Unleash Me, Vol. 2 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series)

by Ross, Christina

  There was a moment when I thought that Epifania was going to explode and call us liars—an overreaction that would cause a scene and ruin the evening. But then her features softened and she looked almost troubled. “Why I always choose the losers?” she said.

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “He big stud. For the first few months of every relationship I enter, I never see anything but the pinga. And he got a huge pinga. I already knew since we fuck before. But I thought I could love him. He smart. He handsome. He good in bed. He nice. Still, he probably like the rest. Men want me for my money. I know that. Every day, so many calls from so many has-beens. My guard go up. It’s no good. I can’t trust anyone anymore. Sometimes, I think I can, but I can’t. But gracias,” she said. “Epifania may play the fool because it get good laugh, which she want. But Epifania no fool.” She winked at us. “In fact, maybe Epifania smarter than you think. Maybe she want you to think she a fool….”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Over the next ninety minutes, the press photographed me, I spoke to several reporters from worldwide outlets, and then I had a great chat with Julian West. We discussed his plans for the film version of my novel, for which he said he already had financing, which meant that the movie was going to be made. And then, when production had commenced on the film, he invited me to come on the set whenever I liked.

  “It’ll be a new experience for you,” he said.

  “I totally want to do it.”

  “Then I’ll see you in a year or so. That’s about how long these things take.”

  Later, I finally found Iris in the crowd, who looked lovely in the red Valentino dress Blackwell had sent to her, and who gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished me the best. Then, Alex took to the podium just beneath my photograph at the rear of the room and introduced all of the authors being recognized tonight. It was something to truly remember, especially when the crowd applauded when he mentioned my name and talked briefly about my book.

  At that moment, Tank reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Enjoy this,” he said. “Never forget it. This only happens once.”

  I looked up into his eyes, saw his love for me—naked and raw, and filled with pride and passion—and I knew that the time was right. “I won’t forget this,” I said. “Not ever. I also haven’t forgotten that the other day you asked me to move in with you.” His eyes widened in anticipation. “So, I was wondering. Do you still have enough room in that apartment of yours for me?”

  “You’re willing to move in with me?” he said.

  “Willing? Let’s try this. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I want to move in with you. I love you, Tank. I know that you love me. I hate being away from you. I want to wake up next to you, I want to go to bed with you, I want to cook for you, and I just want to be with you. So, why not take it to the next step? Why not just do it and see what happens?”

  “What about Jennifer?”

  “If you and I agree that this is right for us, Jennifer is ready to move forward with Alex. She’ll sell the penthouse.”

  “Does he know that?”

  “He will soon.”

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “Believe it.”

  As happy as I knew he was, his face was almost grave. He wasn’t taking my decision lightly. Instead, he was taking it to heart. “You’ve just made me a very happy man. And you won’t regret it. I promise you that you won’t. I’ll cherish you forever, Lisa. This is a new beginning for us.”

  I stood on my toes and whispered in his ear, “I wish I could make you an even happier man right now.”

  “Same here. More than you know. And believe me, I’d return the favor. If I could take you over that podium over there, I would.”

  “Goodness!” I said.

  “I mean it.”

  “Some people already have started to leave. We certainly won’t be the last ones here. I think we’ll be home in thirty minutes or so. Can you wait that long?”

  “Look down at my pants.”

  I did—and saw a tent.

  “Oh, my. Best if I stand in front of you.”

  “Thanks for having my back.”

  “Or, in this case, your front. And thanks for having my back later.”

  “Oh, I’ll be behind you later,” he said. “Trust me.”

  Jennifer, Alex, and Blackwell came over at that point, and each gave me a hug.

  “You’re now officially on your way,” Blackwell said. “And nice job with the press. I was watching—and listening. You didn’t miss a beat. Brava, darling. You learned from the Wenn publicity machine. The kind of attention you just received can be difficult to navigate even for a pro, but you made it seem as if you’ve been doing it for years. For me—and you know that I bullshit no one—you came off seamlessly. I kept looking for little mistakes that I could nail to your forehead later in the night, but nothing came to mind.”

  “That’s only because you and Wenn’s publicity department coached me.” I looked at Alex. “They were wonderful with me. So was Barbara, as she always is. All of them gave me pointers that helped me.”

  “That’s all fine and good,” he admitted. “But I think Barbara will agree with me here—when it comes right down to it, Lisa, when the press are shooting questions at you and photographing you—you really are on your own, which can be overwhelming. Everyone is after you. Photographs are flying. People are asking you questions you might never have thought of. I’ve been there, and I know that you need to be on the top of your game to deliver. Really, it’s ultimately up to you to follow through with what’s expected of you. By the sounds of it, Barbara is pleased, and that says everything I need to know. You listened to her and to the team. You took it seriously—not that I ever thought you wouldn’t. You’re a professional—we all knew you’d be. But we also know that all this is brand new to you. So, good for you for making it through a trying evening.”

  “I actually had fun tonight,” I said. “And I have news.”

  “What news?” Jennifer asked.

  “You might want to listen to this, girlfriend.”

