Chapter 61
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house (the following morning)
The following morning when Vin entered the kitchen, he found Luna and Allison laughing as they had breakfast. He felt a small pang of jealousy watching them together.
There was a time not so far from the present day that Luna waited for him and they had breakfast together while talking about their plans for the day.
“Morning, ladies.” Vin headed directly to the coffee pot and, filling a cup, he took a seat at Luna’s side. “Morning, baby, how you feeling today?” he leaned forward, kissing Luna’s temple.
“I’m fine, Vin.” Luna smiled, but he noticed that it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hey, morning, Vin.” Allison intervened, feeling an invisible tension already rising. “We’re thinking about what to do today,” she smiled.
“Cool,” Vin sipped from his coffee. “Did you have something in mind?” He looked at Allison.
“Yeah, we’re trying to decide if we should go for a short walk after Luna’s appointment at the hospital, or come back here and lie naked under the sun, tanning our gorgeous bodies.” Allison waggled her eyebrows, giggling and Luna snickered.
Vin frowned, returning his attention to Luna. “Do you have an appointment today?”
Luna nodded. “Yep, with my gyno. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find out the baby’s sex today,” she grinned.
“And why you didn’t tell me?” Vin went serious, straightening in his seat.
“Oh, I did.” Luna replied, nonchalant. “Problem is, you don’t listen to me anymore, baby.”
In response Vin growled under his breath, tightening his jaw hard. “I do listen to you, Luna,” he muttered.
“No, you don’t, but it’s okay.” Luna sipped from her orange juice. “It’s not like you can’t come with us, right?” she met his angered gaze.
Allison looked down, suddenly really interested in her salad fruit. She thought that Vin already knew about the check up at the hospital.
Vin glanced at Allison for a brief moment and then looked at Luna again. “I’ve got a meeting on the other side of the city.”
Luna chuckled. “Well, you can cancel it.”
Vin sighed hard. “I can’t do that, Luna. The guy is a producer and it’s almost impossible to get an appointment with him.” Vin paused, watching Luna arching a brow. “It’s a priceless opportunity for me to talk to him about ‘Hannibal’.”
Luna shook her head in disbelief. “I see. So you’re telling me that having a meeting with some guy who might be or might not be interested in your precious project is more important than finding out the sex of your child.” She chuckled coldly, looking at Allison. “I think I’m naming the baby ‘Hannibal’ if he’s a boy, at least that way his own father would show a little bit of interest in him.”
Vin felt his blood boiling within his veins and took a slow breath, doing his best to calm himself down. He didn’t want to have a scene in front of Allison.
“It is not my precious project but our precious project and…”
Luna cut him off. “Our baby is our precious project, Vin, not fucking ‘Hannibal’.” Luna snapped, getting to her feet. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about that motherfucker, I swear. Can’t fucking believe you’re so obsessed with a guy that has been dead for centuries while your own child is alive and kicking within my fucking womb right here.” Luna grabbed her rounded belly.
Vin gritted his teeth and, slowly, he got to his feet. “You sure you want to have this conversation now?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Conversation?” Luna retorted, laughing bitterly. “I don’t remember the last time we had one of those, Vin,” she hissed, standing in front of him. “And, yeah, let’s have this ‘conversation’ now. Why not, eh? Allison is family,” Luna glanced at her agent, “right, Allison?” She asked and then looked back at Vin. “It’s not like our close friends and family are not aware of our domestic issues anyway. In fact everybody seems to know we have problems, except you, of course. You keep thinking we’re fine!”
Allison got to her feet and, without saying a word she exited the kitchen, heading directly to the back yard. She felt very uncomfortable and couldn’t walk fast enough to put distance between her and the couple.
Luna watched Allison and felt bad for her but she was mad and couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. “See? Now not even Allison wants to be close to me.”
“And no wonder why.” Vin snapped back. “You’ve been a cold bitch to everybody for weeks, including me, and I’m starting to be fed up with your bullshit, Luna. Why the hell do you have to act like this?”
Luna raised her voice. “Because I’m fucking pregnant!! I’m allowed to bitch as much as I feel like, Vin, and if you are fed up with my bullshit, then you already know what you have to do!”
“Yeah?” Vin laughed dryly. “And what’s that?”
“Pack your shit and get the fuck out of my house!” Luna retorted, slamming her hand onto the counter. “At the end it’s not like you’re living here anymore.”
Vin blinked. “You’re throwing me out of my fucking house?” he asked, not being able to believe what Luna had said.
“My house.” Luna retorted coldly and moved past him. In seconds, Vin grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
“You’re nuts if you think I’m going anywhere far from you, Luna,” he whispered coldly.
“Don’t touch me,” she muttered, shoving Vin’s hand off.
In response, Vin knit a brow and swallowed the smartass reply that popped within his brain.
Luna took a slow, deep breath and did her best to calm down a bit. Her heart had started racing wildly.
“Listen, Vin, I love you and I want you, but I don’t need you, at least not right now.” Luna paused and swallowed hard. “I think we should give ourselves some time apart, Vin. All this tension is affecting me too much and I fear I’m gonna end up losing the baby if we keep fighting like this.”
Vin’s breath caught in his throat and he swallowed forcefully against an invisible knot that was choking his life.
“You really want me to go?” Vin asked, his eyes flickering to Luna’s.
Luna shook her head ‘no’. “No, Vin. What I really want is you making love to me, showing me you love me as much as I love you. I want you to stop pushing me away, and start letting me in. I want you fighting for me and not with me. I want you showing me you really care for me, allowing me to be with you. I want to feel loved and respected and to be sure that I’m the very first thing for you.” Luna paused and blinked her silent tears. “That’s what I really want, Vin and if you’re not ready to give me that, then, please, leave me alone.”
Vin went silent, thinking about Luna’s words. He hadn’t ever been good at expressing his feelings in words; he had always been more a man of action. Even though each time the words ‘I love you’ passed his lips, he actually meant them; still Vin had said and had expressed much more while giving Luna a massage or bathing her than repeating no end how deeply in love he was with her.
So naturally when all those moments of complete intimacy stopped taking place, Luna’s insecurities returned full force. Vin could understand her but he was so scared of hurting her or the baby…how was he supposed to get past his irrational fear? How was he going to do what Luna was asking for?
“This is not the way to save our marriage, Luna.” Vin’s sad eyes flickered to hers.
“What marriage?” Luna whispered coldly. “I’ve got a piece of paper that says we’re married, but, that’s all I have, Vin. I can’t count on you for anything and I’m tired of trying to reach you. This shouldn’t be so damn hard to deal with. I don’t have enough strength left to fight anymore. I need a little piece of mind.”
Vin felt his heart stopping dead and he took a ragged breath to force the air though his lungs. He was being a mature and responsible husband, right? He had been doing the right thing, right?
Wrong, Vincent, he scolded himself silently as his vision blurred.
Vin wanted to save their marriage, more than anything, but he was tired too and, just like Luna, he needed a little piece of mind as well. So Vin sighed hard and took a step backwards.
“Maybe you’re right, Luna. Maybe we need to be apart for a few days.” Vin finally said.
Luna closed her eyes, feeling her heart breaking apart. What had she expected? It was true that she hadn’t told him about her appointment, but she knew it wouldn’t have made any difference at all. Not anymore.
It was the time to stop thinking about Vin and start thinking about herself in the first place. No more sacrifices for a man who kept proving time and again that she would always come in second place after his career.
“Fine.” Luna whispered and with that she headed towards the bedroom, closing the door at her back.
A moment later Mike entered the kitchen with Roman and he went still, watching Vin standing in the kitchen, his hands closed in fists and his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Vin’s bodyguard had taken the dog for a walk as soon as Steve showed up early that morning.
“Vin?” Mike asked hesitantly, releasing Roman’s leash. In seconds the dog trotted fast, heading to the main bedroom.
Vin followed Roman with his eyes, watching him tapping the door franticly, whining and barking. In seconds the door opened and Roman entered the room, waving his tail. The door closed and Vin heard the lock.
Sighing hard, he roughly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Pack my shit, the stuff in the tent. I’m moving to my old place for a few days.” Vin sniffed slightly.
“But…” Mike blinked, shocked to the core.
