A Taste of Darkness

Chapter 27: Late Night Talking

Julio

I sit at the counter as I pour myself another drink. No matter how hard I tried to turn it off, the fact that some other mafia might be coming after Scarlett wouldn't get out of my head. The words that escaped Scarlett's mouth after her eyes witnessed my attempts to force information out of that guy- words that had the very same effect as a knife twist- only added to the incessant pandemonium in my mind.

Stay away from me.

I couldn't ignore the terrified, haunted look in her eyes in that moment, a look that told me she was no stranger to violence, even prior to meeting me. The question was: was that violence merely violence she saw happening around her, or was it violence inflicted upon her?

I hoped it was assumption one.

Because I can't even begin to imagine what I would do, much less feel, if I found out that somebody from her past had actually hurt her- in any way whatsoever. Hell, even just thinking about it now has the glass in my hand cracking under the pressure of my tightening grip.

In addition to whatever this feeling was, the main reason for my craving of alcohol right now was a response to how serious Scarlett seemed when ordering me to stay away from her. I just wanted to forget, forget her hatred towards me, forget this stabbing pain in my chest, forget the feelings threatening to break free after years of suppression, forget everything.

But I couldn't.

Because, this constricting sensation acting on my heart which seemed never-ending was making that task very much impossible. The voices in my head continued to shoot their taunting whispers at me, divulging that the only cure for this feeling was her forgiveness.

Fuck. . . what if I can't get it? What if she never talks to me again? What if she cuts me out of her life and ignores me for the rest of it?

The constricting feeling threatening my heart starts to get infinitely worse, the sensation feeling so real that my body begins to turn cold while I have to fight harder to breathe. I take another gulp of alcohol, hoping that the burn in my throat will overcome the pain in my chest.

It doesn't.

I really feel like punching something- anything, right now. I don't even know why I care enough to think about all the possibilities that include her leaving for good, nor do I like that I do. In fact, I despise it, resent it. Even a sliver of care residing in my heart for Scarlett is not good or safe for her, nor is it for me. All that would come with it is danger, and fuck if I let any harm come to her, not even in death.

Suddenly, I see a figure appear at the corner of my eye, and with it the sound of a light footstep hitting the marble floor.

I don't even have to look in the direction of the person to know who it is, I have memorised her footsteps to perfection at this point, I'd know them anywhere. Scarlett.

Despite already knowing who it was, I couldn't fight the urge to look up and catch a glance at her, half a day is a long time to go without seeing her anyway.

I look up.

Fuck.

This is even worse than that outfit she was wearing all that time ago with the very short shorts, because all that is coating her body now is panties and a loose t-shirt and hangs just below her stomach, something that should be more modest than a bra or crop-top, however I don't see it that way. That t-shirt just emphasizes what could be hiding underneath, and additionally the lack of clothing covering her lower body.

I can't seem to be able to look anywhere else other than at her.

I'm fucked.

Her eyes widen instantly when realising that she fails to be the only one in this room, the expression etched across her features telling me that the sole rumination running through her mind at this moment is that of all the people living here, the person she ended up having to share the same space with had to be me. She immediately wraps her arms around her body once the regretful, mortifying remembrance of her clothing choice dawns on her, a light blush flushing her cheeks as she does so. I think this might be the first time I have ever seen her blush.