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He turns around to look at me as I follow him. “What are you talking about?”
My heart is breaking and my face feels like it’s on fire as I turn around the magazine and point to the picture of the dock. Salvatore is at the edge of the photo, leaning against a stack of crates. Though he isn’t the main focus of the picture and he is nearly in the background, it’s still clear to those who know him that it’s him.
“What the fuck, Brielle?” he asks as he glances over at me. “Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?”
“It was a mistake.”
He lets out a huff of air. “You think I don’t know that? Doesn’t change the fact that you did it.”
“I know, Salvatore. I’m sorry. I know I checked the pictures I meant to send, but I must have selected the wrong one and I didn’t check the attachments. You have no idea how sorry I am I didn’t recheck them”
“Well, that makes two of us,” he says, his voice strained.
His expression turns cold and neutral. “Get in the truck, Brielle.”
“I really am sorry. I never would have sent it in if I had known that you were in it.”
Salvatore holds the convenience store door open for me, nodding to the truck parked down the street. “Get in the fucking truck, Brielle. I need a moment, alright?”
I study him for a moment, trying to see past the icy shell he has in place. He refuses to look me in the eye as I head outside. My stomach is tossing and turning as he hands me the keys.
It was an accident. But this accident can have major consequences for him. I should have noticed Salvatore but I didn’t. If this picture was of me, it could mean the difference between my safety and my death.
I’m so stupid. How could I have missed this? I have a ton of pictures of the dock, so why have I submitted the one where he is and how did I not see him?
As I wait for Salvatore in the truck, I stare at the picture again.The Third Eyeisn’t a massive publication, but it is distributed throughout the country. I can understand if he’s angry with me. I deserve it.
He’s trying to lie low and establish himself in a new town. Keeping below the radar. And I go and out his location to the world. The article even names the dock.
Anyone who could be looking for Salvatore would have a starting place to search if they saw his picture and the article.
I feel like I’m going to throw up the more I think about what I’ve done.
If someone put me in harm’s way like this, I would be pissed too. I’d probably be dead soon after.
Salvatore gets in the truck while I’m still running through everything that I should have done differently.
The engine roars to life as he turns the key in the ignition.
“How are you?” I ask, knowing that I’m not going to like the answer. I deserve whatever he has to say, though.
I should have checked those pictures over and over again. Normally, I do.
“Pissed off. Annoyed. Frustrated. I don’t know. Pick one.” He turns his attention back to the road as he pulls away from the curb. “I told you not to take pictures of me or my business. You promised not to. You lied.”
“Not on purpose. I had no idea I’d caught you. I’m sorry.” I look at the magazines sitting on the console. “I should have checked the picture better.”
“Yes, you should have. You fucked up, Brielle. The one thing I told you never to do…” He shakes his head, disappointment written all over his face. “I’m really not in the mood to talk more about it. ”
His hands tighten on the wheel and his jaw is set in a harsh line. I look out the window, watching the people walking by on the streets. My heart is still racing, though the constricted feeling in my chest is starting to fade.
“I never meant for this to happen.”
“I’m not in the fucking mood, Brielle. Please respectthat,” Salvatore says as he drives down the street toward our neighborhood. “And just so you know, if you were anyone else, I would punish you for it.”
“If I was anyone else?”
He glances over at me and sighs. ‘Brielle, I’m not about to beat you up over a mistake. Yes, I may have a temper and yes, you did piss me the fuck off with this, but I know it was an accident. If people really want to find me, there are other ways of doing it.”