“Do it, Michael!” Vin growled over his shoulder and, pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Renee’s number.
Mike let out a heavy sigh and headed towards the tent. He thought it was the worst time to make such a decision but at the end he was just an employee. Mike knew Vin wouldn’t change his mind, he had showed that firm determination he rarely used lately.
Two tones and Renee answered. “Good morning, Vin.” Renee’s voice greeted him.
“Whatever.” Vin replied coldly. “Listen, I want you to call the security agency. I’m gonna need two new bodyguards in about an hour.”
Renee blinked. “Why?”
Vin ignored her and continued. “And call the cleaning company; tell them to send a cleaning crew to my old place.”
“Vin, what’s going on?” Renee’s concerned voice inquired.
“Make sure the house is ready at midday.” Vin answered and without giving time for Renee to reply, he cut the connection.
Renee gasped and stared at her cell phone in utter shock. She couldn’t give credit to what Vin had said. “Val?” she called as she headed towards the kitchen.
————–
Steve was sitting in the back yard, sipping his coffee when Allison showed up. Her face showed a deep sadness and Steve felt his heart skipping a beat. He didn’t like that expression on her face.
Allison’s steps faltered for a second when he saw Steve looking at her. Steve smiled widely and gestured for her to take a seat at his side. Allison hesitated briefly but finally sat at the wooden table.
They both went silent until they heard Luna and Vin yelling at each other. The pain and anger in their voices impossible to ignore.
“It’s always this bad, isn’t it?” Allison whispered, sipping from her cup of coffee.
Steve nodded ‘yes’.
“I should have kept my mouth shut,” she absently added, her gaze fixed in a spot only she could see.
“It’s not your fault, Allison.” Steve said quietly.
It wasn’t anybody’s fault actually. Vin and Luna were able to come up with enough reasons to fight on their own. It had happened before and in fact it had become a daily routine, a painful, heartbreaking routine.
Allison nodded but didn’t say anything in return. Deep down she knew it and suspected that Vin and Luna would have found any other thing to start a fight. Allison had heard Luna crying the night before and it broke her heart. She felt powerless to offer Luna support and frustrated because her best friend seemed unable to find a way to connect with her husband.
“They will work things out. They always did in the past.” Steve grinned a little. “Vin and Luna love each other even if they have a weird way to show their feelings.”
Allison knew relationships were complicated. Hell, Luna was complicated and Vin wasn’t an easy ride, that was for sure. But at the same time, Luna didn’t seem ready to close the increasing distance with Vin any time soon, quite the opposite.
She suspected that Luna hadn’t said anything to Vin about her appointment, knowing that Vin would probably set up a meeting or something. Allison felt used by Luna and she didn’t like it. She should think about going back to her small apartment in New York.
Her life was complicated enough.
Steve cleared his throat. “Allison?”
Allison blinked and met his concerned gaze. Steve hesitated. It probably wasn’t the best time to ask Allison out, but he suspected that Allison was seriously considering going back to New York. Who knew when they would see each other again?
Steve frowned a little and Allison found herself chewing her bottom lip, fighting back a grin. He looked adorable and nervous as hell too.
Allison’s heart started beating faster within her chest and she smiled shyly.
“I know maybe this is not the best time to ask you this, but…I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me?” His voice sounded a little hoarse and Steve cleared his throat again. “Maybe a coffee or something, a movie maybe…”
Allison grinned a little more. “We’re already having a coffee together,” she teased him, silently thanking him for the distraction his words caused.
“Yeah, yeah…I know it but I was thinking…”
Allison laughed quietly, watching how he swallowed forcefully, his hands shaking a little. Damn! He was nervous all right.
“I’d love to, Steve, but…” Allison’s smile faltered and Steve thought his heart was going to explode any minute. “I wouldn’t like to leave Luna alone, you know? She needs me and…”
“It’s okay, Allison. I understand.” Steve sighed and forced a smile to spread on his lips. “Maybe on another occasion.”
Before Allison could answer Steve, Mike called him. “Yo, man!” Steve turned his head, looking at his partner. “Help me with this shit, bro.”
Steve frowned, watching Mike entering the huge tent and coming out a few minutes later with a big box, Vin’s CPU inside.
“What are you doing with that, man?” Steve got to his feet, glancing at Allison from the corner of his eye. She had stood too, narrowing her eyes.
“Vin is moving to his old place for a couple of days.” Mike answered as he headed towards the SUV.
Steve shook his head but moved fast, opening the trunk and Mike placed the CPU, securing it with an elastic net so it didn’t move.
“Just like that?” Allison asked. “And neither of you is gonna tell him anything at all?” In response Mike and Steve shrugged their shoulders.
“It’s none of our business, Allison.” Steve sighed hard.
“Yep, he’s the boss.” Mike added, turning around and heading towards the tent to keep packing.
Allison arched her brows at once. “But he can’t leave Luna alone.”
“She won’t be alone.” Vin’s voice replied and Allison spun around, looking at him. “Luna has Mike, Steve, Roman and now you. All of you can keep an eye on her.”
Allison set her jaw hard. “Vin, she doesn’t need us. She needs you; Luna needs her husband, at her side.”
Vin shook his head ‘no’. “No, you’re dead wrong.” He replied. “Luna doesn’t need me. She wants me and loves me, but she doesn’t need me, at least not right now.”
Allison sighed. “Come on, Vin, are you hearing yourself? Luna needs you now more than ever before, you cannot leave her.”
Vin chuckled sadly. “I’m not leaving her, Allison. We’re just taking some time apart to think about our marriage.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Vin! Luna’s pissed off and lost and she’s scared to death.”
“That makes two of us, then.” Vin rubbed his forehead. “Listen. Allison, I really appreciate your concern, but stay out of this.”
Allison had had enough and she spoke without thinking.
“I can’t do that and I won’t do it, Vin. It might not be my business but you need someone to smack some common sense into that thick skull of yours, asshole. Your wife is going through what is one of the hardest experiences ever. She has been locked within this house for months, watching her husband pushing her away over and over.”
She paused for a second to catch her breath and continued.
“All that she needs to know is that you still love her and that you want her and what did you do? You stopped making love to her and stopped touching her, refusing to share with her any intimacy at all. What the fuck were you expecting to happen, huh?”
Vin knit a brow and stared at Allison, his hands clenching and unclenching.
“I can’t fucking believe that you’re such a heartless, immature bastard. Jesus! Can’t you see it? Are you that blind or just plain stupid.”
Vin growled and Allison ignored him just to keep talking without giving a damn about Steve and Mike hearing them.
“You should be working things out with your fucking wife instead of running away like a damn coward, Vin! And if you don’t wake the hell up; you will lose Luna forever.”
A dead silence laid upon them as Allison panted hard, fighting back the sudden urge to slap Vin around.
Finally Vin chuckled. “You know, Allison? You’re right about one thing.” He paused and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up. “It’s none of your business.” Vin blew the smoke and turned around, heading back inside.
Part II
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house. (Later that day)
“Stubborn, little bugger…” Renee grinned, shaking her head.
“Did you just call my baby ‘little bugger’?” Luna knit a brow, pretending to be annoyed.
“Yep, that I did.” Renee grinned and Luna snickered, sipping from her iced tea.
Once more, she hadn’t been able to find the baby’s sex. It was clear that ‘Baby Diesel’ was proving that she or he was as stubborn as her/his father.
Allison snorted. “Like father like baby, I guess.” She frowned a little, remembering all the things that she had practically yelled at Vin and in front of his bodyguards. “I still can’t believe I told Vin all those things.” Allison met Luna’s gaze. “I’m not regretting one single word but I should have known better than to call him names in front of Mike and Steve.”
Now Renee was the one snorting. “You didn’t tell him anything he hasn’t heard before, Allison.”
“Yep, don’t worry too much.” Luna intervened, squeezing Allison’s hand. “He won’t bear a grudge to you; in fact he won’t give a damn at all.” Her smile faltered for a brief moment. “He doesn’t even give a shit about what I say anymore.”
The three of them went silent and Luna frowned a little, realizing that she was killing the good mood.
