Sweet Collateral

“So, you’re friends with Nero Verdi,” Carlos says without looking at me.

I’d usually refuse to speak to him because of who and what he is, but he works for Rafael. I place no trust in him, but for some reason, I think I trust Rafael. And this is exactly how the devil lures you to hell, Anna, with a false smile and an abundance of charm. Not that Rafael is charming. Far from it.

“No,” I finally say.

He lowers the paper, cocking one pierced eyebrow. His gaze drops to my chest for a second, and I don’t mind, because that one glance makes him predictable, and I like that. He brings his coffee mug to his lips, taking a sip. “Generous non-friends you have.”

“I have no friends. I’m a whore.”

A dish clatters loudly into the sink, and Maria spins around, pointing at Carlos. “Enough!” She looks at me. “I don’t want to hear you say that again.” She’s upset. Why is she upset?

A throat clears, and I look up to find Rafael standing in the doorway. His gaze is fixed on me, and for a second I find myself simply staring back, taking in every hard detail of his face.

“Boss?” Carlos’ voice snaps me out of it and I tear my gaze away.

“Carlos, we have a problem.” Carlos’ chair screeched over tile as he gets up. “Lucas, stay with Anna today,” Rafael orders, as though Lucas doesn’t stand outside my room every day.

“Yes, boss.”

I sit there for a moment, listening to men running along the hallway before the engines of several cars start outside, gravel crunching under their tires as they pull away. The house suddenly feels very quiet.

“So, uh…” Lucas starts, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “Do you…want to do something today?”

“Something?”

“Yeah. Other than staying in your room, I mean.”

“Like what?” I ask suspiciously.

“We could…watch a film?”

“Oh, that’s a lovely idea, Lucas,” Maria suddenly interjects, a wide smile on her aging face.

“Okay,” I say warily, following him out of the kitchen. He leads me across the house and ducks into a dark room. I linger in the doorway, not liking the lack of light.

He flips a switch, and the room comes into view. Several huge chairs sit facing a big white screen. It’s a movie theatre. I remember going to the movies with my parents once to watch an animated movie. Lucas flops down in one of the chairs, and I lower myself into the one next to him. There’s a divider between us with huge cup holders cut into the furniture. He reaches over to me, and presses a button. The bottom of my chair moves, lifting my legs up and tilting my body back. “What do you want to watch?”

“I don’t know.”

He turns his face toward me. “Well, what sort of films do you like?”

“I don’t know,” I say quietly.

He pauses for a moment, tilting his head to the side before he nods. “Okay, well you have action films: fast cars, guns, and badassery.”

My lips twitch at that. “Badassery?”

“Yeah, like James Bond. Totally badass.”

“What else?”

“Comedy? Stuff that makes you laugh.”

I shake my head. “What do you usually watch with the other guys?”

His brows pull together in a frown. “I don’t really hang out with them.”

“Why not?”

“I guess I just don’t like them much.”

I can’t help but smile. “Me neither.”

“Yeah, I guess not.” He laughs. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“When my brother looks at you like he wants to…fuck you, you don’t care.” He ducks his head nervously. “But when I ask you to watch a film, you seem scared.” He looks up at me, those boyish eyes of his swimming with confusion and curiosity. “Why?”

I let out a long breath and lean back into the comfortable chair. “I understand what your brother wants,” I admit. “I don’t understand…this.” I gesture between us.

“What?”

“Kindness.” He blushes hard enough that I can see it under the dim lighting in the room. “You’re kind, Lucas.”

“Thanks,” he mumbles awkwardly, making me smile harder. “I think I have a film for you.”

He presses some buttons, and music starts before the image of clear turquoise waters and white sands comes into view. It makes me long to see a world I’d given up hope of ever gazing upon. I sit quietly and watch the film, my attention firmly fixed on the screen. There are pirates and walking dead men, and I find myself laughing at the main character. In the end, the girl in the film falls in love with one of the other characters, and I intently watch the way their love is depicted. The way he looks at her, as though she is precious and worthy; it pulls at something in my chest. When it ends, I turn my gaze to Lucas, only to find him sleeping.

Rafael has had him working late into the night, ‘guarding’ me. It’s completely unnecessary. Where would I even go? How would I get over that fence? It’s impossible. Lucas looks so peaceful, so I get up and leave as quietly as I can. I head to the kitchen to get a drink, seeing no one as I walk through the usually busy house. Despite the fact that I hate most people, it’s a little unsettling.