Page 93 of Dark Breaker

“So? He shouldn’t have put Roberto in there in the first place.” I take a sip of my marocchino. Mmm, the extra chocolate is so good, overriding the coffee flavor entirely. It almost makes me forget all my problems.

But not quite.

“No, you’re right.” Michela rubs her chin. “You told me last time that you care about each other to a degree, but hide it. Is that still true?”

“Do I care about him, you mean?”

“Yup,” she says.

“I don’t know,” I reply. “I really don’t. When I’m with him I forget about the world, and it’s just me and him, and the intoxicating pleasure we give each other. But when I’m away from him, all I can think is he doesn’t love me. And that bothers me.”

“You do care about him,” Michela says knowingly. “Because if you didn’t, it wouldn’t bother you.”

“I suppose you’re right. But it’s too late now.”

“No it’s not,” she tells me. “You can call him anytime you want. With that one call, you can wipe everything away, and you’ll be back together. It’s up to you. Do you want to give him a second chance? Or not. That’s what you have to decide. If you’re expecting him to show up in person, you could be waiting a long time… but then again, who knows, he might show up after we’re done here. Either way, why leave things to chance? Take the initiative. When you’re ready, call him.”

I smile at her and reach out to grip her hand. “You’re a good friend, Michela.”

“As are you,” she replies. “I just hope I’m not giving you the wrong advice. By the way, are those two thugs yours?” She nods at the men loitering across the street.

“Uh huh,” I tell her. “Massimo’s men.”

“Just checking.” She finishes her coffee. “Well, at least you’re safe.”

“From Fabio?”

She nods. “Or anyone.”

“He might try to kidnap me,” I agree. A part of me wouldn’t even mind that. The side that wants to get back with him. The other part is repulsed by the idea. I’d rather he begged to get me back than forced me to return.

“I wouldn’t put it past someone like that,” she says.

I remember how Massimo kidnapped Angela, and how well that worked out for them. But their circumstances were way different than my own. No, I wouldn’t like it at all if Fabio took me. Just like last night, when he prevented me from leaving. I can’t stand cages of any kind.

Though marriage is a sort of cage, isn’t it? And yet I fared at least somewhat well in that. At least until Fabio messed it up.

Yeah, I don’t know if I’m going to take him back. Michela says it will only take one call.

I do miss him.

But it feels too soon. I want him to suffer a bit for what he’s done. So he knows not to mess with my family.

I can’t wait too long, though. My brothers will want to retaliate, either before or after they spring Roberto.

Maybe I’ll just tell Massimo to hold off a while longer before doing anything rash. I’ll even lie to him and tell him I love Fabio.

Perhaps it’s not even a lie.

“I have to use the little girl’s room,” I tell Michela, and get up.

Like many cafes, there’s only one small unisex bathroom, sealed away from the rest of the venue by a lockable door. I thought I saw someone go in ahead of me, so I knock, but when there’s no answer, I open the door and peer inside. It’s empty.

I enter and lock the door behind me. There’s a hopper window next to the only stall. The bottom-pivoting pane is situated just a little above head height. Unsurprisingly, it’s open to let the breeze in, and to air out any smells. I hear cicadas chattering outside.

After I relieve myself I flush the toilet and then wash my hands. I decide to wash my face too. The water feels good splashing over my features.

As I’m drying myself off with the paper towels, I see a black shadow fall from the open window. I spin around in time to see him.