“Ok, enough of my shit. Let’s talk about something else.” Luna forced a huge smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Renee and Allison glanced at each other but they didn’t say anything. They both knew that Luna was doing her best to keep going after what had happened that morning. The fact that they were all seeing it coming didn’t ease the pain such a blow had caused her.
Renee cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure if she should say it aloud but she just couldn’t keep it to herself.
“My period failed…once.” Renee smiled slightly and Luna’s eyes sparkled like stars. “I know it’s soon and that there are a lot of possibilities of this turning out to be a false alarm…once more, but still…” she trailed off, frowning a little.
“That would be so cool!” Allison reached out and hugged Renee. “Wouldn’t it be great if both of you were pregnant at once?” She laughed and Luna felt her bottom lip quivering.
“That would be fucking wonderful, Renee!” Luna hugged Renee tightly, happy tears already rolling down unrestrained. “Did you tell Val already?”
Renee shook her head ‘no’. “Not yet…I didn’t want to cause him any more pain if…” she wiped a stray tear away, “I bought this pregnancy test but I don’t have enough guts to try it.” She laughed nervously. “I’m so damned scared…” Renee breathed.
“Well, you have to do it, honey.” Allison smiled.
Renee blinked. “You mean here? Now?”
“Why not?” Allison frowned. “Sooner or later you will have to know for sure.”
“Yeah, no better occasion than the present.” Luna reached out and took Renee’s hand in hers, squeezing softly. “If it’s ‘positive’, we will celebrate it with you.”
“What if it’s negative?” Renee whispered, looking back and forth between Allison and Luna.
“Then, we will hug you and will cry with you.” Luna cocked her head to one side, smiling warmly.
Renee rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what you need right now, more tears and sadness around you.” She sighed hard.
“Well, that’s exactly what friends are for, right?” Luna grinned in spite of her tears.
“Okay.” Renee smiled and stood, getting her purse. “Wish me luck.” She took a shaky breath, letting out the air slowly.
“You don’t need that shit, Renee.” Luna winked. “Go for it, baby, we will be right here waiting for you.”
“Yeah, like people in your business say, break a leg!” Allison laughed wickedly.
Renee snickered and turned around so fast that she tripped over the armchair, stubbing a toe.
“Goddamit!” She cursed aloud.
“Whoa, love! Not literally, sugar!” Allison joked and the three of them giggled.
Renee made her way to the house, limping a little and cursing under her breath. She was so excited about finding out if she was pregnant that not even a toe screaming in pain could stop her.
Allison and Luna laughed softly, watching her.
“Luna.” Steve called her and Luna turned her attention to him. He looked briefly at Allison and then cleared his throat. “I talked with Mike and we’re changing shifts. Is that okay with you?”
Luna blinked. “I thought you wanted the nights of this week free.” She frowned, puzzled, glancing from the corner of her eye to Allison who looked down, tensing visibly.
“Not anymore.” Steve shrugged his broad shoulders.
He didn’t want to make Allison feel bad for not going out with him, but the reality was that Steve felt like shit.
“It’s okay, honey. I don’t have any problem with it at all.” Luna answered warily; she could feel the invisible tension between Allison and Steve. And it was not sexual tension at all, but something odd.
“Thanks, Luna.” Steve smiled slightly. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The security agency will be sending two more guys, aside from the ones that they sent for Vin.”
Luna went serious in a heartbeat. “And who the fuck’s idea was that?
Steve sighed heavily. “It was Vin’s.”
Allison shut her eyes and Steve cringed inwardly, already anticipating Luna’s reaction. He knew that Luna would get mad.
“¡Coño! That fucker keeps making decisions without asking me!” Luna gritted her teeth, straightening in her seat. “I don’t want people I don’t know walking around my house, Steve.”
“They won’t be walking around the house, Luna, they will be outside.” Steve did his best to reason with her; he didn’t want to upset her, but she deserved to know, even if Vin had ordered for them to not worry her with anything at all. “One will be standing guard at the gates and the other will be around the garden. And it’s just at nights.” Steve explained softly; he knew how volatile Luna’s mood was in her current state. “I won’t let anyone enter the house, I promise.”
Luna opened her mouth to complain further when Renee showed up, a huge smile gracing her lips and fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
“We’ll talk about this shit later, Steve.” Luna coldly dismissed him.
Allison looked at Luna as if she had grown a second head; she wasn’t expecting Luna to talk to Steve in such a contemptuous tone of voice. It just didn’t suit her and felt almost insulting because of that fact.
Steve sighed hard but nodded ‘yes’ and turned around, heading back inside the house.
Allison followed him with her eyes and felt like shit. Steve seemed as if he was carrying the weight of the world upon his shoulders.
Luna pushed her fury aside and forced a smile. “And…”
Renee took a deep breath and smiled widely. She was going to answer when her cell phone rang. She cursed silently and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Renee? This is Moira Feldman, from the ‘LA Confidential’. We’ve been reliably informed that Mr. Vin Diesel and Miss Sheila Harley had an affair while shooting ‘SETH’. You already know we never publish anything if we don’t have a confirmation, but this time…well, my instinct tells me there’s something. So, I’d like to know what Mr. Diesel has to say, if he has to say something, that is, before publishing.”
The ‘LA Confidential’ wasn’t just any tabloid. If they published that shit, everybody would believe them because they always vetted every single piece of information before publishing it.
“I’m in a meeting, Moira. Can I call you back?” Renee replied sweetly, her gaze fixed in a spot only she could see.
“Sure thing, sweetheart, but don’t forget about me, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.” Renee cut the connection and, swallowing hard, she did her best to hide her sudden anger. She couldn’t believe that Vin was such a moron.
He was going to lose Luna forever in the blink of an eye just to make a success of a shitty movie. This was the last straw and Renee knew that Luna wouldn’t survive such a strike. She would see it as an unforgivable betrayal and that would be the end of their marriage.
“You okay, Renee?” Allison asked, sensing something was off.
“Renee, is everything okay?” Luna narrowed her eyes, concerned, watching Renee shaking slightly. “What’s going on, baby?”
They didn’t know it but Renee was using all her will to restrain her rage and pain. How could she tell Luna? Renee knew that she was going to break her best friend’s heart. Renee just couldn’t do it, not right now. Damn! She hated the business with everything in her at that very moment.
Renee blinked and lifted her gaze, meeting Luna’s concerned eyes. “It’s positive…” she whispered, smiling sadly.
“¡Coño!” Luna pressed her hand upon her chest. “You scared the hell out of me, woman!” She laughed nervously and standing, she hugged Renee tightly.
Renee’s gaze met Allison’s and Luna’s agent narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Her instincts went on full alert, screaming that something was wrong; very wrong.
Part III
Vin’s old house (at the same time)
Vin slammed closed the main door with such strength that the entire place seemed to tremble. He couldn’t believe his damned luck. His day was only getting worse and worse with every new hour that passed.
Closing his eyes, Vin leaned against the door. His head was going to explode any minute.
Not only he had fought with Luna first thing in the morning, packing his shit and moving to his old place, but the producer had cancelled their meeting at the last minute when Vin was already on his way to the man’s house because his grandson had fallen from a swing and had broken a wrist. To top it off, he had had to phone Mike to find how Luna’s appointment with her gynecologist had gone because she had disconnected her cell phone.
They still didn’t know the sex of the baby though and, secretly, Vin gave thanks for that. At least he hadn’t lost the chance of finding it at the same time as Luna.
“Did you have a bad day?”
Vin snapped his eyes open as soon as he heard Val’s voice. He was standing at the entrance of the salon, staring at him.
“You bet.” Vin sighed, heading directly to the bar, grabbing a bottle of whiskey.
Val narrowed his eyes. “Too early to drink, don’t you think?”
Vin chuckled coldly. “Never too early for that,” he replied, filling a glass and gulping half straight. Vin hissed softly, feeling the burning liquid drawing a fiery path down and gulped the rest. “What are you doing here? I thought you had errands to run this morning.” He refilled the glass and turned around.
“I found I had an unexpected important matter to deal with this morning.” Val’s cold tone of voice caused Vin to arch a brow, pulling out a cigarette.
“If you came to smack some common sense into my thick skull, I’ll tell you right off, I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures. I already got one this morning.” Vin paused, lighting up the cigarette, puffing deeply. “Luna is my wife and it’s my marriage and my life. So save the saliva.” He added, blowing the smoke through his nose.
