Page 69 of Bastard
“Not tonight.”
Too late for that.
Breakfast tomorrow, and then we’ll leave to go separate ways, I remind myself. That was our agreement, right?
“I relocated the bugs in the bedroom to the bathroom. I’ll put them back into place tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
A long pause follows.
“I was harsh with you earlier on the terrace.”
“Yes. But you needed me angry. Angry sex. A reason to destroy the camera. Sex in the hostess’s room to further the lie. It was the perfect deception.”
“Luciana.”
“¿Sí?”
“I make mistakes like any other man.”
My throat hitches. “Yes. You said I was one of them, remember? Because I haven’t forgotten.”
His hand touches my arm, and I jump. “You were eighteen.”
“I was your wife.”And I loved you. Passionately. Desperately.
“I’m sorry.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. Sorry about us? Or sorry about tonight?
“What happened in Cabo ... Declan killed those men before I could get to them. They had a simple order. Scare your friend, Madelyn, as a warning to her sister Kylie.” He breathes in deeply, and I suddenly wish I were facing him.
Tears form. How long have I waited to hear him apologize? But never in my imagination did I expect it to feel so sincere.
“I’m sorry for hurting you, Luciana. You deserve better than what I offered you.”
I should resent him. Hate him. Avoid him. Not ... love him. No. No. No, I shouldn’t, yet I do it anyway. “I forgive you.”Allí. Lo dije—I said it. And I mean it. Maybe now we can move on from each other.
I sniffle.
“But will you forgive me when you know the whole truth?” he murmurs in a low voice.
“What ... truth?” I choke out.
He sighs. “You’ll be back in your village soon. That’s what you want, right?”
“Yes, except ...”
“Get some sleep, Luciana. We’ll talk but not here.”
I’m too tired to protest.
We lay quietly for a long time. Me, with tears rolling down my face. Me, loving him even though it might destroy me.
It’s not until a long while later that I hear him say, “Soon, Luciana, you’ll understand the whole of it.”
* * *
