Elect(86)
“Thanks, I think.” He was right, I did need a drink. I took a long sip of wine and stared at the wall. “That isn’t all, is it?”
“I’ve always liked you.”
I chuckled. “You gonna shoot me now?”
“Nah.” Luca poured himself another glass of wine. “The De Langes were involved in a few inappropriate business dealings.”
“Shit.” I exhaled. “You mean for me to help clean up the mess.”
“I mean for you to make it go the hell away,” Luca stated. “The girl… She may not have the stomach for what needs to be done.”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
“There is always a choice.” Luca rose and slapped my shoulder. “But remember, there are always consequences.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I finished my wine and stood. “Does Mil know yet?”
“Yes.” Luca buttoned his coat and straightened his black tie. “She is not happy.”
“When has she ever been happy?” Tex mumbled behind me.
“I trust I will hear of your glowing progress over the next few months?”
I shook Luca’s outstretched hand and kissed him on the right then left cheeks. “You can count on it.”
“I hear Lake Michigan is lovely in the spring,” he joked as he made his way toward the door. “I shall see you at the funeral tomorrow evening.”
“Yup.”
After he left, Tex and I sat in silence at the table.
“He’s an ass,” a female voice said from the kitchen.
“Ah, Mil.” I grabbed a spare wineglass. “Happy you could join us. And Luca isn’t an ass, he’s just… a man with a lot of power.”
“Oh, I know.” She took the glass. “I wasn’t talking about him. I was talking about Chase.”
I raised my glass. “Then we are in agreement. Cheers.”
She closed her eyes and drank a deep sip from the merlot. “I need you guys, now, more than ever.”
“Wow, that was the nicest thing she’s ever said to us, Nixon.” Tex winked at her, and she scowled and took a seat.
“We’ll help as much as we can.” I stared out the dark window and concentrated on the day in the future when we wouldn’t have impending death hanging over our heads.
Chapter Fifty-five
Chase
It was official.
I hated funerals.
Cremation. That was my future. No chance in hell was I going to put my friends and family through hours of torture only to relive all the memories and then get buried in the ground.
I adjusted my black tie and put on my aviators to hide my bloodshot eyes. I’d been on edge ever since I woke up, to remember Mil and her word. Proposition. Damn, that couldn’t be good. Since when did that girl ever need a favor from anyone?
The sermon wasn’t long.
Nixon and I were the first to put flower petals on the casket, followed by Tex, Frank, Luca, and then the girls.
Nobody really cried.
My stomach was in knots as the casket was lowered into the earth. Then it started raining.
Wow, it was as if God was aware of my mood and had decided to make it worse. We sang in Sicilian and then the pastor mumbled the benediction.
I heard sniffling next to me and looked over as Trace hid her face in Nixon’s jacket.
Ten seconds. I stared for all of ten seconds. I even took a step in their direction. I was so damn used to comforting her that seeing her cry caused a knee-jerk reaction in me. I wanted to be the one to catch those tears.
She pulled off her dark sunglasses and wiped her eyes, and then looked in my direction.
I should have looked away.
But I couldn’t.
I was frozen.
In ten steps, she was in front of me.
My jaw clenched as she very slowly stepped into my arms and hugged me. I put my chin on her head and wrapped my arms around her body.
Nixon looked in our direction, gave me a small nod, and walked off.
I don’t know how long we stayed like that. Minutes? Hours? People began conversing. Some drove away right after the funeral ended; others stayed and shook hands with Nixon.
But me? I was hugging the girl I loved.
“I’m sorry I was angry with you,” Trace whispered. “I just… I don’t know, I don’t want this to be awful but I think it’s going to be, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” I managed to say, “It’s gonna suck, but…” I looked over at the hole Phoenix’s body had just been lowered into. “You need to know something.” I kissed the tip of Trace’s nose. “I will always be here for you. Always. I promise I’ll try to move on, if you promise me one thing.”
“What?” Her eyes twinkled.