“If you wanna throw your marriage through the window that’s your problem, not mine. I’m done giving you advice. You’re a big boy; you deal with your shit.” Val replied seriously. “I didn’t come to talk with you about yourself though.”
“Then, what’s the unexpected matter that…” Vin trailed off when Val turned around and without saying anything, he pressed the remote and the huge plasma screen showed them both, playing ‘Seth’ and ‘Miguel’; their roles in ‘SETH’.
“I was at One Race when someone from the Studio brought this.” Val added, raising the volume so that they both could hear their voices. Actually Vin’s voice because Val’s had been dubbed.
Vin took a deep puff from his cigarette and met Val’s gaze. “Listen, bro, I swear I didn’t know anything about that shit until last night, and I sure as hell didn’t give my consent for that shit either.”
Val narrowed his eyes. “I don’t buy it, Vin.”
“What, you think I had something to do with that?” Vin pointed a stiff finger in the screen’s direction. “And why the hell would I do such a thing, huh?”
“Well, for instance I can think of a couple of pretty good reasons.” Val deadpanned, his eyes fixed on Vin’s.
“Such as?”
“Jealousy!” Val snapped angrily. “You just have to be the fucking star, huh? You just can’t let anyone outshine you, right, Diesel?”
“Outshine me? You?” Vin laughed hard. “Get your big head out of your fat ass, Valentino!” He rolled his eyes, chuckling condescendingly. “Everything you’re done since we moved to LA has been because of me, you ungrateful son of a bitch. I’ve been the one pushing so you could stand in front of a fucking camera!” Vin shook his head absently, sipping from his drink. “Outshine me…”
“And you’ve also been making sure I never had a decent chance!” Val moved forward just a step, using all his will to not punch the shit out of Vin.
“For fuck’s sake, man! Do you really think I’ve been jeopardizing your career?” Vin’s brows arched at once, blinking in utter shock. “You’ve been in at least a dozen movies just because of me and me alone, you fucker! I was the one who made sure you had a fucking role in my fucking movies to begin with!”
“Puto pendejo de Mierda!” Val shouted “And playing what?! Just shitty roles when at least in half of them One Race was producing and you had a say on the casting!” Val felt his anger rising and rising with every new second that passed. “GT Commando, dispatcher, NSA agent, prisoner #1…I didn’t even have lines and when I had them I was dubbed, Vin! I don’t think you’ve been jeopardizing my career; I KNOW it, you egocentric bastard!!”
Fuck it! Vin let out a growl as he threw the glass across the room, shattering it into pieces.
“You listen to me, you little piece of shit.” Vin muttered through clenched teeth, closing the distance between them and grabbed Val’s collar. “I’ve done everything so that you had success; it is not my fault if you’re a shitty actor, you hear me?”
Val grunted and, grabbing Vin’s forearm hard, he shoved Vin back.
“Fuck you, man! I’m not a shitty actor and you know that too damn well or you wouldn’t have allowed that shit to happen.” Val hissed coldly. “Luna created that fucking role for me! You hear me? For me and me alone, and I did a motherfucking great job. It was my great chance after years of being under your fucking shadow and you freaked out ‘cause you realized I’m a better actor than you!!” Val pushed Vin hard and Vin stumbled backwards slightly.
“Luna created that role for you because she felt pity for poor, little Valentino, not because you were a good actor!” Vin retorted back with all the venom he could muster.
Val’s words were hurting him too much, his distrust felt like a stab in his heart and Vin wanted to hurt Val as much as Val was hurting him.
“I put you where you are, loser, and I did it for the very same reasons, because I felt pity for you. And If I hadn’t have done it, you would still be a mediocre, punch-drunk boxer.” Vin chuckled coldly.
Valentino’s vision washed red and, growling, he lunged forward, knocking Vin back. They both felt onto the floor and Val punched Vin. The hard blow caused Vin’s head to turn violently and he laughed, tasting blood. He had bit his tongue.
“Come to think of it you’re still a punch-drunk boxer, asshole.” Vin muttered, spitting out blood and grabbing Val’s collar they both rolled over, throwing punches at each other, cursing and shouting obscenities.
——————
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house (Later that night)
Steve let Roman enter the house and closed the door, setting the alarm. He couldn’t believe this fucking day was finally over. Steve felt as if nothing else could possibly go wrong now, since everything had gone to hell over the course of the day.
Pulling a bottle of water from the fridge, Steve took a seat at the table, sipping absently, and thinking about Luna’s reaction as soon as one of the new security guards told them that there were paparazzi standing guard at the main gates of ‘Black Star’.
Luna had gone through a tantrum, yelling at the top of her lungs about why the fuck they didn’t leave her alone once and for all. She couldn’t believe the gossip about Vin moving out of ‘Black Star’ had already made its way to the media. She didn’t know they were there for a whole other reason.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Steve leaned backwards, closing his eyes. There was complete silence around him and he gave thanks for that. Steve was sure that he wouldn’t be able to stand more yelling, cursing and crying. It was getting on his nerves.
The phone in the house had been ringing non-stop and every single time Steve had answered the calls, until Renee forwarded them to her cell phone; asking Steve to not say anything to Luna. Renee didn’t want Luna getting more upset than she already was.
Allison and Renee had told Luna that the media had found out about Vin moving, but they kept the part about the affair gossip for themselves.
Steve didn’t need to ask the reasons why. The gossip about Vin and Sheila having an affair while shooting would cause Luna to suffer a heart attack and neither of them wanted to feel responsible for that.
All of them knew that sooner rather than later, Luna would find out about that gossip, and when she did, she would be very pissed off with all of them for keeping the secret. They were just delaying the inevitable.
A cell phone rang and Steve snapped his eyes open. A moment later, he heard Allison’s voice answering.
“Hello?” A long pause and then. “What?!” Allison gasped.
He stood and followed the sound of her voice until he found her pacing back and forth in the salon. The TV was on, some late show on the screen. For some reason he thought it had something to do with Tyrone and went still, watching her with a concerned expression written on his face.
“You already know her answer to that, Larry.” Allison whispered softly as she met Steve’s eyes. “No comments.” She added, cutting the connection.
Steve got ready to go back to the kitchen when he heard Allison cursing under her breath.
He frowned, staring at Allison’s eyes. They were brimming with unshed tears, angry tears, and her lips were pressed in a thin line.
Steve didn’t need to be told. The gossip had already reached Luna’s side and so they had contacted her agent to find Luna’s version of the story.
“You gonna tell her?” Steve asked in a low tone of voice. “Tonight?”
“I have to, Steve. It’s not just gossip anymore.” Allison’s gaze hardened. “It seems Miss Sheila Harley’s agent confirmed that Vin Diesel had an affair with Sheila while they were shooting their upcoming movie.” Allison paused, sighing hard. “Luna will find the news published in the newspaper she reads every morning in their show business/society section.”
“It’s not true. That’s big bullshit.” Steve shook his head.
“Is it?” Allison narrowed her eyes. “You were with him 24/7, Steve.” She couldn’t help but her voice sounded accusatory.
Steve cursed silently. What had he been thinking about the shitty day being over? He thought about that day in the trailer and how many fights he had overheard between Vin and Luna because Vin was endlessly enjoying Sheila’s futile attempts to get into Vin’s pants.
He knew Vin would have been able to fuck Sheila and no one would have been able to find out. Steve knew Vin had done that a lot of times, before Luna had shown up in his life. But he also knew that once Vin and Luna started dating, things had changed.
Steve shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. He couldn’t assure 100% that it was gossip, because he himself wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know for sure, Allison, but what I do know is that Vin loves Luna.” Steve put as much reassurance as he could in his words.
“Well, he has the shittiest of ways to show his feelings, Steve.” Allison replied angrily. “I don’t want Luna finding about it in a newspaper. She will never forgive me.” She added seriously and taking a deep breath, Allison padded to Luna’s bedroom.
Steve sighed heavily.
Maybe Allison was right. It would be better if she was the one telling Luna. He only hoped Luna’s heart was strong enough to take another deadly blow. Maybe he should call the Cedars, just in case.
next…
Secrets 61
Chapter 61
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house (the following morning)
The following morning when Vin entered the kitchen, he found Luna and Allison laughing as they had breakfast. He felt a small pang of jealousy watching them together.
