A LIVE CAR RACE!
Tulio dropped her off at the door of the music school and when he turned off the car, usually he didn't even turn it off and as soon as he got out he drove away. Having turned off the car this time, he looked at her and Cloe waited, she knew he wanted to tell her something.
" Do you like car races? " He asked a little shy, which was rare, and Cloe smiled at him.
" I love it! I always watch it on TV on Sundays, but I have never been to a race. Is that why you are always with this sports car? ”
" I like very powerful and sporty cars. Will you join me for a race tonight? ”
Cloe was taken by surprise, she didn't imagine that he would invite her to this kind of event, but she remembered that tonight was the night that professor Oscar would give them a class after eighteen o'clock.
Tulio noticed the indecision on her face, thinking that she wouldn't like to accompany him, spoke up:
" It's okay if you don't want to go.”
" Yes I do, Tulio, it's just that today I have a class at night and my teacher hasn't been very excited about me since that day. But I am very curious to see a race up close. You know what, we will, and thank you for inviting me. " The smile she gave him made him soft and warm inside and so she got out of the car excited and when she reached the steps of the stairs, she looked back and he was still looking at her, waving his hand at him, she climbed the steps and went to class. She went up the steps and went to class. She found Hanna in front of the classroom and going to the bathroom together, she told her friend everything. The misfortune she had been through, thinking she would be lynched by Milla, Shay and Jake, and also telling her about the race she was going to.
“ My goodness, Cloe!” Hanna looked at her from the mirror's reflection in amazement, washing her hands at the sink. “ Your life has taken a three hundred and eighty degree turn with this gang leader!”
“ Keep your voice down," she ordered. “ Do you want them to listen and remove my purse? Come on, I have to do my best in class now, since I won't be coming tonight.”
Hanna noticed that her friend's eyes were sparkling, and this was from when she had first met Tulio.
When Cannibal picked her up from class this time and not Tulio, she figured he must be busy, and she was saddened, but she would see him later. And it was Gringo who picked her up at nineteen o'clock at his house, Tulio sent him to pick her up and they would meet at the race. Cloe did not allow herself to be saddened to see that it was not him picking her up again, but she greeted Gringo effusively.
“ Wow, you look fabulous! ” Gringo exclaimed when she opened the door. She had really put on a show; she was wearing a pair of jeans overalls and a white top underneath, low strappy sandals tied halfway up her shins, her black hair was tied up in a ponytail, and her light make"up stood out, with a light pink lipstick, black eyeliner, and blue eyeshadow, and she was pleased with the result.
She wore silver hoop earrings, since she had put her hair up, she opted to exaggerate the size of the earrings and looked beautiful.
Gringo was very handsome, and in a different way than Tulio, not much taller, his hair was short and so black that it glistened, and his eyes with big lashes were black as night. He was not as strong as Tulio, but thinner, with wide teeth, a square jaw, and a full beard, which gave him a more common beauty. Tulio, on the other hand, had a more rustic beauty, with shoulder"length hair that fell in disheveled curls, a close shave, blue eyes, and slightly crooked teeth. He was a delight, different beauties, but beautiful, no doubt about it.
“ Thank you" she thanked him and picked up her purse from the sideboard near the living room. Turning to him at the door, she noticed that he was still staring at her. " What is it?
“ I understand why the boss is so interested in you.” Gringo spoke up and left her not knowing what to say. It wasn't the first time she had caught him watching and admiring her, and knowing that his boss was really interested in her made her excited.
“ Shall we go? ” she asked, waiting for him to leave so she could lock the door.
The race would take place at the SuperStar Racing Stadium, and when Gringo told her, she squealed with joy. Especially when she knew that she would be sitting right in front of the race and would be able to see it very close. She was even more excited to know that Tulio was one of the participants in the race and now she understood why he had not gone to pick her up.
They arrived at the stadium and she saw him in front of the gate, talking to people who were certainly responsible for the race. Even though he was paying attention to the serious conversation he was having, she saw his eyes light up when he saw her. Unlike Gringo who had looked her up and down, Tulio captured her eyes with his own and didn't turn away until she was standing next to him, looking mesmerized.
