Love Me Last

by Rhea Wilde

  “You don’t have to do anything. He’ll do most of the work. All you have to do is give this package to him. Once he makes sure everything is all right, he’ll give you the money. I’ll come and pick you up after. Then we can go on an adventure around the world. Just you and me, Eva.”

  “Yeah…”

  I looked out of the window. It was early in the evening but the streets were empty. Everything looked so unfamiliar.

  I’d only been in this town for a few months, just trying to figure things out. I needed a new start. I was lucky to find it so quickly in a man like Sean.

  “It’s almost time,” he said. “He should be here soon.”

  I sighed a deep breath, still looking out the window and searching for any sign of life. A few minutes went by. A pair of bright headlights appeared on the street. I looked at the rearview mirror and watched as the lights grew larger. I stared at the black SUV as it pulled up to the curb on the other side of the street where we were parked.

  “That’s them, Eva. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “Remember. They’re gonna drive you around so things don’t look suspicious. Give them the package. They’ll give you the money after they check it. Once they’re done, they’ll drop you off at the next site. I’ll be there to pick you up.”

  “Right,” I sighed. “I’ll give them the package then get the money. Then we can go on our way.”

  “That’s right.”

  I turned to him and saw him smiling at me like he always did. He reached forward and put his hands on my cheeks, pulling my face to his. He kissed me deeply on the lips. I sighed into his mouth as our lips lingered together. After he pulled away from me, he kissed me softly on my forehead before locking his blue-eyed stare on me.

  “I love you, Eva. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too, Sean.”

  “…Go ahead. It’s time.”

  I nodded to him then turned to the door. I took a deep breath and exhaled before finally pushing the door open. The loud sound of rain pouring down filled my ears. I wrapped my arms around the package and walked across the street, turning my head to make sure nobody was watching me. The rain was pounding on me. Just a few seconds and I was already soaked.

  I managed to make it across the street to the black SUV. When the door opened, I heard Sean start his engine behind me. I turned my head around just long enough to see the car driving off into the distance.

  Just a few more minutes and he’ll be waiting for me. I just have to get this done.

  The car was dark within. I could barely see a figure within it before stepping inside. I took a seat and closed the door. It locked immediately.

  I swallowed nervously, my eyes focused on the shoes of the man sitting next to me. They were black shoes polished to a perfect shine. My eyes slowly moved up and I saw a suit resting on a man I’d never seen before. His brown eyes were intense as he stared at me. His hair was messy like he hadn’t bothered to comb it at all.

  It’s all right. Just do what I’m told.

  “Do you have it?” he asked, his voice deep and threatening.

  I nodded to him then unwrapped my arms from around the package. It was a large, orange delivery envelope. I held it out to the man and he took it with both hands. I watched him as he tore the package open.

  I wasn’t sure what it was exactly but I had an idea. Sean never told me what his business was. I never bothered to ask too much about it because the first time I did, he got angry at me. He told me all that mattered was he was making good money to support the both of us.

  The man opened the package enough to reveal a large white brick. It didn’t look like much, even up close. But I knew it wasn’t simply a square of flour or powder. It was something that would have gotten anybody in trouble.

  He stared at it for a few seconds before shifting his eyes to me.

  “How old are you?” he asked.

  “W-what?” I stuttered.

  “Your age, miss. What’s your age?”

  “I’m… I’m seventeen but I’m turning eighteen in a few months.”

  “Right.”

  He nodded silently, his eyes still locked on me. I shifted my eyes back to the floor, focusing my attention on the patent leather of his shoes.

  Just wait for the money. Everything will be all right after you get the money.

  “Where is he?” he asked. “Where’s Reese?”

  “Sean? He’s waiting for me at the spot you were supposed to drop me off at.”

  “Yeah. Okay. We’ll take you there.”

  The car slowly started to move. The man kept the massive brick in his hands, resting it in his lap. My eyes remained on the floor as my body shook from the movement of the car.

  “The money,” I managed to get out.

  “What?”

  “T-the money,” I stuttered. “For the… For the package…”

  “Right… The money.”

  He shifted in his seat and reached into his pocket. My eyes still locked on his shoes, I saw a massive stack of cash being held in front of me. Hundred-dollar bills all rubber-banded together. Too much for me to even count.

  “The money,” the man said.

  I took the cash with both hands and held it in front of me. As I stared at it, a indescribable giddiness slowly built in my heart.

  This is it. This is all I need. I never have to worry about anything else for the rest of my life.

  I tried to contain how ecstatic I was. I couldn’t be happy. Not until I was with Sean.

  “What’s your name?” the man asked me.

  I looked up at him and he stared back at me with the same intensity he had since the beginning.

  “Eva. Eva Lynch.”

  “How did you meet, Mr. Reese?”

  “I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “I just… I just ran into him.”

  “Are you two close?”

  “You could say that. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

  “No, it’s none of my business. I apologize. I’m just curious… How well do you know him?”

  “I…”

  I looked away from the man. My attention turned to the rain pouring outside.

