“S-sister?” Lenny stutters, looking over Giovanni’s shoulder at me. When I wave back and smile, he gulps. “I didn’t know.”
“My father said you’d know my face,” Giovanni begins, laughing at the bittersweet irony Lenny has presented us with. “Apparently, you really are one of the dense ones. So, I’m going to spell this out for you,” he starts, stepping forward so it forces Lenny backwards. “Get outside now. Don’t question me. Don’t fucking second guess me. And don’t, and I mean don’t, try to get out of this. Get the fuck outside before this scene gets any worse.”
As Lenny scurries for the door, Giovanni hot on his trail, I force the vial back into my bra, grab my jacket and purse, and run after them. I leave the bar, looking in the direction Giovanni stalked after Lenny, and as I see my incensed brother take our latest victim around the side of the building, I take it as my moment to slip away into the night. I rush away, not looking back, not slowing for anything. I need to get to Zane’s and get him to pack and leave. I need to have him as far away from Manhattan as possible, and I don’t care if I have clothes or not, but I’m leaving with him.
I know not to take the car, as it’ll be the easiest route to finding me. With the cars loaded with GPS tracking, there is no way I can get away without being tracked. I decide public transportation is the only thing left for me to use, and I have to hurry myself.
After my hesitation to kill Lenny and my sudden escape from Giovanni, it’s almost as if my need to flee with Zane is all I can think about. The feeling has flooded me without my knowledge, and the need is suffocating. I have been cast up in this storm, kept in the eye of the storm, protected from the chaos of its hurricane walls, and basked in the bright sunlight that lives beyond the grey clouds. Now, as it all begins to wilt and slip around, I see nothing but brighter days and the calm after a huge storm. I’ve been running for so long, but now I finally feel I can stop. When I get to Zane, the end game will happen. My biggest sacrifice will be him for my family – the decision has been finally made.
For the first time in my life, I live like a normal person. I walk toward the nearest subway, enter with my head held high, and look forward to turning up on Zane’s doorstep as a surprise. He told me I was worth running away with, now I’m telling him he’s worth losing my family for. For all the years I’ve lived under my father’s clutches, there is no way they amount to the last few weeks.
Zane vowed round two would be better than round one, and after minor hiccups, I can say I never want the chance for a round three. I want this state to remain. I want the warmth in my body to fuel me through life. The beating of my heart, the flutter to it has to stay with me because I feel more alive loving Zane than I ever had killing a man. Breathing is easier, happiness is found easier, and I find myself waking with a smile on my face. How do I jeopardize that? The simplest answer is I can’t.
As I sit and allow Manhattan to pass by, the excitement builds in me, but there is a cloud of worry that I’ll be too late. I have to hope this will be quicker than driving across the city to Zane’s place and as the stops whiz past, and I realize we’re getting closer, I only seem to revel in optimism most. It only seems to mount as the next stop is mine.
And as the train slows, I’m on my feet, ready to rush from the subway and up to Zane’s apartment. As the doors slide open, I run from the train and hurry myself up the stone steps toward the street above. When the cool air hits me, I find myself instinctively working my way to his place. All the while I’m ready to kiss the man who I pledge my life to and leave the torment my life has become.
I know his apartment isn’t far from here, and my feet begin to cry at the pressure I’m putting through at running in stilettos. I just hope they don’t give in yet, not when I see the front of his building come into view. I only pick up my pace, and I’m pleased when I see nothing suspicious going on. It makes me believe we’ll get a clean break before my father sends in reinforcement.
I run up his steps, rushing to his floor, key already in hand. I don’t care for the pain in my feet as I do so, I just want to make a swift exit to a better life. I can withdraw some money before anyone knows I’m gone, I can buy new clothes to keep me going, but all I want to do is leave and never have to look back.
And as soon as I’m through the door, I’m asking the most important question of my evening, “How quickly can you pack?” I ask as I push the door closed and turn back to face the apartment.
I’m met with silence, and I look to the kitchen for any signs of life. There isn’t any. I go to look and find Zane nowhere. I hurry my steps and rush into the living room, but again he’s not there. I can’t even hear the shower running as I walk the apartment. My only hope is he’s in bed resting, so I decide to discard of my jacket and bag and head for the bedroom.