SPITEFUL CHARADES - BOOK V

- Chapter 8 -

Leaving the restaurant, Gunay felt as if he needed to see Rasalas. Not because he missed his brother, but because he needed to leave São Paulo. He was running out of air, and refused to reveal it to Roberto. Why? Because his best friend would know who could possibly affect him to such a degree. Rasalas would know it as well, but he would not judge him for it.

When Gunay entered the restaurant, he had a plan in mind. A plan that included becoming a nameless patron, staking out times when Iuliana left her building and when she returned. He had a plan of eventually making her pay for leaving him. He had no idea the plan would backfire so immensely in his face.

To his luck, Rasalas proved to be closer than he had assumed. He did not have to visit New Orleans to see him. Rasalas was on an assignment in São Sebastião, near one of Gunay's beachfront properties. An assignment Rasalas completed before Gunay had arrived...

"Came to watch how a professional handles business, brother?" Rasalas poked fun at his brother when Gunay joined him at sundown.

"What professional?" Gunay patted his back.

"This one," Rasalas pointed at himself, smiling. "From what I recall, You failed on Your last mission."

"I did not fail..." Gunay brooded. "Iuliana succeeded."

"I forgot," Rasalas bellowed out a laugh.

"No, You didn't," Gunay chuckled.

"Damn sure, I didn't." Rasalas flashed him a wider smile. "And to think it took that woman to crush Your spotless record."

"She crushed more than my spotless record."

"Ouch," Rasalas winced.

"Got that right," Gunay frowned, so out of character it intrigued Rasalas. Instead of reaching for a bottle of beer Rasalas offered him from a cooler beside the beach chair, Gunay walked past him and stopped at the wateredge. "I saw her again."

"Again?" Rasalas asked, fully aware that if he read his brother's mind it would have resulted in a punch to the gut. And no one threw punches like Gunay. "What did she do this time?"

"She got married..."

'I thought she didn't matter anymore...'

"She DOESN'T." Gunay hissed out.

"You're sure about that?" Rasalas walked up, pushing the beer bottle he previously offered to his brother against Gunay's chest. "Sure doesn't look that way from where I'm standing."

"Are You calling me a liar?" Gunay uttered, accepting the bottle.

"I'm not calling You a liar," Rasalas patted his shoulder and looked to the sunset. He knew how Gunay felt. How much it hurt. How inadequate words of support could feel to a heart that pretended to be numb to rejection. "But I sure as hell don't intend to agree with You."

"Whatever, Frog Legs." Gunay scoffed, taking a long sip of the beer. He turned to face the sunset, swearing under his breath.

"Why does it matter if she's married?"

"It doesn't. It's just..." Gunay paused. "Shit. It does."

"It does because she still does."

"I thought she didn't matter anymore." Gunay repeated the words he heard in his brother's thoughts.

"You didn't let her go. That's why she still does."

"Double damn..." Gunay whispered.

"Tell that to Monroe," Rasalas chuckled.