Death And Love Poems (2) Mafia Romance

17. Livable

Roxana

"How can I know that I will not be arrested within hours after you walk out of here?"

"You have to trust me."

"I don't."

"No shit. Roxana, I wouldn't do that to you. Why would I? I have nothing to gain from it."

To your knowledge. Yet there is almost a million euros in cash in the bedroom.

"But are you ok with housing two people who are actively being searched by a very murderous guy?" Several actually.

"I am not delighted but at least now I know what I am actually dealing with. Anything else I should know?"

"Only if you want details of how dad died." I catch Dani's gaze and regret instantly what I have said.

Thiago sighs once more and looks out the window.

"I think I can cover your legal residency issue. I... Know people but you would need to work and study so it looks legit. I am not sure what faculty we can get you in, given that you have no documents from the schools you attended previously but I would wager it doesn't matter at this point. Dani can also go to a Brazilian high school. It will be a bit hard, mostly for him, because I don't know if I can manage an international school-"

"It doesn't matter at all," interrupts Dani.

I nod, showing that I agree. Halfheartedly.

This can be good. I pray that it's good but I can't trust it is. It's been too much suffering and too many unforeseen issues for me to believe, just like that, that it can actually get better.

"If I leave now, will you try to run away? It doesn't make any sense. I think you find it too risky to enter another country with those passports so it makes most sense if you stay in Brazil. Starting over in another city will only be hard on you and make little sense." He puts his hand over mine on the table. "I can and I will protect you."

I am too tired to object. Too tired to do anything. I am enveloped in a hug; my bruises and beaten soul perceive it as pleasant. I let it happen as I let so many things happen but for a change, it doesn't seem so bad.

"So, no running, okay?" he whispers.

"Yeah, no running."

"Tomorrow, come working at the bar as usual and I will tell you the next steps on how to make your stay legal. It's okay, I've got you. Nobody is going to hurt you. I am going to protect you from everything."

"Okay..." I answer faintly.

"I think I am in love with you, you know?" he whispers smoothly and scoops me up in his arms.

"Why would you be? It doesn't make a lot of sense."

"Shhh." He presses his lips on mine to shut me up. "I think, we will take the bedroom tonight. Dani will sleep on the couch."

"Okay," I answer. I feel so impossibly lifeless and weak. "Are you staying?"

"I think I am. Might be for the best. Like that, you won't think I will call the police on you."

For some minutes I stare at him in the dim evening light. Trusting is so damn difficult but what other choice do I have now if I don't want to kill a person again.

"Why did you stop being the police?"

He smiles faintly and puts me down on the bed, lying beside me.

"In my last mission, I was a bit reckless and got shot. Henrique was the leader in that one and he got fired. It was not his fault but the order came from higher up. I quit because my mother begged me and in solidarity with my friend. It was more than a year ago and I have been restless ever since. But maybe now I found a new purpose, protecting innocents while not being shot at so that my mother is at peace too."