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“You were forced to marry the spoiled brat. Everyone knows that. No one would judge you.”
“I could give a fuck about anyone judging me. Get dressed. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Her eyes turn to slits and she looks to Rafa.
He gestures to the house. “Go inside. Close the door behind you.”
She grits her teeth, bends to pick up her discarded clothes and, surprisingly, does as she’s told.
Rafa watches her until the sliding glass door is closed fully.
“You fucking her again?” I ask him.
He nods once.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. She shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, she shouldn’t.”
Silence falls again. Rafa picks up his second beer, drinks half of it.
“I actually came here for a reason,” I say.
“I don’t mind you coming just to have a beer. We used to do it a lot. I miss it.”
“Me too. So much has changed. But I want to repay your father for his help in finding Gabriela. For that beautiful wedding gift which I’m sure cost a fortune.”
“He doesn’t expect anything. I’m sure—”
“I want to organize a dinner. You can bring Clara if you want. You should. If you’re a couple, Gabriela’s going to have to get used to it. And Clara’s going to have to get used to Gabriela.”
“We’re not a couple, Stef. It’s not like that.”
“You’re just fucking her.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’ll leave it up to you.” I finish my beer, stand. “Saturday. A dinner to honor your father. To show my gratitude. It’s time this family came together as a family.”
Rafa stands. Nods. “That’s a good idea, Stefan. It’s past time.”
“I’ll see you Saturday.”
Rafa walks around the table and we look at each other for a long moment and I try to see him as he was. Because now, what I see is the face of a traitor. How sweetly they smile.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“You’re like a brother to me. You know that, don’t you?” I don’t know why I say it.
No, I do.
His betrayal, it wounds me. Because what I say is true. He’s always been like a brother to me.
He studies me, and what I see in his eyes isn’t the expression I expect. There’s a deep sadness inside him.
“You are a brother to me, Stefan,” he says. He leans in to hug me, kisses my cheek. And once again, I’m left thinking of Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Of the kiss that nailed Christ to the cross.
28
Gabriela
I step out of the shower just as my phone starts to ring the next evening. I wrap a towel around myself, check the display. It’s Rafa.
Taking a deep breath in, I sit on the edge of the tub to answer.
“It’s done,” Rafa says.
“He’s moved?”
“Yes. With the nurse you wanted.”
“Where are they?”
“I’m just texting you their location. You can call her to confirm.”
“I will,” I say. I’d feel better if Rafa had given me the money to do it myself, but he wouldn’t do that. Said he’d take care of the transfer. That I had to trust him. I just hope I’m not wrong about this because if I am, Gabe will be the one to pay.
“If you need anything else—”
“I’m trusting you. I probably shouldn’t.”
I hear him sigh. “I understand that you don’t trust me. But hearing your father and you talk, fuck, Gabriela, I shouldn’t have taken you to him. I shouldn’t—”
“He told me the truth, at least.”
“Only to hurt you.”
“No. Well, that too, probably. But that’s not all. He’s losing to Stefan and he’ll do whatever he needs to do, hurt whomever he needs to hurt, to change that.”
“Fathers are…difficult.”
“Understatement.”
“Your brother’s safe at least.”
“You won’t tell Stefan where he is?”
“No.”
“You won’t tell anyone else?”
“No. I swear it.”
“Why are you helping me, Rafa?”
“I don’t know. This whole thing is a fucking shit show. It’s not what I wanted. Not how I wanted it.”
“What do you mean?”
Silence. “It’s complicated.”
“The birds died,” I say out of the blue.
“What?”
“The birds in the cage. They were both dead when I came into my room yesterday.”
“Both?”
I nod even though I know he can’t see me.
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you think Stefan…I mean, I don’t understand anymore. I can’t wrap my head around any of this.”
“I don’t think Stefan did anything to your birds, Gabriela.”
I know it’s stupid to even think it. I mean, why would he? How would he?
“What are you going to do now?” Rafa asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“What can I do? I have no money. I’m in Sicily in a heavily guarded house and I’m married to the man who holds the keys. And if that’s not enough, I’m trusting the man who is betraying his best friend.”
“That friend is your jailor,” Rafa says.
But it doesn’t feel right. I can’t just forget the tender moments. The good things Stefan has done. The way he’s cared for me.
“You just promise me, Rafa, please, that you’ll keep Gabe safe.”
