“I think it’s safe to say he’s not gonna do that,” Nico says.
Is there an edge in his voice that was never there before?
Can’t deal with that now. But later, once this is done, I will. I just hope it won’t be too late.
“We’ll go through the front door,” I say, meaning Nico and myself. “And Zane, you make sure he doesn’t escape through the back.”
“OK,” Nico says and it feels like a gut punch. I look at him, try to read if he meant it that way, but it’s too dark so I can’t.
I lead the way to the front door, where I knock loudly enough to drown out my racing thoughts for a second.
Nothing happens on the other side. I hear no footsteps, no extra light comes on.
“There’s no point waiting,” Nico says and reaches for the doorknob with a gloved hand. I was sure we’d have to kick the door down, but the knob turns and the door opens, creaking slightly as it goes.
I enter first and head down the dark hallway to the kitchen, which is where I saw Gael last.
He’s still there, sitting at the table, a big black suitcase by his leg.
“You thinking of running?” I ask.
He fixes me with his round eyes, which I found so menacing and scary once upon a time. And so kind and soft before that. Now they’re rimmed with redness, full of fear and not frightening at all.
“What else am I to do?” he asks. “These wild accusations you’re throwing at me… there is no way to defend myself against them.”
Amazing. It’s like our conversation in the church never happened.
“Yeah, that’s because they’re true,” Nico says, saving me the trouble.
Maybe he’s not so very mad at me after all. Maybe he’s still with me. Maybe I didn’t fuck up whatever might have been between us completely.
But I should focus on Gael. I need to.
“They are not,” Gael says. “They are vile lies. Damnable lies.”
“Save it,” I say. “Kate Cole has accused you.”
“A little liar,” Gael huffs and stands up. “She will have to answer to God for that.”
He grabs the handle of his suitcase. “And I will answer to no one.”
I walk over to him, my hand shooting up to grab his throat before I even decide to do it. I squeeze hard, cutting off bloodflow and his air supply. He’s just opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, his eyes filled with shocked surprise.
“You didn’t think I had the strength to come for you,” I say. “You thought I was still the weak, shy little girl you hurt and abused. The one who was too scared to do anything about it. I’m not.”
I think he’s starting to realize that as his face turns darker and darker.
I release his throat and he gasps, rubbing his throat, his eyes still full of fear.
“What do you want from me? I will turn myself in if that’s what you want.”
I shake my head. “You’ve had your chance, but it’s too late for that now.”
The fear in his eyes intensifies and he turns faster than I thought he could, tries to bolt for the door. But runs smack into Zane’s wide chest.
The sour smell of fear wafts off him as he looks up at Zane. I think he knows he’s about to be judged by a higher authority than anything that exists down here on earth.
The garden outside the window is suddenly illuminated by bright floodlights.
