Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
He pours more wine and drinks half of it down. I lean back against the couch, unable to stay upright any longer. I’m afraid I might pass out, my heart’s beating so fast.
“I don’t even remember what the fight was about. I think over who would take control of the Oceanview. Did you know we started that place together? It’s Tony’s now, he got most of the funding, but still. It was meant to be ours, and we just couldn’t agree on anything. So we were fighting, and he was driving way too fast.”
I can feel it all over. The tires screaming on pavement. The smell of burning rubber and brake pads as the car tried to stop. The thump of my body slamming against the hood. The pavement like an iron bar slapped across my face.
“It was dark and it was late, and Tony was never all that attentive. I don’t know what you were thinking, but you decided to cross one of those really dark streets, one of the alleys without any lights. Which is lucky, actually, because if Tony had been on a main road, you’d be dead. When you crossed, he was going slow enough that he had an instant to slam on the brakes before he hit you.”
My body in the air. The way the pain hit, but on a delay, and from a distance.
“You were in the car,” I whisper.
“That’s how I got to you so fast. Tony stopped the car and we sat there for a beat. You were lying in the road in the headlights. Nobody else was around. Tony kept saying fuck, over and over again. I took off my seatbelt. He followed when I got out of the car and walked over. Your eyes were open, but you looked dead, just staring at us with this blank gaze. I moved to help, but Tony grabbed my arm and he held me hard. I’ll never forget what he said. I think that’s the moment our relationship finally ended.”
“Tell me,” I croak. I don’t want to hear it, but I have to.
“He said, ‘Leave her. We gotta get out of here.’ That’s all. Just, Leave her. I sat there for another second before I pulled myself away and went over to help. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I tried anyway. That’s when he drove off.”
The horror settles on my shoulders like a blanket. I slowly sink down to the floor, the pain in my knee agonizing. I lean forward, feeling sick, sweat beading down my back. “He drove off,” I repeat, the terrible truth of it jabbing me in the guts. “He left me for dead.”
“I stayed,” Adler says. “I stopped the bleeding the best I could. I called 911 and held your hand. I told them I was out for a walk, that I was in the area when the hit-and-run happened, and nobody pressed me hard. Why would they? I’m Adler Costa. I lied for Tony, I covered for him, and I hated him.”
Tears stream down my face. That’s why Tony Costa knows me. He’s the one that hit me with his car. And that’s why I’m a loose end.
He never finished the job.
“Why?” I ask. “Why did you help him? Why didn’t you report him, get him arrested? He almost killed me. He ruined my life. And you helped him.”
“He was my friend,” Adler says, sounding sad. “It was the wrong decision, but at the time it felt like the only one I could make. I stayed with you that night because it was the right thing to do, and I covered for Tony because I felt like it was the right thing to do, but I shouldn’t have. Looking back on it now, I should’ve told the truth. Only I didn’t.”
“That’s why you married me, isn’t it? Tony’s running for office and he’s afraid I’ll remember him.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“I’m a loose end.”
“Unfortunately, you are.”
“And you were there. You were in the car.”
“I should have told you sooner.” He takes a step toward me, but I flinch and scramble to my feet. I limp badly as I struggle through the pain, heading toward the elevator. He doesn’t come closer. “I’m sorry, Casey. I knew that when I told you, you’d hate me. You’d look at me like you’re looking at me now. Like you’re afraid.”
He’s right. I am afraid.
What kind of monster runs over a girl and leaves her for dead?
And what kind of psychopath covers up for that monster?
“Don’t follow me,” I say, jamming the call button.
Adler stands in the hallway, watching me. His face twitches like he’s struggling to keep himself composed.
“There’s a reason I took care of you all these years. You could call it guilt if you wanted. I prefer to call it something else.”