Chapter 40

                                    

                                          
The solemn ambiance of the Catholic church enveloped us, the air heavy with incense and sorrow. We were gathered for a remembrance ceremony, a time to honor the dead. The stained glass windows cast colorful shadows across the pews, the flickering candlelight adding a reverent glow. César stood beside me, his expression unreadable, dressed in his customary black. His silence was more pronounced than usual, and I sensed an unspoken tension in the air.
Whispers flitted through the congregation, and judgmental glances were thrown in our direction. I felt a pang of unease. Why were they looking at us like that? The ceremony continued, the priest's voice rising in prayer, but my mind wandered. César’s grandfather was present, along with many of his men, including Luca. Despite the familiar faces, there were others I didn’t recognize, adding to my confusion.
At some point during the ceremony, I realized César was no longer beside me. An inexplicable urge to find him gripped me, and I quietly slipped out of the pew. I found him standing a distance away from the church, under a large oak tree, its branches swaying gently in the breeze. He stared into the distance, lost in thought.
“César,” I called softly, approaching him.
He turned abruptly, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see if you were alright,” I replied, my voice steady despite the coldness in his gaze.
He looked away, dismissing my concern. I hesitated for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder. He tensed but didn’t push me away.
“Why do you care?” he muttered.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, “but I do.”
Silence stretched between us until he finally spoke, his voice low and cryptic. “Loss is a relentless shadow. It never leaves.”
I frowned but said nothing.
“This remembrance is for my mother,” he said, his tone heavy with regret. “She died long ago. I couldn’t save her.”
My heart ached at the pain in his voice. “What happened to her?”
“A victim of cruelty.”
I took a deep breath, my curiosity getting the better of me. “Whose?.”
César’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out.  “Miguel Vargas, my father."
“Why?” I asked softly.
“Because he was a monster,” César said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. “He took pleasure in seeing her spirit destroyed. I endured what I could for my mother, hoping to protect her. But it was never enough.”
I felt a lump in my throat, my heart breaking for him. “It wasn’t your fault. You were just a child.”
He laughed bitterly. “You think I’m innocent? You’re wrong, Sera. I’m far from innocent.”
I stared at him, "You are---
“I killed him,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. 
My breath caught in my throat, the weight of his confession hitting me like a punch to the gut. “You… you killed your father?”
“Yes,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “Ironically he taught me how to kill."
I couldn’t find the words to respond, my mind reeling. Before I could gather my thoughts, chaos erupted. Gunshots rang out, and people screamed. We both ducked instinctively, the air thick with tension.
“Get out of the way!” César shouted, pushing me aside just as a bullet whizzed past. Time seemed to slow as I watched in horror. He moved to shield me, taking the bullet himself.
I screamed as Luca and the other men rushed out, fully armed and firing back at the attackers. The air was thick with smoke and death, chaos surrounding us.
"Luca! Boss has been shot!" one of the men shouted.
César, ignoring the pain in his arm, barked commands. "Send reinforcements. Take Sera home."
Luca stepped forward, his face tinged with concern. "We’ll handle this, boss."
César hesitated, his eyes flicking to me. Reluctantly, he nodded.
Despite the searing pain, César held onto me, guiding me away from the chaos. He did not flinch, even with the bullet lodged in his arm. His stoic expression unnerved me, making the situation feel even more surreal.
We arrived at César's office, and he pulled off his shirt, revealing the wound. My breath quickened at the sight of the blood seeping from the gash. César seemed unbothered, which only made me more anxious.
"Calm down," he said, his voice steady. 
I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "What do I do?"
"Grab the first aid kit from the drawer," César instructed.
I found the kit and brought it over, my hands shaking. "I don’t know if I can do this."
"You can," he assured me. "Just follow my instructions."
He guided me through removing the bullet and cleaning and bandaging the wound. My hands trembled as I wiped away the blood, my heart pounding in my chest. César's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with my panic, his steady presence grounding me.
"Why did you do it?" I blurted out, my voice barely above a whisper.
César looked at me, his eyes unreadable. "I don't know."
"You could have died!" I chided, my voice cracking.
He didn't answer directly, his gaze intense. "A lot could kill me, Sera, a bullet is not one of them."
Before I could respond, he leaned in. His lips brushed against mine, tentative at first, then more insistent. I hesitated, shocked, but then I found myself yielding to him. His tongue explored my mouth, and I felt a rush of heat as his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer.
I was caged in his embrace, our breaths mingling, a groan escaping his throat. The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of us at that moment. His kiss was demanding, yet there was an undercurrent of desperation.
Our kiss deepened and I felt myself melting into him, my hands gripping his shoulders for support. The taste of him, the feel of his body against mine, was overwhelming. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, matching the frantic rhythm of my own.
Then, a knock on the door shattered the moment. We broke apart, both of us breathing heavily. A maid stood there, looking flustered.
"Doctor Paulo has arrived," she said, her eyes darting between us.
I stepped back, my mind reeling from everything that had just happened. César nodded to the maid, then turned to me.
"Go get some rest, Sera," he said, his voice softer than usual. "I'll be fine."
I left the office, trying to regain my composure. My heart was still racing, my lips tingling from the kiss. Everything felt surreal, the events of the day crashing over me in waves.
My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, but one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same between us again.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
 Thoughts?