But I would be lying. The only truth there would be my apology. But the rest had been purposeful. I had not been myself. And I wanted to make a point because I was still that man who did not worry about consequences.
“What exactly did you want to use the penthouse for? The elaborate sexcapade? Or is there something else? Because I fail to understand why you would take away my free will, like you did, what could be so big and terrifying that you would feel the need to drug me, Zahra.”
“Your life being in danger,” she answered.
“Elaborate.”
Silence followed before she sighed and started talking. “I got a tip from Sicily, from the people working the painting case for Manuel—the ones who informed me about Chika? They told me a dangerous Elite group knew where the painting was. And they were on the cruise. To assassinate Kareem. Word must have leaked out that you wanted to buy the manor, and I put two and two together and realized that the Elite group wasn’t there to assassinate only Kareem; they were there to assassinate the person who wanted to buy it too.”
My mind flashed to an odd formation I had noticed at the party, one that had me going back to the secluded area to observe before she interrupted me, and I had wanted us to leave before whatever chaos I sensed ensued. But a part of me wanted to see it happen, except without Zahra’s presence.
“I see,” I said.
“The Elite group arrived a week before the event. Milk and I mingled a bit, and we scored an invite to a party they hosted to throw Kareem’s security detail off their scent. While I was there, I snooped,” she said, inhaling and exhaling. “I saw Kareem’s victim profile, two other men who talked to him just before you did, and then… you. They had everything about you.”
She breathed. “I didn’t know what to do, and I wanted to inform Angelo. I took some pictures, and after I confirmed he was going to be at the party that evening, I sent them to him with a follow-up of my plans. This was why I created liberty day; this was why I chose a different color of clothing for you, because it would be harder for them to recognize you, as you never change the color you wear.”
I looked away from her, shaking my head. “It was all a ruse. Everything.”
“To protect you, Elio.”
“And telling me beforehand would have broken one of your limbs.”
“Elio—”
“And Angelo—he didn’t tell me anything. Nobody told me anything because suddenly, the boss doesn’t need to know that there was a target on his head. And Casmiro—”
“Angelo informed me that he told him. They worked behind the scenes to ensure the Elite group was caught. You telling your guards to leave due to liberty day helped move you easily. We couldn’t trust anybody, not when word got out that you wanted to buy the manor. The news wasn’t public. So, it was either a flaw from Kareem’s side or yours. My bet is Kareem’s side.”
I have, indeed, been too lenient.
“The information you provided still doesn’t answer the question of why I was not informed.”
“Have you met yourself?” She frowned. “Would you have done anything to protect yourself? You chase death—you do, I know you do—and this was the perfect opportunity for you to embrace it without having to move a fucking muscle. Liberty day or shit, you’re the first guy in this fucking business who I know would be willing to spend the rest of his life putting his safety last. And I know you; I know you knew something was up, but you didn’t move. You didn’t leave.”
She was right. But I would not admit it.
“So, drugging me was the great idea you had. You did not stop to think how that action would have affected me.”
“And I’m sorry. Imeantmy apology. I am sorry I did that, but I will not apologize for saving your life, Elio. I will not.”
“No, I appreciate you taking the initiative. I do. But you could have also trusted me. If you had told me everything you figured out and not kept it all to yourself, acting like a hero I never asked for, you would not have had to drug me and make me relive a memory I had drowned myself in tubs, cigars, cuts, and fucking burns trying to forget.”
Guilt smeared her eyes slightly red. “I am sorry, Elio. I didn’t think—”
“You never think; there is no surprise there.”
She clamped her mouth shut, shaking her head like she was disappointed in herself.
“How about Street? What was the need to remove them? Were you scared of stray bullets meeting them? Did you drug them too?”
“Yes.”
My jaw clenched. “You drugged my brother?”
Her teeth skidded across her bottom lip. “Yes.”
“To protect him too? I recall you saying there was another reason you took them out.”
