Part 46 (1/2)

He shook his head. ”Cherry freed me after Alessandra left, and I shot the others.”

He looked past me to where she stood, the corner of his swollen mouth turning up. ”Jesus Christ, I thought you were going to f.u.c.king kill me.”

I turned to look at her but didnt let Gage go.

She shook her head, a tight smile on her lips. ”I owed you. You always looked out for me.” She inhaled looking around. ”Now what? The place is empty now, but his guy will be here tomorrow to drop off his money.”

”I say burn it and then get the h.e.l.l away. And stay away,” Gage answered and I agreed.

”Stay away? What about the money?” Cherry looked like she was disgusted with the idea.

”You do what you want. But Im out. Were lying low from now on. If you want to get it, I wont stop you, but Im not helping.”

She stared at him for a moment. ”But you wont stop me?”

”Youre free to do things your way. I wont interfere. I wont say s.h.i.+t to anyone. Just make sure you dont say s.h.i.+t to anyone about us being here.”

She took a step towards Rusnaks body. ”I wasnt here. I dont know anything. But if the cops see this, you two are screwed. You f.u.c.king bled everywhere.”

The collar of Gages s.h.i.+rt was b.l.o.o.d.y, dried blood streaked his cheek, neck, and forehead.

”Thats why we have to burn the place. You get out of here.” He nodded to Cherry and then his lips landed on mine.

I moved against him, welcoming the ache as he reopened the cut and wiped away the taste of Rusnak. But he pulled away all too soon.

”Go out to the car. Start it. Ill be there soon.” When I hesitated he rea.s.sured. ”Theres no one else here. Go. Ive got to do this quick.”

Gage ran into the room where Alessandra lay dead, and I followed Cherry out through the main room, where it all started. Where five corpses laid around a toppled over chair. The chair Gage had been strapped to.

Cherry was just going to keep walking when we got outside, but I called to her and she turned around, raising an eyebrow at me.

”Thanks.” She gave me a funny look and I continued, ”For in there.”

Cherry snorted, face twisting. ”I didnt do it for you.”

I shrugged, not caring who she did it for.

”Dont think I would lift a finger to save you, but he didnt deserve what you put him in. Because I know he didnt do any of that, he wouldnt. So it had to be you.” She walked backwards, away from me, shaking her head. ”Thing is, I cant save him from you.”

”He doesnt need you to.” My new found appreciation for her was wearing off quick.

She kept walking backwards, facing me. ”h.e.l.l figure it out one day.” Then she turned around and slid into her own car, pulling away before I even made it to our SUV.

I sat in our car, waiting, staring at a silent building filled with memories that nightmares were made of.

I saw the flicker of flames licking at one window in the corner, and then the gla.s.s shattered in the heat. I opened the door, about to go back in to search for Gage when he came sprinting out.

He hopped into the drivers seat with a breathless energy, pulling the car away without words.

Looking in the rearview, I could see the smoke rising into the sky, intensifying with each moment.

”It should go quick. I set up several small fires with the construction debris and bodies. It should cover our tracks.” He looked over at me, gasping as his hand slid up my leg. ”We just need to get rid of the guns. Well toss them in the Hudson.”

The farther away we drove, the more the tears and emotions built, choking me. I couldnt help myself. When we were on a straight road, I undid my belt and raised up in my seat, leaning across the console to kiss his eyebrow, his cheek, caressing the bruises and cuts with my lips, not caring about the blood.

He brought his hand up to the back of my head; holding me still while he turned into my kiss, tongue delving into my mouth, connecting with mine. Swirling and licking. He pulled back, panting, still holding my face close.

”Wait.” His warm breath blew over my skin. ”We have to get home. Believe me, babe, I need you too. f.u.c.k, after today, I need you more than ever. But talk to me. Talk to me while we drive. Keep me calm, focused. Then when we get home, I need you to tell me everything.”

I pressed my forehead to the side of his, sucking in a breath, inhaling him. ”Okay. Okay,” I rea.s.sured him, rea.s.sured myself, smoothing his hair before slipping back to my seat, immediately feeling the separation.

”Its really over,” I talked, letting the words sink in, feeling the uncertain giddiness they caused. ”Its over, and soon well get to start over. Well get to put this behind us and start over.” I couldnt tell if these words were calming him in the dark.

He stared forward at the road, hand firm on my leg, and I kept talking. Sinking the more I talked, the relief of the night shadowed by what we had to do next, and the people we were leaving behind. But as I watched him, felt him, I knew it would be worth it. Everything would be worth it for him. For us.

I held the two pictures in my hands. Weighing them. They were too heavy to lift, too big to get around, I was stuck staring at them and what they meant. The blood stained on the carpet taunted me, and I gripped the photos like they were in danger of being touched by it.

The photos vibrated as I separated them into each hand, studying them. I had found them in Gages jacket. We werent supposed to take anything with us, but he was taking these.

The older one had rounded edges and a yellow tinge, a picture of two boys and their mom. Gage and Dexter. It was a candid shot, none of them looking at the camera. Dexter was young enough to sit on his older brothers lap, his mother sat beside them, reading them a book.

The other picture was more recent. He must have had it printed, and we never printed photos. It was of Dexter and Felix at the gym, in the ring. Felix wearing gloves that swallowed his little baby arms, but his smile was larger than life.

I set them down as my tears. .h.i.t one, not wanting to ruin them. I swiped at my slick cheeks and rose to my feet, brain scrambling, unsure what to do. Nothing felt right. Nothing felt sure. My anxiety rose and burst in bubbles in my veins, making me need to move. I should put the photos away before- Gage walked in. ”Weve got ten minutes, come on.” He rushed to the living room, not really looking at me yet. ”Ten minutes till the cameras start recording again.” Then he looked around, finally noticing me. ”Babe, are you all right?” His arms circled me. ”I know this is hard, but its what you want. Its what we planned.” He pulled back, meeting my eyes. ”Weve got to go.” Then his eyes landed on the pictures on the table and he paused.