a lie. “No, she knew nothing about what was going on except that her friend was caught up in something that could have hurt her. I only encouraged Tess to get her to leave. I didn’t want some innocent girl getting hurt, especially with what her Dad could do to me. But she had no further information apart from that.”
He sighed, sounding remorseful. “Devon, I didn’t want to have to use your niece as leverage but it was all I had. I have no reason to want to hurt Tess. My threat to her and her family was only to stop you. Nothing more.”
I believed him. I believed he used what tools and information he had against two very powerful guys who have a lot more at their disposal. He was probably the weaker opponent of the three, but clearly the smarter. He was very lucky I took his threat seriously.
“You took a huge risk. I could have taken out the Voltaggio boy at any time. It’s what I was paid to do. He tried to get it called off himself, but even his family couldn’t swing it.”
“Well, I’m lucky I found a way to stop you then.”
I shook my head, almost at a loss for words. When he came to me with this information, I did my usual background check. I knew he had grown up with money but lost it when he was nineteen. I would think such a loss would have made him darker, more uneasy about himself, but he was switched on and in tune with people. The way he set all this up, showed it was not all learned from the Lappell. No, this had a different edge to its calculation and I couldn’t help but ask, “Where the hell did you learn to do this?”
His eyes flickered like he was registering some old memory from years past, from somewhere deep inside him that stored his most cherished hopes and darkest dreams. Whatever the thought, it was clearly his hidden super-power. He found strength from something and I was intrigued to know from where, or who it may have come from.
“Devon, I once learned, a long time ago, to get what you want, to have all the power, to be the hero and the good guy, you have to make everyone else look like the bad guy.”
Interesting - I wonder where he learned that lesson?
“So what’s next?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“With the girl? That is what this was all about right?”
“Oh yes, Norah. I guess, anything and everything that she wants. Marriage, babies, travelling the world, whatever it may be. I’m my strongest and happiest when she is with me, so all I need is her. I intend to love and cherish that girl until the end of time, and more if it’s possible.”
He held out his hand to shake mine, and I did. His grip was firm, his eyes thankful and relieved that this was all over, and I could relate, because it was the same for me too.
I watched him walk away, out of the darkness and into the light of the street lamps. Josh Hollows. The man with a plan. I had to tip my hat. He hadn’t been completely honest to get what he wanted, but in the end, he only needed a piece of the truth to win the girl of his dreams. He played, he won, and he won it all.
I reached into my coat pocket to grab another cigarette, thinking about what destination I was going to disappear to, and what my fake death would be like. I wanted to hurry, get out of New York and away from everyone. I didn’t want to be around if anything about this was to come out. The truth always found a way after all.
~ ~ ~
Norah
How could I not love the darkness?
It’s a been a part of me, and sometimes the best part.
And I know that even destiny has a dark side.
Because I’ve tasted the lies,
And swallowed the truth,
With my fate falling somewhere in between,
And I know it’s a place where I can be happy,
I know it’s a place I belong.
Six months later...
I could see the door being pushed forward, I could see the weight behind it, trying to force its way in. There were only two options in my head as to who was behind the door, and neither were going to ruin this for me.
I held my Glock pointed at the door, my finger on the trigger,