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The words make me uneasy. Suddenly I stand, uncertain of his future or mine. I want to stay with Travis, to linger in this moment, but I know we have to go back. Soon the sun will set, and I have to go. I feel a deep sadness in my heart, knowing this might be the last time we ever see each other.
I want to reach out, to hold him close, to feel the warmth of their embrace, but something holds me back, an invisible force that keeps me rooted to the spot. I want to tell him, to say the words that I haven’t been able to say before, but I know it wouldn't make any difference.
We have to say goodbye.
I have to leave.
We stand in silence, the two of us, as the sun slowly slips away, taking with it the last remnants of the day. And then, in a sudden surge of emotion, I step forward and pull him into my arms. The warmth of the embrace sends a spark of hope through my veins, and I kiss him with passion, a fire that burns deep within us both. He responds with the same intensity. His lips pressing against mine with a desperate urgency.
This is a goodbye kiss. I feel my heart break as we finally pull away. We look at each other, each with a sad, longing smile. This could very well be the last time we see each other.
“Be safe,” I say before heading outside.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Derek
May8th
That night, I leave.
Instead of traveling through Panama City, I drive to Ruben Cantu Airport, where I take a charter to Costa Rica. I change my appearance there and fly to Montelimar Airport in Nicaragua. I stay in the area for a month, waiting to hear from Zamudio. He doesn’t contact me. There aren’t any contracts offering money for my head. It’s pretty safe to say they believe I’m dead.
I scan the forum every day and night. Travis doesn’t contact me. I wish he would reach out or text me just so I know he’s okay.
He’s another job, I remind myself. I never get attached to anyone, but he is… different.
I spend my days researching the Los Zamudio Cruzes cartel. I’m still not sure if Travis is a part of them. What if he is, and there’s a way for him to find me and kill me?
There’s not much to learn about them. I find the social media accounts of his sons. They’re some sort of socialites who spend their father’s money on expensive hotels, clothing, and cars.
There’s nothing about Travis. No mention of an adoptive brother or a close relative. The more I try to find any information on the kid, the more I think they had him against his will, and the memories he holds are the secret to something.
What is his memory hiding?
I place a few bugs around my contacts. They might know more than I do. Once I feel it’s safe, I fly to Mexico City and then to New York.
Getting back into my life isn’t anything to be excited about. Unsurprisingly, Sharon is still battling her estranged husband. They can’t agree on the custody of their children and his fortune. No one wants the kids. They both want to keep all the money. I want to offer her a trust fund so she can live comfortably for the rest of her life, but I don’t. She doesn’t deserve one cent of my mother’s money.
It sounds horrible to blame Sharon and her despicable parents for my mother’s death, but those are the facts.
I stay at the Merkel Hotel for a few days while I look for an apartment. It’s frustrating to be by myself. It might have something to do with the cold weather, the small room, or the fact that I miss Travis too fucking much.
It’s probably the change of routine. The sudden change from working from dawn until midnight to doing nothing. Luckily, the concierge scores me a ticket to watch a Grace and Piper performance at Carnegie Hall. I have no doubt Travis would love to attend this concert. He’s not only a fan, but Piper’s music has a special calm effect on him. When he heard it, his body relaxed, and his mind seemed clear.
Her melodies are like magic.
Both Piper and Grace are great musicians. Their music is enchanting. I could listen to them all night. Well, Piper more than Grace. Something about her melodies takes hold of me somewhere deep in my soul and doesn’t let go.
During the intermission, I eavesdrop on a conversation. Piper is a music therapist and has a practice in the city. As soon as I get home, I research, and indeed, she works with all kinds of disabilities, and she’s also looking to expand by hiring a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. Lucky for me, I have both credentials.
The pay is low, but that doesn’t matter. I only need to figure out how to convince her that I’m a good fit.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Piper
June 20th
