“You vowed not to run,” he said, when I started taking steps further from him.
“I’m not. I’m putting distance between us. I need space.”
“There’s enough of that.”
“Layers, Brando. You put them here, not me.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, his legs mimicking the same stance. He took me in, like I was an alien creature that needed to be approached with caution.
A bucket sat in the distance, small bugs hovering around its opening. I kicked it with my boot and turned it over, taking a seat, my back to him. I looked out over the scenic view, not able to absorb the peace that it usually offered.
Brando cleared his throat. “There’s a difference between sending you away—abandoning you—and keeping you safe. You do know that, don’t you?”
“I’m not stupid!”
“No, far from it. But emotions are clouding your judgment. Emotions make you reckless.”
“At least I have them!”
“You can’t keep them in control long enough to see clearly.”
“Hmph!”
He sighed, such a tired sound from a man like him. “Let’s go over this. I’ve been shot at, my wife ripped from my side, taken to someplace so remote sheep couldn’t even find it without directions, and now she’s dressed like a Sicilian peasant who looks like she’s lost her water jug, or basket full of grapes. The smell of fried food is stuck to my clothes though I haven’t been around it. Romeo has a bruise on the side of his head, his knuckles are torn up, and he wants to kill his cousin. Four days, Scarlett. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Perhaps if you would have been here you would understand!”
“The part about me getting shot at must have flown over your head.”
“Oh, I heard! Weallgot shot at. Not justyou.”
“Let’s start with something easy. Tell me why you’re dressed that way. Are the sisters trying to marry you off?”
“Ha! You’re notthatlucky.”
I could tell by the increase in his breathing, the low growl in his throat, that he didn’t like that answer. I could feel the tension in him start to stir, rising to the surface. A minute later, he called Romeo’s name. I hadn’t noticed him pacing not too far from where we were.
At first Romeo just stared in our direction, but resolved to find out what his brother wanted, he came to join us. Anger rolled off of him in dark clouds, but something else too—reluctance.
“Explain this to me,” Brando demanded.
I couldn’t see them with my back turned, but I could imagine the look Romeo sent Brando. As if to say,explain what?
“I leave her to your care and she’s dressed like—” Brando must have waved his hand. “Her hair smells like a chicken joint and you’re all beat up.”
I took offense to his tone on Romeo’s behalf.I leave her to your care—well, if he had kept me to his own care where I belonged, Romeo wouldn’t have to contend with the fucking plague!
“It’s not his fault!” I snapped, standing abruptly. I turned toward him, fists balled at my sides. “I’m not his responsibility!”
“I told him to—”
“No! I don’t want him to take care of me! I’m not his. He has his own life. Just like we have ours. If something happens to you, Vincenzo will take care of me.”
Not for long, because he won’t need to,but seeing as Brando became as still as stone, it didn’t seem like a good time to mention it. Even the bugs disappeared out of fright.Here comes the volcano… My feet felt unsteady all of a sudden. The temperature felt as though it went up a few notches.
Brando stared at me until I looked away, too uncomfortable to meet his eyes.
“Sissy…” Romeo said, his voice full of emotion.
