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Everything had happened smoothly, so who was the mastermind, Emilio or Liling? Or did they work together like Mel and me? I had spent the last two weeks reading and researching everything Fedel had been able to gather on Emilio, but the man was clean. There was nothing, just community service, teaching, law, more community service, now all of a sudden he was married to the Chinese triad and appointed as the interim mayor? He wasn’t just patient, he was maniacal.
“I can feel you thinking,” she whispered as I pushed us toward the front of the hospital. Fedel walked up ahead with Mina to the right of Melody, texting only God knew who.
“It’s noth—”
“Nothing. I know you’re lying, I’ve let you do it for the last two weeks, but the moment I step outside everything starts again,” she reminded me, leaning back in the chair.
I said nothing. We’re getting far too old for this shit man.
“Here we go,” Mina said, placing her phone back into her purse as the glass doors opened for us. Fedel and two of our men stepped forward.
“Governor! Governor!”
“Mrs. Callahan, are you all right?”
“Do you have any words for the people of Chicago?”
“Has the shooter been—”
They stopped when a black Lincoln town car pulled up right behind the Mercedes waiting for us. Fedel even had the door open; we were so close.
“It’s Mayor Cortés.”
They both came out of the car, Emilio, with his dark hair in a cut more appropriate for the mayor but still unruly, dressed in a gray suit and black tie with an American flag on the panel. Liling was in a clear lace cocktail dress, her hair pulled to the side, a bouquet of lilies in her small hands.
Were they fucking with us? Really? Were they really so fearless, or were they just that stupid? Liling bent over, a soft smile on her face as she handed Mel the flowers…like she was looking down on her.
“We are so pleased about your recovery—”
Melody rose out of the chair, completely ignoring her and the flowers, outstretching her hand to Emilio. “Mayor Cortés, thank you for stepping up for this city when I was unable to. No matter what, we always need a functioning government.”
“Of course.” He shook her hand and they both turned toward the cameras, holding the pose. “I truly hope you recover well enough to return to your job. After all, what would Chicago, hell this state, be without you?”
Sly snake-talking son of a bitch.
“My wife brought you flowers.” He nodded to Liling, who was tightly clenching the bouquet but managed to compose herself again.
“Thank you so much.” Melody smiled brightly…fakely…but still didn’t take them. “However, I’m sorry, I’m allergic to lilies.”
In Chinese culture, it was a huge insult not to accept gifts, and she had done it not once, but twice.
“Really? I’m so sorry,” Liling said through her teeth. “I was sure your—”
Melody turned away from them and back toward the cameras. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your love and support at this time. It has meant so much to my family and me. I want to assure the people of Chicago and this state that I am not only healthy but inspired to do more.”
“Governor Callahan, Mayor Cortés, have the police given either of you any clues as to who might have been the shooter or if the Sandbox Sniper was connected to this case?” a reporter asked.
“At this time—”
“At this time, it is still a pending investigation.” She cut Emilio off before he could get ahead of himself. “I trust the Chicago PD to do a thorough investigation of the matter. If the shooter is still out there, believe me when I say I will stop at nothing until they feel the full brunt and force of this city around their necks. Acts of terrorism can never be accepted nor tolerated and must be stomped out in any way possible. Chicago has come a long way in the last decade. We have all worked hard to make this city not only safe for our children, but also for their children to come. This disgusting, immoral, ugly coward thinks that one shot will somehow destroy everything we have built. That one shot makes them a big shot. Which goes to show you how little this person knows about this state and me. If you shoot and we don’t go down, we come back hard, stronger than ever before. So just wait, justice is coming.”
“On that note ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to steal my wife back.” I took her hand, leading her to the car. She slid in first, and I paused, turning back to the mayor. The bastard had the nerve to grin at me, his hand wrapped around his fuming little disgusting, immoral, ugly coward of a wife.
After I took a seat inside, Fedel shut the door. The moment we pulled off, Melody punched the seat in front of her, her chest rising and falling hard.
“I want them dead!” she snapped. “Fucking bitch will have lilies coming out of her ass when I’m through with her. How dare she? How—”
I grabbed her hand as it shook with rage. I understood her feelings. I felt them rushing through me. I wanted them gone just as much as she did. But right then, what mattered was her being calm…if that was possible.
