AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stops speaking and pours himself a cup of coffee. I think that he needs a minute to gather his thoughts. His eyes seem sad.
Ana leans toward him, resting her cheek against his bicep. He strokes her poorly dyed hair and drops a kiss to the crown of her head before continuing. They are precious together. I’m glad that they are together again, even though Ana and I both were hurt getting her here.
“I'm pretty sure your uncle,” he says looking at Travis, “knew about a lot of shit that Sal did for my father. When the hit on Brad was sanctioned, Sal was the obvious person to do the job. He had a reputation for doing things quick and not leaving witnesses or evidence. Sal always believed that Brad kept records of everything he knew about the family. He tried to use Faye's mother as a tool against Brad. I can’t prove anything, but I believe that Sal and Claire had an affair. That he was attempting to get information without having to hurt her. But, as you know, she was a depressed, troubled woman. She didn't know anything, or refused to tell what she did know. The best I can figure is that Sal was a little obsessed with her. Maybe even loved her, but in the end, his loyalty to my father and his anger at Claire caused him to kill her and Brad that night.”
He pauses and sips his coffee, and I reach for the pot to keep myself busy. I don’t know what to think about the bomb he just dropped.
My mom had an affair with a mob hitman? When?! I feel like I just woke up in an alternate universe. I never suspected a thing. I did my best to stay as far away from her and Brad as I could that last year though, so maybe that’s why.
Xavier continues after a long minute of watching me add cream and sugar to my cup. “I know that if there is a ledger, Brad planned to blackmail my family with it. I also know that we need to find it if I have any hope of putting a nail in Dominic's coffin and shutting down what he does, what my family has done, forever.”
He leans back in his chair, looking exhausted by everything he has just laid out before us. I look at Travis with my questions in my eyes.
“We will have to go back to the house, Sweetpea,” he says.
I'm confused. There is no way there can be anything left in the house. Not after all these years.
“How are we going to do that?” I whisper through my abused vocal cords.
“I never wanted to sell it in case you ever went back.” That makes sense, and is so typical for Travis. Making sure that the house was available if I ever needed it.
If he says we have to go back, then we will. I can’t believe that there will be anything to find after all this time.
“Okay. I guess that’s a good idea. I have no idea where something like that might be hidden, but maybe we will get lucky and find it.” I don't mind going back to that house if Travis is beside me. I know he will keep me safe.
He won’t let anything hurt me. Not ever again. Not even the memories in that horrible house that brought us together so many years ago.
Epilogue
One month later
Faye
Sal was right. There really was a ledger. A meticulously kept record that spanned years of criminal activity. It went back to before my mom and I went to live with Brad.
It was in my little pool house apartment, hidden under a squeaky floorboard in the bedroom. I seriously never knew.
How Sal didn't find it I will never know.
I suppose it’s not that much of a mystery, though. I never had any suspicion something was hidden right there under the creaky board by my bed.
We brought it back to Vegas and handed it over to Xavier and the FBI agent in charge of the investigation into Dominic . None of the notations in the ledger made sense to Travis and I, but X said that putting it together with other records, painted a complete picture of his family's involvement in several assassinations and a sex trafficking ring in several states.
The FBI was thrilled. Apparently the information in that old leather bound book was the key they needed to unraveling everything Xavier’s family had been involved in.
Ana filled me in on all the details a few days after our return. We meet in the café to have lunch with Ellie at least once a week. Travis hasn’t said too much about it. I know that he is still working with X and the federal agents, trying to locate Dominic. He hasn’t turned up in any of the places they have searched for him.
I'm grateful that my involvement in the whole ordeal has ended. No one is looking for me anymore, and because of Travis and Xavier, no one will be. I finally just get to be... me, and it’s lovely. My only plans are to focus on what comes next for us.
Travis and Blake decided to relocate their main office to Vegas. Xavier offered them a very lucrative contract providing security for his casino and hotel, and since the kind of work they can do can be done anywhere… they agreed. There is also the possibility of more work being funneled to them from the FBI and LVPD.
I'm just happy that we are going to stay close to Ana. After everything that happened we have gotten even closer. We have Ellie now too, which makes everything more fun. If Blake ever gets his act together and makes a move, I think we will have even more fun. Ana and I worry because Ellie works so hard… all the time at the casino and at home too.
A quick knock from behind the door shakes me out of my thoughts. I spin away from the mirror and watch as Ana glides through the door. It’s amazing what a difference a few weeks of rest, good food, and a loving man have made in her. In both of us, really. Bright eyes, a happy smile, and she has gained enough weight that her face has lost its gaunt, hungry look. I see the same changes in myself every time I look in a mirror. It feels good to finally be myself again.
Ana is lovely, as usual, her pale perfection showcased by a simple light blue empire waisted dress that shows off her small frame and the round ball of her baby belly. The awful muddy brown color she had dyed her hair has been restored to a bright platinum blonde. She radiates happiness.
Ellie slips in behind her, wearing a dress of the same blue. She is beautiful too, in spite of the fatigue around her eyes. Her dark hair cascades down her back in loose curls. She smiles at me.