  “I know him better than anybody I’ve ever met.”

  “And he’s going to be waiting to pick you up.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good.”

  Good?

  The giddiness I felt just a few seconds ago was slowly starting to dissipate. Instead, I felt a creeping uneasiness spreading from within my belly. It was a coldness that chilled me more than the rain I just walked through.

  I held the money close to my stomach and squeezed myself together to try and stay warm. My eyes remained staring outside, waiting for Sean’s vehicle to come into view.

  It never did.

  We came to a slow stop. We had been driving for several minutes but it all went by in a flash. I looked outside, searching for any sign of him.

  “Is this the spot?” I asked.

  “This is the location he gave us. He’s not here.”

  “He’ll be here. He’s probably just waiting a little bit. He must have thought we would take longer.”

  I tapped my foot against the floor nervously. My fingers joined in, tapping in rhythm against the wad of hard cash I held. My eyes searched outside for Sean’s car.

  A minute went by and nothing changed.

  Then another…

  Then another…

  And another…

  “I don’t think he’s coming,” the man next to me said.

  “He’s coming. Just give him a few more minutes.”

  Come on, Sean. Where are you?

  I could feel it: my heart slowly lowering into my stomach like one giant weight. I thought I was going to lose it all right then and there.

  “Reese isn’t coming,” I heard the man say.

  I turned to him and saw him speaking to the driver. I looked forward and saw the driver staring
back at me from his rearview mirror. There was something about his eyes. The way he looked at me. He wasn’t scary or intimidating. His eyebrows were turned like he was sad. I couldn’t see the rest of his face, but for some reason, I imagined he was frowning at me.

  “Maybe if I just step out of the car,” I said.

  “Eva—”

  “Just let me out of the car. Once he sees me, he’ll come around and pick me up. I don’t mind the rain. It’s okay. My clothes are already wet. I can dry them off later.”

  I laughed nervously at the man next to me. He stared at me for a few seconds before turning to the driver and nodding.

  The door clicked and unlocked. I reached for the handle and pushed it open. I nearly stumbled to the floor as I jumped out.

  I stood just outside of the car, the rain pouring down on me and drenching me. I wrapped my arms around the money to keep it dry. My head shifted left and right down the street, searching for Sean.

  I couldn’t see him. There wasn’t a single sign of life. Everybody was smart enough to get out of the spring shower. Everybody except for me.

  I felt stupid.

  I felt alone.

  “Apparently, you don’t know him well enough.”

  I heard the man’s voice again. I turned and saw him standing next to me. I turned my head up and looked at him. The intensity in his eyes was gone, replaced by the same strange sympathy I saw from the driver.

  “He’ll be here—”

  “This isn’t the first time for Reese,” the man interrupted me. “But I’m assuming it is for you.”

  “What?” I said, shaking my head. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand—”

  He reached into his jacket and pulled something out. He held it out to me. I blinked my eyes as I stared at it. I wanted it to be something else. But even in the pouring rain, I knew what it was. The badge seemed to shine even in the darkness.

  “Eva Lynch, you’re under arrest.”

  He grabbed the money from my hands.

  I didn’t resist.

  I couldn’t.

  I didn’t have the strength to do anything at all. My heart was sitting inside of my stomach, bleeding out with nothing to stop it. The rest of my being was gone. My spirit had left me, floating somewhere among the clouds that continued to rain down hard on me.

  Chapter 11

  EVA

  Sean Reese.

  I hadn’t heard the name in more than a decade. When I came to New Gardens for a new start, I thought I’d left him behind along with everything else in my past. It was a part of my life I buried. Now it had come back from the dead…

  *

  I didn’t know how I managed to get away from Industry. As soon as the cops arrived, Reese took his men and left. I ran back into the city as quickly as I could. The only thought in my mind was to get back to the part of town I was more familiar with. The part of town I had built my new life in.

  I checked behind me to see if anybody was following me, not that it mattered. If Reese were truly behind all of this, he could have found me easily. He called me a private investigator. He was here in New Gardens. I had to assume he knew everything.

  As soon as I got back to my apartment, I searched my refrigerator for whatever I had. There was still a six-pack of beer and half of a cold bottle of vodka. I collapsed onto my couch and gulped down a beer in one swift movement. As the alcohol flowed through me, I did my best to forget about everything that just happened.

  I sat on my couch in silence. Beams of moonlight streaked in through my blinds, illuminating the solitude and darkness I craved. My eyes half-open, I sipped on the liquor and slowly lost myself to it.

  I didn’t know what time it was. I only knew it was late in the evening. I wasn’t keeping track of time when I saw a figure standing in the glass window pane of my door. I sat up slowly.

  Shit.

  Just as soon as I wanted to be rid of Reese, he’d already found me so quickly. The door opened and the man stepped inside.

  “Hey,” John said as he walked in, closing the door behind him. “You made it.”

