Page 45 of Scarlet Embrace

“Do you really want to know?” Rufus asked, looking at me.

He owed me some answers, and I wasn’t leaving here until I got them. Rufus sighed and told me that everything had started back when his Auntie Madeline was still alive.

“She told me she wasn’t going to be some mobster's wife, and I wasn’t going to live without her,” Rufus said, a lost look in his eyes. “Becoming the head of the organization was my birthright, but I had to give it up. Just like the story of Jacob and Esau.”

“Was that why you killed my father and destroyed my family?” Elena asked with tears.

“Jonathan Rodriguez was quite the stubborn fellow. I honestly did not want to kill him; he was more or less the victim of circumstances,” Rufus said with a simple shrug. The man in front of me was not the man I knew. I had always looked up to Rufus as a man who had chosen to step out from the shadow of Cruz’s name. He had carved a life for himself, but it turned out that life was just a façade.

“Both of you need to leave my house now. You’ve got your answers now, young lady, and if you wish to have your revenge, you’ll have to wait in line.”

I wanted to ask what question did he answer, but that wasn’t the time. I helped Elena to her feet and watched as she walked away. Something about her posture broke my heart, and I realized that this might be the last time I ever set my eyes on her. There’s no way she would want to be with a man like me.

“Aren’t you going to follow her?” Rufus asked, looking at me.

“No. I don’t think I’m in the right place to comfort her now,” I admitted honestly as Elena’s figure disappeared around the corner. “Also, I need to have a discussion with you. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

CHAPTER 20: HIS EMBRACE

For two months, I went away from Philadephia. I traveled around the country and tried to gather my thoughts together. What became of Rufus was unknown to me, but I knew that he was going to have many questions to answer, especially since he had been the mastermind behind a lot of operations in the city.

Two months was more than enough time for me to gather my thoughts, and I realized that I would need to face Lucas when I finally returned home. The memories of our night together still burn in my head, and I doubt I’ll ever be able to forget it.

“Finally, girl, you’re back,” Carmen said as she waved at me. “How was your trip?”

“Fine. I guess you can say I’m familiar with the geography of the United States,” I said with a laugh.

She helped me with my bags and drove me to my apartment. Carmen and Natalia had been looking after my plants for the time I was away. Now that I was back, I planned to pick up my life again. Carmen and I were unpacking my stuff when I heard a knock on the door. Apart from Carmen and Natalia, the only other person I told I would be back in town was Roland.

Before I went on my trip, I had met with him and explained everything I had discovered. Just as always, Roland was understanding, and he told me he’d be waiting for me when I finally returned.

“Hello, Elena,” Lucas’s face appeared in front of him.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him. I thought I was going to have time to prepare myself to meet with him, but it doesn’t seem like that would be the case.

“How do you know I’m back in town?” I asked.

“I have my ways,” he said as he offered my flowers. Marigold is one of my favorite flowers. I accepted the flowers and opened the door, letting him into the apartment. I placed the flowers in a vase while Lucas and Carmen greeted each other.

“I see that you are back,” Lucas said, looking at my bag.

“Yeah,” I said, feeling a little bit awkward.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you out unless you are busy,” Lucas suggested.

Being in the same room with him was nothing but an assault to my senses, but I was glad to see him again. He looked charming as always. He was wearing a gray suit today, and I can’t help but admit how good it looked on him.

“I’m not sure if I’m hungry for food, but I won’t turn your offer down,” I said in the calmest voice I could pull off. “Will you be okay with me gone for a while?”

“Sure,” Carmen assured me.

Both Lucas and I left the apartment and went to the café just a few blocks away. On the way, Lucas asked me about my trip, and I told him that I had visited every major city in the country, a feat that Lucas told me was not quite easy.

“You must have had quite the fun,” he said as our coffee order arrived.

“Yes, I did. I was also able to gather my thoughts,” I added.

“Thought you might do that. A lot happened since the last time we saw each other.”