Chapter 25

Emiliana 

Whatever was bothering Giovanni, he refused to speak of it. I had an idea that it had something to do with yesterday and me witnessing the torture of Mateo, but that was yet to be confirmed. The only thing I had to go on was the fact Giovanni kept referring to himself as a monster. 

The words were like crashing waves, the sound of his doubt plummeting against rocks in despair. It broke me to hear how he saw himself because all I saw was a man doing what he needed to in order to survive in this world. 

I had slept soundly, safe in Giovanni’s arms. On several occasions, I had woken up upon shifting comfortably. Each time he would pull me back, determined to keep a hold for as long as possible. Until he took himself off to the bathroom, leaving a cold space beside me. 

He couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice. The desperate need to get things right was evident, and so was the fear.