"It's not the same," Nonno said to me. My grandfather doesn't understand that I witnessed a girl almost kill herself. A memory that has scarred me since I was ten.

"I know," I said. We sat in silence for a while then he chuckled.

"You like her, Nipote?" * My grandfather asked with amusement laced in his words. I don't have the time to like someone, plus it's too dangerous.

"Grandfather, you know that even if I do, it can't be anything," I said and he shook his head.

"You're living your life in anger and fear," he said to me and I rolled my eyes.

"And you wouldn't? Given the history?" I asked and he remained silent. "I'm leaving,"

"Be safe," he said and then went upstairs in the elevator. I waited for him to reached upstairs before I headed downstairs into the basement.

"Velez, take a break," I gestured with my head for him to get out. Grace laid on the bed with her eyes closed and her breathing steady. I reached out to touch her but paused. Her smooth, dark skin looks drained and tired. The blood is staining her and by the look on her face I can tell the stench is getting to her.

The way her curls just laid underneath her head and her baby hairs laid down against her sweaty forehead, made me want to reach out and just caress her head with soft strokes with my thumb.

She turned over to face me then opened her eyes. She stared at me with no emotion or sign of life in her eyes. Her breathing increased as her eyes watered.

"It's okay," I softly said to her. I hate seeing a woman cry, it breaks my heart. "Taking a life isn't easy,"

"How did you deal with it?" She asked. Her voices sounded raspy and dry.

"I don't," I honestly told her. "I don't know how I deal with it but for you it's different," I walked closer to her and she flinched. "For me it's either kill or be killed and today was the same for you, but think of the pain he put you through,"

Grace nodded her head. "This is the most you've ever spoken to me,"

"I know,"

"You never have any expressions on your face," she pointed out again.

"Neither do you," I said.

"Where's the bathroom?" She asked. "I want to bathe," she tried to get off the bed but ended up falling onto the floor.

I squatted down to her level and offered my hand. She looked at it for a bit but pushed my hand away. She used the bed as support and stood up.

"I don't need your help," she rudely said. I'm not a helping or kind person and I'm going out of my way to help her but she wants to be stubborn.

"Well the bathroom is upstairs," I said and walked away from her. I could hear her struggling to walk but ignored it. I reached halfway up the steps before I heard a thud. Looking over my shoulders, I can see her on the floor.

"Come on!" She began whispering repeatedly. She began sobbing and ended up just laying down on the floor. A crying woman isn't my strong suit.

"Dio mio! Questa ragazza sta andando a farmi impazzire! Lei meglio accettare il mio aiuto," ** I said in Italian as I stomped down the steps. I picked her up, bridal style and began up the steps again. She tried to fight me but soon gave up.

"Per qualcuno che ha detto che a loro non piace lei, certo sono utili!" *** My grandfather teased as I came out of the elevator.

"I'm not in the mood," I snapped at him but all he did was laugh. I ignored his bullshit and carried her to a guest bedroom.

"What'd he say?" She asked. I looked down at her but didn't answer. Setting her down on the vanity chair to start the tub, she started crying again.

"Dio mio! Basta piangere!" I snapped. "Stop crying!" I turned around to face her and she held her breath. "You're going to die, breathe,"

She looked at me then let out air, "Why're you helping me?"

"I don't know," but I do know. I feel compelled to help her because she never received any. I turned my back to her to put epsom salt and body wash into the now hot water. "The water is hot,"

"I'm cold," she said. I turned off the water for her then sat down. "There's a knot in the hospital dress," she walked over to me. "Can you help?"

"Who even put this on?" I asked.

"Reno," she simply said. I'm going to have to speak to him, he doesn't need to see her naked more than once. And that one time is when I handed her to him earlier.

I helped her slip off the hospital gown. I had to clench my jaw at the huge bruises that invaded her skin. She thanked me and walked over to the tub. Her huge ass jiggled rhythmically and her thighs rubbed when she walked as if to say "open me". If she wasn't in the position she is in now, it'd probably turn me on but the bruises and her history is making it hard for me.

She sighed then moaned as the hot water engulfed her body. "Thank you," she smiled at me. It's something I haven't seen from her a lot and it's really beautiful.

"I'll be back," I excused myself to get her a towel and wash cloth from the closet in the bathroom. I went around the corner (still in the bathroom) and grabbed what I needed.

"Can you do it for me? It's hard for my arm to move back there because of this," she showed me a slice on her arm that looks a few days old. "It still hurts," I nodded.

Adding body wash onto the wash rag, I softly put the rag against her skin and began moving it in circular motion across her back. I did her entire upper body minus her breasts.

"Just do it," she said with her eyes closed and she leaned back, enjoying the massage from the tub. She bit her lip when the wash cloth grazed her nipples. I quickly handed her back the rag and she thanked me.

"You don't have to stay," Grace said.

"I'm trying to make sure you don't kill yourself," I put my hand in my pocket. She didn't say anything but she did start cleaning herself.

"Done," she announced then looked around the bathroom. "Can I shower now?" I looked at the water to see it turned a reddish brown. At least she's clean now.

"I'll leave now," I said when she got into the shower. "Don't worry about the tub, a cleaning lady cleans the entire house every three hours,"

"Every three hours?" She repeated and shook her head. I left her in the bathroom to get clothes for her to wear.

I walked all the way to the end of the hallway and stood in front of a locked door. I put the combination in and entered the room. The sweet smell brought back memories of the good days.

Heading to the closet, I stopped every once in a while to touch a few things. "There are still tags on these things," I smiled. Never liked wearing new things, always thrift shopping. "Jeans and this shirt," I spoke to myself. I know there's still brand new underwear in the draws. I grabbed a thong for Grace because that's all that was in the draw but not a bra. Grace is flat chested compared to her. I also grabbed a PINK sleeping shirt/dress for her to wear to bed.

"How do you know it'll fit?" Grace asked as I came into the bathroom.

"I'm a man, I know," I said to her with no emotion in my voice. I kind of don't want Grace to wear these things but I know she wouldn't mind.

"Fits like a glove," I heard from behind me but I ignored her and went downstairs. "Dat deh boi deh bi polar," **** I have no idea what she said but her accent sounded so sexy.

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