Page 18 of Ruthless Consequences

“How?” she repeats.

“Yeah, how. Drinking. Smoking. Sex.”

If she agrees to the last one, I’ll find out who—and I’ll kill him.The thought almost shocks me out of my skin.

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “None of those things.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not really, but I will. I’ve been skipping classes.” At the look on my face, she continues with a sigh. “I hide out and eat…stuff. I lose track of time. I really don’t care to be around many people. Whenever I can, I ditch. I ditch for hours. I just sit there.”

“Eat…stuff.”

“Stop repeating after me.”

“It’s hard not to when I’m not getting clear answers.”

“Chocolate,” she says. “I eat chocolate, okay! But they’re telling me it’s a coping mechanism. That’s how I’m ignoring the…sadness, or whatever. With sweets. I’m notdealing. I’mpenningmy emotions up. I don’t see what the big deal is. Isn’t it better to keep them locked up than to let them run wild?”

“That’s all you eat.”

She turns her eyes away for a second, then she turns them back to meet mine. “When…I eat.”

She tugs on my hand when I take hers and turn us around.

“Wait! Where are we going?”

“Back to my house,” I say. “Whatever we’re having, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“Nooo,” she protests, but I ignore her and her pulling. She’s trying to pry my fingers while digging her tennis shoes in, but she slides. “I’m really not hungry. I’m not going to eat—” She blows out a breath that I swear I feel on my neck. “Damn you’re strong. No wonder Mrs. Carine named you Brio.”

A grin lingers on my face as we pass the window to Valentino’s again. The look on Pop’s face is the exact opposite. He’s frowning. But what’s new?

I glance at Lucila.

Everything.

SIX

LUCILA

PRESENT DAY

I couldn’t avoidhim forever. Not that I would. I knew why he was here. So did he.

The moment our eyes would meet, he’d feel all the words I never said. He’d feel all the heavy things I’d been carrying around with me until it was time for me to meet him in the hole he’d dug. It was big enough for three.

Usually that sort of silence would create a jail for the one who kept all the wild feelings pent up inside. But it set me free, while it created a grave for him.That hole where he’d sit with my feelings and whatever was left of his. For a man like him, it was a self-imposed prison.

Each time he came around, each time he met my eyes—his so guileless but still so ruthless—I’d dump a little dirt on top, adding to the weight, burying him even deeper.

He wanted it. Craved it. I gladly gave it to him. But whenever I did, it would be when I was ready.

“Lilo!”

The sound of Minnie shouting had me turning away from the woman chattering in my ear. I held up a hand to block the glare of the sun while I watched her body zigzag around other bodies to get to his car.

I sighed. Or whenever life told me it was time to give it to him.

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