Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
She shook her head. “All I remember is being mad at you. . .and walking off to meet that couple.”
Sighing, I unfolded my arms and went over to the nightstand. Once there, I picked up the remote control, sat down next to Emily on the bed, and turned on the television. “Let us have a relaxing morning, get some breakfast, and then discuss last night later.”
The screen showed the local news. Everything was in Italian. I changed the channel several times and stopped when I saw cartoons.
Paolo moved his head from Emily’s breasts.
On the screen, a black bird ran around with half of an eggshell on his head.
Paolo shrieked, “Binky!”
I frowned and set the remote down on the bed.
There, that should keep him busy.
Paolo grinned at the screen.
I turned to Emily.
She had been watching me with a sad expression. “Did I. . .”
I tensed.
Dancing, the bird wiggled his hips and flapped his wings. The stupid eggshell remained on his head.
Paolo chuckled.
Emily lowered her voice. “Did I kill the couple?”
Of course, my mouse, would figure it out, before I told her.
Surely, I wore a strained expression.
She closed her eyes. “Oh my God.”
“Mysh.”
She remained like that.
The line of my jaw twitched. “It was all my fault. I take full responsibility for their deaths.”
She opened her eyes. “Were. . ?”
“Yes?”
“W-were they bad?”
“They probably were—”
“No, Kaz.” She shook her head. “Did you have any indication that something was actually wrong with them?”
“That is not important—”
“It is to me—”
“Their deaths are on my hands—”
“Not if my hands were the ones to kill them—”
“Stop it.” I sneered. “I pushed you, knowing how you felt about the boy. It made Lunita come out and—”
“That has nothing to do with my killing two innocent people—”
“It was not you.”
“It was.”
“Enough. That was Lunita.”
She moved her view to the television. “Where are the bodies now?”
“Everything is cleaned up.”
“I want to see what I did.”
“Absolutely not.”
She turned back to me. Those beautiful eyes watered. “Kaz, how am I going to learn my lesson, if I don’t at least—”
“If anyone should learn a lesson, it is Lunita.” I scowled. “And besides, the bodies are surely disposed of by now.”
“What about their family and funeral expenses and weren’t they taking care of other kids—”
“We will send money.”
She shook her head and returned her view to the television. “Money doesn’t replace lives, Kaz. I have to go to their family and—”
“Absolutely not!”
She snapped her view to me, and so did Paolo.
Damn it. Stay calm. This information is hard enough.
I cleared my throat and calmed my tone. “David is in charge of taking care of the family.”
Paolo moved his view back to the television, but I could sense that his attention was no longer on it. There was a survival energy pulsing through him. He straightened his posture and fisted his little hands.
Do you think you will protect her from me?
I put my attention on Emily. “Whatever you want to do for the couple’s family, tell David. But for now, you have other things to deal with.”
“Like what?”
“Helping me end Fela.”
“But. . .” She trembled. “They were innocent people?”
“Is anybody ever innocent in this cruel world?”
“Yes, Kaz.” Tears left her eyes.
Fuck.
My heart broke into tiny, jagged pieces.
Helpless, I reached out to wipe her tears away.
Paolo glanced over my shoulder, looked at me, and then stared at her.
Quickly, she dabbed at her tears, but more came.
Paolo completely turned around. “Mysh.”
Wiping the tears away, she gave him a weak smile and whispered in Russian, “No. I’m fine, baby. Look at the television.”
The boy looked unconvinced. Instead of turning back around to watch the television, he hugged her. His small arms barely wrapped around her waist.
Closing her eyes, she embraced him back.
Baba is right. The boy is good for her.
I leaned forward, put my arm on her shoulder, and pulled her to me. The boy came along for the ride, nestling into the nook between her and my body. And there we huddled in this big hug of entangled arms and sorrow.
I got lost in the rhythm of her breathing.
She whispered, “I should be put into a facility for the mentally—”
“Never—”
“Kaz, I need help—”
“Then, who will watch the boy?”
She looked up at me. “What do you mean?”
“Lunita was adamant that Paolo remains with us. I now agree.”
Emily’s bottom lip quivered. “Are you. . .serious?”
“Baba declared that the boy and you would heal together. And that. . .everything will eventually be okay. I believe that too.” I kissed her forehead. “And. . .”
“What?”
“Baba said that Paolo’s life would be better with us. He would grow up to have an amazing, loving life. And even our son would be the sort of man that would change the world.”
She parted her lips. “Did she really say all of that?”
“Yes.”
“W-would that. . .make up for what I did?”
“What Lunita did.”
“Lunita and I are the same person.”