  “Oh,” she said. “That news.”

  “Yes, that news.”

  “What news?” Blackwell said. “Why do you girls always talk in code? I’ve asked you that twice this evening. It’s infuriating.”

  “I’m moving in with Tank,” I said. “He asked me if I’d consider it a few days ago, I talked it over with Jennifer, and I’ve made my decision. Tank and I are about to get closer than ever. I plan on moving out of 800 Fifth next week, and moving in with him.”

  “Good God,” Blackwell said. “I knew it!”

  “Where does that leave you?” Alex asked Jennifer.

  “Well,” she said. “You’ve asked the same of me a few times, and you’ve been beyond patient with me. In the meantime, Lisa gave me something to think about this week after Tank asked her to move in with him. We had lunch and talked about it. We weighed the options of whether we should wait or not.”

  “And how do you feel?” he asked.

  She took a breath. “Well, if you’d like, I think maybe we should live together before we get married. Maybe I should sell the penthouse and we should really give this relationship of ours a hardcore trial. It’s not as if we didn’t do just that when we were on the island. In fact, in a weird way, I miss those days. The intimacy of those days. I miss being with you as often as we were then. I think we can make a strong go of it. I think we’ll be just fine. That is, of course, if you still want that. If not, it’s no—”

  In what seemed like a millisecond, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips, her cheeks, her throat. “You want to move in with me?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “I do.”

  “When?”

  “It seems as if Lisa will move out next week. So? Maybe we’ll just move out together? What do you think?”

  “The sooner the better.”

  “Then it’s done. Lisa and I will move out together.”
<
br />   “Ugh,” I said. “Sorry boys, but even the thought of giving up my best friend kind of freaks me out.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Blackwell said.

  I turned to her. “But I thought you were against this.”

  “Not after what I just saw,” she said. “Yes, I’m a traditionalist. Alex knows that more than any of you. But I’m also a realist. And from what I just saw? Oh, to hell with it. Time is too short. Just move in together—all of you—and be happy.”

  * * *

  When we left the party, I felt as if I was walking on air.

  Tank helped me into my coat after we’d retrieved it from the coat check. And once I’d fastened the buttons, he took me aside, wrapped his arm around my waist, and kissed me deeply.

  “I don’t think you know just how much this means to me,” he said.

  I wanted to tell him that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him—which I did—and even though I sensed that he felt the same way, I didn’t want to freak him out by saying so first. Instead, I just said, “It’s just as meaningful to me. This is, in fact, a first for me. I won’t let you down. I want to take this next step. I’ll be the best girlfriend a man could find.”

  “You already are. But you’re more than a girlfriend,” he said. “Much more.”

  At that moment, he unexpectedly got down on one knee.

  I was aware of others in the lobby waiting to get their coats at the coat check. In an instant, they sensed what was happening, and everything seemed to stop. They all turned to us with knowing smiles.

  My skin started to tingle in a surreal kind of anticipation.

  He’s on one knee. Oh, my God. This isn’t happening.

  For some reason, I felt faint.

  “Lisa,” Jennifer said. She took my arm.

  “Let Tank speak,” Blackwell said.

  “I will when I’m sure she’s not about to collapse. Are you OK?”

  “Where am I? Who am I? What’s happening to me right now?”

  “Lisa!”

  “Mmmmm….zombies.”

  “Can you stand by yourself? I’m not letting go of you unless you can.”

  In a haze of confusion, I looked down at Tank, and when I saw him smiling up at me with that boyish look of his that he showed to almost no one, it brought me back into myself. Most saw Tank as tough, stoic, and devoid of emotion—that was his job. But I knew the quirky sense of humor that loomed deep within him. I’d gotten beyond his self-imposed wall, and I knew the great deal of love he had to share with the right person.

  Apparently, I was that person. What was happening now was otherworldly—it was wonderful and beyond surprising—and God if it wasn’t damned great. I couldn’t believe what was unfolding, or that somehow I had the good fortune to have found such an incredible, honest, and loving man as Tank. But it was happening—oh, man, was it happening—and I needed to check myself so I wouldn’t forget this moment. I needed to get hold of myself and rein it in so I’d remember all of it. I closed my eyes and breathed, and when my head was clear, I said, “I’m good.”

  Jennifer held me still for a moment. “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, girl, I am so sure.”

  She let go of me.

  “Look at you,” I said to Tank. “For the first time, you’re shorter than I am.”

  “I’ve always been shorter than you. Don’t you know that? Haven’t you known that since we first met? You’ve always been taller than me.”

  “Well,” Blackwell said. “That was beyond romantic—it even moved me. Let’s just get the ceremony going now. Somebody get a priest. Call a justice of the peace.”

  “Can I propose to her first?” Tank asked.

  She touched her hair. “Well, if you must.”

  He looked up at me and removed a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket. “Lisa,” he said.

  “I can’t believe you planned this.”

