I was offered a job, yes, but
How nice for you. She clasped her hands to the front of her belly, the small bag dangling by its strap. She looked at him with sarcastic enthusiasm. And how was I going to find out about this little trip? By postcard?
I did not take the job, Lucio said, a lump of sorrow filling his gut. I planned to tell you all about it tonight. I was going to let you know I was offered a contract but did not accept it.
I see.
I am not going anywhere,
mi amor
. Please believe me.
She did not respond.
Genevieve, my agent called me to his office two days ago to tell me I'd been offered an assignment. That is all.
She said nothing. She hadn't moved.
He reached for her, cradling her upper arms in his hands.
Guapa
'
Cut the Spanish endearment shit, Genevieve said, slicing her hands straight up to knock his grasp away. That's enough. I've had enough of your Rico Suave act. And that's all it has beenall alongan
act
!
The knife of her words cut to his heart. An icy fear ripped through the center of him. He was so stunned that he could hardly speak. I do not understand, he said. Why would you say that to me?
Genevieve let loose with an embittered laugh. Please, she said. I can't hear any more of this. I told you that I couldn't survive another betrayal, that all you had to do was not hurt me and everything would be okay. You said you wouldn't, but that was a lie! You betrayed me and you hurt me anyway.
Lucio raked a hand through his hair in frustration. Genevieve had not heard a thing he said! It was like she'd already written him out of her life!
If I go anywhere, I want you with me.
Mauritius? The independent island off the coast of Africa known for being the home of the dodo bird?
Well, if that is what you wanted, he said, a little confused by her flippant response. It would not be first-class travel the whole time, but you would get to see the world the way I see it. You could watch me workget to know me better by seeing how I've lived my life.
She stared at him, her eyes steely and steady but revealing nothing.
Genevieve, is that what you want?
Not hardly.
He reached for her hands.
Don't touch me.
A wave of nausea flooded through Lucio and he stumbled back from her. What had Piers done?
I couldn't go there even if I wanted to, she said. It wouldn't be safe.
Lucio's attention returned to her face. She looked stricken, afraid. You mean being away from the boys? Leaving them with Larry?
She laughed nervously. That's always a concern, but that's not what I mean.
What do you mean, then? It occurred to Lucio that a chasm had formed between them. Untruths and doubts had created a vast, dark separation between them. They weren't communicating. They could not read each other's hearts. It had happened fast. It was the ultimate injury.
It doesn't matter, Genevieve said. Nothing matters anymore.
Where are you going?
Nowhere.
Genevieve! Lucio blocked her way out of the bedroom, unsure how to proceed but certain he had to get to the bottom of this. How he longed to touch her! Please do not leave.
Genevieve's chin trembled with the effort not to cry. Piers showed me your contract, okay? Let's just be real here. I saw it. I know. There's nothing left to say.
Lucio felt the blood roar through his brain. No,
mi amor
. There is no contract.
I saw your signature, Lucio!
The bad taste in Lucio's mouth had a familiar tang to it. Suddenly, for the very first time,
he knew
. He knew everything, the whole picture.
Ilsa may have sent him the rat, but the real rat was Piers. Piers had probably doctored those e-mails from Ilsa. And, of course, Piers knew how to fill out a
Geographica
expense reporthe'd done it as many times as Lucio had! And he'd certainly seen his signature enough to do a decent job of forging it, on an expense voucher
and
a contract! Setting up the anonymous bank account? It would be a snap for Piers. Getting the video to the Chinese? A minor errand.
Oh, Mother of God. How could I not have seen this?
Lucio froze where he stood. Whatever was displayed on his face caused Genevieve to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
The stupid cell phone in his pocket buzzed once again. Why on earth had he let the boys talk him into getting one?
Aren't you going to see who that is? Genevieve asked, walking around him to get to the door.
Lucio yanked the phone out of his pocket to turn it off, but the small screen announced that Jason had sent him three messages.
