Chapter 37
One week back in New York, but it wasn’t enough. The sad shakiness in Cheryl’s voice haunted Jonny. Alone in bed at night in the dark, it screamed above the silence. Her sorrow and absolute dejection haunted him. It reminded him of every other bum who drifted into her life, messed with her, then bailed.
What he wouldn’t do for an IV filled with morphine now. His pain meds were downgraded to Tylenol, but they couldn’t squash the guilt or the ache from turning her away. Emotions he couldn’t afford, feelings that made him vulnerable and weak at a time when he needed anger and hate. His obsession with revenge and keeping Cheryl safe made him push her away. Putting a bullet in Frank’s brain left him no choice but to do this, and do it right.
Shadows covered the end of the dark pier, making it the perfect place to park. The foggy mist that drifted off the water made him flip up the collar of his jacket. From here he could walk alongside the abandoned warehouses using the darkness for cover. He sure as hell didn’t need lights. He’d roamed these alleyways since he was a kid, memorizing every squeaky board and broken brick.
Frank’s compulsion for schedules made him vulnerable. Like the way he drove himself to his weekly poker game every Thursday night, then returned to his office at midnight to lock up his winnings, arrogant that his power made him untouchable.
A noise to his left drew his gaze deeper into the shadows. He squinted against the blackness as he closed his fist around the .45 in the waistband of his pants. A dark form materialized under the glow of the halogen security lights.
“What the hell? You gotta get outta here.”
“Oh, no.” Cheryl planted her hands on her hips. “You’re not pushing me away this time.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” he rasped through the mist.
“I’m not some delicate flower that needs taking care of.”
Right, just a stubborn woman who wouldn’t listen to reason and once again put herself in danger.
She stepped into the light. “Let me help you and prove that we’re equals.”
He stared at her dressed in black from head to toe. Even her beautiful blond hair was tucked into a black skull cap. Cat woman.
“Going in guns blazing, or a more subtle approach?” She motioned to the gun he gripped. “I suggest subtle.”
“I suggest you get the hell outta here and let me finish the job.”
“Not going to happen.” She shook her head in stubborn determination.
“You know how I’m gonna do this, right?”
“Well, I hope you’re going to shoot the bastard ‘cause I’m really anxious to get this done and declare our freedom.”
Freedom, yeah.
Headlights reflected against the water. “He’s right on schedule.”
“I’ll go in first. He knows I double-crossed him but I’m sure I can distract him,” Cheryl said.
“Distract him, how?”
She cocked her head in a “how do you think” look.
Jonny pressed them against the bricks in one of the alcoves as Frank’s BMW i8 rumbled over the cobblestones.
“That cocksucker was hitting on you?” Jonny narrowed his eyes.
“Every chance he got.”
“Did he put his hands on you?”
She shrugged. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Another good reason to end him.”
“We’re wasting time,” she said.
“You got five minutes to get him where I want him.”
“That’s four more than I need.”
He looked deep into her eyes. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Trying to set me up for murder, threatening my brother, threatening you? Yeah, I do.”
Frank’s car slowed, then stopped in front of the metal stairs leading to the back of the warehouse. The driver’s side door opened, illuminating the interior, indicating Frank was alone, as expected. Then he slammed the car door and climbed the metal steps to the warehouse.
“It’s showtime.” She flashed him a smile and turned.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. “Be careful.” Then he cupped her head and leaned in for a kiss in a rough, wild attempt to tame her. Impossible.
She squirmed out of his hold.
“Always.” She stalked off along the building shielded by the shadows.
He missed her stubborn attitude. He hadn’t even told Eddie he was coming here so how had she’d known? He’d made himself clear in the hospital room, but here she was again brave to the point of reckless. The darkness swallowed her up as he counted off the time in his head.
He pushed off the wall, and the weight of the .45 pressed against his abs. He dipped his chin against the damp wind gusting off the river. His pace quickened, and the incision in his chest burned. By the time he reached the warehouse stairs, he gripped the metal railing for support. He stood for a few long minutes and listened to the wheezing of his lungs when a gunshot rang out. Then another.
