Epilogue
Helena Rossi owed me a major explanation. The moment we took care of her problem, she left us out to dry. No note, no thanks, just up and left the scene with us holding the bag. It took us half the day to clean up the mess she left.
I storm into her building and turn down the corridor to her office with Cable hot on my tail.
“Twister, calm down.” I huff at his words.
When in the history of forever have those words ever worked? I’ll tell you when, fucking never! I raise my foot and kick her door open to find…nothing?
“What the fuck?” I spin in a circle, but the space is empty, looking just like the rest of the abandoned building.
“Well, this ain’t good.” I glare at his commentary.
“No shit,” I push past him and practically jog to the other side, where the state-of-the-art clinic she was running to help addicts is.
I turn the corner and skid to a full stop with no warning, causing Cable to slam into my back.
“No.” It’s a ghost town.
The reception area is gone. The walls are bare, paint peeling, and exposed brick, all adding to the facade that there hasn’t been anyone working, living, or operating a full-fledged drug empire here for years.
“FUCK!” I kick the dirt around where I know there was carpet a week ago.
“This is not normal. I mean, I get covering your tracks, but this is more like disappearing off the face of the Earth like you never fucking existed.” I ignore him as I pace the room.
“Um, Twister?” I spin around to see him pointing at a white envelope taped to the wall.
I walk over to it carefully as if I were maneuvering around a mine field, knowing damn well whatever is in that envelope is going to blow my life up.
The closer I get, the clearer the writing on it becomes to form my name. I peel it off the wall in slow motion. I don’t think I breathed the entire way across the room, so I gasp as I open the fucking thing like a pussy.
“Want some privacy?” I shake my head.
I don’t have a clue what she could possibly say to break my heart any more than she has, but I’m smart enough to know I’m going to need my best friend to pick me up off the floor after I read what’s in this envelope.
I pull a single sheet of paper out and hold it for a few seconds, weighing it in my palm.
“Want me to read it?” Am I that much of a coward?
“No,” I open the letter and turn away from Cable.
Enzo,
I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now, but I know confusion is at the top of that list. I couldn’t stay and continue to help the people I owe it to.
I saw an opportunity to see you again and let you know I was still alive, and I took it.
I know I’m hurting you, and it’s selfish, but I don’t regret a moment.
I pray in time you’ll forgive me, but if you don’t, I can live with that.
All my Love,
Hel
“Fucking bitch,” I slam the letter into Cable’s chest and go over to the window.
I stare up at the sky and wonder if I’ve always been this love-starved asshole. When did I become so gullible? The sound of gravel under tires makes me look down at the parking lot, where a large SUV comes to a stop.
The back window rolls down, and Helena’s face fills the window.
She’s staring right up at the window I’m standing in as she lets another envelope fall from her fingers before blowing me a fucking kiss, then rolling the window up and driving away.
“No, she didn’t,” I take off running.
Afraid of the wind blowing whatever it is away. Scared that a crackhead will steal it, thinking it’s drugs or money. Fuck! That a squirrel will run off with the last piece of her that I might be able to touch.
I snatch the fucking thing off the ground and rip it open to find another note and a plane ticket.
Tag.
You’re it.
-H
“What the fuck?” I read the plane tickets and frown.
Puerto Rico?
“Twist, I do believe you’ve been played.”