It's Jason, he said, clicking on the button that would bring up his messages. Even before the words appeared on the screen, Lucio was filled with a horrible dread.
I hope he's learning a lot from Piers, Genevieve said, swinging her bag onto her shoulder. He'll probably be spending quite a bit of time with him once you're gone.
The bitterness in her voice barely registered with Lucio, because he was focused on the terrible words now appearing on his cell phone.
The first message from Jason read,
Smthin's f'd up
ovr here
. The second read,
Saw P's passpt was n
Chna sm tm u were girl didn't do it cm get me NOW
.
And the third message said only one word'
HELP
.
Lucio looked up. He shoved the phone in his pocket, his breath shallow and fast.
Is something wrong with Jason?
I have to go. Lucio turned, but Genevieve grabbed his arm.
What's going on? she yelled. Is he okay?
I don't know, Lucio said. Wait here. I'll go get him.
He raced down the stairs but Genevieve was right behind him, yelling for him to tell her what had happened to Jason, demanding she go with him.
When they hit the bottom of the stairs, Josh and his blood-soaked father waited for them.
What the hell is going on? Larry asked.
God! Genevieve said, seeing him.
Your boyfriend beat the crap out of me, Larry said.
Josh gripped the stair railing, looking to Lucio and then his mom. There's something wrong with Jason, isn't there?
Lucio flung open the front door, his mind racing with all the worst possible thoughts: Piers was unstable and would hurt Jasoneven kill himto get one last jab at Lucio. He couldn't let that happen.
He would not
.
?Cono!
Lucio hissed, seeing that Larry had blocked his car with the Porsche. We have no time. Give me the keys to your car. He shoved his hand toward Larry. Now,
gilipollas
!
Lucio could barely think over the dog's incessant barking.
Larry fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the keys. You are not touching my car, he said, his announcement muffled by the towel. I will drive.
Josh ripped the keys from his dad's hands and tossed them to Lucio. You can't even see, Dad! Your eyes are swelling shut!
Lucio was already running across the lawn to the car. By the time he got the door open and got behind the wheel, it was clear that whatever kind of mission he was on would not be a solo oneLarry and Josh had already crammed themselves into the back half-seat of the Porsche and Genevieve was sliding in beside him in the front.
He groaned in frustration and gunned the car into reverse, squealing as he made his way through the neighborhood. It was barely sixty degrees Fahrenheit, but Larry had the top down on the pussy-puller! There was no time to fiddle with nicetiesit would have to stay down.
How could he have missed this? Lucio slammed his palms against the steering wheel. He'd sensed it! But he'd ignored it!
?Estupido!
And now the crazy son-of-a-thousand-bitches had Jason!
CHAPTER 19
Lucio took a quick glance at Genevieve next to him. Her red hair was flying around her face. Her mouth was open in shock and her eyes were huge.
Lucio would give anything to save Genevieve's son. He would give
himself
for the boy's safety, and might yet have to. And to thinkthis had nothing to do with Jason. It was Lucio's battle, Lucio's problem, Lucio's past that had brought all this on. But the innocent boy might end up paying for Lucio's selfishness with his life.
If something happened to Jason, Genevieve would never forgive him. He would never forgive himself.
Tell me! Genevieve screamed over the wind and the sound of the high-performance engine. What's going on?
Lucio shook his head, dreading having to say it out loud. The best thing you can do is call the police, he told her, his voice calm. Piers's address is 890 Green Street, number eight.
Genevieve had her phone out, already dialing 911. Tears were rolling down her face. Do you think he's hurt? Has there been an accident?
Lucio took a corner way too fast, and the screech of the tires had other drivers pulling to the curb.
What are you doing to my fucking car? Larry screamed from the back. Where are we going? What's wrong with Jason?
I don't know! Lucio yelled over his shoulder, taking the entrance ramp to the 101. I just pray we're not too late.
