Almost Beautiful, page 25
Thomas leaned forward. “You keep thinking you have a choice. This is already in motion, Travis. We’re briefing you, not asking your permission.”
I breathed out of my nose, trying to keep my cool.
“Kostas has experience as a trainer. Taber and Marks are going to take you downstairs and will direct you on surveillance, gun safety, and intel gathering.”
“Real spy shit,” Taber said, raising her eyebrows.
“How can I act as Benny’s security and go to school and work and see my wife?” I asked, exasperated.
Thomas frowned. “Benny said before he’d work around your schedule if you fought for him, right?”
“Yeah, but … how did you know that?”
Thomas ignored my question. “Make him work around it. Everything will be the same as you thought it was going to be when you were considering working for him before. Kostas is going to keep sending you to conventions,” he said, using his fingers for quotes, “when you get extra time. Probably two weekends a month during school, more during breaks, and in the summer. You only have four semesters left before graduation. We’ll all band together to make this work for you. We’re not going to give you more than you can handle, or so much that Abby will begin to get suspicious.”
“She’s already suspicious! She’s not stupid, Tommy!”
Liis held up her hand again. “We’ll set her mind at ease, just like we did for this trip. It will all check out.”
“So when do I go to Benny?” I asked, defeated.
“Tomorrow,” Marks said.
“Tomorrow?” I stood and began pacing. Everything was happening too fast.
They’d obviously been planning this for a while, but it was my first day and it was all being dumped on me. I wasn’t sure Abby would believe me. What if she asked questions I couldn’t answer? I’d have to keep lying and there was no end in sight. If she ever found out, would she forgive me? Would I forgive me?
I was glad I wasn’t going to jail, but I was surrounded by suits, a Men’s Fitness model was going to babysit my wife every time I was out of town, and I didn’t have a say in any of it.
On top of everything else, Thomas didn’t seem bothered by my situation. He was my damn brother and he was sitting there, smug, and I wanted to choke him with his stupid tie.
Kostas watched me, amused.
“Quit smiling at me, you prick,” I said. I stopped pacing and pointed at him. “And if you look at my wife too long, I’ll gouge out those pretty blue eyes with a fucking fork.”
“Travis,” Thomas warned.
“Why a fork?” Taber asked.
“Listen,” Thomas began.
“Why not a pencil, or a knife, or …” she continued.
“Damn it, Taber,” Thomas boomed.
“Sorry, sir,” she said, righting her posture and clasping her fingers in front of her.
“We’re a team,” Liis said. “And if we all work together, Travis is safe, Abby is safe, and we nail these assholes. Then, Travis, you go back to your life, back to your wife, and we get the warm and fuzzy ending for which we’ve all worked so hard. I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’ve been around Benny. It will all be organic, believable, and most importantly, safe. Or, as safe as one can be in the company of bloodthirsty criminals.”
“He can handle it,” Marks said.
Thomas’s phone beeped, and he tapped a button.
“Take me off speaker, sir,” Constance said.
Thomas waited a beat as he looked around the room, and then picked up the phone. “What is it? Oh, shit.” His eyes met mine. “They’re sure?” He waited for a response, then sighed. “Get him a transport.” Thomas rubbed his forehead before placing the phone on the receiver.
“What?” Liis asked.
“Change of plans,” Thomas said. “Taber, you’re escorting Travis. He’s going to Vegas now.”
“Now, sir?” Taber asked.
Our eyes locked, and I could see a glimpse of sympathy in my brother’s eyes I was sure no one else noticed.
“Now.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Leaving Las Vegas
Abby
THE THIRD AND FINAL LOAD of laundry was in the dryer, mostly bikinis, cover ups and swim trunks. The last two weeks had been a rollercoaster I never wanted to ride again.
Of all the things we’d gone through in the past year and a half, Travis nearly leaving me was by far the worst.
It made sense, now, why he was so worried in Vegas after our wedding. He’d only tried to end things once and I couldn’t help but question everything, even after we’d renewed our vows. I’d broken his heart a dozen times. I put my hands on the edge of the dryer and leaned over, ashamed.
No nineteen-year-old girl had it all figured out, and I’d tried not to be too hard on myself for being unsure when it came to Travis while we were dating. But after what I’d gone through when he tried to ‘save’ me by walking away, I wanted to beg for his forgiveness every time panic washed over me.
He’d left me for work the day before. The convention Brandon had sent him to was only two days. I thought Travis would be relieved not to be around his boss, but he still seemed agitated. He could barely look me in the eyes when he detailed his itinerary. Something was up, but I was still too nervous to question him.
Travis had promised to never leave me again, but he’d been in his head since the day after the wedding in St. Thomas, and I didn’t want to push him, worried he’d try to ‘save’ me again. Being married wasn’t a guarantee he’d stay with me, and I wasn’t sure that was a fear I’d ever get over.
My phone buzzed, and I stood, took a deep breath and checked it, reading America’s text.
My two o’clock class was canceled, I’m on my way.
My cheeks filled with air and I breathed out, pushing an escaped piece of my hair from my eyes. I hadn’t told America about what had happened before the vow renewal and was unsure if I should.
