Heart of the World Read Online Free Page A

ribs.
    â€œShe left alone?”
    â€œThat's what I’m saying.”
    â€œYou two break up?” “What if we did?”
    â€œDid she go with a new guy? Is he the one who hit you?” He shook his head. Maybe it hurt to move his mouth. His lips were swollen.
    â€œHe fell down the stairs,” the man said loudly. “That's all.”
    Josefina Parte made a noise.
    â€œBoy's clumsy like an ox,” the man said.
    I studied Diego's eye. The injury was recent, more recent than Friday night. The man's reluctance to let me near the boy suddenly made sense. My right hand clenched, but I kept my eyes focused on Diego. “She say anything about running away?”
    He shook his head again, more slowly. “That's dumb, man, running away.”
    â€œWas she happy, sad, excited? Different?”
    â€œYeah, man, she was different, okay. She was hard, ya know? She was like way into herself, and I don’t put up with that kinda shit, ya know? Not from a girl.”
    â€œThat's right.” The man's voice again, grating like metal on glass. “You don’t take no shit from girls. You don’t answer no more questions either.”
    Frustration simmered behind my eyebrows. All the time I’d wasted tracking him, for nothing. All the certainty that Paolina's disappearance was linked to his, unfounded. The boy shifted his weight in an attempt to get more comfortable. I could smell the sweat on his body. I looked at the silent scared woman, the wiry lying man, telltale damage on his knuckles, and anger kindled like a flame.
    â€œYou want to leave here, Diego?” I said softly. “You want to see a doctor about that nose?”
    I could sense the man behind me stiffen, feel the tension rise.
    â€œIf you want to leave, I’ll take you out.” I wasn’t carrying, but it was no idle boast. I was furious. I wanted to hit somebody, I had the height advantage, and I’d learned to fight dirty at an early age.
    â€œI’ll stay with my aunt,” Diego said.
    â€œYou get outta here now, bitch.” The wiry man's brown eyes had an edge of yellow. He looked defiant, almost proud of himself for what he’d done to the boy, and I considered a shot to the nose or a punch in the gut.
    â€œPlease, just go.” Josefina stepped between us.
    â€œWalk me out, Senora,” I said. She must have thought I wanted safe passage past the wiry man, so she did what I asked and accompanied me through the hallway. Behind me, I heard the sharp crack of Diego's swiftly closing door, and I thought, good for you, boy, keep it shut. Josefina opened the apartment door to dismiss me, but I urged her through it, and spoke in a low voice.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” I said.
    She looked at me, her frightened eyes so wide that white showed all around the pupils.
    â€œAre you married to that man?”
    â€œPor favor,” she said, shaking her head, “understand. I love him. I love them both.”
    â€œYour nephew needs a doctor. Otherwise his nose will stay crooked. They’ll need to break it again to reset it.” “Please. They’ll put him in jail.”
    Where he belongs, I thought. “Diego needs to go to school,” I said. “He’ll go, he’ll go. Tomorrow, next week, soon. You go now.” “You make a choice, understand, Senora? You have to make a choice.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? I got no choice.”
    â€œTake your nephew to the hospital. I’ll stay until you go. I won’t let him hurt you.” “I can’t.” “You can.”
    I waited for her response in the dingy hallway. The next-door neighbors’ alarm clock buzzed, their cat yowled, and Josefina Parte stared at the worn linoleum like she was waiting for the channel to change.
    â€œIf you choose to do nothing, Senora,” I said, “that's also a choice.”
    â€œLeave. Go away. You make only trouble.”
    The apartment