The Darkest Heart by Dan Smith

coward.’ I looked over at Rocky who had gone to the other end of the boat and was sitting upright, watching Leonardo. ‘And guess what? I don’t think she likes you either.’
    I stepped back and moved to one side to let Raul go next, turning my head, catching sight of movement up on top of the bank. Someone was jogging towards us, a hand in the air.
    â€˜Zico,’ Daniella called as she came. ‘Zico, wait!’
    She was wearing a skirt that fell short of her knees, ruffled around the hem. A white T-shirt without sleeves. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail like it had been yesterday when I visited her in the shop, and she was carrying a bag over her shoulder.
    When she reached me, her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing heavily but she wasn’t out of breath. ‘Zico, Raul, I’m glad I caught you.’ She looked upset.
    â€˜What is it? What’s happened?’
    â€˜My mother,’ she said. ‘It’s my mother.’
    â€˜What’s happened to her?’
    â€˜What’s happened to her?’ Daniella dropped her bag to the ground. ‘What do you mean what’s happened to her? Nothing’s happened to her.’
    â€˜Well, what’s the matter, then?’ I looked at the old man standing close by. Outside his house, Carolina had put down the washing and was watching, one hand on her hip, the other raised to her brow to shade the sun.
    Leonardo was sitting in the aluminium boat, his attention shifting from me to Rocky and then back again.
    â€˜She’s a bitch, that’s what’s the matter with her.’
    â€˜What now?’ I took Daniella’s arm and led her further along the shore. Leonardo didn’t have to hear any of this. My business was not his.
    â€˜I can’t live with her any more ...’ Daniella was saying, and I nodded, only half listening as I made sure we were away from the others.
    â€˜OK. You want to tell me what this is about? I thought you were going to go talk to her.’
    â€˜Have you heard anything I’ve just said?’ She pulled her arm from my hand; a sudden movement, sharp and forceful without needing to be.
    â€˜Well, I—’
    â€˜For God’s sake, Zico, listen to me. I did talk to her, at least I tried, but she wouldn’t let me say anything. She was waiting at the shop, standing on the step, yelling at me the moment I came close. Calling me a puta , saying I’d be punished for staying at your place, for sleeping with a ... She called you ... Well, it doesn’t matter what she called you.’
    â€˜You’re right,’ I told her. ‘It doesn’t matter, so I don’t know what you’re angry about. Your mother’s always saying things about me, you should be used to it by now.’
    â€˜I can’t work for her any more, Zico, and I won’t live with her. I want to stay with you.’
    â€˜My place is so small. It’s not good enough for—’
    â€˜It’s good enough for you.’ She came closer, trying to soften her manner, but there was a fire burning behind her eyes. ‘If it’s good for you, it’s good for me.’ She took my hands and looked up at me, working her charm.
    â€˜You need something better, cleaner. I don’t even have hot water.’
    â€˜So I’ll use cold.’
    â€˜You say that now, Daniella, but—’
    â€˜Zico, I want to stay with you. It’s what I want. And then we’ll look for somewhere better.’
    â€˜That’s not so easy. I’ll need money for that.’ An image of the woman in the newspaper cutting came to mind; a collection of grey and black dots that was worth five thousand dollars and a piece of land. We’d need the money even more now that Daniella was saying she’d quit her job.
    Just one more life.
    â€˜Please,’ she said.
    I sighed and closed my eyes. She knew she’d beaten me. She always did. She could get what