Marlen is upstairs somewhere, maybe in the gym. I’m not sure, and I won’t go check.
It’s so hard to have patience now, when all the walls are closing in, but I must.
The front door opens with a loud bang, and I jump, startled.
Who in the world would arrive like that?
Standing up, I set the book aside and hurry toward the entrance, walking straight into Bardil.
We bump into each other, and I gasp in surprise.
“Bardil?” I mutter, trying to step back to regain my balance, but to my shock, he pushes me.
“You fucking did this, didn’t you?” he snarls, taking another step toward me and pushing me again. I trip over my feet and almost fall, staggering. I grab onto the wall, only just managing not to lose my balance.
“Stop touching me!” I shout angrily, placing my feet firmly on the ground and facing him.
“You’re a lying little bitch, you know that. I know what you did. I know you went around talking about me and inciting this mess,” he hisses, stepping closer and towering over me with his imposing height.
I press my hands into his chest and push him away. He doesn’t budge but grabs my wrist and tugs me against his chest. His eyes are dark and dangerous. Flooded with anger. He looks like a wild animal, backed into a corner.
His desperation is clear. He’s terrified of the truth coming out.
“It’s not me you should be angry with,” I snap at him, trying to free myself from his grip.
“Oh, yes, it is, little rat,” he snaps.
“No, it’s yourself. You’re the one who did those horrible things, and you’re the one who lied about it to cover your own ass,” I say boldly.
“What the fuck do you know about anything?” he huffs, but his eyes flare with fear and doubt, and he shifts nervously. His hands are gripped too tightly around my wrist, his fingers digging into me painfully.
“I know the truth, and I’m going to make sure that by the end of it, everyone else does too.”
My words spike into him like daggers and spark a deeper rage.
Bardil grabs my shoulders and lifts me off my feet. I cry out in fright and kick at him. He shakes me roughly. “I’ll fucking kill you if you keep interfering. And then I’ll go after your family. Leave this alone,” he growls into my face.
I manage to land a kick against his kneecap, and he drops me. I land on my feet and try to step away, but he grabs my arm again. “I’m warning you, Stefania!”
“What the hell is going on?” Marlen’s voice booms through the foyer as he walks in on us fighting.
Bardil releases me immediately and steps back.
“She’s betrayed our family. She’s spreading lies about us. Why is she still here?” he snarls.
Marlen is furious as he storms toward Bardil. My heart leaps into my throat when he pushes between us and grabs Bardil by the throat. “And you think you have the right to come in here and attack her? Is that how you deal with things? You hurt her and threaten her while she’s a guest inmy home?” he snarls, throwing Bardil further away from me.
Bardil’s anger flares. “Why are you defending her?”
“Why don’t you tell me, Bardil… why don’t you tell me exactly what happened that night?”
“What are you talking about? I’ve already told you everything!” he snaps.
“Why were there families from out of town there? If you claim you were looking for new allies in the city?”
“What? Uh… why would that matter?” Bardil huffs.
“What reason did you have for meeting with a man from Mexico? A cartel leader who is known for black market dealings?” Marlen demands.
