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“The greenhouse. If he isn’t inside, he’s out there. He spends most of his time there.”
When I open the garage door, the lights buzz to life. Each of Alexander’s cars sits in its normal spot. The red Ferrari front and center with a yellow Koenigsegg Regera to its left and a white McLaren to its right. Not only that, but his Mercedes is behind them. The Mercedes that is only ever parked here when he’s home.
When I pause, Cyrus comes closer behind me so he can whisper in my ear. “What’s wrong? What do you see?”
“The Mercedes in the back. It’s never here unless he is.”
I can feel his body tense behind mine before he pushes himself in front of me and makes me follow. With every step we take, making our way out of the garage and to the greenhouse, my heart sinks. If Alexander is here, the only place he can be is the greenhouse.
Raindrops strike my body and run down my exposed skin. Each one that hits my face feels like needles. I can feel them cling to my eyelashes for a split second before breaking free and obscuring my vision, but I don’t let it stop me.
Ever since finding out what Alexander kept from me, I had thoughts of what I would say when I saw him again. I’d probably yell and tell him exactly how I see him, but at this very moment, I feel weak. All the questions I thought I knew I wanted answers to have left my mind, and all that’s left is sadness with a twinge of anger.
If he would have been honest in the beginning, I feel my life would have been better. I wouldn’t have sought validation or craved an escape through men if he was out of the picture. And I wouldn’t be in the mess I am now.
When we make it to the greenhouse doors, I pause. Inside is dark, and the glass is foggy from the rain, but I can see the dark silhouette of someone moving around. I wait a moment to see if anyone else appears, but no one does. Turning back to Cyrus, I hold out my hand and lay it flat on his chest. “Wait out here. I’m going to need to give him some sort of explanation as to what’s going on, and I think it’s best if I do that alone.”
“I don’t like this,” he remarks.
“Look.” I point over my shoulder with my thumb, making sure to keep my voice low. “You can see inside. Just let me try to ease him into all this shit, then we will leave. Okay?”
He shakes his head but doesn’t try to fight. Slipping off to the right, he tucks himself behind a bush. Waving his gun in the direction of the door, he speaks again. “If he’s not alone, I’m coming in.”
I nod and step closer to the door. Opening it and stepping inside, I don’t feel the same relief I used to. Maybe it’s because the plants are dormant for the night or the lack of sunshine, but it feels gloomy and cold.
“William?” I call out to the figure.
When he turns and walks toward me, I relax the slightest bit. If nothing else comes of all this, at least he’ll know the truth. But when he stops a few feet in front of me and opens his mouth, I know I’ve been mistaken. It isn’t William.
“Mija.” His voice is raspy like it’s strained, but his thick accent still makes an appearance.
I shake my head and take a step back toward the door, making sure I’m close enough to open it and run if need be. “Don’t call me that,” I spit.
He tips his head, stepping even closer so the moon illuminates his features just enough for me to see. “Oh, but you are mine, Carmen. It was me who raised you. Me who took care of you and bought you everything you could ever need. If that isn’t a father, then what is?” He smirks.
“You were never a father to me, and now it all makes sense. I’m sure you know what I know at this point, so let’s not beat around the bush. Tell me why.”
“Why what?”
“Don’t play stupid with me. You’ve already ruined my life, so tell me what I want to know.”
He stares at me, bringing his hand to his chin like he’s thinking. “You know why I did what I did, but that isn’t why you’re here, and we both know it. Tell me what you really want, Carmen.”
When I don’t answer, he advances more. I hold out my hand, hoping it will stop him. “No. Stay there. I don’t want you any closer.”
That makes him smile. “Is it because you’re scared?”
The tremble in my outstretched hand says yes, but my brain won’t let me say it. “No. I’ve dealt with bigger monsters than you. People who make you seem naive and stupid,” I hiss.
“You mean Cyrus? Or maybe you’re talking about his friend Hatcher. I always knew they both had a lot of potential, but seeing as they’ve failed my tests, it’s clear I was wrong. I was hoping I could make something out of you, but I’m not so sure, seeing as you’ve already proved you’re untrustworthy by running off with Cyrus. Where is he, by the way?”
My face scrunches as he moves forward. I take step after step backward slowly, doing my best to keep my eyes on him all while maintaining my distance. “What are you talking about?” I ignore his question about Cyrus. Clearly he’s been busy, or he would have seen him with me.
“Have you not put the pieces together yet, mija?”
I try to think, but with him trying to close the gap between us, it makes it hard. “You work for Ghost too, don’t you?”
He finally stops with a smile on his face. “No. I don’t work for anyone.”
