Fuck, fuck, fuck. She’s sobbing but I’m not the bad guy. She ordered a doll laced with fentanyl and drugged me so she could confirm the arrival.
Would she purposefully put Mikey and Joey’s kid at risk? Is she a cold-hearted bitch? What has she done to me? Why can’t I read her better?
Dammit, I need help. When she falls asleep outside of Poughkeepsie, I pull to the curb and exit the car. Blowing on my hands, I zip my jacket closed, and reach into my pocket. With pellets of snow spitting on my face, I phone the most level-headed man I know.
After I apprise him of the situation, Slate sighs. “Let me get this straight. She roofied you to meet with a mobster and blamed kitty-gate on her ex.”
For a moment, I consider adding how she’s a liar and a cheat, but it’s better if I keep to the facts. “She tried to stop me from sending the toy to the lab and when we got the results back, she insisted she wasn’t in danger.”
“Her uncle’s a powerful man. Maybe she’s not. Do I need to replace you? Are you too close to the situation?”
“If you’re asking if I’m fucking her, the answer is a resounding no.”But hell, I’ve thought about it.Despite the cold, a bead of sweat rolls down my side.
“You’re not thinking straight because of the Rohypnol. Get some sleep. Talk to Sam and have her catch you up. And Wheels? End this. We have paying customers waiting.”
“Copy that.” I say this to a dead connection and take no offense.
Slate doesn’t believe in useless monolog.
Taking his advice, my next call is from a cheap motel, the kind where they leave the light on. It’s a good thing they did because no one bothered to salt the block of ice impersonating a parking lot.
While Rose uses the restroom in the lobby, I rub my aching stub and wish I’d had the balls to remove the prosthetic. Waiting, I limp around on the loose carpet squares, hoping to regain feeling in my right foot, still numb from remaining in the same position too long.
After dealing with the front desk, I phone Hands who answers after one ring. “Wheels? Where the fuck are you?”
“Long story.” Like I did with Slate, I fill him in on my last twenty-four hours.
While I speak, my little liar shuffles to my side. Dark circles line her swollen eyes, and she sniffles as she rubs a wadded tissue under her nose.
“Have you told Suds and Sam?”
“Not yet.” Halfway to wrapping my arm around her, I change my mind and stretch it to the ceiling. I need to resist consoling her. If I pull her close, I’ll inhale her scent, and won’t be able to stop.
“Hold on, Mia wants to talk to you.” I press mute and jiggle our key under Rose’s nose.
“Room two-twelve. Let’s go.” With me in the lead, we walk against the wind to the second floor.
With the wind creating dust devils of snow, an angry Mia shouts in my ear. “You should’ve called. My family is going nuts.”
Increasing my pace, I pitch my voice calm and low. “Your sister is fine.”
“Let me talk to her.”
If I thought inside would be warmer than out, I was wrong. Rose notices too, squats and pushes buttons on a heating unit under the sliding glass window.
“Now is not a great time.” I shudder as a cold breeze blasts out of the vents.
Mia’s voice can barely be heard over the wind tunnel. “Oh no. She did it again, didn’t she? I’ll bet she told you she cheated on her ex. Am I right?”
“Not following you.” When the heater warms, I turn down the volume, and press the speaker to my ear.
This is not a conversation I want to be having with someone’s sister. “Can you put Hands back on the phone?”
“Listen up. She does this all the time. She likes you and thus, sabotaged the relationship.”
“Mia, stop.” Afraid Rose might overhear, I stride to the bathroom, and lock the door.
Despite the edge in my voice, the concerned sibling carries on. “Hear me out. She did cheat but her marriage had been dead for years. That bastard emotionally abused her. Sleeping with someone was the only way she could break free. He’s still in her head. She’s convinced she’s the villain, not him. Please, if you care for her at all, don’t let her do this.”
