Moretti, but my father doesn't want me to behave like one?

"Are you okay?" Ezra asked as he pulled back one of the barstools at the kitchen island. I sat down and he poured me a shot of tequila. "I know what you're worried about." I tossed it back like nothing. Both my brothers stopped talking and were watching us now. "Even if your father does nothing to protect your honor, do you really think your brothers and I would let that spineless bastard get away with how he spoke to you?" He poured me another. "Even if your father gave me a direct order to stand down," he smiled at me, "accidents happen all the time. Cars are so unreliable, things catch fire in a home." He leaned against the counter across from me and stared into my eyes. "Oh so many possibilities. Just tell me which one you like better."

"Um, bro." Jeremiah interrupted. "If you got a thing for my sister, thats a bad idea."

Ezra looked at my brothers. "No disrespect, but I care for your sister, and I'm not letting Joshua get away with this."