She might hate him all over again, making Travis feel worse than he already did.
I was hoping St. Thomas would be a good way to start over, but Travis seemed to be in a dark place. My mind went over a thousand scenarios—if he didn’t think he’d made the right decision to stay with me and a myriad of other things. I knew he loved me. I focused on that.
I’d just loaded the dishwasher when my best friend knocked on the door. I unlocked it and let her in, watching her stroll in and drop into the recliner, the same one I’d sat in the first time I came to this apartment.
The room looked a lot different now, and so did America with her freshly cut blonde bob and bangs. Her skin was golden brown from the Caribbean sun, and she looked relaxed and happy in a white crop top tank, light gray joggers and white high-top sneakers. It only took her a few seconds for her to notice my energy wasn’t matching hers.
“Oh, God. What?” she bristled, sitting forward.
“I don’t know,” I said, sitting on the side of the couch closest to her. “Just a feeling, I guess.”
“About what?”
“Not sure about that, either.”
“Things seemed to have calmed down—if you know what I mean—right?”
I nodded. She was right. No more sightings of the Feds.
“Is it the Keaton Hall anniversary?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
“It was nice to see everyone come up to him.”
I nodded again. I couldn’t say it out loud for fear someone might be listening, but I’d never seen Travis so emotional.
We’d heard so many stories about Travis directing someone to safety or Adam leading them outside. I didn’t know that Adam had gone back in several times to help as many as he could to get out.
With every grateful hug, Travis had struggled to keep it together.
“He seemed more at peace after that … for a little while. There’s something else.”
“He’s upset?”
“I’m not sure. Something’s off.”
“What do you think it is?” She looked around. “Or do you not want to talk about it.”
“I don’t know. I think I need some fresh air. I’ve been in a funk all day. I couldn’t concentrate in my classes.”
“Yes,” she said standing. She held out her hand. “Let’s walk.”
I took her hand and grabbed Toto’s leash and a jacket before locking up behind us.
I spoke as soon as I thought we were far enough from the apartment. “I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t freak out.” We’d both left our cellphones behind, accustomed to an abundance of caution.
“Is it that bad?”
I sighed, waiting as Toto sniffed a good spot to relieve himself. “A week before the wedding, Travis met with Adam. Brandon is involved, and Travis was sure he was going to turn him in, and Travis would go to prison.”
“Brandon? How?”
“He’s Adam’s partner. They were streaming the fights online and making millions. Brandon was attempting to make a deal with the Feds for immunity."
“That motherfucker,” she grumbled under her breath.
“Travis was even more afraid that he’d take me down with him. So, he”—I almost couldn’t say the words—“he tried to end it.”
“What?” she yelled, immediately looking around. Her next words were quieter. “What the fuck did you just say to me? I know I did not hear you say Travis ended it before the damn wedding.”
“He tried. I really thought he was going to. I barely talked him out of it.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she said, angry.
“He changed his mind. I didn’t want to get into it before St. Thomas. I just wanted to enjoy it. I wanted everyone to enjoy it.”
“Abby …”
I closed my eyes, trying to keep from crying again. “He changed his mind, Mare. But there for a hot minute I really thought I was going to lose him.”
She hugged me. “Oh, my God. Oh my God, Abby, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. He was acting out of desperation. But now it’s like he’s not worried about it anymore. Since St. Thomas, he hasn’t mentioned it. But … there’s something else. He’s different. I don’t know if he regrets not cutting me loose or he’s upset that Brandon is going to make him start traveling for work. What I do know is, it’s not prison. It’s like he knows he’s off the hook. Maybe he cut his own deal and he doesn’t want to tell me? I’m not sure, but it’s something.”
We continued walking, and America took my free hand, holding it to her middle with both of hers. “I just can’t believe he’d be willing to walk away from you. Even for that.”
“Well, he was. It was the scariest moment of my life, and I’ve had a couple of near-death experiences in the last year.”
America was deep in thought. “Do you think it has to do with Benny? What if he agreed to take him up on his offer to help?”
I stopped. “You could be right. Let’s get back. I want to call around and double check his story that he’s in California and not Vegas right now.”
We went back to the apartment, but both stopped short when we saw an unfamiliar black SUV parked in Travis’s usual spot.
“Jesse, what the fuck?” America said, letting go of my hand to approach him.
He held up his hands. “It’s not what you think, I swear.”
I frowned. The smug expression on his face the last time he visited us was replaced by sadness. “What is it, then? Is it about Travis?”
He shook his head. “It’s … it’s your mom, Abby.” He looked down and sighed. “Bonnie’s gone.”
I stared at him, trying to process the words.
“Gone? You mean missing?” I asked.
Jesse shook his head. “She passed away, Abby, I’m sorry.”
“What?” America shrieked. “Are you sure? How do you know?”
“We’ve been over this. Benny. I had to tell you. I don’t even know if you want to go back, but I already got you and Mare flights to Vegas.”
“She’s in Vegas?” I asked.
He shrugged and nodded. “She has been for a while. The flight leaves in two hours. I’m so sorry, Abby, I really am.”
