Chapter 72 – Promises

Chapter 72 – Promises
The next morning I woke up suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Because Romeu was quiet.
And a quiet Romeu was a threat to public safety.
For weeks, that man had turned my life into a full-blown spectacle.
Flowers.
Messages.
Gifts.
Declarations.
Teasing.
A full-time romantic pursuit.
So the silence was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"Any news from the psychopath?"
I asked.
Betina looked up from her phone.
"Which one?"
"Excellent question."
"Be more specific."
"Romeu."
"Oh."
She smiled.
"None."
"Strange."
"Very."
Leona nodded.
"I thought so too."
My heart tightened.
Just a little.
But it did.
"Maybe he's working."
The two of them started laughing.
Together.
Like two traitors.
"What?"
I asked.
"You're worried."
Leona replied.
"I'm not."
"You are."
Betina said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"You two are unbearable."
"We learned from you."
The problem was that they were right.
I was worried.
Ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
But I was.
So when my phone rang a few hours later...
My heart started racing before I even looked at the name.
Romeu.
Damn him.
I answered on the second ring.
Because I'm a strong woman.
Independent.
Determined.
And completely lacking in dignity.
"What?"
I asked.
"Wow.
What a warm welcome."
"What do you want?"
"To know if you're free."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I'm coming to pick you up."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"Mikaella."
"Romeu."
"This conversation is getting repetitive."
"I agree."
"Then be ready in half an hour."
He hung up.
Right in my face.
I stared at my phone.
Outraged.
"I hate that man."
"Liar."
Betina and Leona said at the exact same time.
Forty minutes later, I was sitting in his car.
Because apparently my personality disappeared whenever I was around Romeu Petráglia.
"So now you kidnap people?"
I asked.
"I learned from the best."
"My father?"
"Your father."
"Fair enough."
Romeu smiled.
That crooked smile.
Arrogant.
Dangerous.
My favorite.
No.
Forget that last part.
"Where are we going?"
I asked.
"Surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"Liar."
"Truth."
"Liar."
I rolled my eyes.
Romeu looked strangely pleased with himself.
Which was never a good sign.
Forty minutes later, the car stopped.
I frowned.
"A park?"
"Yes."
"You brought me to a park?"
"Yes."
"Did you hit your head?"
Romeu started laughing.
"Come with me."
"No."
"Mikaella."
"No."
"Please."
"That was emotional manipulation."
"Did it work?"
"Maybe."
We ended up walking along a trail surrounded by trees.
The place was beautiful.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
And completely different from the places Romeu usually liked to go.
"Okay.
Confess.
You're hiding a body."
"What?"
"There's no other explanation."
"You watch too much TV."
"You're way too suspicious."
Romeu took my hand.
Naturally.
As if it were the simplest thing in the world.
And I let him.
Naturally.
Which was even more concerning.
"Do you know what your problem is?"
he asked.
"I have several.
Be specific."
"You think love is a feeling."
I frowned.
"Because it is."
"No."
"Of course it is."
"No."
"Romeu."
"Mikaella."
"Stop copying me."
"You stop."
I took a deep breath.
Counting to ten.
"So what is it?"
Romeu stayed silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
"A choice."
My heart sped up.
"What?"
"Love is a choice."
I looked at him.
And realized there was no irony.
No teasing.
No charm.
Nothing.
Just sincerity.
"There are good days.
Bad days.
Amazing moments.
Terrible moments.
But in the end...
You choose to stay."
His words hit me in a strange way.
Because my father had talked about love.
Fercondiny had talked about love.
Silvia had talked about love.
But no one had talked about choice.
"Do you really believe that?"
I asked.
"With all my heart."
"How can you be so sure?"
Romeu smiled.
Small.
Beautiful.
Genuine.
"Because every single day I wake up and choose you."
My heart practically exploded.
And I hated it.
Because that man was getting way too good at this.
Way too good at tearing down my defenses.
Way too good at making me believe.
Way too good at making me want a future.
And maybe...
Maybe that was exactly what scared me.
When we got back to the car, I was much quieter.
Lost in thought.
Romeu noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"You're getting way too full of yourself."
"You're looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're starting to believe me."
My heart started racing.
Damn him.
That observant man.
I smiled.
Just a little.
But I smiled.
And Romeu smiled too.
As if he had just won a battle.
Little did he know.
The war was only just beginning.