Page 58 of Shameless in Vegas

I’m disappointed in myself for takingthis longto realize what I need to do.

I have been a bearer of violence since I was a tiny girl.

My mother, the single source of the only semblance of love I can recall, was a victim oftheirviolence.

If there’s anything Ihatein this world, it’s men who are violent with women.

And only one of the two men in this equation is responsible for violence against women.

Only one of those two men are responsible for violence againstme.

And that’s who deserves to die.

And he will.

As soon as I make my move and execute mynewplan.

Tugging at the neckline to adjust it one last time, I push out of the dressing room and waltz back to the main fitting area like I’ve got nary a care in the world.

Elle, Fortuna, and Celia are all hunched over the planning binder, chattering about tropical versus traditional floral arrangements. Lili is slumped in a chair off to the side wearing a vaguely sullen expression, so I position myself to stand mostly in front of her.

Turning my palms over, I offer an expectant shrug. “Thoughts?”

Lili shakes herself out of her thoughts, and her thick, dark brows lift. “Girl.” She scoffs playfully as she picks up her phone off a side table. “Ilovethat on you.” She holds the phone in front of her face and blindly reaches to poke Fortuna’s shoulder. “Mamá,mira.”

Fortuna finishes gushing to Elle about purple orchids and then turns to look at me. “¡Que encantadora!That is beautiful, Natalia.”

“Ooohh…” Elle sighs. “Yeah, I want to borrow that for sure, but I think I’ll need a padded bra to fill out the top.”

I tug at the neckline. “It’s actually a little snug.”

Elle chortles. “Must be nice.”

“I guess.” I force myself to match her casual laugh. “If you like not being able to breathe freely.”

“Lili,” Joaquin’s voice suddenly rings out across the space, sounding smaller than normal. “Why are you Facetiming me?”

I glance at Lili, who is now pointing the phone at me, and put the pieces together.

“I’m trying to show you your hot wife in her hot dress,” Lili explains. “Hang on while I flip the camera.” She thumbs the screen and then raises the phone. “There ya go. Check it out.”

“Ohman.” His rich, jovial chuckle oozes out of the small speakers and manages to make me feel like my whole body is made of warm, sticky goo. I amridiculous, and how did I let this happen? “Baby doll, you arebeautiful.”

A smile creeps across my face, and I sheepishly swish the long, flowing skirt from side to side. “Thank you,amor.”

“Spin around so he can see the back,” Lili orders, twirling her index finger at me.

I do as I’m told, and he chuckles again. “Damn. I actually wish I was on this super girly outing with you guys so I could scoop you up and kiss that pretty face of yours.”

I turn back to face the camera, and absently gather my hair into my hands to drape it over my shoulder. “I’m not sure even that would make this outing a lot of fun for you,cariño.” I gesture at the space. “This place is an explosion of beads and tulle. I’d hate for you to drown in it. It would be a veryun-manly way to go.”

Joaquin laughs heartily. “Lili!” There’s a sound like he’s snapping his fingers. “Give the phone to my lady so I can talk to her.”

My lady.

I sigh discontentedly, but discreetly.

Lili leaps up from the chair and approaches me, holding out the phone. “Here ya go.”

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