“ Hi, you look beautiful! ”
“ Hi, are you going to run too? ” She was really surprised. She had been embarrassed by his compliment. Tulio was wearing an almost fluorescent green jumpsuit with sponsors' brand names on the front and back, and he looked splendid in it. The jumpsuit covered him from head to toe, his arms were covered up to the wrist, his hair was loose and unruly, his curls would not allow themselves to be tamed, it gave him such a surreal beauty that Cloe felt a shiver in her lower abdomen. He had the power to excite her even though he was covered from head to toe.
" Yes" he said, and Cloe didn't want to disturb him. Following Gringo, they went up the stairs to enter the stadium and take their seats. Some eager drivers were already speeding their cars, anxious, they couldn't wait to get started. She had been warned by Gringo that it was almost time to start when they arrived, and being already in their privileged seats, they waited and were soon rewarded with the announcement that came out of the many loudspeakers mirrored throughout the stadium. She could see Tulio standing next to the car, already ready, and she met his eyes that were searching for her in the bleacher seats.
She didn't know that his heart, for the first time in a race, was beating frantically only because she was there and would watch him. Turning her nervousness into thoughts about the race, she felt invincible, and when the race started Cloe saw that his car was the first to leave. She was used to watching the races and the narrator there, talking the same as in the programs she watched, his voice came out of the speakers and he said that Tulio had burned the start and that this could hurt him. But he wouldn't stop and made the turns clumsily, like an amateur and not like the guy who had been racing for years! Cloe realized that he was biting his nails.
" He is different," said Gringo in her ear. " He doesn't usually do these maneuvers.”
Cloe shook her head in agreement and kept her eyes fixed on the race track. All she could see was Tulio's car. The narrator kept narrating, talking about each racer, each name, and came back to Tulio, saying the same thing Gringo had said, that he was distracted and different, and when his car went off the track and she saw smoke, she couldn't hold back a scream and stood up.
" What happened? " she shouted to be heard by Gringo over the narrator's voice. Cloe was angered by the trouble with his car and blamed him for going so fast and making insane turns, she planned to curse him, oh, would she! But the narrator himself replied:
" It seems that Tulio is having problems with his car, guys. Let's wait for him to get back on track and try to compensate? ”
The man's voice was lost in Cloe's mind, anxious, she saw technicians and mechanics helping Tulio and the other participants running past him, gaining the lead. She had never vibrated and suffered so much in a race, and when he was back in contention, she breathed a sigh of relief and again became hysterical and tapped her foot on the ground, unconsciously with each runner he passed. In what seemed like hours, the race was coming to an end and Tulio was again coming into first place, with only three runners left for him to overtake and win and without realizing that Gringo was watching her, containing his laughter, not looking at the track, he found it much more interesting to watch her reactions, they were much more entertaining, she wriggled in her seat until she screamed and jumped when Tulio reached the finish line as the winner. Cloe jumped and clung to Gringo, making him jump along too.
The thought of finishing him vanished from her mind when she saw him win and when he got down from the car, removed his helmet, his golden curly hair loosened, and grinning at her, came over to her and Gringo who was waiting for them at the side of the track came over and hugged her. Cleo enjoyed that magical moment, the anger forgotten, the worry gone, she just let herself be embraced by him who lifted her off the floor, his hands on her waist, his scent permeating her, she was happy. Happy like she couldn't remember ever being before.
What do you think of the couple Cloe and Tulio, huh? Are you following me and following the story? 🙏 I'm very happy that you're reading, really! Thank you.
