“Sure, Dad,” Frankie agrees. “It’ll be okay,” he says to me. “You’re safe here. Go with Marlena.”
Francisco turns away toward his office, and the rest of his men follow. I guess it’s business as usual in the Corello household. I look at Marlena, hoping she’ll give me some direction. She smiles patiently, guiding me toward the staircase. I half expect Frankie to follow, but he peels off toward the kitchen. Maybe he’s going to get some ice for his nose, or a shot of vodka. I wouldn’t blame him for trying a simple pain-relieving remedy before wiping the blood off. I might like something to drink myself.
But Marlena is firm. “Let’s get you out of these clothes.”
I look down at what I’m wearing, shocked to see that there’s blood all over it. I’m not sure whose blood it is. I don’t think it’s mine, but it could very well be Andretti’s. Wouldn’t that be something? Marlena is right; I need to wash it off immediately, or I’m going to be caught red-handed.
I march up the stairs with Frankie’s stepmother. She guides me to a bathroom at the end of the hall. Inside, it feels so relaxing. The décor is modern and inviting. The shower is a walk-in variety that looks like something out of a spa. Marlena leans inside to turn on the faucet. I have a moment of panic as I remember the burst pipe in my kitchen. But this rain is softer, warmer, and somehow manageable, even though I’ve been through quite an ordeal.
Marlena doesn’t leave me. Instead, she helps me take off my shoes. I kick them to one side, noticing that they’re covered in blood too. It looks like everything I’m wearing is drenched in the stuff.
“I’ll be right back,” Marlena promises. True to her word, she’s only gone a few seconds. She returns with an enormous fluffy towel, setting it on the counter by the sink. “Take your time,” she instructs. “I’ll be right down the hall when you’re ready.”
I can’t summon the words to thank her, so I just watch mutely as she closes the door. This has been the most dreadful day of my life, including the time I discovered Danny’s body. I wish that a simple shower would help me feel better, but I know that’s too good to be true.
I peel my clothing off, feeling like it’s sunburnt skin. The blood is sticking the fabric to my body, some of it dried already, so it crackles as I tug on it. I’m finally naked, and I take a long moment to look at myself in the mirror.
I look horrible.
My hair is stringy, and my eyes are haunted. I can see the faint greenish ghost of a bruise that will only get worse over the next few days. My hands are shaking, and my face is pale. I look like I’ve walked through hell and back with nothing to show for it except my life.
Dragging myself away, I open the shower door and step inside. The moment the water hits me, I feel something break inside. It’s so warm and inviting, I almost feel like I don’t deserve it. Any moment now, someone else is going to break down the door and try to kill me for caring too much about my brother. I’ve been paranoid for so long, it’s a tricky thing to drop.
I drift in and out of clarity. One moment, I recognize where I am, and the next, I think I’m back in my own apartment. It’s difficult to sort out, but I try to hang on to the lovely shower and the calm interior of the bathroom.
I linger as long as I can before turning off the water. The blood is gone, and I feel warm and refreshed. I haven’t yet faced up to the fact that I killed someone. Even someone as evil as Andretti still deserves to live. I had no right to take his life, but I also had no choice. If I hadn’t acted the way I did, both Frankie and I would be dead now. I did what I had to do.
I try to shut my brain off, but it’s impossible. Instead of looking for Marlena after I’m done with the shower, I wrap myself up in the towel and walk down the hall to Frankie’s bedroom. I’m not thinking clearly. I’m more like a robot at this point than a human being. I’m only going to the preprogrammed location where I spent the last night in this house. I’m so tired, I feel like I’m going to pass out along the way. But I make it to Frankie’s room, where I let myself in and climb into bed.
I think I can hear the shower in Frankie’s bathroom. That’s a good sound; it means I’m not alone. I curl up and grab his extra pillow to hug. I pull the covers up to my neck and burrow down in them. This is a nightmare. I’m exhausted but I don’t know if I can sleep. The nightmare echoes in my mind, all the bloody visuals thrust back at me as I lie there helplessly.
The shower in the bathroom cuts off, but I’m too numb to look around. I hear footsteps coming toward the bedroom and the sound of a door opening. There’s a pause, as if the person moving around has just noticed me. A moment later, I feel the comforting weight of Frankie’s body as he climbs into bed beside me.
CHAPTER 41
FRANKIE
Ifind Sofia cradled in my bed, and I’m happy she took the liberty. I’m pleased to welcome her into my space, and I hope this means the past is behind us. It’s been a long road to arrive at a place where we can both express our affection. I’m not sure if she’s interested in getting romantic, but I am.
I ease my way into bed, pulling the blanket back and sliding underneath. Sofia is wrapped in a towel that is damp. But it’s warm and soft, so I ignore the slight discomfort.
I pull her close, smoothing down her hair. I don’t want to take advantage of the situation, but I need her to know that I’m here for her. She doesn’t respond immediately, but a few minutes later, she arches her back against me. I interpret that as a good sign, clasping her gently in my arms.
I kiss her cheek softly. The way she’s spooning into me, I can’t help but find myself turned on. I want more. But we’ve been through a lot, and after the adrenaline crash, she needs to rest.
I’m almost beginning to think I’ll be satisfied with co-sleeping when she turns in my arms so that she’s facing me. I gaze down at her beautiful face and notice that some of the color is beginning to return to her cheeks. That’s a good sign. She was so pale after she shot Andretti that I thought she might faint.
“Thank you,” Sofia whispers.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I assure her.
“Without you…” she trails off, and I know where her mind is going.
I kiss her lips to tell her that she doesn’t need to worry about being alone anymore. I’m not going anywhere.
She stretches out on the bed, pressing her stomach to mine. I’m starting to get excited because it looks like I’m going to get everything I want. A moment later, that suspicion is confirmed when she places her hand on my elbow.
Our kiss deepens, and I know that this is just getting started. There’s no rush, and no desire to speed through this. We’ve only ever made love once before, and there is much to explore.
