I pull it free and reach in to take her out.
She secures herself to me, crying against my chest and shaking.
“Oh God, Virgo? You’re here.”
“I’m here” I assure her.
I can see Amelia is in the front of the car. But just then, the engine smokes.
“We have to get out of here, now.” I shout.
Olivia looks back at Amelia just as she started to move.
I know what Olivia is thinking. But we probably only have a few seconds to make our own escape.
So I think no more. Only to make my choice. I hoist her over my shoulder and rush back up to the top of the road.
Just then, the car explodes.
Another explosion ripples through the air and I know, there's no way Amelia survived that.
Olivia knows it too.
She stares back at the rising fire and smoke then curls into me and cries.
The tears that fall come from deep within her .
She cries for everything that’s happened, but I also know she’s crying for the loss of her friend.
I feel sad too.
Only for her.
Olivia.
* * *
A week later, we secure the memory chip. And I find out what's on there.
It contains the names of hundreds of men, along with evidence of dirty dealings with all sorts of people, from government officials to certain groups in the mafia.
I can see why the information was highly sought out. The type of details in here is enough to either put certain people away for the rest of their lives, or kill them. I figured that Callahan took it as leverage. But it backfired on him in the worst way. I'm sitting in my office at home, just going over it.
I'm not looking for anything in particular. I'm just curious to see who's on there. There are many names on it I recognized.
With the mystery wrapped up, I don't need to investigate anything anymore. All I need to do is think of living.
Life has taken me in a direction I never thought. I have my girl at my side, and the Empire.
My father woke up days after the truth was revealed. He was made aware of a situation. He hasn't really spoken to me. I know to him it must feel like he lost and I won, but I never wanted that.
All I wanted to do was live my life the way I wanted.
Cillian approaches my open door with a smile.
“Hey there,” he beams.
“Hello, old friend.” I borrow his usual words.