Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
I pick up pace as the engine starts, breaking out in a dead run. I bolt to the truck, and just as it starts to take off, I stop in front of it. The breaks squeal and the truck jolts. Jimmy’s out of the car and yelling in a second flat, “You lost your fucking mind, son, or you just got a death wish?”
Breathing deeply, I shake my head, lifting my police ID and the photos of Alejandra. “You seen this woman?”
But Jimmy doesn’t even look to the pages. He glares at me, lip curling. “Nope.”
Oh, yeah. Jimmy really doesn’t like me.
I hold the photos out and try once more. “You sure?”
He doesn’t flinch. “Sorry. Can’t help you.”
My jaw tightens. I’m about to set this man on his ass when a soft, feminine voice sounds by my side. “Excuse me, sir. Any information you have on Alejandra Gambino’s whereabouts would be much appreciated. We know she was here. We know she had car trouble. We know she spoke to you, sir.”
I look down at Ling, shocked and surprised that she can pull off sweet so well, when sour is her specialty. Jimmy looks down at Ling’s soft face and mutters, “She had car trouble. She’s gone.”
Ling steps forward. “Where? Where’d she go?”
Jimmy looks torn.
I help make his decision. “There are people coming after her. They will find her. If we find her first, we’ve got a chance of keeping her safe.”
Jimmy bites the inside of his cheek, at war with himself. Ling places a hand on his forearm and implores, “Please. Help us help her.”
Placing his hands on his head, he blows out a breath, answering on an exhale, “She’s at the Sunflower Inn a block away. It’s my dad’s place. She’s in room three, under Jane Smith. She won’t answer to anyone who doesn’t know that name. That was the deal.”
Relief. Pure relief courses through me. I hold out my hand to him. “Thank you, sir.”
Jimmy shakes my hand and pins me with a stare. “Keep her safe.”
Ling smiles at Jimmy before we turn and make our way to the car. Ling already has the address for the Sunflower Inn on her phone. “Yep. Just a block away.”
A block away.
I don’t know whether I feel elated or dismal.
Maybe I feel a little of both.
The warm spray washes over me as I cry. Leaning my head on the cool tile, I sob quietly.
What am I going to do now?
I’ve never had to think about myself. Someone else has always done it for me. First, my mother, then my father, lastly Dino. The only thing I really needed to do myself was make sure I was well behaved, a good daughter, a humble wife.
Who am I?
Alejandra Castillo Gambino is dead.
Not that she ever really lived.
Maria Gambirella. Who is she? What is she like? Is she funny and sweet? Maybe she’s smart and sassy. This is my chance to be someone else, someone I would want to be.
I sniffle and lift my face into the spray, washing my distress down the drain along with the sudsy water. Wiping my hands down my face, I turn off the water and wring out my hair, wrapping the long length in a towel turban and drying off. I dress quickly in my only bra, a white, delicate silky blouse, and black yoga pants.
In my haste to get away from the house, I didn’t really check what I was packing. I don’t really have anything that matches. But that’s okay. I’ll fix that tomorrow with a wad of cash from my duffle.
Having had my hair wrapped up for a while now, I unravel it. It falls in long, messy strands down my back, the damp tickling my skin.
A knock at the door sounds.
My body stills with sudden fear. I call out hesitantly, “Y-yes?”
A female voice calls out, “Slippers and coffee for Miss Smith, courtesy of reception.”
My body goes limp. Laughing to myself, I run a hand over my face and walk over to the door. I unlock the door, and the second I twist the nob, I’m thrown back. The harsh blow makes me land on my back, pain coursing through my torso and bottom.
Blinking, I look up. And stop breathing.
Julius and Ling stand there, looking down at me. Ling trains her gun on me, and I scramble back, panting. “How did you find me?”
An expressionless Julius steps forward. I scramble backward till I hit wall. Body shaking, I tremble in terror as he approaches. Kneeling by my side, he sighs out loud before uttering, “Rule one of making a successful getaway.” He reaches out, his fingers gently removing wet strands of hair from my forehead before settling his gaze on me once more. “Never leave a trail.”
Moments like these do nothing for me. I don’t feel big, or strong, or manly. Seeing Alejandra sprawled on the floor like this did not make me happy. I have to say, I did find satisfaction at the shocked look on her face when she recovered from her fall, but having her thrown around like that, her small, frail body looking more ragdoll than human?