Sprinting up the stairs, he ignored the searing pain that ripped through his chest. He gulped in a few deep breaths, but it didn't help, so he slid the .45 from his waistband and bolted toward the office. He stopped short outside the door and listened. A terrifying silence made him squeeze the gun tighter. He counted to three, nudged the half-open door with his gun, then slowly shouldered through to the office, and froze.
“What the fuck?” Jonny shouted.
Alejandro jumped at the sound of his voice.
Jonny inched further into the office, the smell of gun powder hung in the air, with Cheryl plastered against the wall.
Jonny scanned the room. “Where’s Frank?”
Cheryl pushed off the wall and pointed behind the massive wooden desk. “I was working my magic, and this guy”—she jerked her thumb at Alejandro— “pushes me aside, says something in Spanish, then blasts him between the eyes.”
Jonny closed the gap between them and grabbed onto her, hugged her tight and then held her at arm’s length. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but my freakin’ ears are ringing.”
A consuming exhaustion crept through his bones. What if Cheryl had startled Alejandro and he shot her or got in his way. There were a million fuck ups and ways he could’ve lost her.
Jonny shook off the fear and edged around the desk to stand alongside Alejandro. They stared at Frank’s lifeless body.
“I’ve avenged my family. Now my uncle can rest in peace.” Alejandro nodded to Jonny’s gun. “Looks like we’re more alike than you think.”
Jonny squeezed the butt of his gun and pointed it at Frank.
“Go ahead,” Alejandro encouraged. “It made me feel better.”
Silence filled the room. For too long Jonny let the hate and anger choke him, while Frank pulled the leash shorter and shorter until it snapped. With one harsh breath, he lowered the gun and let his hand hang limp at his side. Jonny dragged his gaze away from Frank’s body, laid his gun on the desk, and met Cheryl in the middle of the room. “When I heard that gunshot—”
“I’m fine, really.”
She stroked his cheek, but he couldn’t shut out the picture of another woman he loved lying dead on the floor.
He leaned against the desk, suddenly exhausted.
Alejandro’s voice filled the silence. “Carlos and Graciela wouldn’t have been in that alley if it wasn’t for me.”
Jonny drew in a deep breath, unsure if he wanted to hear about their last moments.
Alejandro’s eyes were dark with torment. “After you threw me out of the club, Carlos followed me and caught me selling to Graciela.” Alejandro flexed his hand as he focused on the gun again. “We fought, and I left. I was halfway up the alley when I heard the shots. I hid in one of the doorways, and Max ran past me.”
“Didn’t you go back? Try to help them?”
“Of course I did, but they were already dead, so I ran home, got trashed, and when I woke up the next morning, I thought I was tripping . . . until I saw the news.”
“Oh, man.” Jonny rubbed his hand over his face.
Cheryl came up alongside him and rubbed his back, but his insides heaved with guilt. Carlos and Graciela dead and Cheryl put in danger again. All because of him.
“That’s why I needed to make things right,” Alejandro said.
Jonny turned to Cheryl. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
The sound of heavy footsteps in the hall silenced them. The slow, deliberate gait tipped Jonny off.
“Looks like I’m a little late to the party.” Eddie strode into the office, glanced at the guns, then peered over the desk.
“I did it just the way you told me,” Alejandro said to Eddie.
“You set this up?” Jonny raised an eyebrow.
Eddie moved around the desk. “You didn’t think I believed that act in the hospital, did you?” Eddie’s brow shot up. “You’re a lousy actor, and I knew you wouldn’t let this go, so I set it up with Alejandro before we left Miami. Then tonight I saw the gun missing from the safe.”
Eddie’s gaze flicked to Cheryl. “And I see you don’t do as you’re told either.”
“You knew she was coming down here,” Jonny said.
“She’s just as fuckin’ stubborn as you.”
Yeah, even Eddie saw it. Cheryl would never listen to reason or back down, and that’s why he’d sent her off in Miami.
Eddie stood behind Alejandro. “He was more than happy to get a little revenge.”
“I never pulled a trigger before.” Alejandro fished a pack of Marlboros out of his pocket. “I just carried a piece for show.” His hands shook so violently he had trouble putting the cigarette to his lips and lighting it.
“There’s a big difference between flashing it and using it,” Jonny muttered, remembering the day he’d pointed a gun at his father.
