SEVENTY-TWO

Kamilla Lopez

Hearing those words come out of his mouth left me in shock, it felt like the soul had left my body. His hand that was on my face, moved away from my skin, at that moment I felt the weight of his word. Before he left me alone in our daughter's room, I spoke in a shaky voice.

— You gave me freedom, have you forgotten? — with his back to me, he said:

— Real freedom is when I let you go. Deciding for herself if she wants to stay or leave.

— Nick, you can't be serious! — I put Paola back in her crib, I approached him without touching him.

— Even if your origin is from a mafia family, you will never accept who I really am. You really don't deserve someone cold and cruel.

He walked to the door, before closing it he said.

— Take the boy, he needs you more than he needs me. — With that, he closed the door and left me static, standing in the middle of the room.

My eyes grew heavy with all that talk, tears welled up in my eyes, a fresh fury and hurt welling up inside me. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, but instead I wiped my eyes and swallowed back the sobs. I left my daughter's room, went to the room we shared. There, I took a shower and put on a sweatshirt set, the night was cold, after the shower, I put the phone Nick gave me in my hands, I called my father.

— Good night, Mia figlia.

— Good night, dad.

— Calling to share good news?

— Yes.

— And Nick's request was….

— We finished! — my voice lost firmness, hear silence from dad.

— How did it end?

— He chose to end it all.

— Are you sure?

— Yes! I sobbed, quickly sniffing my nose. — Could you pick me and the kids up?

— Oh! Yes, yes! I heard him get up, maybe he was lying on his bed. — I'll be there in ten minutes, okay?

— Yes! — I ended the call, quickly went to Paola's room.

I prepared a bag with her few belongings and put her in my arms, left the room, went to Erick. I opened the door to his room and turned on the light, he quickly woke up.

— Mommy. — He rubbed his eyes, I spoke in a soft voice.

— Come on, little one, put on a coat, let's go.

— Although? Where?

— Let's go to grandpa's house.

— Whoa! — He got up euphoric from the bed and went after his coat, we left his room.

We went down the stairs and walked to the door, before we left, I saw him at the top of the stairs, my eyes again filled with tears. Even with the low light, I saw his serious, cold and implacable look, it seemed that nothing had happened, that nothing was happening, that hurt.

My father's car passed through the gates, he got out of the vehicle and came to me, hugged me and then put Erick in his arms.

— Daughter. — he got my attention. — Are you sure?

— Yes!

— Why does something tell me no?

— It's just fear, let's go. — we got in the car and left the property.

I was living on my father's new property, I've been here for a few weeks, I haven't seen him for days, the times he came to my father's property, it was to see the children, at least he asked about me. Being away from him is difficult, however, I've been facing it in any way possible. Bianca came to visit me, I told her what had happened, I saw how angry she was with both of us.

— You are a couple! — How did it end this way?!

— He ended it, Bianca.

— Nick kidnapped you because you didn't want to be with him, picked you up when you ran away, stopped the wedding and shouted to everyone that you were his!— she said, showing her disappointment.

— We're not good for both. I said sadly.

— You love him?

— It's obvious, Bianca. If I didn't love him, I would be happy away from him. But I miss.

— Then go after him.

— He's the one who finished, let him come after.

— With your pride, it won't add you to anything.

More days passed. At the beginning, Erick questioned me because we were away from his father, I explained that we were going through a complicated moment, and that we would soon solve it, although I don't think it will solve it. I spent most of my time with my children, we would go to the garden or even walk along the long path that led to a small lake.

My father and I got closer, we went out together with the little ones, we went to the mall, we even went on a boat trip. While I saw my father and Erick playing in the pool, I was sitting on a bench, in front of me, was Paola, in a baby stroller. The breeze of wind hits my face, ruffling my hair, I close my eyes, imagine him for a moment.

A month passed, I tried to move on with my life, I changed my whole routine, I started to practice running during the beginning of the day. I occupied my time with the kids or hanging out alone. I decided to go to the beauty salon, my hair was longer, I cut it and lightened it, I even had bangs. On a Saturday, Bianca asked me to go out with her, we went to a nightclub downtown, I was able to drink because I was no longer breastfeeding Paola, my milk had dried up.

We toasted, we danced until we cried, at the end of the night we went home, without any problem. As soon as Bianca accelerated the car out of the gates, I entered the mansion. When I closed the door, I turned to the main room, dark and decorated with luxurious furniture, the moon was illuminating the stairs, making it easy for me to go up them without turning on the lights.

I went to Paola's room, I saw her sleeping beautifully. Her pacifier in her mouth, moving the way she suckled, my beautiful emerald. I left her room and went to Erick, he was also sleeping, he was holding the dog and Zeus that we also brought. I went to my room, took off my heels and dress, went into the bathroom and took a hot shower.

