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I blinked. "How the hell did you manage that? Seeing as how you were holding a gun on Owen not twenty minutes ago?"
Finn flashed me a grin. "I pointed out that Owen needs to get Jo-Jo to look at those bumps on his head and his cracked ribs. I also suggested that, unless he wanted Eva to be on camera, we should skedaddle as quickly as possible. For once, he was sensible about things. "
I shook my head. "You mean you wheedled and probably browbeat him into it until he gave in. "
"Would I do something like that?"
"Absolutely. "
Finn grinned a little wider.
I followed him over to the Escalade, which was a mess. The front had been smushed in like a tin can where he'd rammed the car through the gate and then into the koi fountain, and the windshield had splintered as a result. More scratches and scrapes could be seen on the passenger's side where the vehicle had slammed up against the side of the fountain. It was like a group of giants had pounded on the car with their fists. Just about everything on it was either smashed, cracked, or broken.
"By the way," he said, opening the driver's side door. "You will be paying for every bit of the damage. "
Despite the situation, his words brought a ghost of a smile to my face. It was somehow comforting to know that Finnegan Lane was still looking out for number one - himself.
I slid into the front passenger's seat, Owen and Eva already in the back. Eva nodded, but Owen just stared at me, a blank look on his face. As though we were strangers.
Nobody spoke on the ride over to Jo-Jo's. Finn parked in the driveway, and we all got out of the car. Owen headed toward the house without a word, without even looking at me or giving me a hint of a smile, letting me know that everything between us was going to be okay.
"Just give him some time," Eva whispered. "He'll come around eventually, Gin. I know he will. "
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, not trusting myself to give voice to all my fears that by killing Salina, I'd also killed the love between me and Owen.
She squeezed my hand, hurried after him, and slipped inside the house. Finn stepped up on the porch. He started to go inside when he realized that I hadn't moved.
"Gin?" he asked. "Are you coming?"
I shook my head. "Not right now. Let Jo-Jo see to Owen first. He got the worst of it tonight. Tell her that I'll be along later. "
Finn nodded and stepped inside, letting the screen door bang shut behind him.
When I was sure that he wasn't going to double back and check on me, I walked around to the other side of the SUV, putting the vehicle in between me and the house. I kept going until I was at the edge of the yard just before it started sloping down to the street. It was full dark now, and only the fireflies glimmered in the quiet night, weaving in and out through the trees where the crickets and cicadas sang their midnight song, punctuated here and there by the bellow of a bullfrog and the low hoot of an owl.
But I didn't really hear the noises of the night. Only one thing echoed in my head again and again.
Daddy! No! Daddy! Daddy -
I breathed in, letting the soft, humid scent of the night air roll across my tongue. I scrubbed my hands over my face, as if I could wash away the memories of tonight, especially the image of Owen turning his back on me.
But I couldn't - and I didn't know if I ever would.
Chapter 34
I stayed outside for a long time - long enough for Jo-Jo to heal Owen and for him and Eva to go on their way.
The porch light snapped on, and my lover stepped outside, followed by Eva and Sophia. The Goth dwarf rounded the house, and I heard her convertible start up a minute later. She must have been taking them home.
Sure enough, Sophia drove her convertible around to the front of the house. Eva opened one of the passenger doors and slid into the backseat. Owen grabbed hold of the front passenger door. He started to open it and get inside but paused, his eyes scanning the yard. He couldn't see me in the shadows, and my heart rose in hopes that he might come looking for me.
But he didn't.
Instead, he got into the car and shut the door. Sophia steered the vehicle down the driveway, and her red taillights - shaped like little skulls - disappeared into the darkness.
When I was sure they were gone, I walked over, trudged up the porch steps, and shuffled inside. I plodded back to the salon, where Jo-Jo and Finn were talking in low voices. The two of them looked at me. I knew they could see the raw emotion in my face, but for once I was too tired to hide my feelings.
Everything about tonight had simply hurt.
