Vindicate (Recovered Innocence #1)(71)
“And at Taco Mia.”
“And I bet that license plate goes to the black Mustang that followed me to Zelda’s house. He’s been f*cking with us this whole time.”
“As far as I know he hasn’t crossed the border back into the states. Border Patrol has his info. If he tries to get back into the country he’ll be arrested on the spot.” Mr. Nash looks at his watch. “I’ve got an appointment in an hour with the Project Freedom attorneys to see if they’ll take on your brother’s case. I think with this new information combined with Mrs. Wheeler’s testimony we’ll have enough to bring Beau’s case to a judge for review. In the meantime, you two stay together and stay safe. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”
“Thank you.”
I’m too stunned to move. I can only stare at the photo of the man who killed Cassandra and destroyed my brother’s life. He doesn’t look like a monster. There’s no obvious sign of what he’s capable of. I can see why Cassandra trusted him and why he didn’t send up any red flags for anyone who knew him.
Leo comes back from walking his dad to the door. “You okay?”
“Yes. And no. I don’t know what I am.”
He picks up the photo. “He looks so normal. But then they say that about most killers.”
“You saved Mrs. Wheeler.”
He lifts a shoulder.
“You did. Getting her that room to make her happy saved her. You’re a hero.”
“I’m not a f*cking hero.”
“You are.”
He makes a face and sets the photo on the counter. “How does it feel to have a name and a face for your nightmare?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out.” I drop back onto the stool. I don’t know what I expected to feel, but this empty kind of numb nothing isn’t it. I should be angry or sad or, I don’t know…Anything except this hollowness. Where’s the hate? I thought I’d at least feel hatred toward the man who destroyed so many lives.
“Maybe it will come to you later. I’m glad you finally know who was behind all this and that Beau will likely get his day in court. You’ve worked really hard. It’s nice that it’s paid off for both of you. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” I guess. I can’t even drum up any happiness.
“I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“Yeah, okay.” I take a sip of tea and turn the photo toward me. I can’t stop staring at that face. I don’t know what I expect it to tell me.
Why? I just want to know why? Why did he kill Cassandra? What did she do to deserve the cruel, inhumane things he did to her? How could he live with himself after doing that to her? And that poor woman in Mrs. Wheeler’s room. If Leo hadn’t moved her I don’t know that she could’ve fought him off the way the other woman did. Leo saved her life. He doesn’t think of himself as a hero, but he is.
I wouldn’t have thought he was capable of it when I first met him. I really didn’t think much of him at all other than his being the owner’s son. He’s so much more than the lazy skater dude I first took him for. So much more.
Chapter 34
Leo
I’m dying. I have to be. There’s no way anyone could survive this. Except Cora. She seems to be totally fine.
That’s not true. She looks like hell. Beautiful to me still, but she looks like she didn’t get any more sleep than I did.
And she cried. Her eyes are red-rimmed and swollen. It guts me to see her like that. I wanted so badly to put my arms around her and hold her. But if I touch her I know I’ll only end up dropping to my knees and begging her to love me back. Pathetic. I’m f*cking pathetic. I can’t believe I held it together as long as I did. I couldn’t wait for my dad to leave so I could get the hell out of there. Being near her and not touching her, holding her, kissing her, f*cking hurts.
I put on some swim trunks and find a beach towel. It’s still summer and I haven’t been to the beach once. Maybe a swim will help put things in some kind of perspective. Or at least give me something else to think about.
I find Cora sitting on the stool in the kitchen, staring at the photo my dad brought. How long has she been sitting there like that? She looks almost as miserable as I am. I fight the urge to go to her. Instead, I stay on the other side of the room, out of reach.
“I’m going for a swim,” I tell her.
She glances up. Her eyes take on that look and it’s not f*cking fair. She doesn’t get to look at me like she wants me when I know she doesn’t.
“Wait,” she says. “I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Stop f*cking with me.”
“I’m not.” She looks hurt. I tell myself I don’t care.
“I’ll be right out there.” I hold up my cell. “Call me if anything happens.”
I go out the back door and jog down to the water. I don’t stop, dropping my towel-wrapped phone on the sand, and run right into the water. It’s colder than I expected, making me lose my breath. I swim until my heart is pounding and I’m almost too tired to drag myself out of the water. When I do, I find Cora standing next to my towel, her arms wrapped around her.