03

Lázzaro Bartholomeu tried to pass ahead, it was not his problem, but a greater and incomprehensible force made him reverse. Stopping the car close to the girl, he opened the window and felt a lump in his throat when he saw the state she was in.

“Miss Hamilton? he called her and she looked at him immediately, wiping away her tears with her heart beating rapidly.

— Oh, hello Mr. Bartholomeu. - greeted him sobbing in a vain attempt to disguise the crying crisis.

"What are you still doing here?" asked Lazzaro with a confused look.

“I was already on my way home. I just finished the... The work, but... - she tried to say but a wave of tears again drained from her.

- What there was? Did someone hurt you? The impatience and concern warred in his voice.

- Yes. — she gave a big sob and started crying again — Some boys came and ... — she sobbed again — They took all my money and also my kittens. he concluded and despaired again.

Cum! Lázzaro had never seen anyone cry like that. He felt a big chill in his stomach, his chest tightening and a big lump forming in his throat, he didn't know what it was, he was confused and irritated too for not knowing.

He hated whining and wondered all the time why the hell he was caring about that girl over there, and what the fuck he was feeling with the uncontrollable urge to make her stop having him.

He frowned very angry with himself, huffing out of the car and held out his hand to the seated girl.

"Tell me where I can find these boys!" he said more like an order, earning her a confused look.

Lia looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes, maybe that look lasted longer than the two wanted. Lázzaro wanted to help her... She felt her heart warm with the gesture, she really missed the kind people in her life, she didn't know any other than the people who helped her with some alms, many even complaining and throwing the money in the bank. floor for her to pick up.

It had been so long since Lia had smiled, that she hadn't known what happiness was. The last time was two years ago, before her mother discovered the disease that killed her, since then she has been living among hopelessness, lack of love, sadness and mistreatment caused by her aunt and cousins.

But on the other hand, she didn't want to bother him either.

- You do not need to worry about me. — She tried to give a smile, but it came out much sadder than she thought — Thank you for your kindness in proposing to help me, but I don't want to bother you.

- I'm not worried about you and even less being kind. I just want to know where I can find the boys. he said rudely.

In fact, he hated the fact that anyone saw him as a kind and gentle man. His father had taught him that he should show himself to be strong by putting his arrogance and toughness above everything else and that the opposite would make him weak and vulnerable.

Lia swallowed hard at the man's rudeness, but she wanted to believe, deep down, that he was good and wanted to help her. He saw it in her deep, dark eyes.

- I am not sure. replied Lia in a sweet tone.

"Come on, try to remember!" Lazzaro urged impatiently.

— Well... After taking my things, they entered this street here. After that I couldn't see anymore, I even tried to run after them but my rib is hurting and I also sprained my foot. she said, wiping away her tears.

He swallowed hard at the next question, but it was unavoidable, yet he still hated himself for it. For caring so much.

— Uh. Is it safe for you here? he asked hesitantly.

- I think so. I'm always around. - she said.

—Then stay here and I'll bring your money and your cats. And stop crying! he ordered.

Lia just nodded and continued there, waiting. While Lázzaro got into his car and disappeared into the street to rescue his little money and the kittens he rescued from death.

By luck or by God, they were intact inside the box when she went down the ravine to look for them, she worked with them all day and even shared a bread and butter for the three of them, thus not eating that day.

The sullen and moody man followed the strange and dark streets, he was very angry, and he didn't know exactly why, he just felt it burning in his chest. Looking at the surroundings he saw a little further ahead a group of six boys big even for his liking. In this way he accelerated the car and stopped very close to them, drawing attention to himself, when he got out of the car full of dislike.

"Give me back the cats and the money you stole from the girl back there!" he ordered exasperated with his hands in his pockets.

- Look there! Who are you uncle? Giving order here in our hoods. one of the kids said.

"Give me the fucking money and the cats!" I'll only ask once. The boys all gathered in front of him and lifted their chins in defiance.

"And what are you going to do if we don't want to return that bitch's stuff?" one of them teased.

The fury that Lázzaro felt was so gigantic that he grabbed the biggest of the kids by the shirt lifting him off the ground, with a look like an angry demon one of the boys shouted to return it.

— Give it back, give it back. The fear was apparent in their voices.

- Very good. — Satisfied, he picked up the box with the cats on the ground and also the bag of money that was left on the asphalt.

He looked to the side and there they were, the boys running in fear of him. He had never sunk to such a low level, his anger towards the girl only increased because it was her fault, she was the one who made him feel weird and feeling things he never thought possible to feel.

"Here are your things!" he exclaimed when he returned.

She got up excited and very relieved.

- Thanks Thanks Thanks! I don't know how to thank you for that. Really, I can't even imagine what would become of me if I didn't take that money home today. - he thanked with great relief running through his body before anguished and tense.

"That doesn't sound like a lot of money to me." Out of desperation I thought it was a bigger amount. You made me almost beat up a stupid boy over mere change! he growled with irritation. She cringed and petted one of the kittens.

— I'm sorry… — she murmured heartily — I just couldn't go home with nothing, they wouldn't let me sleep inside if I didn't take at least twenty dollars with me. There are still the kittens, I'm pretty sure she won't let me keep them but I just couldn't live with knowing I left the innocent little animals on the street, alone, cold and hungry. she concluded.

The sparkle in her eyes, the kindness, the purity that exuded from her face, was something rare and unique in Lazzaro's life full of evil in which one wanted to step over the other, not caring about anything but themselves.

Lia Hamilton was for him, in addition to being beautiful and delicate, also good and pure, he didn't see evil, malice in any part of her. Nothing that could make him reproach her. He found himself surprised by the girl and almost felt at that moment that he could trust her.

"Would your parents be able to shut you out for money?" he asked.

- My Aunt. I live with her and my three cousins. she replied.

- And your parents? Curiosity was so insolent to him that he couldn't help but ask questions.

"I don't have them..." Lia gave a sniffling breath, inevitably sobbing.

She didn't feel ready to talk about that pain that was as intense as the day it happened. The affliction in her voice made Lazzaro's heart clench, and it never clenched for anyone but himself, yet he realized that she didn't want to talk about it.

"Anyway, be careful next time."

- Thanks. - She bit her lip and sighed - Well, I'll be right there... And thank you again. He gave his most sincere and pure smile.

Still, a doubt hammered inside her mind, of course she didn't want to create impossible illusions, she wasn't a fool, but she didn't hesitate to stop and ask.

— If I may, what were you doing here? Do you live nearby?

“I was taking a walk when I saw you, and no, I don't live nearby. he replied with an arched brow. "What?" Do you think I was following her? That I came here because of you? He let out an incredulous laugh and Lia flinched, feeling a twinge in her left breast.

I didn't need to laugh either.

- No, of course not. He tried to get around the situation.

"Good, because that doesn't make any sense." The young woman felt offended and swallowed a painful saliva.

"Exactly, why would you go after someone like me, right?" - the wounded timbre did not let the sadness escape.

She was always treated with indifference by people, disgusted and malicious looks, yet strangely she felt intensely dejected by Lázzaro's comment. As if what he thought was important to her.

- Exactly. She just turned away without saying another word. Enough was enough, no more humiliation needed.

Starting to walk away, the girl went home with the image of the charming face but also Lazzaro's rude words hammering in her head. She felt awful, worse than any other day.

It was as if he was just as intense as he had made her feel earlier when tending to her wound, and was also able to destroy her heart with just one word. Which didn't make any sense to her since she had met him a few hours ago.

But that night, Lia's suffering was just beginning.