Page 50 of Brittle Heart

I glance at Josh.

“We do. We’re friends,” is all he shares.

“Then do me a favor and keep an eye on her, okay? That girl is a gem and doesn’t deserve the rough hand life dealt her,” he adds before nodding and retreating into his bar.

* * *

Carolina

The weight of Roberto’s body presses heavily against me as I half-drag and half-carry him up the stairs to our apartment. Each step feels like a mountain, and the stench of alcohol on his breath is overwhelming.

I have to breathe through my mouth to avoid the smell.

“Come on, stronzo,” I mutter, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just a few more steps.”

Once inside, I manage to get him to his room, using every ounce of strength I have. I let him fall onto his bed, not caring how he lands.

I need to get away from him.

I head to the kitchen, my heart pounding in my chest. The embarrassment of Clay and Josh witnessing, yet again, another sliver of my life threatens to bring tears to my eyes, but I blink them away.

A loaf of bread on the counter taunts me, and I consider making myself a sandwich, but a loud thump echoes from Roberto’s room, followed by his slurred shouting.

My heart sinks. I don’t want him to wake Chiara. Rushing to his room, I find him sprawled on the floor, having fallen out of bed.

“Oh,Dio, come on,” I say, trying to help him up.

It’s a struggle, but I manage to get him on his feet. When he stands, his eyes, clouded with anger and alcohol, lock onto mine.

“You thin… yer better tha… me?” he slurs.

I want to tell him to just go to sleep, but before I can open my mouth, he pulls his arm back and punches me. The force of the blow sends me reeling, and pain explodes in my temple. Stars immediately take over my vision as it blurs, and my body sways from the impact.

He stumbles back to bed, mumbling incoherently, and leaving me in a daze.

I drag myself to the bathroom, my head throbbing. I lock the door behind me and let myself slide to the floor. The cold tiles against my skin offer a slight relief from the pain, but the weight of the night presses heavily on my chest. I take a deep, shaky breath before I whisper to myself.

“Only two more years.”

CHAPTERTWENTY

Carolina

While sitting at my desk in Sophia’s lab, I fold my hands and rest my chin on them. Then take a moment to stare at the mug she gave me today. It reads,Spill the tea, sis.

It’s like Sophia has an endless supply of these dorky things.

She’s in the office next door, chit-chatting about a case with a coworker, and I’m here, convinced that the universe is out to get me.

For the second time in no time at all, Clay and Josh have seen me at my worst. They know where I live, watched me searching for dollar bills, figured out my little sister is shit at sneaking out, and now they’ve met Roberto.

I swear, I would have disappeared into the ground last night if I could.

If it weren’t for them, Roberto would be behind bars. Del Moro didn’t give a fuck about my pleas. He would have loved every second of it.

And now, to top it all off, I’m supposed to thank Josh and Clay for what they did. There’s no way the incident can be forgotten. My luck isn’t that good.

I groan, shifting my head to rest my forehead on my hands, my eyes shut tight. I mumble under my breath, “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” while lightly thumping my head on my knuckles.

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