Page 30 of His Beautiful Revenge
“No.” He took her arm and led her gently back to the suite. “I’m here. I’m staying.”
Zulika wanted to protest that he had enough to deal with, but suddenly the thought of going through this alone made her feel tearful. She smiled up at him. “That would be a comfort. Thank you.”
She introduced the oncologist to Orlando and then it was time for the test. Orlando stayed outside the small cubicle, but kept talking to reassure Zulika as she went through the procedure. Afterward, he insisted on taking her to lunch. After they had ordered—the same double stacked burger and sweet potato fries—Zulika studied him.
“You’re probably sick of hearing this, but how are you? Really?”
Orlando took a long sip of ice cold soda before he answered. “Not so good. I guess that’s kind of an understatement, but it’s been two weeks and I still expect to see Carmel in our bed, or playing with Ferma, or yelling at some junior assistant at the D.A.’s office.” He smiled for a second, lost in his thoughts.
“Have the police any idea who would do this?”
He shook his head. “None. They think it was a professional hit because of the bullets used …god, she never stood a chance. What I keep coming back to is …she would have told him. She would have told him she was pregnant and hestillshot her six times.”
Zulika felt sick. She squeezed his arm. “Orlando, I can’t even begin to say how sorry I am. If there’s anything you need …”
“Thank you, Zul. God, there’s so much in everyday life that I’ve never had to process before. Where does Ferma go after school when I’m working? Carmel’s sister is staying with us, but she has her own family to get back to soon. So I’ve got to find an afterschool place for her.” He smiled at Zulika ruefully. “Sorry. It helps to rant about stuff.”
“Rant away,” Zulika said as their food arrived and they both fell on the burgers. “God, saturated fat, salt, and red meat.”
“Yep, it definitely helps.” Orlando half-smiled. “How're things …at the bookstore?”
Zulika grinned at him properly for the first time. “You mean, have Norah and Giacomo been hooking up?”
Orlando laughed. “Sorry, that wasn’t subtle, was it?”
Zulika shrugged good-naturedly. “I don’t mind. The official line is …they’re taking things slow and working stuff out. The unofficial line is …they’re as crazy about each other as ever.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I know.”
“You’re a good friend to her. I’m sorry about all that business with your brother.”
“Step-brother. I keep thinking he’s going to pop up and ruin everything for Norah. I feel caught in the middle in that, to my surprise, I feel kind of sorry for Lucian. He lost the best thing that ever happened to him. Saying that, I’ll never forgive him for what he did to Norah.”
“He should be in jail.”
Zulika nodded. “If it were up to me, he would be, but Norah didn’t want to go through a trial. Can’t blame her for that.”
“No, I suppose not.”
Zulika shuddered. “How anyone, any woman, could go near that creep is beyond me. The idea of him is so repugnant.”
Giacomo nodded. “Not for Tara, though.”
Zulika sighed. “No, I suppose not. Want a refill?”
He nodded. Zulika beckoned at the waitress and she filled his coffee mug. Zulika smiled her thanks at her.
“I don’t know what her problem is. She too had everything in Giacomo. And now she seems hellbent on tormenting Norah. What a bitch.”
“The thing is,” Orlando leaned on his elbows, “I don’t think Tara really cares for Giacomo. She doesn’t love him. She treats him like crap. She just wants to beat Norah, but she can’t see that, even without Norah, Giacomo isn’t going to take her back. She’s in a competition no-one else is playing.”
Zulika nodded. “I’ve met plenty of people like her—the entitlement always boggles my mind. My brother is exactly the same. Norah was just a possession to him.”
“Step-brother.” Orlando grinned at her and she chuckled.
“Word.”
