Chapter 2
TWO
We spend the rest of the evening drinking tea on Sophia’s side of the house, where Chiara tells us everything.
How Carolina worked three jobs for years to afford a lawyer, only to lose the case.
How she’s been beaten, abused, and bullied by their uncle.
How Carolina always ensured Chiara was taken care of while she struggled so much.
My thoughts are consumed by Carolina. How could I not have noticed or acted sooner? My mind spirals, and all I can think is that I really hope she will be okay, or I will get locked away for murdering her uncle.
I am not even kidding.
I just got her—everything I ever wanted. And I will let absolutely no one take her away from me again.
My girl is fierce—a true warrior—but I don’t want her to have to be one. I want her to be safe and happy. I never want her to experience this pain ever again.
It’s clear now why Carolina didn’t talk about the abuse or why she didn’t stand up for herself or leave—Chiara would most likely have ended up in foster care.
Sophia and I spent hours late into the night researching the possibilities while Chiara slept on the couch. After a while, Clay carried her to Sophia’s guest room.
There’s no quick solution for Carolina to gain custody. We could hire a better lawyer for her, but until she finishes college, it seems impossible. If she reported the years of abuse, it would make it even more likely Chiara would end up in foster care than with Carolina.
The system is fucking useless.
When there is nothing left to research, we gather on the small couches in Sophia’s living room. The weight of the situation hangs heavily in the air, and a somber silence settles among us. Clay finally breaks it, his voice hoarse from remaining silent for so long.
“Five years. He had her for five years and would have her for two more.” He sighs.
“He won’t,” I reply firmly. “This ends now.”
“He’s never seeing them again. We’ll make sure of it,” Sophia says with a sniffle as she absently tears a tissue into pieces.
Clay continues, his voice shaky as he stares at his hands, “All her ribs were broken at least once. Remember when I broke a rib as a teenager? When I fell from that tree?” Xander huffs.
“It was just one rib, and it hurt like hell for weeks. I couldn’t even take a deep breath. And she’s had all of hers broken.”
A shiver runs down my spine as the full extent of Carolina’s suffering sinks in. “Her collarbone too.”
“He must’ve kicked her to break her ribs. There’s no way he could’ve done it with his fists,” Xander says softly, his voice filled with anger and sorrow.
Sophia rises from her seat and stands next to the couch, clutching the edge of it tightly, her knuckles turning white as tears stream down her face.
“I can’t believe what she’s been through,” she whispers, her voice quivering with grief and anger.
“No one should ever endure such cruelty.” A sob breaks out of her before she turns and heads to the kitchen.
I think about going after her, but I know she needs a minute to collect her thoughts. This isn’t easy for any of us.
“The cuts…” I start, but I can’t continue, tears filling my eyes.
“I’d love to carve something into his skin, see how he fucking likes it,” Xander grumbles angrily, his fury boiling over.
“Fuck it, I’d hold him down for you,” Clay states firmly.
I look up, surprised. Clay is usually against violence, but it seems this man had better not cross our path.
“He’s never seeing her again,” I echo Sophia’s statement.
“Agreed,” Clay responds, and Xander nods.
I didn’t sleep a wink last night.
The weight of guilt and frustration kept me tossing and turning, haunted by the images of Carolina laying in that hospital bed. Those haunting thoughts clung to me even during my shift at work, making every minute feel like an eternity.
It’s past six in the evening, and we’ve all agreed to meet in the hospital after Xander and Sophia’s workdays are over to get an update from the doctor and see Carolina. Xander should be bringing Sophia and Chiara in a few minutes.
I look over at Clay, and I can tell he’s also struggled with the same sleepless night and restless thoughts.
His usual styled hair is ruffled and dark circles are forming around his eyes.
We haven’t really talked all day. We’ve just been driving around, hoping for a case to keep our minds occupied and divert our attention until we could finally head here.
To her.
She’s still asleep, but the doctor informs Clay and me that everything looks good and the swelling is slowly subsiding.
The fact that everything seems to be healing is like a balm to my frayed nerves. I’m grateful that she’s on the path to recovery and safe.
Yet, anxiety still gnaws at me like an unrelenting itch beneath that relief. I can’t help but worry about what lies ahead and how this will ultimately affect our lives. The uncertainty of it all lingers, and I know that despite the positive news, we’re far from out of the woods.
I’m so exhausted and in desperate need of coffee. So, I leave Clay with her for a moment to fetch cups for both of us.
Balancing the two coffees, I navigate the cold, sterile hospital hallway. My footsteps echo softly against the linoleum floor and through air that smells faintly of disinfectant.
I finally reach Carolina’s door and turn, using my elbow to press down the handle and my shoulder to nudge the door open. Once inside, I see Clay standing beside Carolina’s bed, bent over her, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
Despite my entrance, his eyes, filled with concern and affection, never leave her face.
“I know you are his, but a third of your heart is mine, just as half of mine is yours. We both know that’s true,” he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.
