We rode the Ferris wheel. As we reached the
top, fireworks exploded in the sky,
momentarily illuminating the night before
fading into darkness. “I didn’t know what to
do,” Sal whispered, his voice thick with
emotion. “I avenged you. I got blood on my
hands, just like you.” He pressed me against
the wall of the car, his eyes pleading. He
wasn’t the powerful mob boss anymore. He
was just a broken man. “Liv, I’m showing you
my heart. Teach me how to love.”
く
He looked at me, his eyes reflecting the
dazzling lights. I stared at him for a long time,
then nodded slowly. A smile flickered across
his face. He touched my neck, his fingers
gentle, then kissed me, as if I were something
precious and fragile.
At the hotel, Sal held me close, reluctant to
let go. I coughed, trying to subtly create some
distance. “Could you…maybe go take a
shower?”
He chuckled. “What, I’m too dirty for you
now?”
“Yes,” I said, surprised at my own boldness.
He grinned, kissing me lightly. “I’ll be right
back.” He tripped over a footstool as he
headed for the bathroom. He really hadn’t
been kidding about never being in love.
I waited until the water was running, then
grabbed his phone from his bag. Love really
did make you stupid. Sal would never have
<
left his phone unguarded before. His
passcode was my birthday. I checked the
signal, then dialed the number I’d memorized thirteen years ago. My heart hammered
against my ribs as I waited for the other end
to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Lieutenant Davies, it’s Officer Chen, badge
number 34297. I have conclusive evidence
against Sal Demarco, including arson,
homicide, and bribery. I’m at the Evergreen
Inn, room 809. Requesting backup for
immediate apprehension.”
A brief pause. “Understood, Officer. Units are
en route. Good work.”
I hung up, my hands shaking. I put the phone
back, sat on the bed, and picked up a tourist
brochure, pretending to read as I tried to
calm my racing pulse.
Sal emerged from the bathroom, his hair
く
damp, water droplets tracing the lines of his
jaw and chest. “What are you reading?” he
asked, smiling.
“Just some brochures. They tricked me into
taking one.” I waved the pamphlet at him. He
pulled me close, his damp skin against mine,
his breath warm on my neck. I reached up,
touching his hair. “Aren’t you going to dry
your hair? Sit down, I’ll do it for you.”
He sat obediently. I plugged in the hairdryer,
the loud whirring a welcome distraction from
the pounding in my chest. His hair was
surprisingly soft. I ran my fingers through it,
surprised to see a few strands of gray among
the black. “Sal, you have gray hair.”
“So do you,” he murmured. “I plucked one out
last time you were sleeping.”
We were so young to be showing signs of
age. The stress, the lies, the constant fear…..it
was taking its toll.
く
I finished drying his hair. He pulled me onto
the bed. “Liv, I…”
“I haven’t showered yet, Sal!”
He kissed me, his lips hard against mine, his
voice husky. “Shower? You’re going to take a
shower? What then, Officer Chen? More
stalling tactics? You don’t really think my
men…haven’t noticed the patrol cars
surrounding the building, do you?”
My mind reeled. He knew. Of course he knew.
He pulled out his gun, the muzzle aimed at my
chest. For the first time, I saw something like
sadness in his eyes.
Ê། gave you my heart, Livia. What did you give
me? You were going to teach me how to love.
You never intended to, did you? I’m still…
unlovable.”
The sirens wailed outside. They were here.
“It’s over, Sal. I took samples from your coat
that night you held me. Traces of accelerant
L
and gunpowder. You’re going down.”
He smiled, a bitter, twisted smile. His eyes
glinted with unshed tears. “Was I just a dog
to you, Livia? Was it that easy…to make me
love you?”
I shook my head, taking a step towards him.
A deafening explosion rocked the room.
“Don’t come any closer,” Sal said, his voice
hard. “There are twelve bombs in this
building. One step closer, and another one
goes off. Tell them to stand down. I won’t be
responsible for the casualties.”
He moved towards the elevator shaft, keeping
me in his sights, expertly avoiding the
snipers‘ line of fire. “Sal!” I pleaded. “Think
about this! If you leave, you’ll be a fugitive.”
He just kept walking. As I reached for him, a
shot rang out. Pain exploded in my arm. I fell
to my knees, blood blooming on my sleeve. I
tried to stand, but my legs wouldn’t support
く
- me. He disappeared into the elevator shaft.
Sirens and explosions mingled in the air as I
collapsed. A small box rolled out of Sal’s
discarded bag. I opened it. A diamond ring.
His unsent gift.
I woke up in the hospital. The Bureau had
managed to evacuate most of the building,
minimizing casualties. Sal was a fugitive. The
reward for his capture was enough for a
down payment on a house.
I tried to join the manhunt, but the Chief
wouldn’t hear of it. “You need to rest, Chen!
He’s not getting away. We’ve got him
surrounded. Just focus on getting better.”
He left, looking older than I remembered.
We’d waited so long for this.
I lay in bed, watching the curtains flutter in
the breeze. New leaves were budding on the
trees outside. Spring was coming.
February 4th. An informant placed Sal in
Reedville, a small town a few hours away. I ne
Bureau mobilized. I begged to go, but the
Chief refused.
“I’m fine, see?” I flexed my arm, the cast
finally removed.
He just shook his head. “You’re staying put,
Chen. We don’t need you charging in there
half–healed.”
I snuck into his office at midnight. He was still
working, hunched over his desk. He nearly
jumped out of his skin when he saw me.
“What are you doing here? You should be in
the hospital!”
“I’m fine,” I said, standing at attention. “I
need to be there, Chief. I know Sal better
than anyone. And…I want to be the one to put
the cuffs on him. For my TO.”
He sighed, then placed a hand on my
shoulder. “You can’t be the one to arrest him,
Chen. But you can be there. Stay in the
99
<
Sal had chosen his hiding spot well.