BUTTERFLIES IN THE STOMACH" You're late again, is everything all right, Cloe? " Livia, her arithmetic teacher, meets her in the school corridor and stops her, holding her gently by the elbow, her everloving smile on her lips." Yes, Miss Livia, you are. I've been practicing a lot in some piano lessons, you know, but I'll try not to be late anymore, I promise.”" What a good thing, Cloe, it makes me very proud to be a pianist. Just try to unite the two, my dear, both studies are fundamental. Can you imagine a famous pianist who travels the world and doesn't know basic mathematics? " The teacher was mocking her and Cloe knew that she admired her and was just trying to get her attention." I wish I was a pianist who travels the world! " Cloe joined her two hands together in prayer and smiled at her teacher." Yes it is possible, Cloe. You are very diligent in your studies, I just hope you keep it up. " Slipping an arm through her student's, she urged her into the classroom.Cloe wanted
BEFORE " Is this your bike? " asked Silas, and Tulio felt his stomach clench as he heard the older boy's voice. Everyone knew that Silas was the neighborhood troublemaker, in fact, Silas wasn't even from the neighborhood, but he loved to venture out and pick on younger boys. " It's my cousin's. " He lied, even knowing that no matter what he said, Silas wouldn't care, the bike could be the Pope's, if he wanted it, he would have it. Tulio was tired of hearing stories about Silas and other big boys in the neighborhood and even though he was much smaller than the coward, he would not give up the bike without a fight. He could already imagine his grandmother saying "Why didn't you just hand over the bike, boy! Did you have to pull your father so hard?" He had gotten the bike after helping Macca and Digo with their homework the year before, and it was under strong threat, promising to break the teeth of Digo, Macca's older brother, who promised to give him the bike if he helped them wit
BAPTIZED IN FIREThe years went by and Tulio was respected by everyone he knew, his fame preceded him, and even those who didn't know him had heard of him. He was sought out to settle disputes and prided himself on never having taken anyone down, never having taken the life of an innocent.Mrs. Layla, his grandmother, who was sixty"eight years old, had been his best friend for as long as he could remember, treated him like a boy still, stood by him, and when she learned of his accomplishments at eleven, she had made such a big deal out of it, inventing that he was suffering from blood pressure, bronchitis, diabetes, and so many other illnesses, that he hid to go when she came with his eyes watering, his glasses soaked through, and his hand on his chest simulating a threatened heart attack.When Macca started going to her house after Tulio had freed her from the beatings of her drunken husband, and bent her knees in front of the child, thanking him, it was the first time he had ever se
PUNISHMENT VERSUS BIRTHDAYHanna's mother called, worried, and Liz, Cloe's mother talked to her for almost an hour, disappointment seeping through her every word. They were at home and her father, always so quiet, seemed to search for the right words to instill in his daughter's mind all the craziness she was doing by starting to date, regardless of who it was now." Daughter, it's not just because that boy is who he is....”" It's because of that too, yes, Calo! " shouted Liz. " That Tulio is always involved with heavy people! He's not a man any mother would want for her daughter.”Liz's tears were falling profusely. And Cloe felt the need to defend her beloved, it hurt her to hear her mother talking about him. Even if she was a little right, she shouldn't be so prejudiced." Do you know him, mother?”" Hey," her father interrupted her. They were in the living room, they had just arrived and she already knew that tempers were going to get very hot. " Let's not go that way, daughter.
PAINFUL REJECTIONTulio laid her down on the grass of the hill, laid her gently, and she was at his mercy, her dilated pupils staring into his eyes, saying nothing, her mouth red from the kisses, already missing him.He then proceeded to scrutinize her body with his hands. Cloe closed her eyes and could only feel his hands that started at her shins. His strong hands went so gently up her legs and thighs and to her it felt so natural, even when they reached her thighs and didn't stop. She felt the cold wind pinch her bare thighs, but his warm hands took care of that quickly.Cloe was relaxed about his advances and longed for more, she sighed softly when he spread a hand on her panties, she felt his open palm on the delicate fabric of her panties, as if testing if she could go further.Opening her eyes, she saw his devotion to her body. He looked into her eyes, there, so beautiful and desiring him, his hands then moved up her waist, down her belly, taking the dress with them and slowly
ANGUISHCloe did not understand what she had done to be rejected by him. Her heart ached when they reached the end of the Hill in silence. She doubted it was because he had to work something out, as he had said.When she climbed through her bedroom window without her parents knowing about her defiance, and only then, when she closed her bedroom window again and sat down in the chair at her computer desk, did she allow herself to cry. The sobs shook her, and she cried until she felt empty.She lay down hoping to sleep soon, but the thoughts wouldn't let her. She thought he didn't want her because she was a virgin. Who would want to have sex with a woman with no experience at all? How could a night so magical and promising turn so quickly into a disaster?She thought back to when her parents had picked her up from school, maybe that had been a factor too? Of course it had! That had to be it, her parents had scared her.Her confirmation came the next morning, when as she sat down to brea