There was a time not so far from the present day that Luna waited for him and they had breakfast together while talking about their plans for the day.
“Morning, ladies.” Vin headed directly to the coffee pot and, filling a cup, he took a seat at Luna’s side. “Morning, baby, how you feeling today?” he leaned forward, kissing Luna’s temple.
“I’m fine, Vin.” Luna smiled, but he noticed that it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hey, morning, Vin.” Allison intervened, feeling an invisible tension already rising. “We’re thinking about what to do today,” she smiled.
“Cool,” Vin sipped from his coffee. “Did you have something in mind?” He looked at Allison.
“Yeah, we’re trying to decide if we should go for a short walk after Luna’s appointment at the hospital, or come back here and lie naked under the sun, tanning our gorgeous bodies.” Allison waggled her eyebrows, giggling and Luna snickered.
Vin frowned, returning his attention to Luna. “Do you have an appointment today?”
Luna nodded. “Yep, with my gyno. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find out the baby’s sex today,” she grinned.
“And why you didn’t tell me?” Vin went serious, straightening in his seat.
“Oh, I did.” Luna replied, nonchalant. “Problem is, you don’t listen to me anymore, baby.”
In response Vin growled under his breath, tightening his jaw hard. “I do listen to you, Luna,” he muttered.
“No, you don’t, but it’s okay.” Luna sipped from her orange juice. “It’s not like you can’t come with us, right?” she met his angered gaze.
Allison looked down, suddenly really interested in her salad fruit. She thought that Vin already knew about the check up at the hospital.
Vin glanced at Allison for a brief moment and then looked at Luna again. “I’ve got a meeting on the other side of the city.”
Luna chuckled. “Well, you can cancel it.”
Vin sighed hard. “I can’t do that, Luna. The guy is a producer and it’s almost impossible to get an appointment with him.” Vin paused, watching Luna arching a brow. “It’s a priceless opportunity for me to talk to him about ‘Hannibal’.”
Luna shook her head in disbelief. “I see. So you’re telling me that having a meeting with some guy who might be or might not be interested in your precious project is more important than finding out the sex of your child.” She chuckled coldly, looking at Allison. “I think I’m naming the baby ‘Hannibal’ if he’s a boy, at least that way his own father would show a little bit of interest in him.”
Vin felt his blood boiling within his veins and took a slow breath, doing his best to calm himself down. He didn’t want to have a scene in front of Allison.
“It is not my precious project but our precious project and…”
Luna cut him off. “Our baby is our precious project, Vin, not fucking ‘Hannibal’.” Luna snapped, getting to her feet. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about that motherfucker, I swear. Can’t fucking believe you’re so obsessed with a guy that has been dead for centuries while your own child is alive and kicking within my fucking womb right here.” Luna grabbed her rounded belly.
Vin gritted his teeth and, slowly, he got to his feet. “You sure you want to have this conversation now?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Conversation?” Luna retorted, laughing bitterly. “I don’t remember the last time we had one of those, Vin,” she hissed, standing in front of him. “And, yeah, let’s have this ‘conversation’ now. Why not, eh? Allison is family,” Luna glanced at her agent, “right, Allison?” She asked and then looked back at Vin. “It’s not like our close friends and family are not aware of our domestic issues anyway. In fact everybody seems to know we have problems, except you, of course. You keep thinking we’re fine!”
Allison got to her feet and, without saying a word she exited the kitchen, heading directly to the back yard. She felt very uncomfortable and couldn’t walk fast enough to put distance between her and the couple.
Luna watched Allison and felt bad for her but she was mad and couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. “See? Now not even Allison wants to be close to me.”
“And no wonder why.” Vin snapped back. “You’ve been a cold bitch to everybody for weeks, including me, and I’m starting to be fed up with your bullshit, Luna. Why the hell do you have to act like this?”
Luna raised her voice. “Because I’m fucking pregnant!! I’m allowed to bitch as much as I feel like, Vin, and if you are fed up with my bullshit, then you already know what you have to do!”
“Yeah?” Vin laughed dryly. “And what’s that?”
“Pack your shit and get the fuck out of my house!” Luna retorted, slamming her hand onto the counter. “At the end it’s not like you’re living here anymore.”
Vin blinked. “You’re throwing me out of my fucking house?” he asked, not being able to believe what Luna had said.
“My house.” Luna retorted coldly and moved past him. In seconds, Vin grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
“You’re nuts if you think I’m going anywhere far from you, Luna,” he whispered coldly.
“Don’t touch me,” she muttered, shoving Vin’s hand off.
In response, Vin knit a brow and swallowed the smartass reply that popped within his brain.
Luna took a slow, deep breath and did her best to calm down a bit. Her heart had started racing wildly.
“Listen, Vin, I love you and I want you, but I don’t need you, at least not right now.” Luna paused and swallowed hard. “I think we should give ourselves some time apart, Vin. All this tension is affecting me too much and I fear I’m gonna end up losing the baby if we keep fighting like this.”
Vin’s breath caught in his throat and he swallowed forcefully against an invisible knot that was choking his life.
“You really want me to go?” Vin asked, his eyes flickering to Luna’s.
Luna shook her head ‘no’. “No, Vin. What I really want is you making love to me, showing me you love me as much as I love you. I want you to stop pushing me away, and start letting me in. I want you fighting for me and not with me. I want you showing me you really care for me, allowing me to be with you. I want to feel loved and respected and to be sure that I’m the very first thing for you.” Luna paused and blinked her silent tears. “That’s what I really want, Vin and if you’re not ready to give me that, then, please, leave me alone.”
Vin went silent, thinking about Luna’s words. He hadn’t ever been good at expressing his feelings in words; he had always been more a man of action. Even though each time the words ‘I love you’ passed his lips, he actually meant them; still Vin had said and had expressed much more while giving Luna a massage or bathing her than repeating no end how deeply in love he was with her.
So naturally when all those moments of complete intimacy stopped taking place, Luna’s insecurities returned full force. Vin could understand her but he was so scared of hurting her or the baby…how was he supposed to get past his irrational fear? How was he going to do what Luna was asking for?
“This is not the way to save our marriage, Luna.” Vin’s sad eyes flickered to hers.
“What marriage?” Luna whispered coldly. “I’ve got a piece of paper that says we’re married, but, that’s all I have, Vin. I can’t count on you for anything and I’m tired of trying to reach you. This shouldn’t be so damn hard to deal with. I don’t have enough strength left to fight anymore. I need a little piece of mind.”
Vin felt his heart stopping dead and he took a ragged breath to force the air though his lungs. He was being a mature and responsible husband, right? He had been doing the right thing, right?
Wrong, Vincent, he scolded himself silently as his vision blurred.
Vin wanted to save their marriage, more than anything, but he was tired too and, just like Luna, he needed a little piece of mind as well. So Vin sighed hard and took a step backwards.
“Maybe you’re right, Luna. Maybe we need to be apart for a few days.” Vin finally said.
Luna closed her eyes, feeling her heart breaking apart. What had she expected? It was true that she hadn’t told him about her appointment, but she knew it wouldn’t have made any difference at all. Not anymore.
It was the time to stop thinking about Vin and start thinking about herself in the first place. No more sacrifices for a man who kept proving time and again that she would always come in second place after his career.
“Fine.” Luna whispered and with that she headed towards the bedroom, closing the door at her back.
A moment later Mike entered the kitchen with Roman and he went still, watching Vin standing in the kitchen, his hands closed in fists and his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Vin’s bodyguard had taken the dog for a walk as soon as Steve showed up early that morning.
“Vin?” Mike asked hesitantly, releasing Roman’s leash. In seconds the dog trotted fast, heading to the main bedroom.
Vin followed Roman with his eyes, watching him tapping the door franticly, whining and barking. In seconds the door opened and Roman entered the room, waving his tail. The door closed and Vin heard the lock.
Sighing hard, he roughly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Pack my shit, the stuff in the tent. I’m moving to my old place for a few days.” Vin sniffed slightly.
“But…” Mike blinked, shocked to the core.