Alejandro drew in a deep drag of smoke. “That fucker deserved what he got.”
“Our boy finally got his dick wet.” Eddie clapped his hand over Alejandro’s shoulder.
“The bastard never saw it coming. He tried to pull on me, but I beat him to it.” Alejandro nodded to Cheryl. “Your girl being here was a big help.”
“It was a worthy cause.” Cheryl smirked.
“I told you she had some street in her,” Eddie added.
“Too bad Frank didn’t get some shots off,” Jonny snapped. “Make it really exciting, huh?”
They exchanged glances until Eddie nabbed one of Alejandro’s cigarettes and lit up. “Now we gotta concentrate on the cleanup. Or did you think you could come in here, shooting it up like a fuckin’ video game?”
“What about the river?” Alejandro suggested around a cloud of smoke.
“Amateur,” Eddie mumbled. “The tide’s way too low on this side. You dump him in there, and he’ll pop up like yesterday’s garbage.”
Alejandro’s slim frame shrank deeper into the chair as Eddie’s bulk loomed over him. “Relax kid.” Eddie pounded him on the back. “I’m just fuckin' with you. Got it all taken care of.”
He squinted through the smoke at Jonny. “I didn’t realize you and Carlos got so many Cubans work up here.” Eddie crossed the room to Frank’s private stash. “Very loyal people,” he said over his shoulder. “They were more than happy to lend a hand with the cleanup after I told them what happened to you and Carlos.”
He spun around, holding up four shot glasses and a bottle of Jack. “I think it’s only fitting we toast Frank with his favorite drink.” Eddie filled the glasses.
“To freedom,” Eddie toasted.
Cheryl used the same word.
Freedom.
But Jonny didn’t feel free. His guts were twisted, and his head felt about to explode.
They raised their glasses and shot the whiskey, but he pushed his aside and stepped away from the desk. “I’m out.”
“What’s with you?” Eddie asked.
“Nothing,” Jonny mumbled.
“Are you okay?” Cheryl came to his side, and when she put her arm around his waist, he pulled away.
Eddie righted the toppled chair and motioned toward Alejandro. “I got him on an early morning flight back to Miami.”
“I’ll take him to the penthouse,” Jonny said.
Eddie shifted a glance between him and Cheryl.
“Jonny?” She reached for him.
“Don’t.” He stepped away from her then swiped the half-empty bottle of Jack off the desk. He gulped a healthy swig, then waved it at Eddie. “Yeah, I plan on getting good and drunk.”
Eddie shrugged. “I’ll wait for the cleanup committee.”
He knew Cheryl would be safe with Eddie. Safer than being with him right now, ‘cause he couldn’t control the mess clawing through him. As close as they were, Eddie could never understand his jumbled emotions. He trailed behind Alejandro as they walked in silence down the deserted pier. The sharp stench of brackish water and the smoke from Alejandro’s cigarette merged in a smoldering, salty mix.
He remembered the first time he’d come to Frank’s office, young, scared, and begging for help. Wanting revenge for his mother’s death. That day changed his life. It left a gaping hole where he stored his emotions. He didn’t have the ability to love Cheryl the way she deserved. Telling himself he’d let her go to protect her from his life was easier than admitting the truth. It wasn’t his life that was too dangerous, it was him, and because of that, he'd left the best thing in his life standing in that same office.
He hit the bottle again, but it wasn’t helping. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and tried to feel something about Frank’s death—satisfaction, redemption. But there was nothing, but an empty numbness. All the anger and rage drained out of him, leaving just blood and flesh stretched over a lifeless core.
When they reached the end of the pier, he dug into his pocket and tossed Alejandro the keys to the Escalade. “You drive.”
“Yeah?”
He lifted the whiskey bottle dangling from his fingertips. “I’ll have this finished off before we hit the bridge.” Anxiety and a touch of judgement filled Alejandro's eyes. The judgement pissed Jonny off. “What?”
“A few weeks ago you were telling me to dial it down.” Alejandro motioned to the bottle. “And now . . .”
“Maybe I was wrong.” He raised the bottle in a toast. “Maybe getting fucked up is the way to deal with shit.”