"Come in." Her displeasure is palpable.
I walk inside to find her sitting behind her desk. It's funny, before Benny died, Regina couldn't care less about family business, and now here she is, running her part like a pro.
"Well, she returns," Regina sneers.
I stroll right up to the edge of the antique cherrywood desk and cross my arms. "What? No late afternoon snack?" I allude to the fact there's no boy toy in the room.
"Don't get smart, Stevie. I'm in a world of shit, which means so are you."
"I'll find him-"
Regina slams her hands on her desk.
"No, you won't! He's in the goddamn wind! It took us six months to find him last time. God knows how long it will take now!"
I'm totally taken aback. I've never seen Regina so upset about anything except shoes before.
"Who is he? Why is he so important?" I try to pry some information out of her.
"Why do you keep asking that?" she snaps. "Did something happen out there I should know about?" She's suspicious.
"No," I scoff, trying desperately not to look guilty. "But maybe if I know something about him, I could figure out how to get close to him again."
"You had your chance, Stevie. You failed." She clears her throat uncomfortably, light beads of sweat appearing like dewdrops on her forehead.
"G, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Her demeanor suddenly changes. "I wish things could be different, Stevie, I really do." She stands with a strange look in her eyes.
"Different?" I glance behind me just in case Kruger is trying to sneak up behind me. When I look back at Regina, she's pointing a gun at me. Sneaky bitch. I didn't think she even knew what a firearm was. I smile. Does she think she's scaring me right now?
"You gonna shoot me yourself, G?" I mock her. "You'll get all dirty from the blood spatter." The gun trembles in her hand, and before she can even think, I reach out and swipe it, turning the barrel on her.
The first time Benny introduced me to a gun, he held it up to my head and pulled the trigger. I won't lie. I peed in my pants like a little bitch. It wasn't loaded, of course, but I didn't know that. Fear is a weakness, Stevie. Don't let it control you, don't be afraid of pain, and don't be afraid to die. Fear will ruin you.
I'm not afraid to die. Not at Regina's hand or anyone else's. What I am afraid of? Someone else killing Baz and not being merciful about it.
"Tell me who he is, G."
Regina stands before me in her pretty pink, ruffly suit, clearly terrified. Her bark has always been worse than her bite.
"He's a witness who needs to go away."
"There. Was that so hard? Who wants him dead?" I go on.
She shakes her head immediately. "I can't tell you that, Stevie, I'm sorry. All I can say is it's someone very important."
Jesus, that could be anyone. Crime boss, politician, celebrity. We cater to all kinds.
If Regina were anyone else, I would beat the shit out of her with the butt of the gun until she told me the truth, but one scream out of her mouth and this room will flood with killer bodyguards faster than the sand from a smashed hourglass.
I stalk around the desk and crowd Regina up against the wall. She clearly trembles as I press the pussy pistol to her throat. "I would think twice before pulling a gun on me again," I threaten. "Unlike you, I'm not afraid to pull the trigger."
"Stevie," she forces out a fearful warning. I hear her loud and clear. I just hope she hears me, too.
I lower the gun, and she visibly sags. I step back and drop the silver revolver on her desk before I storm out of the room without another word.
AUDIOSLAVE CROONS THROUGH the speaker for the ten millionth time.
It's been three months since I ran out on Baz. Since I turned my back and went on with my life. I wanted to look for him. But I didn't. After I walked out of Regina's office, I decided it was best if I just let him go. It may have been the worst decision I've ever made, but I'll never forget that hurt, betrayed look in his gorgeous green eyes as he stood there holding my gun. How could he ever forgive me? How could he ever trust me again? He was right. I lied to him from the minute I met him. Maybe not about my name, but definitely about everything else.
As good as we were together, we are better off apart. Which, if I'm honest, is devastating. But that's life. My fucked-up life.
My stomach rolls again as I stand in front of the mirror finishing up my makeup. I've been nauseous for days and barely surviving on crackers and ginger ale.
"¡Dios mío!" I hear Claudia before I see her. "This song again?" She leans on the doorframe of the bathroom and rolls her eyes. Okay, so maybe I'm a little obsessed. But this song is all I have left of Baz.