I guide her to the black chair, ushering her to sit down. She has been behaving, despite getting on my nerves earlier this morning with her wanting me to completely trust her. I don’t think I will ever completely trust her, but I can be a little lenient with her and give her a little freedom. Her mouth hangs open from the view of the lit city. The sky is dark, but the city is alive and vibrant, something straight from a Sarah J. Mass novel. Sometimes, I’ll pick up a young adult fantasy and read. Don’t judge me.
“Oh my God, the city is so beautiful.”
Then her eyes turn to the lit candles and her smile widens.
“You did this all for me?” Her face is colored with shock.
“You told me the men you dated didn’t try to date you, so I want to court you. Show you the finer things in life, you deserve it.”
Tears wet her eyes and her smile is as wide as the ocean. “Thank you.”
I wipe the tears from her cheeks.
“You’re unpredictable,” she tells me, her eyes glancing down at the steak and vegetables the chef made. “You surprise me.”
I nod and I unfold her napkin, placing it on her lap, then I cut up her steak in tiny pieces. The white short dress she’s wearing hugs her small frame and a white flower is tucked behind her ear. She really is beautiful. Then we eat in silence and sip our wine. She twirls her hair around her finger and it’s her tell sign she’s thinking hard and long about something.
“What are you thinking about?”
She grabs the crystal glass, tapping her nails on it.
“It’s stupid.”
“Tell me.”
She takes deep breaths. “Did you and Shelby do things like this? Did you take her different places?”
I’m so sick of her bringing her up when we’re in a good mood. Why does she keep bringing her up?
“Are you jealous I was with someone else before you?”
“God no. You’re eleven years older than me. I knew you had a life before me. I’m curious.”
“If you’re curious about my life before, why don’t you bring up other stuff?”
“I’m sorry.” She sips the last bit of her wine and I grab the bottle and pour her another glass. “Okay, did you ever want to go to college?”
“I did. I graduated from Columbia. I have a bachelor’s in literature and history. Have you ever thought about it?”
“Oh, hell no. I’m not smart like you. I never was book smart.”
“You can do whatever you want to. You’re smart as hell.” ”
I cut into the juicy steak, smearing sauce on it, then I shove it in my mouth.
“Have you ever wanted kids?”
“No, not before Santo.” I say, between bites.
“Who?” she cocks her eyebrow, setting her wine glass.
“No one.” I down the wine, washing down the steak. She rests her hands on my palms stroking me like a wounded child.
“You can tell me, Devious. I’m not your enemy.”
I want to believe her, but I don’t trust her. And, if I don’t tell her about Santo then she might go back and ask Marla and she can’t keep her mouth shut about me to her. She hasn’t betrayed me since I let her out of the cell. Sometimes she throws my senses off.
“You’re done eating?” I ask and she nods.
“Let’s sit out on the deck and look at the city.”
I grab her hand and lead her to the lounging chairs. She kicks off her white flip flops, lying on the white chair. The wind blows her hair out her face. I sit next to her, resting my hand behind my head. We both stare at the city in awe.
“Shelby was pregnant with my son, Santo. But I found out from Cashel it was his son.”
“Who is Cashel?”
“The Don of the Irish famiglia. We used to be close. He was my best friend since I was in high school, but he turned on me. He had an affair with Shelby.”
“That explains a lot. Why you’re so big on loyalty.” She grabs my hand and squeezed tighter. “I’m sorry. No one deserves to be treated like shit.”
I rub the back of my neck, trying to relieve stress.
“How far along was she?”
“Six months. I couldn’t save her nor Santo.”
I shake my head at the memory of me trying to perform CPR on her and rushing her to the hospital, lying to the doctors about what happened. The doctors called the police and when they found out who I really was they left the case alone. I lied to Shelby’s parents about what happened to their daughter. The only people who know what happened are Marla, Charlotte, Cashel, and Aiden.
A single tear tickles down my cheek and I wipe away.
“We’re at war because Cashel betrayed me. I caught them in bed together.”
“How did Shelby die?” Roselyn asks, I stare into her cornflower eyes and she knows how she died. It’s written on her face.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me. Tell me.”
“Drop it, Roselyn.”
She stands up from the lounge chair, hovering over me. “You don’t get to shut me out now or ever. Tell me what happened to Shelby.”
“Will you look at me differently?”
“I already know what you are.”
“Which is?”
“A villain with a broken heart. I see it on your face every time I mention her name. Whatever you did to her. She’s your weakness. Not because you might still love her, which I hope you don’t, but because it’s regret. I told you what will break me. Now you tell me what will break your?”
“I killed Shelby and Santo.”
Roselyn
BABY? HIS
