Page 51

He drives quickly, twisting and turning. I pant to catch my breath and let my mind catch up to all that’s happened.

No one was ready for the car or Sal so we easily pull into traffic, there’s no one behind us. He twists and turns and then pulls into a carwash. He pays his money and then puts the car in neutral as it guides us through the soapy mess. I unbuckle the same time he does, and I’m in his lap in an instant. I wince as his hand splays on my back.

“My love. So fucking stupid. This plan was stupid. Never again are you to be in harm’s way. Are you hurt? Hit? Bleeding?”

“I’m ok.” I kiss him and hold him fast to me but as I do, my hand comes away from his biceps bloody. “You’re not okay. You’re not okay. You’re bleeding!”

“Scratch on my side. But I need you to drive so it doesn’t bleed further. Can you do that, Gingersnap?” I nod my head. The colorful soap slides down the windows and I wish it could wash the last two hours away. He kisses me again.

“I’m fine. I promise,” He reassures me.

“Boomer. I think he was hurt. What do we do?”

“He’s a highly trained man who knows the next phase of his mission. He’ll be fine. Your mom will care for him if he needs it.” I smile with the thought of Boomer in my mom’s kitchen with her.

“And Brick and Becca?” I say.

“Calm down.” He kisses me too weakly for my liking. “You do know he’s a Navy Seal and has seen more classified shit and shit in general than many. They’ll be fine. Worry about yourself.” There’s a pause as my shoulders relax. Sal asks, “Did you see Cady?” I nod. He holds me, and I try not to wince or cry. Shock is keeping my pain at bay. I’m tense with getting out of here and getting somewhere away from all of this.

“Yes,” I rasp out. I’m chilled to the core about the horrors of this man.

“Did you get a picture of him for Mark? He got one of someone down on the docks, but wants to confirm it’s him.”

I say something else instead because it’s more important. “Lou was there and he’s ok. But I don’t understand.”

His eyes become fire. “What the fuck are you saying? Did you talk to him? Tell me everything right now.” His voice is dark and low, and I don’t dare defy him.

I blurt out all the things in my head in random order. “He didn’t hurt me. He stopped Enzo from slapping me. He couldn’t stop---” I can’t think about the blooming bruising on my back or give Sal anymore worry. “He couldn’t stop Cady from threatening me. But not like real threats, just like gentlemanly threats. It was weird.” Sal’s face is stoic as he takes it all in his thumbs caressing my collarbone. “Lou didn’t hurt me at all. He wouldn’t make eye contact. He was with them and doing their work. Cady said he needed me, and that Enzo now had to make it right. Kept telling me I had to be a lady when we went on our trip. He cleaned my chef’s coat. He said I was messy.”

Sal jerks his head toward the back seat and slides me off his lap as the car gets rinsed off for its wax. He pulls his jacket a little tighter. I get into the back seat as he climbs over the center console to settle into the passenger seat. He doesn’t comment. I scramble into the driver’s seat and flip on the seat warmer, hoping it eases the bruising.

Sal takes my hand but says nothing. I’m turned toward him, watching him work out what he needs. He’s holding a promo LA Food & Wine expo t-shirt to his side, staring straight ahead as the blowers scatter the last of the water droplets from the windshield. I only hope our scattered pieces can be blown away so we can start clean as well.

As I pull out into the parking lot, he punches in an address. “Go there. Don’t speed and don’t weave in and out of lanes. Steady.”

Then he puts his head back and closes his eyes as I drive.

Chapter

Thirty-One

Poppy

GPS has led me to a driveway of a white stucco palace in Long Beach. It’s really tacky, gaudy, and probably took more money than I’ll ever see to build it. Never mind, I have more money than anyone. I forgot I’m a billionaire. It’s hard to remember when you’re living off gas station hotdogs and blue knock off Slurpees.

The curtain on the window bracketing the weird Taj Mahal inspired door whips open. Sal takes my hand and squeezes it lightly. He’s not pale and the blood wasn’t too much, but he hasn’t said a word except that he loves me the entire drive. Just as we get out of the car, he takes my hand and looks at me.

“This is all necessary. I had to save what energy I had for this. I don’t have time to explain, but we have to do this. I have to be someone else right now. It’s a chess piece I have to move. I love you. Trust me.” He drops my hand, and we walk confidently to the front door.

“For fuck’s sake, Salvatore, what the hell do you want? Waltzing in here like it’s all fine.”

“Open the damn door.” He pushes into this stucco castle and a woman jumps back.

“Christ on a cracker. This shit again? And who the fuck is this? She’s like a walking beacon for fucking Ireland. She a fancy lab tech or something? What’s the ransom?”

She has dark hair piled high on her head and is wearing a matching hot pink crop pants and top. She’s beautiful but hard. The way you look at trees at the end of fall. You can see where the colors were vibrant, but you can also see the harsh winter peaking through the weathered bark and the remaining leaves are browned out. I don’t know where we are, but I know that we need to attend to his side right now.

Wait, did she just say…