Page 32 of Deception

Where to now? He was my way in. I was so close to finding Sam’s killer. If I walked away now, it would mean I had wasted the last year.

No, not wasted. Because if I hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have met Everleigh.

Ignoring the ache in my chest at the thought of sending Everleigh back by herself, I turned to the next problem. Santino looked like he was out for a pleasure cruise instead of racing against time to get Everleigh out of here. But he’d always been hard to read. “Why are you doing this?”

Santino didn’t take his eyes off the road, but I knew he’d heard me. He shrugged. “I know you think my loyalty is to Maurizio, but it never was. We’re brothers. You saved my life more times than I can count. I only stayed with Maurizio because of you. And when you left, I had nothing else, so I kept staying there. But I knew eventually we had to get rid of him. And you’d never do it.”

Okay, now I felt like an even bigger asshole for taking off. I should have trusted in our friendship. In the unbreakable bond we’d formed growing up in hell together.

“I’m sorry.”

Another shrug. “I know. Just don’t leave me out again. Where you go, I go.”

I let out a cackling laugh. “Good. Because I need your help.”

He nodded at the windshield. “Whatever you need.”

I settled back into my seat, glad to have someone who’d have my back.

I watched Everleigh through my side mirror, unable to take my eyes off her. This was the last chance I had to make sure I committed her face to memory.

After a couple hours of bumping along the unsealed road, we stopped at a clearing. We all needed a break, and I had to make sure Everleigh was okay.

I slid out of the car and opened her door, taking in her huddled form. She’d pulled her legs in to her body, her arms holding on tight. Unable to help myself, I reached out and traced the tips of my hand along her jaw.

She was beautiful, even in her sorrow. And I couldn’t accept that I was the one who had caused this. Because Maurizio’s actions were my fault. I knew I’d pushed him last night, but I never thought he’d go this far to put me back in my place. But maybe I’d been away too long and had forgotten what he was capable of.

Everleigh’s eyes were dull, her posture stiff. A muted groan escaped me. I felt helpless when faced with her desperation. “I’m going to get you out of here. I promise. You’ll be home in a few days, and all this will feel like a bad dream.”

She took a halting breath. “I know you will. I trust you.”

Those words shouldn’t have meant as much as they did, but I couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope that she’d be okay.

After a quick break, we drove another few hours in silence, the uneven road slowing us down, the thick vegetation making it difficult to get through in some parts. We’d taken side roads and dirt tracks as much as we could, avoiding the main road.

We made it to Georgetown before nightfall, the once pristine exterior of the car ruined to the point of no return. Whatever the sharp branches and rocks didn’t destroy, the dirt took care of.

We pulled up outside a building that, at first glance, looked abandoned. The bricks were old and covered in moss. The garden resembled the jungle we came from. Located in one of the older neighborhoods, the house was one of many identical shacks. Trash lined the streets and front yards, and the road was a public hazard with large holes and cracks.

It was a safe house I’d set up when I first came back, in case I ever needed a place to lay low. Nobody knew about it but me. Nobody would find us here until I could get Everleigh out.

Santino pulled into the overgrown driveway and parked the car in the backyard, hidden from view. As soon as we were all out, he covered it with branches while I went to a hidden panel in the wall and typed in a code.

The door clicked open, and I ushered a silent Everleigh inside.

The house was small; one narrow hallway led to the two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and living room. It was clean and well-kept inside, a stark contrast to the neglected exterior.

I directed Everleigh to the small couch in the living room. “Wait here. I need to talk to Santino.”

Pulling off the sheet covering the furniture, she nodded. I hovered in the door for a few minutes, watching her turn on the small television on the side table.

Satisfied she wouldn’t pass out—or worse, sneak out—I joined Santino in the kitchen. “We need supplies to last us until tomorrow night. If you go to sort them out, I’ll speak to my contact at the airport.”

Cheddi Jagan Airport was about thirty minutes south of Georgetown. As soon as I found a flight, we could make our way there. Now that the threat of Maurizio was gone, I’d be able to get her on a commercial flight.

“Of course. Whatever you need. You want me to take the car?”

“It’ll be quicker. There’s a row of shops three blocks over.”

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