Page 91 of Die for You

I’m half expecting Bria to give chase like inTheTerminator. But we’re in the clear.

Resting my head back against the cool metal door, I close my eyes and wish I were anywhere but here.

I’m sitting in the basement, with Lewis’s body laid out on a table in front of me.

The only thought I have is,where did this table come from? I don’t remember seeing it down here. Or in the house. Is it real marble? I wonder how much it cost, as it looks expensive.

In times of crisis, the mind does what it can to survive.

And this right here is a perfect example.

Regardless of his choices, Lewis doesn’t deserve this.

The multiple stab wounds, missing eyeballs, and the gash to his throat are not the way I wanted my brother to die. I can’t help but feel responsible for this. If only I’d let him be, he’d still be alive—a junkie, but likely still alive.

I just wanted what I thought was best for him. But this isn’t what’s best.

His face isn’t peaceful as they portray it in the movies. His last few minutes on this earth were excruciating. He suffered, suffered because of Valentina.

I did instruct her to do whatever it took to convince Gianna.

I cradle my face in my palms, bowing my head.

What a fucking mess.

“I’m sorry about Lewis.”

Bria sounds genuine, but she’s angry with me for pushing Valentina out of the firing line. She has every right to be mad. Bria is my wife, and I’m disrespecting her with my loyalty to Valentina. My loyalty is with my daughter too—but this is something Bria can’t know about.

For now, anyway.

She sits beside me, gently placing her hand on my leg. “She needs to die, Lenny. Now. Look at what she did.”

I remain quiet. So she tries another tactic.

“If the roles were reversed, what would you expect me to do?”

She’s right. This is a double standard. I know that it is.

But I don’t have a choice.

She doesn’t understand because I haven’t told her the truth, and I don’t think I ever can.

“I think it’s best if we have some time apart. I’m not making you happy. And I don’t blame you for being angry with me. But please understand, there’s a reason for all of this.”

“Look at me,” she pleads.

The hurt in her voice has me lifting my weary head.

“I love you. So much. Why are you doing this? What does she have over you? There has to be a reason.”

I don’t deserve Bria’s love. Most wives would have left by now, but Bria has been loyal from the very beginning.

“It’s complicated.”

Such a cop-out.

Bria holds her composure like the Mafia princess she was born to be.