He presses a kiss to her temple. “I am here. Whether you want me to be or not, I am here. I’ll always be, just like I’ll always come for you. I promised, remember?”
I place the cups of coffee on a side table, and Clay’s gaze finally shifts toward me, his eyes widening in surprise.
“What did you just say?” I press, my hackles rising. The room is suddenly charged with tension.
“Josh, I…” Clay starts, standing up straighter, his expression torn.
“Did you just confess your love for my girlfriend?” I demand, my brow furrowing, a wave of nausea washing over me at the mere thought.
This is a joke, right?
It has to be. This can’t be real. I feel sick and betrayed, and my heart aches with a strange mix of anger and hurt.
“Josh, just hear me out…” he starts, stepping closer, his voice pleading.
“Fuck no! What kind of lousy best friend does that?” I accuse, my voice rising as I get into his personal space. Just as I am about to shove him, the door swings open, and Xander, Sophia, and Chiara enter the room.
“What’s going on here?” Xander asks, his gaze darting between Clay and me, uncertainty playing across his face, his brows furrowed.
“Well, what’s happening is that your boyfriend just declared his love to my unconscious girlfriend,” I accuse, the words tumbling out of my mouth, my fists clenching involuntarily at my sides.
“What?” Sophia asks, sounding taken aback, but my gaze doesn’t leave Xander.
His eyes snap back to Clay, surprise evident on his face. He seems at a loss for words.
“You didn’t know either?” I ask, my tone filled with incredulity.
Xander’s gaze flickers down to Carolina and back to Clay again, his eyes now reflecting a deep sense of hurt. He hesitates for a second before wordlessly turning and leaving the room, accompanied by Chiara’s gasp.
“Babe,” Clay yells, his desperation evident, and he instinctively moves to chase after Xander, but I grab his arm to hold him back, my grip firm.
“Are you fucking serious right now?” I seethe, my voice trembling, just like my hand.
“She is my girlfriend. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
I thought you were my best friend. But no, you can’t let me have one good thing.
You and Xander have each other. You always have.
All my life, I’ve wanted someone like her.
Yet here you are, trying to wedge in? For what? Your little arrangement? A bit of fun?”
“Turn it down, Josh. We’re in a hospital,” Sophia hisses out.
“Josh, I know how this looks, but it’s not like that. It’s more than that. I love her,” Clay pleads with me, eyes desperate.
I huff, shake my head, and look at the ceiling.
His shoulders sag, and the guilt is written all over his face.
The audacity!
“And I love you too, man. You’re my best friend. I would never do anything to hurt you. We’re family. You’re like a brother to me.”
The bitterness in my voice cuts through the tension like a knife as I lock eyes with him again. “Oh, what a great brother you are, trying to steal my girl.”
“I wouldn’t dream of taking her from you,” Clay defends, but I know what I heard. “She could have us all, we could share—”
“Out!” I erupt, my voice echoing through the room, making Sophia flinch and pull Chiara to her side. I release my grip on Clay’s arm and thrust a finger toward the door. “Get out now, or I can’t promise I won’t punch you in your pretty face, Clay.” I’m seething.
His eyes dart to Sophia, who’s holding Chiara in a side hug. Her expression is one of disappointment as she tells him sternly, “I’ve got this. Go.”
He nods but hesitates. “Josh, please, let’s just talk about this later. I promise I would never…”
I can’t bear to listen to his pleas. Instead, I walk over to the bed and gently stroke Carolina’s hair, trying to regain my composure and taking deep breaths.
“I think it’d be best if you leave now,” Sophia snaps, tone icy, and the next sound I hear is the door closing behind him, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
“Wow, I always thought Lina was a prude, but look at this now,” Chiara comments casually, her words like salt in an open wound. My frustration boils over, and I whirl around to face her, my anger now directed at her.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Your sister, who’s been working three jobs for years to support you and bends backward for you, is lying hurt in a hospital bed because of you. And all you can say is something that dumb?”
“Joshy, she’s just a teenager,” Sophia interjects, her voice softening as she tries to mediate.
“Yeah, I get that,” I reply, my tone still tense. “But is it so damn difficult to appreciate what Carolina does for her?” My gaze shifts to Chiara. “You have no idea how amazing she is.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Oh, and you think you do? You don’t even know her.”
I gaze down at Carolina. At her still, beautiful face. My eyes follow the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and I try to synchronize my breaths with hers, a soothing rhythm to help me calm down.
“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t. But still, here I am, appreciating the fuck out of her. It’s not that hard.” I meet Chiara’s eyes again, noticing them welling up before she walks to the other side of Carolina’s bed and takes her hand.
She lifts it to her lips, kissing the back of it. “I’m sorry, Lina. Mi dispiace moltissimo, ” she whispers, bursting into tears.
Sophia crosses the room to wrap her arms around her from behind. “Shh, it’s going to be okay.”
I look back down to Carolina, hoping like hell my sister is right, and everything will eventually be okay for the woman I love.