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“Love isn’t something you can put a timer on. I know some people believe you can’t love someone in the space of a week. But they are wrong.” She takes a seat on the other side of the counter before continuing. “I knew in less than a month that I would love Alceu until the day I died.”
“I don’t know if I can do that again. The last time I loved a man, it nearly killed me.” My vision clouds over at the memory of Kris.
“Really?” Guilia looks sad.
“Yeah,” I clear my throat. “My ex-husband was a prick with a temper. The last time I saw him, he put me in hospital for three weeks.”
She is beside me before I even finish speaking, hugging me to her side. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”
I don’t know why, but having her comfort me has all my walls crashing down. Tears stream from my eyes as I mourn the person I used to be before I met Kris. Now, I’m hardened in a way I don’t think anyone will ever understand. I loved Kris more than anything, and it wasn’t enough. I don’t know if love will ever be enough.
When the tears finally recede, Guilia gives me one final hug.
“The guys are gone, and Andrea took Jennifer to the zoo for the day. I think we should get day drunk,” Guilia announces. “Nothing better for emotional distress than alcohol.”
Laughter bubbles out of me as I wipe the last of my tears away. I can’t think of one good reason not to get fucked up with her.
“Let’s do it.”
****
Three hours, a boatload of cocktails, and way too many tequilas later, we’re sprawled out in the recliners beside the pool.
“I want to get a tattoo,” Guilia says.
“Now?”
Guilia giggles before lightly slapping my arm. “No silly! I heard that proper artists don’t work on intoxicated people.”
“Yeah. I read that somewhere. Why do you want a tattoo?”
Sitting up gingerly, Guilia tugs down the collar of the shirt she is wearing, displaying a ragged mark on her torso, right beneath her collarbone. I immediately sit up and lean in closer.
“Shit, woman,” I exclaim. “What happened?”
“Severu shot me.”
“What?” I yell.
“Wait. I need to explain that better.” She frowns. “I wasn’t supposed to marry Alceu. We didn’t even know each other. But my dad had given me to another man who happened to be Alceu’s enemy. So, he proposed a marriage to suit us both.”
“Are you serious?”
My face must be comical because she starts giggling.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” she asks eventually.
“Because I have eyes! That man worships the ground you walk on. You are his equal in everything.”
“It took us a while to get there, but yes. Now let me finish my story.” She takes a long sip of her cocktail before continuing. “The man I was supposed to marry, Sal, was pissed. He threatened us so many times I lost track. Long story short, he kidnapped me, and the only way to get me and Alceu out alive was for Severu to kill Sal. Not that it was easy because Sal was using me as a human shield, so I told Severu to shoot me. It was the only way.”
“Damn,” I sigh, lying back in the lounge chair.
Chapter Sixteen
Severu
I hate leaving Lira. There is an incessant need coursing through my veins to be as close to her as much as possible. I don’t know why, but I can’t shake the feeling that I won’t have her in my life for very much longer. It unnerving as fuck and has me on edge.