“Do it, Michael!” Vin growled over his shoulder and, pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Renee’s number.
Mike let out a heavy sigh and headed towards the tent. He thought it was the worst time to make such a decision but at the end he was just an employee. Mike knew Vin wouldn’t change his mind, he had showed that firm determination he rarely used lately.
Two tones and Renee answered. “Good morning, Vin.” Renee’s voice greeted him.
“Whatever.” Vin replied coldly. “Listen, I want you to call the security agency. I’m gonna need two new bodyguards in about an hour.”
Renee blinked. “Why?”
Vin ignored her and continued. “And call the cleaning company; tell them to send a cleaning crew to my old place.”
“Vin, what’s going on?” Renee’s concerned voice inquired.
“Make sure the house is ready at midday.” Vin answered and without giving time for Renee to reply, he cut the connection.
Renee gasped and stared at her cell phone in utter shock. She couldn’t give credit to what Vin had said. “Val?” she called as she headed towards the kitchen.
————–
Steve was sitting in the back yard, sipping his coffee when Allison showed up. Her face showed a deep sadness and Steve felt his heart skipping a beat. He didn’t like that expression on her face.
Allison’s steps faltered for a second when he saw Steve looking at her. Steve smiled widely and gestured for her to take a seat at his side. Allison hesitated briefly but finally sat at the wooden table.
They both went silent until they heard Luna and Vin yelling at each other. The pain and anger in their voices impossible to ignore.
“It’s always this bad, isn’t it?” Allison whispered, sipping from her cup of coffee.
Steve nodded ‘yes’.
“I should have kept my mouth shut,” she absently added, her gaze fixed in a spot only she could see.
“It’s not your fault, Allison.” Steve said quietly.
It wasn’t anybody’s fault actually. Vin and Luna were able to come up with enough reasons to fight on their own. It had happened before and in fact it had become a daily routine, a painful, heartbreaking routine.
Allison nodded but didn’t say anything in return. Deep down she knew it and suspected that Vin and Luna would have found any other thing to start a fight. Allison had heard Luna crying the night before and it broke her heart. She felt powerless to offer Luna support and frustrated because her best friend seemed unable to find a way to connect with her husband.
“They will work things out. They always did in the past.” Steve grinned a little. “Vin and Luna love each other even if they have a weird way to show their feelings.”
Allison knew relationships were complicated. Hell, Luna was complicated and Vin wasn’t an easy ride, that was for sure. But at the same time, Luna didn’t seem ready to close the increasing distance with Vin any time soon, quite the opposite.
She suspected that Luna hadn’t said anything to Vin about her appointment, knowing that Vin would probably set up a meeting or something. Allison felt used by Luna and she didn’t like it. She should think about going back to her small apartment in New York.
Her life was complicated enough.
Steve cleared his throat. “Allison?”
Allison blinked and met his concerned gaze. Steve hesitated. It probably wasn’t the best time to ask Allison out, but he suspected that Allison was seriously considering going back to New York. Who knew when they would see each other again?
Steve frowned a little and Allison found herself chewing her bottom lip, fighting back a grin. He looked adorable and nervous as hell too.
Allison’s heart started beating faster within her chest and she smiled shyly.
“I know maybe this is not the best time to ask you this, but…I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me?” His voice sounded a little hoarse and Steve cleared his throat again. “Maybe a coffee or something, a movie maybe…”
Allison grinned a little more. “We’re already having a coffee together,” she teased him, silently thanking him for the distraction his words caused.
“Yeah, yeah…I know it but I was thinking…”
Allison laughed quietly, watching how he swallowed forcefully, his hands shaking a little. Damn! He was nervous all right.
“I’d love to, Steve, but…” Allison’s smile faltered and Steve thought his heart was going to explode any minute. “I wouldn’t like to leave Luna alone, you know? She needs me and…”
“It’s okay, Allison. I understand.” Steve sighed and forced a smile to spread on his lips. “Maybe on another occasion.”
Before Allison could answer Steve, Mike called him. “Yo, man!” Steve turned his head, looking at his partner. “Help me with this shit, bro.”
Steve frowned, watching Mike entering the huge tent and coming out a few minutes later with a big box, Vin’s CPU inside.
“What are you doing with that, man?” Steve got to his feet, glancing at Allison from the corner of his eye. She had stood too, narrowing her eyes.
“Vin is moving to his old place for a couple of days.” Mike answered as he headed towards the SUV.
Steve shook his head but moved fast, opening the trunk and Mike placed the CPU, securing it with an elastic net so it didn’t move.
“Just like that?” Allison asked. “And neither of you is gonna tell him anything at all?” In response Mike and Steve shrugged their shoulders.
“It’s none of our business, Allison.” Steve sighed hard.
“Yep, he’s the boss.” Mike added, turning around and heading towards the tent to keep packing.
Allison arched her brows at once. “But he can’t leave Luna alone.”
“She won’t be alone.” Vin’s voice replied and Allison spun around, looking at him. “Luna has Mike, Steve, Roman and now you. All of you can keep an eye on her.”
Allison set her jaw hard. “Vin, she doesn’t need us. She needs you; Luna needs her husband, at her side.”
Vin shook his head ‘no’. “No, you’re dead wrong.” He replied. “Luna doesn’t need me. She wants me and loves me, but she doesn’t need me, at least not right now.”
Allison sighed. “Come on, Vin, are you hearing yourself? Luna needs you now more than ever before, you cannot leave her.”
Vin chuckled sadly. “I’m not leaving her, Allison. We’re just taking some time apart to think about our marriage.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Vin! Luna’s pissed off and lost and she’s scared to death.”
“That makes two of us, then.” Vin rubbed his forehead. “Listen. Allison, I really appreciate your concern, but stay out of this.”
Allison had had enough and she spoke without thinking.
“I can’t do that and I won’t do it, Vin. It might not be my business but you need someone to smack some common sense into that thick skull of yours, asshole. Your wife is going through what is one of the hardest experiences ever. She has been locked within this house for months, watching her husband pushing her away over and over.”
She paused for a second to catch her breath and continued.
“All that she needs to know is that you still love her and that you want her and what did you do? You stopped making love to her and stopped touching her, refusing to share with her any intimacy at all. What the fuck were you expecting to happen, huh?”
Vin knit a brow and stared at Allison, his hands clenching and unclenching.
“I can’t fucking believe that you’re such a heartless, immature bastard. Jesus! Can’t you see it? Are you that blind or just plain stupid.”
Vin growled and Allison ignored him just to keep talking without giving a damn about Steve and Mike hearing them.
“You should be working things out with your fucking wife instead of running away like a damn coward, Vin! And if you don’t wake the hell up; you will lose Luna forever.”
A dead silence laid upon them as Allison panted hard, fighting back the sudden urge to slap Vin around.
Finally Vin chuckled. “You know, Allison? You’re right about one thing.” He paused and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up. “It’s none of your business.” Vin blew the smoke and turned around, heading back inside.
Part II
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house. (Later that day)
“Stubborn, little bugger…” Renee grinned, shaking her head.
“Did you just call my baby ‘little bugger’?” Luna knit a brow, pretending to be annoyed.
“Yep, that I did.” Renee grinned and Luna snickered, sipping from her iced tea.
Once more, she hadn’t been able to find the baby’s sex. It was clear that ‘Baby Diesel’ was proving that she or he was as stubborn as her/his father.
Allison snorted. “Like father like baby, I guess.” She frowned a little, remembering all the things that she had practically yelled at Vin and in front of his bodyguards. “I still can’t believe I told Vin all those things.” Allison met Luna’s gaze. “I’m not regretting one single word but I should have known better than to call him names in front of Mike and Steve.”
Now Renee was the one snorting. “You didn’t tell him anything he hasn’t heard before, Allison.”
“Yep, don’t worry too much.” Luna intervened, squeezing Allison’s hand. “He won’t bear a grudge to you; in fact he won’t give a damn at all.” Her smile faltered for a brief moment. “He doesn’t even give a shit about what I say anymore.”
The three of them went silent and Luna frowned a little, realizing that she was killing the good mood.