  “Sabin…”

  I exhaled a deep sigh of relief and collapsed back onto the couch. My head rolled back and another sip of vodka followed. I was so caught up with Reese coming back, making me forget about John. Seeing him was more comforting than anything I’d felt in a long time.

  “Are you okay?” he said as he took a seat on the couch next to me.

  “I’m… I’m fine. I got away as soon as the police came.”

  “Good.”

  “What about you?”

  I opened my eyes wide at him. It was a struggle because the alcohol in my veins was starting to kick in. He stared back at me with his deep auburn eyes, his brow furrowed slightly.

  “What’s going on?” he asked. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine. I just… Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I managed to stay out of their sights long enough for the police to arrive. They found the equipment. They found Owens but the men who showed up managed to escape.”

  “Great. That’s really… great.”

  I held the bottle of vodka to my lips. Before I could take another sip, John swiped the bottle from me.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “Eva, why are you drinking? If something is wrong—”

  “Nothing is wrong, okay? I just felt like drinking. I’ve had a long and stressful night. I’d like to relax.”

  He was still as he looked at me. He held the bottle of vodka across his body, up and away from me.

  “Gimme that.”

  I reached over for it and fell across his body but he held it up in the air. He wasn’t budging.

  “How long have you been drinking?”

  “I don’t know. I just had a few drinks when I got back here. What’s the problem? It’s not illegal. I’m a grown woman.”

  “It might be a problem. We caught Owens but there’s something bigger at stake. He wasn’t the man behind all of this.”

  “What gave you that idea? Was it the armada that arrived after they caught you on their security cameras?”

  “I’m sorry, Eva. That was a mistake. But we’re not even close to getting to the bottom of this.”

  “There’s only one thing I wanted to get to the bottom of and you’re holding it.”

  I lazily reached for the bottle again but he held it up out of my reach. I pressed myself against his muscled chest as I tried to grab it from him. Controlling my arms and hands had become more difficult than it was just a few minutes ago.

  “You can’t drink, Eva.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “Because we made a deal. We have to solve this case. You agreed to be my partner on this. You have to collect your bounty… I have to find my son.”

  I stopped reaching for the bottle for just a moment. I was leaning up against him, my chest pressed against his. I looked him right in the eye. Even though I was on the verge of almost blacking out, I was sober for just a moment. It was a moment long enough for me to stare at him.

  His eyes narrowed slightly. The way he looked at me was like he was staring not just at me but into me. I moved my head back a bit, seeing his entire face. There was stubble growing along his jawline. His skin was tan but clear.

  “You’re… you’re really handsome, you know that?”

  I put my hand up to his cheek and caressed his skin softly. I trailed my fingers along his chin and examined the rough stubble on my fingertips. His lips twitched as he smiled gently.

  “And you’re really drunk.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head gently. “I mean it. I know what I’m thinking. I know what I’m doing… and I mean it.”

  “Eva…”

  He looked away from me and moved his face from my hand.

  “You’re right,” he continued. “It’s been a long, stressful night. We can both use some rest.
”

  “No. I’m not gonna be able to sleep.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  He turned his head back to me. Before he could do anything, I leaned forward and kissed him. I shut my eyes and wrapped my hands around his head. My tongue pushed forward, trying to part his lips. For a moment, he didn’t resist. I could feel him kissing back. It was the bliss I needed. A bliss that made me forget about everything.

  It ended when he pulled away from me. I opened my eyes and saw him staring back at me, softly shaking his head.

  “No,” he said. “I can’t. Not while you’re—”

  “I’m not drunk,” I said.

  I pulled away from him and sat down on the couch next to him. I looked down at the hardwood floor of my apartment.

  “I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” I explained.

  The memory of what Reese did to me felt like it had just happened yesterday. Even with all of the alcohol and John by my side comforting me, I still couldn’t block it out.

  “If I fall asleep, they’ll come back,” I said.

  “Who will come back?”

  He leaned forward, placing the bottle of vodka down onto the floor.

  “The nightmares. Do you ever have nightmares, Sabin?”

  “I think everybody does.”

  “The thing about nightmares… It’s that feeling of powerlessness. It feels so real and you can’t escape. You just have to wait until you wake up.”

  I turned my head back up and looked at John.

  “Something happened… Something happened tonight. I know that I’m gonna have a nightmare because of it.”

  “Eva—”

  “I need to forget… him… So I don’t have a nightmare.”

  “I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

  I giggled softly at him. Despite how strong and hardened he appeared, John always had a staunch innocence about him. The look in his eyes made it seem like he was trying his best to sympathize.

  “I’ve done a lot of things with a lot of men ever since I got to this city,” I said. “Not once did I feel any regret the morning after. Not once. I… I might be a little embarrassed but I won’t regret this. I won’t regret… you.”

  I leaned forward again, slowly moving closer toward him. My hand pressed against his shirt, feeling the hardness of his chest underneath my palm. My face drifted toward his with my eyes closed. His lips pressed against mine again. He didn’t resist as I kissed him deeper. My tongue found his. The silence of my office was gone, replaced by the smacking of our lips.