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That had broken Michele.
But it had been just the start.
Raf looks ill the more his brother speaks, and it's clear there's a semblance of truth there, as much as it pains me to admit. But when Michele mentions the abuse he endured at school, Raf's head whips in his direction, a look of pure shock enveloping him. He shakes his head.
Raf…
My heart bleeds for him and everything that happened in their childhood.
But I am certain my Raf would never spread rumors about Michele at school so he could get gang raped by his classmates. That is so horrific to even imagine, that I doubt anyone would be that evil.
"So you see, Rafaelo, I already did you a favor when I left you alive. You should have stayed far, far away from me and from New York and we would have never gotten to this point," Michele says flippantly.
Does he even realize how much he revealed in that one sentence? The fact that against all odds hedidn'tkill his brother.
Suddenly, all the previous events play before my eyes. Raf had been attacked for the bounty on his head, but it had never been at Michele's express orders. If anything…Michele could have killed him whenever he wanted, regardless of my brother's protection.
If hewantedto…
But I have the impression he doesn'twantto.
And that is…interesting.
Michele tells us his version of events, but he doesn't go in too much depth, seemingly still affected about what happened in the past. He does, however, emphasize that Nicolo had been the only one to take him in when everyone else had abandoned him.
The more he talks, the more I feel sorry for him, and I know Raf feels the same. Yet no matter how guilty or not my husband may be, I could never turn against him. There's stillhisside of the story. And even then, I don't think Raf could doanythingfor me to abandon him.
My tongue peeks out to lick my chapped lips. My body is still reeling from being electrocuted, and a bitter taste of disappointment coats my mind at being reminded that Raf hadn't been able to answerthosequestions correctly.
He doesn't realize, does he? That he is my entire world—has been from the beginning. Each burst of pain brings into focus more what he means to me and unveils more of the things we experienced.
Does he really think that my independence is more important than him?
"I don't know what happened at school," Raf starts, "but I didn't…"
Michele cuts him off.
"I didn't invite you to speak, Rafaelo. In case you've forgotten, this isn't a tribunal to judge who's right or wrong. This is simply the consequence ofyourmistakes and the fact that you couldn't just stay gone. Save your words."
"Michele…"
"Let's go to the last trial, shall we? I think you'll find it infinitely more interesting than the last ones. After all, when are you going to have these two ladies in the same room again?" Michele chuckles.
Suddenly, the man who'd been doling out the electric shocks leaves.
Michele had only told me his plan in vague terms, so I have no idea what to expect. Especially as I continue to peruse Raf's face, starved for his presence.
A few days. Just a few days and I've felt his absence to the core of my being. It might seem odd that someone I've only known for such a short period of time would become so essential to my existence, but he has. I stopped questioning the situation when I realized the lengths I would go to for him—for him to bemine.
My greedy eyes take him in, with his blonde hair swept back from his face, his bronzed skin and those blue, blue eyes that always made my heart skip a beat. Those eyes that are the reason I wake up in the morning.
Choose me.
Maybe Michele was right. Maybe this is more than love—maybe it’s bordering on obsession. My pulse flutters at that thought, my breathing growing labored as flashes appear before my eyes. Scenes morph into episodes until I'm left with a different reality—one that both excites and terrifies me.
Choose me.
He looks jittery and anxious, his features steeped in pain as he awaits Michele's instructions.
