“Don’t”, I whisper into her ear, “He’s playing with our minds. Remember what I told you in the car. Remember. Don’t overreact. Keep your cool, buddy”.

She’s breathing heavily, unevenly. Her nostrils are flaring and her green eyes are full of a blind hate.

“I need you, Shane. We need each other. Don’t lose your temper. Please, please”, I have the time to whisper before Francois Turmont hits me again with the cut of his hands, between neck and shoulder. I go down on my left knee and this time the pain is so violent that, for a second, I can only see millions of white stars displayed on a black background.

“Carmen is playing her match. Don’t interrupt us”, Sanders says.

“Shut the fuck up”, I reply between my gritted teeth because I can’t stand him anymore. I can’t stand him anymore. I can’t stand him anymore.

Turmont’s boot hits me in the small of my back and I fall on my face. I only have time to raise my hands and then my forearms hit the precious wood floor of the living room.

“Mister Sanders. Mister Sanders”, Carmen is calling him, hurriedly, and I can hear her voice and, somewhere far away, Cassandra’s choked cries. Carmen’s voice sounds clear and limpid and calm.

“Look at me Mister Sanders. Talk to me”, she says and I shake my head trying hard to focus. I swallow and let go a long breath, propping on my elbows.

“Tell Lieutenant Bizzarri to get up, I am not intentioned to talk to him again unless is strictly necessary”, Sanders says snobbishly and sounds like a twelve-year old acting insulted.

“Dante, get up”, Carmen orders emotionlessly, without breaking eye-contact with him.

”This one world vision
Turns us in to compromise
What goods religion
When its each other we despise
Damn the government
Damn the killing
Damn the lies…”

I can feel Shane’s warm hands on my back. She clasps to my shirt and tries to pulls me up. With her help, I get up and I’m able to stand on my feet again. But my head, now, is spinning dangerously and this is not good.

“I hit you because you’re wrong, Miss Morales. You’re not married to a loyal or faithful or honest person. Shane McCutcheon is a just scumbag”, Jack Sanders says, standing motionless in front of Carmen, “Shane McCutcheon is a piece of shit and you deserve much better. If only I had met you in different circumstances…”.