LAYLA STUDIO Cloe thought it might be an afterthought for her parents, switching schools, it should just be an empty threat, or those thoughts of desperation and that soon cool down, but she was wrong. They took it all the way. " Don't hate us, daughter, we are thinking about your future and we will do whatever it takes to keep you from straying from your ways, from your future " her father was the one chosen to speak to her. She thought her mother was a coward not to come and speak to her herself. Her father was the quieter of the couple, he would put on a warm cloth when her mother was angry, and when he came into her room to give her the news that they had transferred her to another school, her world came crashing down. Peter and his mother had left, she now knew that it was a strategy of her parents and she could even imagine her mother giving her the idea, telling her father that since he was calmer, the quieter of the two, it would be better if she left with the younger one w
GOODBYEShe didn't want, as her brother had told her the night before, to have self"pity, but it was hard not to be in her commiseration. Could it be that only she had felt all that? Had it been a fantasy in her head and only she had felt it? Had Julius felt nothing for her? Were her parents right about him, was he an asshole who only wanted to use her?At the same time she thought : " But if he only wanted to use me, he had the chance to fuck me on top of the Hill, why didn't he?"She didn't really understand about gangs, was he a leader who respected virgins, did he have a code against fucking virgins?She didn't know what to think and just confabulated and speculated.She should have asked Milla to tell him that at this school, she would be a boarder, not like at the other school, where she went every day. Since it was a more distant school, her parents had opted for her to stay at the school and go home on weekends. It had not yet been decided whether she would even stay the whole
FINAL ENLACE "Layla, do you think I should wear white?" She asked the lady who was walking through the dress store with her mother, pulling the hem of one dress after another. "I think your mother is right in saying that you can choose whatever color you want, Cloe. It's your wedding, and I believe it's the only one you'll have." "Yes, the only one. Unless one day we marry again, Túlio and I, and renew our vows." "I think vow renewals are so beautiful," Liz said. "Listen to your heart, my dear. How did you imagine marrying Túlio, in white, ivory, or off-white?" "When I met him and fell in love, I imagined marrying him in white, actually." "Well, then get married in white, my dear. Just like you imagined marrying him." "Oh, but I don't know. I'm no longer a young girl, and I have a grown son. Don't you think it's strange? Please tell me the truth!" "Oh, sorry, but I have to interfere!" One of the lovely saleswomen in the store, Sônia, joined the conversation. "Your mother and gr
EVOLUTIONNow there he was. Years later, with Jânio dead, Paco dead. It took him years to eliminate one by one the powerful men he wanted to avenge Paco's death.Eliminating Paco was easier than he had supposed, simpler than eliminating Jânio, but what made it more difficult and complicated was that with the fall of the mob boss, he had to hide and keep constant watch over Cloe and her son and grandmother. And it was a great torture to stay away from his son and Cloe and still have to keep them safe, and it was almost impossible for him to trust their lives and safety to others. But there was nothing he could do about it, since if he appeared, many could die.And it was worth it. Seeing Cloe after so many years, seeing her fall to her knees relieved, crying and saying she loved him, made everything worthwhile. Now he was the leader. He was in Paco's place. And at this very moment his son slept in between him and Cloe and he felt suffocated looking at the two of them there. Túlio Filho
THE FALL OF ONE MORE PAWNBefore he died, the last thing he heard was the voice of his beloved. The voice of the only man she had ever loved."For God's sake, Shayenne, don't do this!" - and that was the only time he called her that, and she let out a choked laugh and replied only in her mind, "I finally touched you, huh?" - that's what she wanted to say to him, but she didn't say it, her mouth didn't open to speak. She was done here. This was where their friendship and complicity ended, and then the explosion almost made his ears bleed, his eardrums hurt with the noise of the blast.And Shay was gone. She sacrificed herself for him. Paco wouldn't know he was alive. He had not been alerted by Jânio thanks to Shay.From where he was, Túlio couldn't see anything, but the crackling of the fire was very audible in his headphones, and he fell to his knees more than a hundred kilometers away from where Shay had lost her life."Oh, God," he exclaimed with a choked voice.So much death, so mu
