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“You’re locked in a basement, you psycho,” Jane scathes. “We should hanger out that baby so it’s not destined to a life in the hands of two insane people.”
I curl up in horror.
“You’re starting to sound like Anabel yourself, Jane,” Maria’s words make her recoil slightly.
I’m glad someone said it.
We all look up to the endless footsteps upstairs. It’s odd that he’s spending so much time in the mold cabin. Usually he’s in to take his food, then back out in woods where he belongs. What’s he doing up there?
I lower my gaze to the women. “Are you going to tell him?”
Maria shakes her head. “It’s not our business.”
“Speak for yourself,” Jane taunts.
“What good will it do if we blab?” Gabby spreads her arms.
“Doesn’t matter.” Jane motions toward the back, toward Anabel. “If we don’t say anything, she surely will.”
That’s the truth of it. I know it, they all know it. The second Anabel gets Leandro’s ear, it’s over for me. I have to call for Arnold today. It really is time to leave.
Chapter 23
Leandro
It’s been four weeks since our first date. I think it’s safe to say I’m falling for her.
Holding Marissa’s picture in my hand still clenches my heart in a vice. The burnt shrine still smells like ash, but there’s a handful of pictures other than the one I’m holding still somewhat intact. I dare not touch them, for fear of them crumbling to dust in my grip.
“It looks like today’s the day, Rissa.” I look at her beautiful face with my arm around her. Eyes squinted in genuine happiness, hair half-curled because I wouldn’t let her finish getting ready that day. It was a good surprise… I remember it too well.
A long exhale escapes me.
“Today’s the day I find out if I’m supposed to get a second chance here, or come home with you.” My face frowns no matter how hard I try to remain stoic. “I’m falling in love again. But it’s different. So different. You were a free spirit, too pure for this life. You were the butterfly I could never truly catch, somehow bottled in my arms. Her? Alessia? She’s the jaded poison fit for my darkness. I hope you can forgive me. Better yet, I hope you approve of her. Just know, there’s never a moment that goes by when I don’t think about you, hun.”
I kiss the picture gingerly and place it back in its spot.
“Alright,” I groan, grabbing my rifle and lumbering out of my shrine room. I lock the door twice. “Let’s get this over with.”
I raise the scope to eye-level, and almost laugh at the man’s brazenness. At least a few months ago, he had the decency to park off-site. You’re on my fucking property, Arnold Frick. Swinging the scope from his unsuspecting Toyota to him trekking over with his pistol drawn really is comical.
Does he think he’s sneaking up on me?
I lower the rifle and pull out my pistol as I head toward the hatch door.
If nothing else, today should be a poetic end.
Just a few minutes to go. I place the pistol down beside the hatch, then I take my last steps to the concrete door. When I swing it open, I hear gasps far below me.
“Leandro, baby, is that you?” Anabel’s footsteps come slapping down from the other end of the basement. Her voice makes me cringe.
“Alessia,” I call angrily, leaving no room for games. “Only Alessia.”
Once I hear the voices quiet, I turn and let the door slam behind me. Arnold is closing in on my shack. A little over two minutes before his fumbling ass breaks in. Don’t worry, you obsessive little fed, I’ll be in plain sight for you.
I walk to the half-broken table toward the front of the shack, listening to the shrubby rustling outside as he looms closer. My thoughts are in freefall. Thinking of all of our little dates leading up to this moment, I’ve really fallen for her. I can hardly believe it.
The guilt has subsided. I think Marissa’s okay with this journey. She must understand that one half of my heart is still hers. This is just another chapter – a fractured timeline where I live in both. Now… we’ll see which one I end up in.
