Chapter 36
I had to stay in the waiting room until my brother showed up.
It was written all over his face that he was livid.
Emilio followed closely behind him, scanning the area as they stormed through the hospital, clearing anyone who would question their presence as they disobeyed the protocols put in place.
I got to my feet as he got closer. “The doctor said– “
Before I could get the rest out of my mouth, Luca grabbed my arm and dragged me with him. Slamming me into the wall, he got in my face.
“How did this happen?”
I’ve seen Luca angry before, but he never took it out on me and was never this aggressive with me.
“She wanted to go to a spa.”
His hand slammed the wall beside my head. It made me cringe, but he didn’t seem to care. “Then take her to one that I clear. Do you understand the shit I now need to deal with?”
“I–“
“You what?” Luca spat out, cutting me off. Nothing I could say would help the situation. “You fucked up. Big. All I asked was to distract her for the day. You can’t even manage that.”
My face was getting wet as tears streamed down it. Unable to speak, Luca opened his mouth again, but Emilio approached us, breaking the tension.
“Lorenzo should be here soon.”
Luca huffed. “Get the fuck out of my face and go home,” he said, dismissing me.
Shaken by my brother’s reaction, I run off.
Where to, I didn’t know. My car wasn’t here, and this hospital is huge.
Making it out the front, I opened the door to inhale fresh air, but Chicago's hot, humid summers mixed with anxiety made breathing difficult.
I stood in the middle of the street, looking like a lost child.
“Bethany.”
I turn to find Emilio behind me, “Just leave me alone.” I turn back to him, embarrassed that he witnessed what just happened.
He walks to stand beside me, looking forward, “I don’t need to explain the situation in detail to you and why your brother is stressed about this.”
“It wasn’t even my fault,” I sniffled.
“I know. It was my fault for allowing it.”
“Did she hold what she said against you?”
“No,” Emilio replied. “I was being selfish. I wanted to see you and going to that spa was the perfect spot without anyone seeing or reporting back to Luca.”
Blushing at his confession, “Do you regret that choice?”
He paused, “I regret not having self-control.”
Unsure if that was a backhand compliment, I proceeded to tell him about the man who came into my room. “I saw a man. Not sure if he was involved, but he came into my room, took off his clothes, and put on a robe then walked out.”
“Did you get a good look at him?”
I nod my head. “Dark hair, brown eyes. Defined jawline. A birthmark on his left shoulder.”
“That’s helpful. Now I need to figure out how to bring that up to Luca.”
“What’s Luca so concerned about anyway? Around Aria, it’s like he forgets he’s a DeCarlo. We hold the power.”
Emilio was silent for a moment. “I think he has genuine feelings for her.”
Taken back, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Luca catch feelings? Does he even know what feelings are?”
“He is human, Bethany. Cut the man some slack.”
“You always take his side.” I begin to walk away.
“B, where are you going?”
Talking over my shoulder, “What’s it matter to you?”
He caught up to me and grabbed my elbow gently. “Hey. Look at me.”
I stop and turn to face him. “It’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair. You just need to roll with the punches.”
“You think he has feelings for Aria?”
Emilio nodded, “It’s not an ideal situation.”
“Do you think Aria has feelings for him? Genuine feelings?”
Again, nodding his head, “She fights it, but they are there.”
“And if they choose to accept those feelings…, would they choose each other?”
“Time will tell. At some point, it will all come crashing down.”
Although the conversation was geared toward Aria and Luca, I was referring to us and Emilio was doing the same.
“If they could make it work…” I paused to see Emilio’s reaction.
“Don’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s different. You and I,” Emilio shook his head, “it’s not the same.”
“It’s not. It’s better.”
“Better?” Emilio questioned, but he seemed upset. “Nothing about you and I would make our situation better.”
I sighed, “What are you saying, Emilio?”
“You know what I’m saying.”
“You’re the closest person to my brother. What better person for me to be with?”
“That’s the point, Bethany. Each time I think of you, I betray him. Each time I touch you, I betray him.”
“It doesn’t stop you, though,” I reminded him.
“And it eats me up inside. The fact we got caught by someone enrages me. I don’t like when people have something to hold over my head.”
A ball of emotion was stuck in my throat. Deep down, I knew what it would be like if he had to choose between being with me or my brother’s Consigliere.
“So then why keep doing it?” I challenge.
“I don’t know.”
I spat out regretfully. “Let’s just end it now. For good. Pretend it never happened.”
Stupidly, a part of me thought he would fight back, but that was a ridiculous belief. With one last blow to the heart, his response sent me into a state of numbness.
“I agree.”