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Anyway, today is the day. I can hardly believe it. Leandro said he tied up all loose ends and is ready to go. But first, we have one last thing to do.
I wait outside the RV when he pulls up in a four-year-old Cadillac. He looks naturally bad-boy hot in his leather jacket, but truth be told, I miss him in a suit.
He brings a smile out of me when he shuts the door and locks eyes, making me feel like the only woman in the world.
“It’s time, Sia.” He shrugs the duffel bag off his shoulder. “Go do the honors.”
I know exactly what he means, so I head toward the shack for the last time. My heart rate is rising from guilt. No matter how hard I try, I can’t escape the fact that I betrayed the girls in some sense. Sitting pretty like a queen – Leandro’s queen – while the others rot in the mansion below.
My eyes well with tears.
No more, ladies. You’re free.
I whip the carpet out of the way and swing up the hatch. It’s been a while since I felt confined in this stairwell on the way to the concrete door. It brings back so many memories of hanging with Gabby, or cooking with Jane, annoying Maria. I shake my head… Anabel. The tragedy. What will you do with your freedom?
I unlatch the door and am careful to open it nice and slow, making sure Anabel’s not waiting there with another shiv.
“Gabby, Maria, Jane, Anabel!” I shout. “Please come up.”
Mumbling from down below answers me, and I smirk. It must be confusing to hear everyone’s names called at once, and not by Leandro.
Once footsteps start echoing, I head toward the back of the shack to wait for them. Leandro’s waiting for me on the grass, with his unzipped duffel bag ready to dole out gifts like Santa.
The women emerge tentatively. One by one I analyze their expressions. And once Maria finds my gaze from the window, I wave her outside.
Gabby shields her eyes as the sun hits her face. Anabel is somber and subdued since she’s been getting less and less time with Leandro. The other two are waiting for whatever it is we have to say. Meanwhile, I’m internalizing all of this, because it’s the last time I’m ever going to see them.
“Listen, ladies.” Leandro steps forward. “I want to apologize. Stealing your time, while in the prime of your life, was wrong. I thought God, or the devil, or some poetic entity was guiding my hand in gaining my revenge. I wanted you all to see with open eyes what your late husbands were. Alessia was right. I should’ve clipped them when you weren’t home. Now, not only have I robbed you of your time, but I put you in a bad spot if the mafia finds you again. And rest assured, if you stay here, they will.”
I’m shocked by Leandro’s speech. He’s changed so much since first meeting him. The coldest lone wolf in the five families, is learning to protect his pack.
“What are you saying, Leandro?” Maria squints her eyes as he reaches into the bag and pulls out passports.
“You’re all free, as of tomorrow. My suggestion is to get out of town, find a new life, and never return to New York. If you’re going to contact your families, do it discreetly. No one from the mafia is looking at them, so don’t give them a reason to. Have them fly to you. Understand?”
Gabby and Jane are turning giddy. Light returns to their eyes in the best way. Maria, still, somehow, is showing next to no emotion. As a matter of fact, the girl’s frowning!
She swipes her passport first. “Sharon Grasher? What the hell? I had a nice Italian name. Now I’m some hick?”
The others laugh.
Leandro shakes his head. “Something tells me I’m doing you a disservice right now.”
She grunts at him. “I liked it down there. Food deliveries, decent company, except for this off-the-walls nutcase.” She thumbs to Anabel. “Now what? I have to go back to some ER in hick-ville?”
Gabby loops her arm in Maria’s. “We can go somewhere together. It’ll be fun.”
The idea brings warmth to my heart. But inside, I’m still panicking. I have to say something to these girls so they don’t leave with hate for me.
I walk up to Anabel first, who seems only half-present. When I grab her hands in mine, her eyes snap to attention.
“Anabel… I want to apologize for lying to you. All of you. I didn’t know what to do or say as it was happening… as I was falling for this man. I should’ve been honest from the get go. I’m sorry.” I focus on Anabel. “You’re going to find a guy who’s as sexually charged as you, and you’re going to be happy one day.”
She pulls her hands away from mine and folds her arms, making my stomach pulse with unease. No forgiveness, I think to myself. But when I feel warm fingertips slide over my skin, I look to see Gabby hugging me.
“She’s just hurt right now, Sia. This is just what Anabel needs. A change of scenery. We’ll watch out for her.”
I smile sadly.
