Phoenix coughed up some blood and smiled. “It was supposed to happen exactly like this. Maybe in my death…” He coughed again. “Maybe God will forgive me. Maybe…” He heaved. “Now all of you are clean. Every last one of you. And I can die—in peace.”
Nixon’s eyes welled with tears. “At least it’s not the bottom of Lake Michigan, right, man?” He reached for Phoenix’s hand and squeezed it.
Phoenix let out a weak laugh. “Yeah, at least it’s not Lake Michigan. Nixon, say the prayer, say it…”
Nixon knelt over Phoenix and made a cross, then in Sicilian said, “Our code of honor has been met. God, take his soul, forgive the sins committed against you, against humanity—receive Phoenix—then and only then, may he die in peace. Amen.”
Phoenix’s eyes fluttered closed as he took his last breath.
I’d seen death my entire life.
But it wasn’t until now that I felt myself holding back tears.
I had to look away.
Feeling like I was going to be sick, I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes.
“It is done,” Luca said in a sad voice. “Bless the father, the son, and holy spirit.”
“Amen,” everyone said in unison.
Chapter Fifty Nixon
Trace’s eyes met mine and in that instant I had to become indifferent. I had to focus on my task—otherwise it wasn’t going to end well. Hell, I hadn’t meant for all of it to happen this way. I wasn’t supposed to show up, but I couldn’t help it; not after hearing what the bastard had done to my family, to Trace’s family. I wanted vengeance. So I took a leap of faith.
I put my gun on the table and leaned against it as a few men walked by and readied Phoenix’s body for funeral arrangements and Tony’s for burial. He would get no funeral, no honors—nothing. But Phoenix? As long as Trace was all right with it, I wanted his funeral to honor him. What he’d done for us was… beyond what I had asked of him. In those last few days I’d had one of my best friends’ back. Possibly one of my only remaining friends considering I was ready to shoot Chase where he stood.
He couldn’t leave it alone—he couldn’t leave her alone. Did he really think I wouldn’t be watching him? Watching her?
Their stolen kisses destroyed me.
And the fact that he’d made her choose?
Their room was bugged. I’d at least thought Chase would be intelligent enough to know that. Or maybe he’d wanted me to hear.
Maybe he wanted my heart to rip into two.
“Nixon?” The warmth of Trace’s hand scalded my back. I jerked and turned around.
“Yeah?”
“Y-you’re alive.” Tears streamed down her face as she stepped into my arms. It was the one thing I’d been looking forward to. Going back to normal. But I didn’t know how. Didn’t know how to fix it.
I gently pushed her away. “Why don’t you go see to Chase? We don’t want him passing out from his wound.”
“But—”
“Go,” I urged. “I have some stuff to take care of.”
Hands shaking, I wiped off both Phoenix’s and Tony’s guns and put them in a plastic bag, handing them over to Sergio. He’d arrived shortly after to help clean up.
Another one of his specialties. Making things go away.
“Anything else?” he asked examining the room. “You’re going to need a crew to come in.”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t get my anger and hurt under control. “Could you just take care of it Sergio? I need to—”
“It’s fine,” he interrupted me. “Go.”
I nodded and stalked out of the room. The last thing I heard before the door slammed was my name on Trace’s lips.
I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. So I just drove. I drove by the place Trace and I had had our first date. Drove by the school and ended up stopping at the curb and turning off the car.
I hit the steering wheel over and over again until my fingers bled.
How the hell did things get so complicated? I’d thought I could handle it. I lied to myself. I’d forced myself to believe that I could exist in a world where Tracey and Chase were together. But I couldn’t.
It would slowly kill me inside, until I wished for death.
With a curse, I put the car in drive and made my way back to my house. Time to face the music. And tell everyone good-bye.
Chapter Fifty-one Nixon
I opened the door to my house and walked in.
The girls were sitting at the table as if they were waiting for me. Tex’s eyes widened when he saw me. Quickly he pushed from the table and embraced me.
“Dude, I thought you were dead.”
“Yeah, everyone did.” My eyes fell on Trace. It wasn’t her fault. I’d pushed her into Chase’s arms. I’d given her my damn permission. What the hell was I thinking? Was I high or something?
“I’m glad you’re back man, things have been crazy… and no bullet wounds. Nice.”
“Yeah, nice,” I repeated. “Luca take off?” My eyes fell to Chase, who was sitting far away from everyone in the corner. A bandage wrapped around his shoulder.
“Yup.” He nodded. “Everything’s been taken care of.”
My eyes fell to Chase’s hand. It was like my ring was glaring back at me.
“I missed you.” Mo reached across the table and grabbed my hand.
“Thanks Mo, I’m sorry I—”
My sister slapped me across the face and then beat my chest, collapsing into my arms. “Never again, Nixon, or I swear I’ll kill you myself!” Sobs wracked her body as I held her.
“It was the only way—”
“To hell with your damn excuses, Nixon!” Mo pulled back and slapped me again. Holy shit, the woman was strong. “You may be the devil but I’m kind of used to having your annoying ass around here!”
I smiled. Probably the first smile I’d had in a few days. “Sorry, Mo. I love you.”
“I swear you’re the evil twin.” She pushed against my chest and slumped back into her chair.
“Anyone else need to take a shot at me?” I joked.
Trace kept her head down, staring at the table. I walked a little closer. Her head jerked up, followed by her gun-wielding hand.
A shot rang out and then I felt severe pain in my left arm. “What the hell?” I touched the outside of my tricep and examined my fingers. Blood dripped off of them.
“Holy shit!” Tex pushed away from the table. “She just shot you!”
Mo and Mil snickered and covered their mouths. Even Chase cracked a smile.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I directed my yell to Trace. “Last time I took you shooting you couldn’t even hit a damn target. You could have killed me!”
“Good!” She pushed away from the table and threw the gun onto it, making a clattering noise. “It’s what you deserve!”
The room fell silent as she crossed her arms.
“I deserve to be shot at? To die?”
“Yes.” Her lower lip trembled. “Because you destroyed me! Don’t you get it? You ruined me! You wrecked me! There is no going back and it’s all your fault! You and Chase! I’m so pissed I don’t even know what to do! I have nothing! I have no one!”
“But—”
“No!” She yelled, “I-I have nobody. Chase lied to me, you lied to me, and in the end you both ripped my heart in half! Yes you deserve to be hurt, because then maybe you can feel even a sliver of what I feel right now! I have no heart left. The pieces are gone. You’ve left me with nothing. And I hate you for it. I hate both of you!” With one last sob she ran down the hall, leaving the room blanketed in an awkward silence.
After a few seconds Mo spoke. “You’re getting blood on the floor.”