I put on a satin nightgown, put on a robe before I left the room, I was starving and needed to go to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and took the ice cream pot out of the freezer, I took just one spoon and started eating right there, after feeling satisfied, I kept the rest and decided to go back to the room. Before that, I looked into Dad's office, the door was open, I felt an immense urge to surf the Internet, I wanted to know about him.

I accessed the computer and searched for his name, I opened a recent image, he was in his vehicle, shaking hands with another man, just below the photo it was saying that he had done another new deal. I opened other photos, stared into her blue eyes. I miss him, but am unable to go after him. The way he let me go, showed that he didn't care that much, the serious look and with the lack of expression, there was no doubt that he wouldn't miss me.

Maybe at that point, he's already interested in another woman, he's already seeing others, that's how it was before me. I turned off the computer and left the office, going back to the bedroom, turned on the light and turned around, as soon as I did, I was startled when I saw him sitting in an armchair, legs crossed.

For a moment I had no reaction, I remained standing next to the door, it was impossible not to be happy to see him there.

— Hey baby. He broke the silence, getting up from the chair.

— Hi Nick! I scratched my throat, looked at him with a serious expression. — Why are you here?

— I came to see our children. He said, taking a step towards me.

— At this time? They are sleeping. I said, crossing my arms. — And their room is not in my room.

— I know…. — Nick continued advancing towards me, I instantly walked backwards, leaning my back against the bedroom door.

He stopped a few inches from me, stared straight into my eyes. I saw your water bags, it looked like you hadn't been sleeping well. I saw malice and tenderness in his blue eye sockets, he always leaves me in doubt with his balance of feelings, at times he possesses me like a nymphomaniac madman, at other times he treats me like a princess.

Treated…

Nick got closer to me, I didn't stop, I felt his perfume again, it made me drunk, I inhaled his smell, I heard him murmur.

— I miss you, my green eyes.

— You were the one who broke up with me, remember? Nick put one of his arms across the door, preventing any means of pulling me away from him.

— I gave you freedom for Erick, telling me that you cried because of me.

— What you mean?

— The night we talked. Erick told me he saw you, crying for your father. I don't want you to cry because of me, I don't want you to suffer because of my actions, I want the best for you and our children!

— You can't decide what's best for me.

— I know that, but I feel the compulsive need to take care of you.

— Then…. Take care of me.

My words came spontaneously out of my mouth. Nick looked at me in surprise, he took a step back, before he spoke, I questioned:

— Do you know why I cried in front of my father?— He shook his head. — I cried for loving you, for realizing that I was accepting who you really are. Nick Ross, leader of a criminal organization and beyond, a successful businessman, the man I love.

Nick took my hand, I looked at it, paid it, he pulled me into his body. His hands wrapped around my waist.

— You are the woman of my life, so little time away from you, it seemed like an eternity. Being away from you makes me unhappy, anguished. So love, come back to me, take me out of this torment, I want you so much girl. I love you!

No buts, I took her lips urgently. He pressed me closer to his body, our lips met perfectly. My whole body lit up, I missed his touch, his body heat, his kiss. Our tongues moved in a single dancing rhythm, I broke the kiss, I communicated:

'You've got a wedding to arrange, rings to buy.' Nick looked at me confused.

— What does that mean?

— That you and I are getting married, my love. — He smiled with happiness, I was mesmerized by his beautiful smile.

— Will you be mine forever?

— Accepted! — with that, we kissed again, on the other side of the door, I heard my father's celebration:

— Finally! — Nick smiled against the kiss, again I broke the kiss, I looked at him seriously.

— Was it planned?

— I asked your father for help. He revealed. — How do you think I got onto his property?

— Hmm! — when I thought about walking away, Nick holds me in his arms, asking me:

— Where do you think you're going?

— Talk to my father.

— You're busy at the moment.

— Occupied with what?

— Getting ready for the best fuck of your life!

Nick picked me up off the floor and carried me to the bed, there, he got rid of my nightgown and kissed every inch of my body, I did the same to him. I took off his clothes, kissed his skin and sucked him. I loved feeling his penis again in my mouth, the taste was uniquely delicious, I heard him moan, that caused me more pleasure.

We made love all night, each release was unique and magical, as promised, all of them were the best fucks of my life. We did different positions, I got to know places and ways to be touched, I came in all of them. At the end of the night, we fall into bed exhausted, kiss each other tenderly, hold each other.

— You know that if you marry me, and one day ask me for a divorce, I won't give it, don't you? He asked, smiling tiredly.

— I know! But that won't happen. I lifted my head and looked at him sincerely. — I love you too much to let you go.

— I see that possessiveness is transmissible. She spoke with a smile.

— You can't imagine. — again I climbed on top of him, once more we love each other.

Nick and I are different, we have different personalities, we think differently, even different choices. But at the end of it all, we managed to understand each other, we understand each other because we love each other, because we choose to be in each other's lives, because we have a family, our children. I am the good part that was missing from him, he is the dangerous and intense part that was missing from me.