Page 89 of When Sinners Fall
“Here?”
“Yeah.”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Swimming?”
“Oh.”
She hovers and looks around, then walks the beach a little as if searching for other people. No need to. There’s no one here or for the next few miles. This isn’t a place any of us come to anymore. Too idyllic for the likes of us these days. White sands. Crystal blue water. Either way, we do own it. Or Mother does. It belonged to the second guy she married - my father– Emilio Cortez. This was his home country and one I enjoyed in my younger years. Cuba does that to a guy like me. It's gritty, full of fear and dirt, and built for the darkest of us to dwell in.
Havana's laying there waiting for us when we've settled in. It's only a short drive away from this privacy and seclusion, but I need this with her for now - we need it. And thankfully, no one even knows this place is ours these days. It was sold off to a subsidiary we own years back to evade tax and has barely been used since, other than the occasional safe space.
They’d spend time here when we were young and life wasn’t as mapped the fuck out as it is now. The four of us played in these waters back then, knowing nothing of the life that Mother was making for us. We were just kids then. Kids who thought of nothing but smiling and laughter. It wasn’t long before they split, and then Elias was gone to live with Father in Havana and this place - this memory of happy times and normality - just rotted for years until Abel ended the divide.
I start stripping my own clothes off, pulling the shirt over my head, and then heading closer to the water.
“Is this place yours?” she calls.
I nod and start backing into the water, naked as the day I was born and beckoning my finger at her. “You gonna get your ass in here and play with me or not?”
She giggles and shakes her head. “Erm. Who are you, and what have you done with the other you?”
I smile and let the water get up around my waist. I’m that memory, I guess. I’m someone who might be able to help her see it’s still me – still the same kid I was all those years ago – and we’re still us. “You’re gonna get about one damn minute before I come get you, Wren Bird.”
“I am not getting naked on a beach. There could be anyone here and-” Well, isn’t that a damn threat I don’t need to hear.
I start walking out of the water, hurrying at her when she tries to back away. She dodges and weaves, laughing lightly at my grabs for her, and then goes into full-on hysterics mode when I scoop her up and start walking us back into the water.
“DANTE!” she yells, trying to hold onto me. “Oh god no!”
I drop her when the water’s waist deep again. Not completely. I’m never dropping anything about her again, but a good dunking won’t do her one bit of harm. She coughs and splutters, slapping her hand at me at the same time as trying to brush her wet hair back.
“Clothes. Off,” I state, backing away a little. “I need to see some skin on show.” She shakes her head at me but starts doing as I ask after a few beats looking around her. "There's no one here, Wren. Just you and me and empty space. Keep those eyes focused where I want them. I've got you.”
A smile starts coming again as she keeps stripping and letting her clothes float away.Eventually, it's just me and her and an ocean. We tread water, still keeping our gazes locked and happy enough in the silence and safety this place provides. I linger in it for a while. Enjoy it. I look at her and the sky and the emptiness of the water, a smile comfortable on my face, and breathe slowly. But nice as it is, a conversation needs having.
We’re gonna have to get it done.
“I need to talk to you about what's gonna happen now.”
She moves slowly, so we're circling each other. “Okay.”
“I've organised some protection for you. They're going to be with you full time. Darius Hepez and Carlo Triaga. They'll shadow you. Drive you. Walk with you. Die for you if they need to. Everything to make sure you're never alone again.” Her mouth opens. I don't know if it's a protest or not, but either way, I close it down. “This isn't a discussion, Wren. This is the way you'll live from now on.”
She nods. “I get that. But die for me?”
“Yes.”
She frowns and looks out to the ocean. “And that's what you want? For men to die for me?”
“If it keeps you away from harm, that's exactly what I want them to do for you.”
The water ripples around as she swims another circle. I don't say anything else. That's it as far as I’m concerned. I'll give her everything she needs, the second she needs it, but this is my absolute line. She will accept it.