“Ok, enough of my shit. Let’s talk about something else.” Luna forced a huge smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Renee and Allison glanced at each other but they didn’t say anything. They both knew that Luna was doing her best to keep going after what had happened that morning. The fact that they were all seeing it coming didn’t ease the pain such a blow had caused her.
Renee cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure if she should say it aloud but she just couldn’t keep it to herself.
“My period failed…once.” Renee smiled slightly and Luna’s eyes sparkled like stars. “I know it’s soon and that there are a lot of possibilities of this turning out to be a false alarm…once more, but still…” she trailed off, frowning a little.
“That would be so cool!” Allison reached out and hugged Renee. “Wouldn’t it be great if both of you were pregnant at once?” She laughed and Luna felt her bottom lip quivering.
“That would be fucking wonderful, Renee!” Luna hugged Renee tightly, happy tears already rolling down unrestrained. “Did you tell Val already?”
Renee shook her head ‘no’. “Not yet…I didn’t want to cause him any more pain if…” she wiped a stray tear away, “I bought this pregnancy test but I don’t have enough guts to try it.” She laughed nervously. “I’m so damned scared…” Renee breathed.
“Well, you have to do it, honey.” Allison smiled.
Renee blinked. “You mean here? Now?”
“Why not?” Allison frowned. “Sooner or later you will have to know for sure.”
“Yeah, no better occasion than the present.” Luna reached out and took Renee’s hand in hers, squeezing softly. “If it’s ‘positive’, we will celebrate it with you.”
“What if it’s negative?” Renee whispered, looking back and forth between Allison and Luna.
“Then, we will hug you and will cry with you.” Luna cocked her head to one side, smiling warmly.
Renee rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what you need right now, more tears and sadness around you.” She sighed hard.
“Well, that’s exactly what friends are for, right?” Luna grinned in spite of her tears.
“Okay.” Renee smiled and stood, getting her purse. “Wish me luck.” She took a shaky breath, letting out the air slowly.
“You don’t need that shit, Renee.” Luna winked. “Go for it, baby, we will be right here waiting for you.”
“Yeah, like people in your business say, break a leg!” Allison laughed wickedly.
Renee snickered and turned around so fast that she tripped over the armchair, stubbing a toe.
“Goddamit!” She cursed aloud.
“Whoa, love! Not literally, sugar!” Allison joked and the three of them giggled.
Renee made her way to the house, limping a little and cursing under her breath. She was so excited about finding out if she was pregnant that not even a toe screaming in pain could stop her.
Allison and Luna laughed softly, watching her.
“Luna.” Steve called her and Luna turned her attention to him. He looked briefly at Allison and then cleared his throat. “I talked with Mike and we’re changing shifts. Is that okay with you?”
Luna blinked. “I thought you wanted the nights of this week free.” She frowned, puzzled, glancing from the corner of her eye to Allison who looked down, tensing visibly.
“Not anymore.” Steve shrugged his broad shoulders.
He didn’t want to make Allison feel bad for not going out with him, but the reality was that Steve felt like shit.
“It’s okay, honey. I don’t have any problem with it at all.” Luna answered warily; she could feel the invisible tension between Allison and Steve. And it was not sexual tension at all, but something odd.
“Thanks, Luna.” Steve smiled slightly. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The security agency will be sending two more guys, aside from the ones that they sent for Vin.”
Luna went serious in a heartbeat. “And who the fuck’s idea was that?
Steve sighed heavily. “It was Vin’s.”
Allison shut her eyes and Steve cringed inwardly, already anticipating Luna’s reaction. He knew that Luna would get mad.
“¡Coño! That fucker keeps making decisions without asking me!” Luna gritted her teeth, straightening in her seat. “I don’t want people I don’t know walking around my house, Steve.”
“They won’t be walking around the house, Luna, they will be outside.” Steve did his best to reason with her; he didn’t want to upset her, but she deserved to know, even if Vin had ordered for them to not worry her with anything at all. “One will be standing guard at the gates and the other will be around the garden. And it’s just at nights.” Steve explained softly; he knew how volatile Luna’s mood was in her current state. “I won’t let anyone enter the house, I promise.”
Luna opened her mouth to complain further when Renee showed up, a huge smile gracing her lips and fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
“We’ll talk about this shit later, Steve.” Luna coldly dismissed him.
Allison looked at Luna as if she had grown a second head; she wasn’t expecting Luna to talk to Steve in such a contemptuous tone of voice. It just didn’t suit her and felt almost insulting because of that fact.
Steve sighed hard but nodded ‘yes’ and turned around, heading back inside the house.
Allison followed him with her eyes and felt like shit. Steve seemed as if he was carrying the weight of the world upon his shoulders.
Luna pushed her fury aside and forced a smile. “And…”
Renee took a deep breath and smiled widely. She was going to answer when her cell phone rang. She cursed silently and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Renee? This is Moira Feldman, from the ‘LA Confidential’. We’ve been reliably informed that Mr. Vin Diesel and Miss Sheila Harley had an affair while shooting ‘SETH’. You already know we never publish anything if we don’t have a confirmation, but this time…well, my instinct tells me there’s something. So, I’d like to know what Mr. Diesel has to say, if he has to say something, that is, before publishing.”
The ‘LA Confidential’ wasn’t just any tabloid. If they published that shit, everybody would believe them because they always vetted every single piece of information before publishing it.
“I’m in a meeting, Moira. Can I call you back?” Renee replied sweetly, her gaze fixed in a spot only she could see.
“Sure thing, sweetheart, but don’t forget about me, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.” Renee cut the connection and, swallowing hard, she did her best to hide her sudden anger. She couldn’t believe that Vin was such a moron.
He was going to lose Luna forever in the blink of an eye just to make a success of a shitty movie. This was the last straw and Renee knew that Luna wouldn’t survive such a strike. She would see it as an unforgivable betrayal and that would be the end of their marriage.
“You okay, Renee?” Allison asked, sensing something was off.
“Renee, is everything okay?” Luna narrowed her eyes, concerned, watching Renee shaking slightly. “What’s going on, baby?”
They didn’t know it but Renee was using all her will to restrain her rage and pain. How could she tell Luna? Renee knew that she was going to break her best friend’s heart. Renee just couldn’t do it, not right now. Damn! She hated the business with everything in her at that very moment.
Renee blinked and lifted her gaze, meeting Luna’s concerned eyes. “It’s positive…” she whispered, smiling sadly.
“¡Coño!” Luna pressed her hand upon her chest. “You scared the hell out of me, woman!” She laughed nervously and standing, she hugged Renee tightly.
Renee’s gaze met Allison’s and Luna’s agent narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Her instincts went on full alert, screaming that something was wrong; very wrong.
Part III
Vin’s old house (at the same time)
Vin slammed closed the main door with such strength that the entire place seemed to tremble. He couldn’t believe his damned luck. His day was only getting worse and worse with every new hour that passed.
Closing his eyes, Vin leaned against the door. His head was going to explode any minute.
Not only he had fought with Luna first thing in the morning, packing his shit and moving to his old place, but the producer had cancelled their meeting at the last minute when Vin was already on his way to the man’s house because his grandson had fallen from a swing and had broken a wrist. To top it off, he had had to phone Mike to find how Luna’s appointment with her gynecologist had gone because she had disconnected her cell phone.
They still didn’t know the sex of the baby though and, secretly, Vin gave thanks for that. At least he hadn’t lost the chance of finding it at the same time as Luna.
“Did you have a bad day?”
Vin snapped his eyes open as soon as he heard Val’s voice. He was standing at the entrance of the salon, staring at him.
“You bet.” Vin sighed, heading directly to the bar, grabbing a bottle of whiskey.
Val narrowed his eyes. “Too early to drink, don’t you think?”
Vin chuckled coldly. “Never too early for that,” he replied, filling a glass and gulping half straight. Vin hissed softly, feeling the burning liquid drawing a fiery path down and gulped the rest. “What are you doing here? I thought you had errands to run this morning.” He refilled the glass and turned around.
“I found I had an unexpected important matter to deal with this morning.” Val’s cold tone of voice caused Vin to arch a brow, pulling out a cigarette.
“If you came to smack some common sense into my thick skull, I’ll tell you right off, I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures. I already got one this morning.” Vin paused, lighting up the cigarette, puffing deeply. “Luna is my wife and it’s my marriage and my life. So save the saliva.” He added, blowing the smoke through his nose.
