I looked at him as he leaned forward with each elbow on his knees.
“Then stop being nice,” I said.
“I’ve always been kind to you. That doesn’t need to change.”
“I can’t just go back to how things were with you. How do you expect me just to forget the nights we spent together and pretend they never existed? To erase all of it from my memory? How?”
“You just do.” Emilio exhaled a deep breath as he sat up straight.
“My brother is holding you back.”
“He should be holding you back as well.”
“That’s how you’re going to live your life?”
“There are limits, Bethany. No one gets everything without facing the consequences.”
“At least I had the courage to lose myself in something I wanted.”
I got to my feet and sat in another seat so that he was out of sight for the remainder of the flight.
Waking up to the plane landing, Emilio was already on the phone before the plane door opened. When he got off, he looked at me with a grave face.
“Your brother wants me to take you to him.”
There was a knot in my stomach. The entire flight, I could only focus on my anger with Emilio for not choosing me. I didn’t even think about the wrath that Luca would bestow on me. Remaining silent, we both sat in theback of the Escalade. Looking out the window, it seemed we were headed away from the city.
“Where are you taking us?” Emilio asked.
The driver looked at him through the rearview mirror, “Mr. DeCarlo wants me to take you both to the spot.”
I didn’t have any clue as to where this spot was, but Emilio seemed annoyed. Everything was fine until there was no road, and the car was driving onto a dirt pathway. We arrive in the middle of who knows where and find my brother with Alfie and another man.
“What the fuck is going on?” Emilio asked out loud to himself as he exited the car.
Slowly, I get out and walk up to them, confused. Luca looked livid, as expected. Alfie looked concerned. The man beside them seemed amused. It was humid out, my clothes sticking to my body. How they were able to wear suits in this weather was insane. Behind them was an old 1970 Chevelle SS that had dirt and dust all over it.
“Cahill,” Emilio shakes the man’s hand.
“Emilio,” he smiles, “Good to see you.” He had a thick Irish accent.
“What brings you to Chicago?” Emilio glances at Luca.
My brother clears his throat, “You know Riley likes to make surprise visits.” Luca makes eye contact with me. “Bethany. Glad you’re back. Are you done with your little stunt?”
I could feel this strange tension, and the attention on me made me nervous. “I’m done.”
The focus then went to Emilio. “Emilio, you’ve been slipping up on me,” Luca told him.
Hiding any kind of panic that I could imagine he was feeling, Emilio replied, “How so?”
“I’ve asked you to keep closer tabs on Bethany lately.”
It felt like the air escaped my lungs; in its place was the humidity, making me lightheaded.
“Which I have been,” Emilio confessed.
“Bethany,” Luca said. “Where have you been spending your free time?”
