“Carla,” Fausto’s gaze connects with mine. “I’m your uncle. Don’t let this guy influence you! You’re a good girl!”
Something in me snaps. “Iwasa good girl who came from a damn good family. But you kept screwing me over. Taking my parents' money. Smearing my dad’s name.”
Lifting his hands palms up, Fausto shifts on his knees. “I’ll admit, your uncle made a world of mistakes. I’m five years, two months, three days sober, sweetheart. See, I’m admitting my faults, telling you the truth!”
“In those rehab meetings, aren’t you required to reach out to people you’ve wronged?”
“Yes.” His eyes widen, encouraged. “I still see your father in my dreams. Sweetheart, I’ve apologized to him countless times.”
What about me.“Anyone else?”
“Your mother was gorgeous. I wishMarcyhadn’t—”
“Anything else?” I choke back a sob. Through a cacophony of emotions, I notice Leith. The deadline’s written all over his face, along with an apology. The heart of the matter is beyond Fausto’s realm of understanding.
“Anything else?” I croak on repeat.
Annoyance burns in Fausto’s eyes. Although he’s supposedly leashed his demons, the self-absorbed prick digs through his mind for more lovely lies. “I regret that my friend di—”
My hand flies to my chest. In a hoarse whisper, I ask, “What about me? You ruined my life!”
My husband hesitates at my side. His palm runs along the back of my hand. “Give me the gun, hen. Get in the car.”
At age nine, the life I once lived was over.
I settled into existence, surrounded by an uglier, darker world.
At age twelve, Leith picked me up from the pits of Hell, gave me a new reason to live.
Today, I’ll take my first life. Tomorrow, I’ll pray to a God who forgives and hope that my resentment doesn’t haunt me the rest of my days. My wrist kicks back as the gun discharges.
The sound reverberates off the cement walls. My husband removes the Glock from my fisted grip, scoops me up, and escorts me to the car. He places me in the passenger seat, squats down. The back of his knuckles run tenderly over my cheekbone. There’s so much love in his eyes that my body and soul ache. Then he’s gone. Leith shoves their dead bodies back into the Bentley and douses the inside and the surrounding area with gasoline.
My focus returns to the pool of blood. A dark, thick crimson puddle had been all I’d seen all those years ago before I passed out. I’d come to with the authorities beating down the front door of our house. I never saw what that rookie cop must’ve witnessed. While Leith pulls away, flames overcome the scene.
I place a hand against my chest. For the first time in my life, the dagger tormenting my heart has vanished.
I can start a heartfelt conversation about my parents with Mia. Maybe tell her the zany things Daddy once did when he switched gears from being an impeccable lawyer to a family man. A man so similar to her own father.
I can hold my tongue when angry at Brody in the future. And perhaps one day, in the not-so-distant future, I’ll apologize for assaulting him the other night.I might. Who knows?
But there are other things I’m capable of now.
I can love my clan.
I can cease from keeping Nan at arm’s length.
I can love my husband freely, unafraid of my past, our present, or our future.
I can breathe.
Chapter 66
Leith
I leftthe sportscar Camdyn stole at MacKenzie Freight to be stripped for parts, exchanging it for the Chevelle SS. Now, the green freeway sign bolted on the overpass signifies that the restaurant is the next exit. I glance at Chevelle. She’s clutched her chest this entire time. There’s naefeckin’way she’s prepared for company. Pressing harder on the gas, the Chevy sails past the off-ramp.
Twenty minutes later, my ride is parked at the top of a cliff. The entire city stretches out in the darkness beneath us.