Promises and Pomegranates

Kal is tempted to go after Elena but knows he needs to deal with Carmen first. When she tries to seduce him, he points his gun at her. He recalls finding her in his bed with another man, how that man stabbed him in the side, and he woke up during surgery to repair his spleen. He was 19. Doctors said he was lucky, but he never felt lucky until Elena. He taunts Carmen, saying the reason he chose Elena is that she’s as “fucked up” as him. When Carmen protests, he fires a blank at her forehead. Kal hadn’t thought his life was missing anything or that he wanted someone to balance his darkness, and he recognizes that the loss of Elena’s goodness in his life makes him feel like “half of a soul” (281). He pistol whips Carmen and walks away. Rafe stops him, telling Kal he needs to pay Rafe what he owes, and Kal refuses.

Kal leaves the Riccis’ home and heads to the theater. An usher shows him to the box where his seats are, and Elena is there. She looks crushed when she asks if he married her to get back at Carmen. She wants to know why he didn’t tell her about their affair, but can’t answer because he doesn’t know.