“If you wanna throw your marriage through the window that’s your problem, not mine. I’m done giving you advice. You’re a big boy; you deal with your shit.” Val replied seriously. “I didn’t come to talk with you about yourself though.”
“Then, what’s the unexpected matter that…” Vin trailed off when Val turned around and without saying anything, he pressed the remote and the huge plasma screen showed them both, playing ‘Seth’ and ‘Miguel’; their roles in ‘SETH’.
“I was at One Race when someone from the Studio brought this.” Val added, raising the volume so that they both could hear their voices. Actually Vin’s voice because Val’s had been dubbed.
Vin took a deep puff from his cigarette and met Val’s gaze. “Listen, bro, I swear I didn’t know anything about that shit until last night, and I sure as hell didn’t give my consent for that shit either.”
Val narrowed his eyes. “I don’t buy it, Vin.”
“What, you think I had something to do with that?” Vin pointed a stiff finger in the screen’s direction. “And why the hell would I do such a thing, huh?”
“Well, for instance I can think of a couple of pretty good reasons.” Val deadpanned, his eyes fixed on Vin’s.
“Such as?”
“Jealousy!” Val snapped angrily. “You just have to be the fucking star, huh? You just can’t let anyone outshine you, right, Diesel?”
“Outshine me? You?” Vin laughed hard. “Get your big head out of your fat ass, Valentino!” He rolled his eyes, chuckling condescendingly. “Everything you’re done since we moved to LA has been because of me, you ungrateful son of a bitch. I’ve been the one pushing so you could stand in front of a fucking camera!” Vin shook his head absently, sipping from his drink. “Outshine me…”
“And you’ve also been making sure I never had a decent chance!” Val moved forward just a step, using all his will to not punch the shit out of Vin.
“For fuck’s sake, man! Do you really think I’ve been jeopardizing your career?” Vin’s brows arched at once, blinking in utter shock. “You’ve been in at least a dozen movies just because of me and me alone, you fucker! I was the one who made sure you had a fucking role in my fucking movies to begin with!”
“Puto pendejo de Mierda!” Val shouted “And playing what?! Just shitty roles when at least in half of them One Race was producing and you had a say on the casting!” Val felt his anger rising and rising with every new second that passed. “GT Commando, dispatcher, NSA agent, prisoner #1…I didn’t even have lines and when I had them I was dubbed, Vin! I don’t think you’ve been jeopardizing my career; I KNOW it, you egocentric bastard!!”
Fuck it! Vin let out a growl as he threw the glass across the room, shattering it into pieces.
“You listen to me, you little piece of shit.” Vin muttered through clenched teeth, closing the distance between them and grabbed Val’s collar. “I’ve done everything so that you had success; it is not my fault if you’re a shitty actor, you hear me?”
Val grunted and, grabbing Vin’s forearm hard, he shoved Vin back.
“Fuck you, man! I’m not a shitty actor and you know that too damn well or you wouldn’t have allowed that shit to happen.” Val hissed coldly. “Luna created that fucking role for me! You hear me? For me and me alone, and I did a motherfucking great job. It was my great chance after years of being under your fucking shadow and you freaked out ‘cause you realized I’m a better actor than you!!” Val pushed Vin hard and Vin stumbled backwards slightly.
“Luna created that role for you because she felt pity for poor, little Valentino, not because you were a good actor!” Vin retorted back with all the venom he could muster.
Val’s words were hurting him too much, his distrust felt like a stab in his heart and Vin wanted to hurt Val as much as Val was hurting him.
“I put you where you are, loser, and I did it for the very same reasons, because I felt pity for you. And If I hadn’t have done it, you would still be a mediocre, punch-drunk boxer.” Vin chuckled coldly.
Valentino’s vision washed red and, growling, he lunged forward, knocking Vin back. They both felt onto the floor and Val punched Vin. The hard blow caused Vin’s head to turn violently and he laughed, tasting blood. He had bit his tongue.
“Come to think of it you’re still a punch-drunk boxer, asshole.” Vin muttered, spitting out blood and grabbing Val’s collar they both rolled over, throwing punches at each other, cursing and shouting obscenities.
——————
Black Star. Vin’s and Luna’s house (Later that night)
Steve let Roman enter the house and closed the door, setting the alarm. He couldn’t believe this fucking day was finally over. Steve felt as if nothing else could possibly go wrong now, since everything had gone to hell over the course of the day.
Pulling a bottle of water from the fridge, Steve took a seat at the table, sipping absently, and thinking about Luna’s reaction as soon as one of the new security guards told them that there were paparazzi standing guard at the main gates of ‘Black Star’.
Luna had gone through a tantrum, yelling at the top of her lungs about why the fuck they didn’t leave her alone once and for all. She couldn’t believe the gossip about Vin moving out of ‘Black Star’ had already made its way to the media. She didn’t know they were there for a whole other reason.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Steve leaned backwards, closing his eyes. There was complete silence around him and he gave thanks for that. Steve was sure that he wouldn’t be able to stand more yelling, cursing and crying. It was getting on his nerves.
The phone in the house had been ringing non-stop and every single time Steve had answered the calls, until Renee forwarded them to her cell phone; asking Steve to not say anything to Luna. Renee didn’t want Luna getting more upset than she already was.
Allison and Renee had told Luna that the media had found out about Vin moving, but they kept the part about the affair gossip for themselves.
Steve didn’t need to ask the reasons why. The gossip about Vin and Sheila having an affair while shooting would cause Luna to suffer a heart attack and neither of them wanted to feel responsible for that.
All of them knew that sooner rather than later, Luna would find out about that gossip, and when she did, she would be very pissed off with all of them for keeping the secret. They were just delaying the inevitable.
A cell phone rang and Steve snapped his eyes open. A moment later, he heard Allison’s voice answering.
“Hello?” A long pause and then. “What?!” Allison gasped.
He stood and followed the sound of her voice until he found her pacing back and forth in the salon. The TV was on, some late show on the screen. For some reason he thought it had something to do with Tyrone and went still, watching her with a concerned expression written on his face.
“You already know her answer to that, Larry.” Allison whispered softly as she met Steve’s eyes. “No comments.” She added, cutting the connection.
Steve got ready to go back to the kitchen when he heard Allison cursing under her breath.
He frowned, staring at Allison’s eyes. They were brimming with unshed tears, angry tears, and her lips were pressed in a thin line.
Steve didn’t need to be told. The gossip had already reached Luna’s side and so they had contacted her agent to find Luna’s version of the story.
“You gonna tell her?” Steve asked in a low tone of voice. “Tonight?”
“I have to, Steve. It’s not just gossip anymore.” Allison’s gaze hardened. “It seems Miss Sheila Harley’s agent confirmed that Vin Diesel had an affair with Sheila while they were shooting their upcoming movie.” Allison paused, sighing hard. “Luna will find the news published in the newspaper she reads every morning in their show business/society section.”
“It’s not true. That’s big bullshit.” Steve shook his head.
“Is it?” Allison narrowed her eyes. “You were with him 24/7, Steve.” She couldn’t help but her voice sounded accusatory.
Steve cursed silently. What had he been thinking about the shitty day being over? He thought about that day in the trailer and how many fights he had overheard between Vin and Luna because Vin was endlessly enjoying Sheila’s futile attempts to get into Vin’s pants.
He knew Vin would have been able to fuck Sheila and no one would have been able to find out. Steve knew Vin had done that a lot of times, before Luna had shown up in his life. But he also knew that once Vin and Luna started dating, things had changed.
Steve shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. He couldn’t assure 100% that it was gossip, because he himself wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know for sure, Allison, but what I do know is that Vin loves Luna.” Steve put as much reassurance as he could in his words.
“Well, he has the shittiest of ways to show his feelings, Steve.” Allison replied angrily. “I don’t want Luna finding about it in a newspaper. She will never forgive me.” She added seriously and taking a deep breath, Allison padded to Luna’s bedroom.
Steve sighed heavily.
Maybe Allison was right. It would be better if she was the one telling Luna. He only hoped Luna’s heart was strong enough to take another deadly blow. Maybe he should call the Cedars, just in case.
next…