America covered her mouth and wrapped her arms around me. “Abby!”
Most people would cry in that situation, break down and sob, but all I felt was numb. “I guess ... I guess I should ask Cami and Trent if they can watch Toto.”
“I’m going with you. I’m going, Abby, and I don’t want to hear a word about it.” She dialed someone’s number and held her cell to her ear. After a minute she growled. “Travis didn’t answer. I’m texting Shepley. We’re going.”
“You can’t miss class, Mare, and your parents won’t let you.”
“I don’t care! You just lost your mom! I’m fucking going! Come on, I’ll help you pack.”
I stared at the suitcase as America filled it up with undergarments, clothes and toiletries. She paused in front of my closet, grabbed two dresses and held them up. “They’re the only black ones you have that aren’t … clubby.”
I walked over to her and touched the fabric. When I bought them, it was for job interviews. I had no idea I’d be wearing one of them to my mother’s funeral. I took the one on the left, it had a higher neckline, and the fabric would be better able to breathe in the desert heat.
“Good choice,” America said, choosing a pair of black pumps.
After what seemed to be a short internal check list was completed, America zipped my suitcase and rolled it to the doorway. “Get your charger and purse. Make sure your ID is in it.”
“Oh, right,” I said, going over to the dresser. I confirmed I had what I needed.
America was typing on her phone. “Leave the key under the mat. Trent will pick up Toto after work and bring him to their place. He’s going to keep trying to get ahold of Travis.” She looked up. “And Trent wants you to call when you can. He feels terrible for you.”
Jesse loaded my luggage into his back seat, setting my roller bag on its side knowing he’d need more space for America’s belongings.
At her dorm, I sat in the SUV while Jesse helped America load her bags into the back, and then she climbed into the captain’s chair behind me.
“I’m surprised how fast you got all of that packed,” he said.
“I can be efficient when I need to be,” she said, buckling in.
Jesse set his GPS to the airport, and we rode there in total silence. No radio, no conversation. It crossed my mind that Travis wouldn’t be happy that I was traveling with Jesse, but he’d also understand my predicament. I couldn’t be picky about free tickets to get back to Vegas for my mother’s funeral.
Once we got to the airport, checking in and going through security was a blur. It wasn’t until America squeezed my hand while we waited to be called at the gate that I noticed how lost I felt.
“You haven’t spoken in two hours, Abby. Do you need anything?” she asked.
I shook my head.
She squeezed my hand again. “Shepley will be on the next flight out. He’ll meet us at the hotel in the morning.”
I nodded, staring out the window.
Halfway into the flight, my mind began to focus on what it meant that I couldn’t cry. I’d just seen my mom not long ago, for the first time in almost two years. She’d given me closure. I had to wonder if she knew she was dying. If that was goodbye.
I was seated in the middle of a three-seat row. Jesse was watching something on the screen in front of him, America was gazing out the window She left her ear buds out of her ear in case she was needed but kept herself distracted so I didn’t feel like she was hovering.
Since Travis couldn’t be with me, I was glad that she was. Besides my husband, only my best friend would understand exactly what I needed in that moment. Sometimes it felt like she knew before I did.
When the wheels touched the tarmac, the jolt snapped me to reality. I hadn’t been able to speak to ask Jesse questions, as if I’d been on autopilot, too. The way my mom had died was still a mystery to me, and I’d known for hours that she was gone.
Jesse helped us check into a room at a hotel off the strip, scoring us a discount.
“Is that from an old connection at the Bellagio, or because you work for Benny?” America asked as we walked to the elevator.
“Both,” he said with a smile. He pressed the button and we waited in silence.
America seemed to have gotten the same sense that I had, Jesse was obviously trying not to say something, and no one wanted him to ignore that feeling.
We walked up to our room and waited as Jesse used the key card to open the door. He waited quietly as America began unpacking our suitcases and organizing the bathroom as she always did.
“I, uh, I’ll find out what we need to do.” Jesse said finally. “I know her body still has to be claimed by family.”
“Mick hasn’t done it?” I choked out.
“Mick’s been MIA. I’m not even sure he knows. They’re expecting you. Call the funeral home and they’ll do the rest; help you make arrangements and cover all the bases. We used the same one for both of my grandfathers.”
“I remember,” I said, focusing on a tree outside. It was similar to the one outside Travis’s—our—bedroom window. That thought alone made me feel calmer, although, I wasn’t sure what calmer than numb could be.
Jesse bent over the desk and scribbled something on the hotel stationary. He ripped it from the pad, started to hand it to me, then decided to offer it to America. “Here. The name of the funeral home we used and the address for where she … where she is.”
“Thank you,” America said.
“How did it happen?” I asked, looking back to the tree.
Jesse wrung his hands and fidgeted. “You know, Abby. She hasn’t been doing well for a long time. She drinks more than any man I know.”
“In the end, I mean.”
Jesse winced. “You don’t … you don’t want to know. She’s gone. Just leave it be.”
“I do. I do want to know.”
“She’d been in and out of the hospital for months. The last time I saw her she looked, I don’t know, kind of bloated and uncomfortable. Her eyes were yellow. Her little body was just tired.”
