Page 35 of Chula
“You didn’t do it. She did.”
“Because of me. She did it because of me,” I remind him. I stand to my feet and walk back to his room, laying her on the bed and pulling the blanket over her. I look down at her for a long minute before walking back to the living room.
“She had this,” he says, holding up the bag. Yeah, that’s Pete’s shit.
“I fucked up.”
“We all fuck up, Marco.”
“But do we make the girls we love become killers? No. We don’t fucking do that, Damion!”
“You love her?”
“You know what? You’re better for her. Whatever you have to offer her, she deserves it. And so much more. Just don’t forget about her brother,” I say before I sigh. “He’s a lot like Manny was.”
“What are you doing, Marco? Don’t you walk away from her. Not after what she did for you.”
“How can I stay? How can I look at her and know what the fuck she did for me? I can’t repay that. I can’t make the nightmares go away, Damion.”
“You don’t have to. You have to be there when she needs you. You have to love her, hold her, remind her that everything is going to be okay.”
“Is it? She fucked my goddamn brother; she killed for me. For me, of all fucking people!” I roar louder this time. I can’t do this. I can’t handle it. I’m going to lose control, and it’s going to be Damion who gets hurt.
I turn and start for the door when I hear her.
“You’re leaving me?” I lower my head, looking down at my feet for a long second.
“What you did was stupid, Chula. So fucking stupid.”
“I needed you back,” she says softly. I take a deep breath and turn to face her.
“I can’t thank you. I don’t know how. What you did … it’s only going to haunt you now. It’s going to rip you apart inside and ruin your life, Chula.” She takes a step toward me, but I throw my hand up to stop her. “You deserve more.”
“I want you.”
“No. You don’t know what you want,” I tell her, my eyes moving to Damion and back.
“It was once, and I’m so sorry, Marco. We weren’t even together together. It shouldn’t have happened!” she yells, but it did happen. And she broke me by doing it.
“I’m sorry, Chula. For … everything. For getting you mixed up in this shit. For … for everything.” Before I can stop her, she lunges and throws herself into my arms, crying. My heart is breaking. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’ve never wanted anything like her before, and now that’s all ruined.
“Please, Marco. I’m sorry,” she cries harder now. I look at Damion and give a little nod. At first, he doesn’t come, but eventually he does. He pulls her out of my arms, and she fights him. God, does she fight him. I turn on my heel and start for the door when she yells once more.
“I did it for you! I’d fucking do it all again for you, Marco! I love you!” Her screams turn to cries as I walk out the door and step into the elevator.
Chapter 15
Luna
Damion had internet hooked up at the apartment for me so I could spend more time at home with Davey. I was thankful for that. I couldn’t thank him enough. I haven’t wanted to go anywhere. I haven’t wanted to see anyone. I’m just numb.
I’ve never been the stupid girl. Never the one who did all the stupid things, but I am now. I’m her. I’m the girl who fucks up and ruins things. I’m the girl who does stupid things for other people, knowing they don’t care about me anymore. But the thing is, I’d do it all over again. I’d blow those bastards to hell one more time if it meant seeing Marco.
He hasn’t come around. He hasn’t texted me. He hasn’t called me, and he’s been scarce when I’m around. Tears burn the back of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I can’t. I can’t do this. A knock on the door pulls me out of the daze I’m currently in.
I shove off my bed and walk over, pulling the door open to see Tony standing there, grinning at me.
“What?”
