I let out a long exhale. The tension is already untangling at the base of my spine, relaxing all the way up to my shoulders and I haven’t said anything yet.
Next, I pull up a number I haven’t used for years. Damon Miller.
“What?” he answers and hostility oozes through the phone.
I roll my eyes. How did Ieverput up with him? “I’m not even officially late yet.”
“Late? The payments are over, and I’ll return what you’ve paid before Labor Day, like I said.”
I give my head a shake. Did I hear him wrong? I was calling to tell him that it’s over. He can tell whoever he wants anything about me, but the blackmail is over. “What?”
“I have time yet. You don’t need to fucking harass me.” Is there a thread of fear in his voice?
“Harass you?” Did I call a different Damon, one who’s also blackmailing someone and grew a conscience?
“Yeah, those fucking guys you sent made it loud and clear, but it’s not Labor Day yet. I need time.”
“What guys?”
He huffs into the phone. “You know what fucking guys.” When I don’t answer, he lets out a frustrated grunt. “Didn’t your boyfriend tell you?”
I can’t confess that I haven’t talked to Cruz since the sidewalk argument. I can’t believe I ever risked what I had with him because of this asshole.
“His fucking dad made sure Dwayne and I understand loud and clear to leave you alone.”
Shock punches me in the chest and I cough out a breath, but it sounds like a laugh. Cruz’s dad? He doesn’t talk to his dad.
“It’s not fucking funny, Elodie. They broke into my house. Dwayne got his ass kicked in his cell.”
My mouth hangs all the way open. “They did what?”
“Sy Lawson and his fucking son.”
“Cruz beat Dwayne up?”
“His guys did. The man is in a different goddamn prison, Elodie, and he still got to Dwayne. And me!” Now the terror is unmistakable. “So I get it, okay? I’ll leave you alone. Your secrets are safe. We’ll pay you back, and we won’t tell a soul, but dammit. You have to leave us alone too.”
I snap my mouth shut. I don’t know what Cruz did or what he put into motion, but I’m also not going to mess with it. Damon and my ex were prudent in their cons. They got impatient and greedy, but they were otherwise careful about the kind of people they conned. No one violent, and no one with connections.
Who knew I’m the one with connections?
“That’s up to Cruz,” I say, trying to keep my voice strong when I don’t know whether to keep crying or to let out a guffaw and laugh the night away. “Goodbye, Damon. I’d better not hear from you or your brother again.”
I hang up, and this time I do chortle. I’m downright giggling when Clem walks into the kitchen. I’m relieved. I’m distraught. I’m hopeful while still feeling hopeless.
“Is everything okay?” she asks cautiously.
Everything might be ruined. Maybe I have no chance with Cruz after I kicked him out. But he went behind my back and tampered with a situation that should’ve been none of his business, and he didn’t tell me. He didn’t swagger in here waiting for his accolades. He hasn’t even called to nonchalantly see if I drop the fact that he solved my blackmail problem.
Not only did he make it go away, but he obliterated the whole ordeal. Damon’s petrified. Dwayne has got to be sleeping with one eye open, and after I think about the way they kept me as their personal chef, housekeeper, and meal ticket, I like the thought of that.
“I don’t know what’s okay.” I toss my glasses on the table as more laughter spills out of me, but so do tears. I’m crying and sputtering when Clem rushes to my side.
“Elodie! Are you okay?”
“No. I don’t know.” I’m okay because Cruz made sure of it. Dabbing at my eyes is like trying to block a river with my finger. “I’ve been so stupid.”
“You are not stupid.” She darts to the bathroom and returns with a bunch of tissues. “Here. Mom’s going to fret.”