SHAYHer joy was short-lived. She felt relieved when she saw the car go up in flames and Tulio spoke on her earpiece:"Shay, the first bomb is done. Do you think we should detonate the second one?"Mysteriously, a van was coming down the dirt road where they were and it made her stomach churn. She did not expect Jânio to have left more men on alert, and apparently, they were coming from the farmhouse, alerted by the explosion. The second detonator was in her hands. "Wait!" she said to Tulio.To her complete amazement, she heard Jânio's cough and the guys who got out of the van next to the upside-down smoking car. One of them shouted:"The boss is alive! Help me get him out of the wreckage!"Tulio could also hear through Shay's earphones and became desperate. The driver of the car where Shay was also got out of the car with a fire extinguisher in hand, and screams could be heard from inside the burning car. Shay looked at everything without believing that her and Tulio's well-planned p
SHAYShe no longer tried to seduce Tulio. That phase was already over. She joined him for revenge. Yes, both wanted revenge, pure and simple.When she visited him at the cabin, and now that the critical moment of his health had passed, now that he was out of danger, stronger and even exercising to recover the muscles atrophied by months without using them, the old man, Camilo was his name, had already become friends with the two. Camilo was no longer afraid of the strange girl. Shay no longer scared him and she laughed when he told them that he imagined that as soon as Tulio recovered, she would kill him:"Well, you should be afraid of him," she laughed and pointed at Tulio, "He's a thousand times more dangerous than me. Why do you think I asked you to take care of him?"Mr. Camilo widened his eyes at Tulio, who waved his hand, indicating that she was lying."It's true, sir Camilo. He is none other than the famous Incendiary Boy - and seeing that the man did not know who he was talkin
SHAY Shay thought Gringo and Sopapo were going to kill her when they found out she had been involved with Jânio in order to get Túlio. She was waiting only for Cloe's order. She saw in the eyes of the three men, Túlio's closest, best, and most loyal men, the desire they had to kill her. Nothing would stop them from killing her with refined cruelty, and she knew they would take turns inflicting as much pain on her as they could. But that was the first time she felt tenderness for Cloe. All the harm she had wished upon the girl fell apart at that moment. The pain she saw on the girl's face hit her deeply in the heart and soul. The emptiness, the discouragement, and the genuine pain she saw written all over the girl's face whom she tried to imitate tore her apart. And she could apologize, but she didn't deserve forgiveness. How could she have never seen this? Or had she seen it and not cared? Why had she done this to someone who had done nothing to retaliate? What was a broken finger w
REMINDSTulio could not forget, there was no way to forget every step he took away from Cloe. He was completely happy to have her by his side and would soon see their son. He thanked the heavens for her having their son during the years they were apart. For many years, he hid and had only insane thoughts of hatred, death, and revenge. His heart was bitter. The nonconformity of what had happened, there were many bad thoughts that he had and what kept him above the quagmire was thinking of his Cloe, their son, and his grandmother. Many years were unjustly taken from him of being by the side of the people he loved. He remembered when he saw her years later, when he could finally leave his hiding place and see her, even from afar, it soothed his heart and validated the love he felt for her. There was also guilt, of course he had, had and still had.Tulio blamed himself for putting Cloe in his life, a life she did not deserve, and had caused her a lot of pain. He took her away from her hap
THIS LINK WILL NEVER BE BROKENThere was her good friend, and Cloe started crying again as she hugged the woman. Layla was much older now, and as Cloe hugged and kissed her all over her face, she noticed the extra years on the old lady. Her fingers, once so agile, were now twisted with arthritis and she seemed more hunched over than before. Signs of senility peppered her skin and Cloe loved feeling the smell of rue that seemed to be forever ingrained in the old woman.She had so much to tell her, but before anything else, before telling her so many things that had happened to her in those ten years, she opened her phone and showed her pictures of her grandson. Layla cried like a child, her hands trembling as she held the phone and watched video after video of her grandson."He looks so much like his father," she said, repeating it over and over again as she eagerly looked at the photos and videos. "Even his voice reminds me of Túlio at that age.""He's also named Túlio, Layla!" she to
I LOVE YOU SO MUCHShe cried and smiled at the same time. She thought she was going crazy, that she must be going crazy! Sitting on the ground with both hands on her head, her voice lost, and Túlio, her Túlio, the love of her life, was coming towards her. He walked up to her with that walk she knew so well. A movie played in her head as he walked towards her. That same smile that made her fall madly in love with him. He was older, his hair was cut differently, but it was him. She would recognize him anywhere, even in the midst of a crowd she would recognize him.Nothing else existed, only him coming to her, and through the curtain, the veil of tears, she looked at him and all she wanted to scream was that she loved him!Túlio knelt down beside her, took her face in both hands, kissed her lips and pulled away, but she wanted more. She wanted him to never stop kissing her. But he needed to tell her something first:"Love, it's very important that I tell you something. What I'm going to