Page 40 of DeLucas After Dark

When we stop, I’m not wholly convinced that I’m blameless, but the ever present weight I carried is more manageable. From Valentino’s stance and the clearness in Sloane’s eyes, the mantra must be working for them. Still, it will take time for us to stop holding ourselves responsible in our heads.

Uncertainty washes over me when I realize something is missing from our moment of solidarity. “Does this mean you forgive me for not telling you back then?”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Valentino turns an angry frown on me. “Tácito, for a skilled surgeon, you sure have your idiot moments. There’s nothing you can do that I won’t forgive.”

“That goes for me, too,” Sloane says.

“I hope you remember you said that because I have to come clean about something else.” I release Sloane’s hand and sit heavily on my bed. As the silence stretches out, I try to find the words that will soften the next blow to Valentino. Sloane’s reaction, I expect, to be less emotionally complicated.

“Spit it out already. Is there something else you found while operating on us?” Worried tears glaze over Sloane’s eyes.

“I killed Giulio,” I blurt out to ease her anxiety and because I don’t have an easy way to admit the truth.

“What the fuck did you say?”

VALENTINO

After Tácito drops his bomb about Giulio, a nurse comes into the room to explain visiting hours are over. After a brief discussion, where I let her know my ass wasn’t sleeping anywhere my wife wasn’t, she offered to procure an extra bed for me.

When she leaves, I turn to Tácito. “How the fuck did I not know you did what I couldn’t do? And don’t give me the protection speech again. That shit is getting old.”

Tácito shrugs. “There are many sins you take on to protect us. I wasn’t going to let patricide be one of them.”

“Well, fuck.”

“I hate you were the one to do it,” Sloane says. “It must have eaten you up inside.”

“You’re wrong. I don’t regret what I did to him. In truth, if I could bring him back to life to do it again, I would. He deserves to suffer the pain and torture I inflicted on him every day for the rest of our lives.”

“Dude, I knew you could go dark, but this is another level.” Sloane peers into his eyes, searching for something she must have found because she nods. “Despite you going Dexter on me, you’re still my sweet Tácito.”

“Siempre, mi corazón.”

“And how do you feel about everything?” she asks me.

“I feel cheated, but not enough to make a big deal about it.” I shake my head in wonder. When did I miss the hardened resolve under Tácito’s quiet calm? “Tácito, promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You won’t give us another Christmas gift like the ones you dropped on us today.”

“Oh my God, today is Christmas!” Sloane gasps with her hands covering her mouth. “I completely forgot with all the kidnapping, and gunshots, and the knife wound. I hope we never have another Christmas Eve as eventful as this year.”

“I promise. I’m getting too old to keep up with you two.”

“You should start training with Ethan.” Sloane snaps her fingers. “That’s right. How’s Ethan doing?”

“He’s alive? I’m relieved,”Tacito says.

“He survived his first surgery. When they stabilized him, I ordered his removal to go home. He’ll have a long recovery ahead of him, but I’ll make sure he gets the best of care.”

“Will he require a nurse?” Sloane’s question causes me and Tácito to frown at her. “I was thinking that Hilde would be great. She managed me when I was less than willing. If we want Ethan to heal and return to work, who better to make that happen?”

“She has a point. I always intended to rehire her if you two found yourselves on my table again.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” I say.

A text alert on my phone interrupts our conversation. It’s a simple message. Without context, it would leave strangers to scratch their heads as they try to figure out the hidden meaning, but I know the meaning.

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