  “I’ve had the ring for the last week. I was going to propose later, but tonight just seems right. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. At first, I resisted us—you know why. There’s no need to discuss it. Now I know the real thing when I see it, and that real thing is you. I’m on my knee. I’m in love with you. I want to raise a family with you. And more than anything, I want to grow old with you and your zombies.”

  I blinked back tears. “Even with them?”

  “Of course with them.”

  “You know that I don’t cry,” I said.

  “Maybe you do.”

  “Oh, Tank.”

  “I’m asking you right now, in front of all our friends and all of these strangers, if you’ll be my wife.”

  I shook my head at him. “I’m sorry, Tank, but I won’t.”

  A gasp went through the crowd.

  “Lisa,” Jennifer said.

  “What are you doing?” Blackwell said. “You’re making a mistake.”

  I ignored them, and met Tank’s confused, intense gaze with my own. “What I will be is your partner. That’s what I’ll be. Not your wife, but your best friend, your lover, your confidant, and your partner. That’s what I want to be. And that’s what I will be. Yes, I will marry you, Tank—if you agree to those conditions. Do you?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “I love you so much, I don’t even know how to express what I feel right now. There are no words for how full I feel. For how happy, overjoyed, and complete I feel. Those words don’t exist. But they don’t need to. When we look at each other, as we are right now, all that isn’t said already has been said. Do you feel it?”

  “I feel it in my core.” He held out his hand to me and I took it in mine. “May I put the ring on your finger?” he asked.

  “Do you really need to ask a willing girl such a question?”

  He smiled at me, and then opened the small black velvet box he was holding in his right hand. Inside, was something I never could have imagined—an emerald-cut diamond that must have been at least five carats. Probably more. It must have cost him a fortune. I just stared at it for a moment, and then I looked at him.

  “Tank,” I said. “It’s beautiful, but—”

  “But nothing,” he said. “You only get married once—at least where I come from. So, let’s enjoy it.” He removed the ring from the box and held it out to me. “What do you say?”

  “It’s too much.”

  “It’s never too much,” Blackwell said. “Have you learned nothing from me? God! And it’s gorgeous. Take it. For God’s sake, just put it on your damned finger and seal the deal. We all love him. We all love you two together. He’s obviously the one.”

  “Am I?” I asked him.

  “More than you know.”

  I held out my left hand to him. He put the ring on my ring finger, and then stood to kiss me as those around us erupted into cheers and applause. When our lips parted, he said, “So, I guess we’re getting married now.”

  “So, I guess we are,” I said. I lowered my voice so only he could hear it. “How about if tonight we celebrate properly at your place?”

  “Consider it done.”

  * * *

  When we left the Frick and stepped out into the chilly night air, my heart still pounded from the shock of what had just happened.

  I’m engaged, I thought. Before long, I’ll be married….

  It seemed unreal to me. My hand was in Tank’s, and I could feel the beat of his heart against my palm. Could he feel mine? Could he sense my excitement and my love for him? When he gave my hand a squeeze, I felt that he could. I hoped that he could.

  Ahead of us were two limousines—Alex must have called ahead for a car for Tank and me so we could go home alone together. The other was for Jennifer, Blackwell, and him.

  I glanced around and took in Manhattan at night. Light reflected off glass. To my right, traffic roared down Fifth. On the sidewalk, pedestrians either strolled or walked past us at a swift clip. It was just after eleven, but in New York, it might as well have been seven. This was a busy
residential area. Some people were going home while others were off to work the late shift. I saw Cutter standing beside our car’s rear door, which he held open for us. Max stood between the two cars and observed the area around us.

  We were saying our farewells to everyone when a gunshot rang out, and, behind me, there was a loud crack as the bullet struck the Frick’s facade.

  The next few moments passed in a blur.

  People on the sidewalk screamed. One of the screams came from Jennifer, whose distinctive voice called out my name in panic and worry.

  Cutter shouted, “Get down!”

  But it was too late—the shooter was across the street. I could just make him out in the shadows. His arm was raised and pointed directly at me. Tank must also have seen him, because he immediately stepped in front of me to protect me just as the gun went off again.

  Only this time something went terribly wrong.

  Something connected with Tank’s chest. I heard a rush of air escape his lips and I knew, even before he collapsed to the ground and struck his head on the sidewalk, that he’d just taken a bullet for me….

  Before I could bend to help him, another gunshot was fired. More people screamed, and as if in slow motion, I watched the shooter crumple to his knees as Max ran across the street and shot him again.

  Traffic snarled to a stop on Seventieth. Brakes screeched. Chaos had found its place here, and it had rooted itself so deeply into the asphalt that its dark bloom opened wide to cast its rotten spray of terror.

  Instinct kicked in. I bent down to help Tank, who wasn’t moving. “No,” I said as I gripped one of his shoulders and tried to turn him over. “No, no, no, no, no.” But he was too heavy—I couldn’t move him alone. “Please!” I shouted. “Somebody help me! Please!”

  Frantically, I looked around me just as Jennifer’s limousine cut away from the curb and bolted down Seventieth. She and Blackwell were gone, but Alex had stayed behind. He ran over to me at the same moment that Cutter reached us.