The last sentence causes a shiver to run through me. I shouldn’t feel safe considering everything that’s going on, and yet, somehow, I do… for a few precious moments.
We eat the rest of our breakfast in silence, and soon enough it’s time to leave. Damian brings the car around back. I walk through his jungle-like garden and then climb into the passenger seat.
“Seatbelt,” he says before pulling off.
“For real?”
He winks. “Safety first.”
It’s a simple moment of levity. It shouldn’t hit me like a ton of bricks, but it does. He drives through the city in his dark, sleek car, windows tinted. His eyes scanning the road relentlessly.
“Have you…” I hesitate. I need to stop. “Thought about yesterday? The gym?”
He glances at me. His expression screams yes. His eyes tell me it’s the only thing he’s been thinking about.
“Things will be simpler if we don’t do that or anything like that again.”
“You’re right,” I murmur, hiding my hurt. “Sure–yeah. Of course.”
“Even without all this going on, Celine, Julian’s my best friend. He’s my brother.”
“Even though he lied to you?”
His hands tighten on the steering wheel. “Yeah–even now.”
“Why did he lie? Why didn’t he tell you what Rico said?”
“I don’t know,” Damian says, clearly frustrated. “But it’s nothing good. I know that much.”
He drives through the city, a thin layer of white blanketing the roofs of cars and the sidewalk. When he stops outside the hospital, he scans the parking lot, never at ease.
“What are you going to do about Rico?” I ask, despite myself.
“It’s done,” he says gruffly, staring at me with no hint of shame.
“Done?”
“He’s dead. I killed him last night.”
I gasp. He said it so casually.
“He was going to wreck your life if given the chance. He’s done it to other women. He’s a scumbag.”
“Are you… like him?”
He grinds his teeth. “What the fuck are you asking me?”
“Like him,” I hiss. “Have you done the things he’s done?”
“How can you even ask me that?”
“You say that like I know you–like we’re not total strangers.”
He shakes his head sadly. “Fuck, Celine.”
His hurt makes me want to apologize, but no way.
“That’s not an answer.”