Lucio heard Genevieve screaming into the phone that she believed her son was in danger, but that, no, there was no fire, no medical emergency, or crime that she was aware of.
Just tell them there's been a break-in! Josh called out from the back. A man with a gun! Give them the address!
She did it, groaned in frustration, then hung up.
This is a nightmare! she yelled. I think I'm going to be sick.
Lucio felt his cell phone vibrating in his pocket. He took one hand off the wheel and fished it out, tossing it to Ginger. What does it say? he shouted.
She clicked on the phone, turning slowly to Lucio. It says,
All is well. No need to come
.
Genevieve was not the only one on the edge of being sick. Are the words spelled out? Lucio shouted.
What?
The words in the messageare they spelled out instead of the Host! I do not know the word!
Abbreviated?
Yes!
Genevieve looked again. It's all spelled out. No abbreviations. Why?
He shuddered. That last message had been from Piers, not Jason. He was sure of it. And it had been a warning to stay away.
Tell me now! she screamed. What does this have to do with my son?
No! Stop!
Please!
Piers had him by the hair. With one hand, he dragged Jason backward through the living room, through the kitchen, and toward the balcony doors. With his other hand, he pressed the barrel of a gun into Jason's skull.
Jason didn't know which sensation was worsethe searing pain he felt from the way his hair was being pulled or the press of the gun against his head.
Please don't do anything to me! Jason said, gasping for air, struggling in vain to find a foothold that would support some of his weight. I'm a kid! I haven't done anything!
Shut your fucking mouth, Piers said, his voice soft and cold. If you do not shut your fucking mouth I will cut out your tongue. At that moment, as he dragged Jason past the kitchen counter, Piers grabbed a serrated kitchen knife from the cutting board and shoved it in his belt loop, then put the gun back to his head. Do not think I won't.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have been looking through your stuff but you said I could go in there! You told me I could see your passport!
Piers yanked harder on his hair.
Whatever happened between you and Lucio, you can work it out! Lucio will understand. He's your friend!
Piers made a grunting sound. He is not my friend. I despise him for what he did to Sylvie and me. He is a selfish, foul excuse for a human being. Piers unlatched the glass sliding door to the balcony and flung it wide.
I don't understand, Jason said. He raised his hands to his hair, trying to pull in the opposite direction to reduce the pain. What did he ever do to you?
Piers slapped Jason's hands away with the gun. Shut up.
Jason knew Piers had begun crying. He heard a low weeping sound and he felt how the man's body jerkedhe felt it all the way to the roots of his hair.
Help me, Piers, Jason said, thinking he had to find some way to distract him. If Lucio's such a rotten guy, my mom needs to know, right? I need to stop him before he hurts my mom.
She already knows, was his reply.
The heels of Jason's athletic shoes got caught in the metal doorframe to the balcony. To dislodge him, Piers pulled on his hair so hard that some of it tore from his scalp.
Ahhhhh!
he cried out.
Piers threw him against the railing and hit him across the face with the butt of the gun. A gash opened up across his cheek and brow and it hurt so bad that Jason thought he would pass out.
Please, please Jason sobbed.
It wasn't enough that Lucio poisoned every day Sylvie and I had together, Piers whispered, bending close to Jason's face. He even ruined the last few seconds we had on this earth. He left me nothing'
nothing
'I could call my own. He left his stink on everything! For twenty years I've been living with the rotten stink of Lucky Montevez!
Piers pulled Jason's hair again, then shoved his face into the concrete floor. Piers put his big foot on the back of his head, and pressed the gun into his neck.
Please don't hurt me, Jason repeated. He felt dizzy. He couldn't think right. I'm just a kid.
Sylvie was only forty-two, and she is dead.
I'm sorry she died, Jason said, gasping for air. Then he heard the click of the gun. That's when he knew he was going to die, too, unless he did something immediately.
You can't shoot me, Piers, Jason said. This is a crowded neighborhood. Everyone will hear it. You'll get the chair.