Cara
I poke my head into the kitchen to say bye to Demetrios before taking the back way into the alley. Once I’m outside, I stare at the ground, trying to work out what I just learned.
Eros didn’t tell me about killing Don Pavone, but I don’t want to jump to any conclusions. I can see how that might’ve slipped his mind, what with his cousin nearly smothering me with a pillow. He came home that night looking like something big happened, looking more relaxed than he had in a while, and we spent all evening having sex. And in the morning, Sophia tried to kill me, then that whole trial-banishment-whatever thing happened, then more sex in the steam room, and more sex all night-
I can understand how he never got around to telling me.
But what does this mean?
Is the war totally over?
Am I safe?
My head’s in a million places, and I don’t notice the person watching me until he speaks up.
“Cara. Hey. Don’t freak out.”
I look up sharply and take a step back.
Christopher’s standing near the end of the alley. His hands are in the air, showing me his palms, and he’s slowly coming toward me.
I want to scream.
Fear lances into my chest. Fear so dark, so intense, that I can’t move.
With Sophia, I could fight back. I tried to fight back anyway.
But with Christopher, my entire body locks down like it used to.
No, no, no, this can’t be happening, this can’t be real. I thought Don Pavone was dead. I thought the war was over.
This has to be some kind of delusion.
But no, he’s here, and I don’t know what to do.
“I know things are bad between us, but hear me out,” he says, stopping ten feet away. “I just want to talk. Please, Cara, just-”
The door bangs open and Alonzo comes out, gun raised. He aims it at Christopher, holding steady, placing himself between the two of us. I stagger away, breathing hard, and it’s like I come back into my body with a sudden rush.
“Back the fuck off,” Alonzo barks, bristling with rage as he jabs the end of the gun at Christopher’s face.
Christopher’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t move. He keeps staring at me with this sad, pleading look, and something doesn’t sit right.
Why would he show up like this? Why now? He knows the diner is full of Greek soldiers. He knows I have guards. Why just walk up to me like this, no weapons, no nothing?
Slowly, Christopher drops to his knees as Alonzo barks at him not to move, to keep his hands up.
“Wait,” I say, my voice cutting through the tension. I have to say it twice before Alonzo looks back at me. “Hold on a second. Something’s off about this.”
Alonzo pauses. He looks at me uncertainly. “Eros’s been looking for this man. I can’t just-”
“Give me a second. Please, just one second.”
“You know I can’t let you talk to him. If Eros found out-”
“He won’t. Please, this is important.”
Alonzo’s jaw works. But slowly, he steps back. “I’m not going anywhere, but if you want to talk, then talk.” He glares at Christopher. “If your hands so much as move, I will kill you.”
Christopher lets out a breath. “Cara. Honey-”
“If you call me that again, I’ll tell Alonzo to shoot and save us all some freaking stress.” The words come out in a rush and it feels good to hold power over this man.
This abusive piece of shit.
This awful, terrible monster, this nightmare.
For so long I’ve lived in fear of him.
I was nothing when I ran. I was a stupid kid, naive, inexperienced.
But I’m so much more now, and staring into the eyes of my abuser, I’m sure of one thing.
I’m afraid.
I’m so fucking terrified.
But I am stronger than I’ve ever been, and I will not back down.
“The Famiglia’s got it out for me,” Christopher says in a rush. “They’re coming for me, Cara. Them, and your husband, and basically the whole fucking city of Chicago. I can’t get out. I can’t fucking run. I need help. I’m desperate.”
I stare at him, barely comprehending. Is this real? Can he be serious right now? “You came to me… for help.” I say it flatly.
He nods eagerly. “I came to beg for mercy. Please, Cara. I know I was rough to you sometimes, I wasn’t the best husband-”
I take two steps forward. “You nearly killed me half a dozen times,” I say with venom. “You made my life hell.”
He grimaces. “Cara. I know. I’m sorry. I’m here putting my life in your hands now to atone for all the stupid shit I did. This whole thing, it’s because I never stopped loving you, even when I lost control and did all those shitty things. I’ve been fighting for you, but I get it, I lost. Now I’m here, begging for my life. Please, Cara-”
“I hate you,” I say and the word feel like throw-up heaving from my throat. Acid, bile, hate. “I despise youso much. And you are so much worse than I ever imagined, if you’re stupid enough to come here and begme, of all people, for mercy.” I glare at him with absolute blackness in my heart. “I have no mercy for you. There is no mercy in this world for you, Christopher. I want you to suffer all the pain and misery you made me suffer. I want to watch Eros cut you into little pieces.” I lean forward, staring into his terrified, sweating face. “Ihateyou so much, and once you’re gone, I’ll never think about you again. The world will forget you. I’m a Khazan now. You’re nothing.”
“Cara, please,” he says, moaning with terror.
I turn my back. “Alonzo, I think my husband will want this man alive.”
“As you wish, Mrs. Khazan.”
“Wait, Cara, we can talk, please!” There’s a curse and a sharp grunt mixed with the sound of something solid smacking into something less solid. I turn to see Christopher lying on the pavement, blood rolling from a head wound.
“Is he dead?” I ask.
Alonzo shrugs. “Probably not. Concussed real bad though.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and makes a call.
The world recedes as I stand staring down at my abuser’s bleeding face. He lies on the ground, eyes staring at nothing. He’s not dead-I watch his chest rise and fall-but he looks so weak, so small, crumpled up like that at my feet.
All this time, I was so afraid of this man. This lump of meat. This worthless nothing.
Christopher was my torturer. He was the monster that came for me in the night.
Now, he’s nothing.
Tears wrench themselves from my chest as I sob quietly into my hands.