Sighing, I stare at the video playing on his screen. It’s the same one Paolo sent, only it starts a few minutes earlier. After he kisses her, she slides across the back seat and opens the window.
When I hit stop, Suds glares. “Listen up. Sam did the research. Rose didn’t rat us out. This is how it went down. First, we all agree Sam was hired by the FBI to research a new kind of fentanyl, yes?”
I nod.
“Great. So, Sam finally admitted she was already on the Zoom meeting when Rose came upstairs. The cat’s no evil genius, it simply rolled on the keyboard and hit enter.”
“Huh.”Fact check. Their cat’s the spawn of Satan and timed the whole thing perfectly.
Suds brings a beer bottle to his lips, swallows, then leans in with his voice lowered. “Now, here’s where things get interesting. When Rose enters her email address, these dark web guys know they’re fucked. They research her IP, find out she’s related to dear old uncle Vinny, and sell their shit to him. He sees an opportunity to fuck the cartel and sells them the opioids. All the while he plans to double-cross them and steal it back.”
“But what about Paolo. How does he come into play?”
“He was hired by Vinny to steal the stuff back, but instead, he tipped off the cartel and started working for them. That’s how he knew the truck’s location.”
A light bulb goes off in my head. “Joey. He warned Vinny?”
“He was worried about Paolo and for good reason. To make sure Vincent wouldn’t try anything, Paolo put Rose in the container and fed him a video. When you killed the camera, Vincent thought she was dead, and with nothing to lose, instructed his guys to kill everyone.”
“So, Vinny doesn’t know we were there?”
“We all had masks on. He thought we were the guys Stephano hired for the cartel.”
“And what about Stephano? Where is he?” Picturing punching his lights out, my hands fist.
“I wouldn’t want to be him when Vincent catches up with him. So, we good?”
“Sure, and thanks for not rambling.” I bump my pal’s fist. “Listen, while I appreciate all the explanations, you’ve only proved I’m right. I suck at relationships. Always have, always will.”
“Best tell her to her face because there she is.” Suds points to where the woman who stole my heart sits with Sam and Mia.
She’s lost weight, has dark circles under her eyes, and red, puffy lids say she’s been crying. A better man would take her in his arms, and never let her go. Me? I stride to the door, exit, and run like hell.
Chapter 30
Rose
With Christmas and New Year’s over, there’s absolutely nothing to look forward to. Winter has arrived and like that movie with Bill Murray, it’s Groundhog Day. Unlike him, I don’t get to start over. In an endless loop, gray days stretch before me.
I cut hair, I speak with clients, and go to bed. Then, I wake up and do it all again. The twenty pounds I lost, should cheer me up but it doesn’t because I need to go shopping but have no money. Maybe I’ll start a new trend, frumpy chic.
“You’re depressed.” Mia starts in on me the minute she walks in the salon.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.I shrug. Who cares? Life sucks. I will deal with it in my own way.
She shoves a phone in my hand. “Get some help.”
I think of Dr. Downy in the dumpster and tears well. “I threw him out.”
“You tossed your shrink?” Eyes wide, she places a palm on my forehead. “No temperature. Are you seeing things? Hearing voices?”
“No, nothing like that.” I drop to the floor and lift my knees so I can bury my head in them.
“Honey, you can’t keep doing this to yourself.” Lowering beside me, she puts her arm around my waist and holds me while I sob.
Chapter 31
Wheels
