Ned swipes a hand through the air. “I did what I had to
do. You’d do no different. It’s not like I was giving them your
head on a platter, boy. With Roberto, you’d be rich and powerful beyond your wildest dreams. It’s better than anything your stupid father could secure for you. I’m doing you a favor.”
I shake my head slowly. “How could you think I’d ever
become a criminal? I guess when you’ve sunken to that level,
you think anyone will.”
“You’re not as noble as you fancy yourself.” Ned scoffs. “You’re
as low and common as any man here.”
Fay jumps to my defense. “Don’t you dare insult him.”
He whirls around. “Keep quiet.” His eyes burn with rage.
“You have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do. You’re
nothing! Completely useless! If you’d done your job in the first
place, we wouldn’t be in this mess. You worthless slut.” As he
speaks the insult, he brings the back of his hand hard across
Fay’s jaw.
She lets out a cry of pain. Blood brightens her bottom lip.
Shocked and furious, I grab Ned’s arm, pulling him away.
“How dare you strike her!”
Ned shoves me. Fay’s eyes glisten with angry tears. “Now you
see your uncle’s true colors, Lon.”
“Shut up,” Ned barks.
“I’m not going to shut up,” Fay cries. “My father may be a
criminal, but at least he owns up to who he is. You try to pretend that you’re a wealthy businessman. You throw all these parties so people will respect and admire you. But I’m going to
tell everyone what a low life you are. I’m going to tell them all!”
Ned grabs Fay by the wrist, bending it at an unnatural angle.
She cries out.
“Let go of her!” I lunge forward, grabbing him by the collar.
Once again, Ned shoves me back, his sheer size giving him
frightening strength. When I go for him again, he lands a punch
to my jaw so hard that I crash backward into the stone bench.
Ned spins to deal with Fay, but she has one of her red shoes
in hand, and with a shout, she brings the high heel down into
Ned’s face. He roars with shock and pain. Free from his grip,
Fay runs headlong into the party, disappearing into the movement of the crowd.
Ned lets out a furious growl. Pressing a hand to the cut on his
face, he tears off after her.
“Ned!” I shout, running to keep up with him. “This is
between you and me! Leave her alone!”
Ned makes his way through the crush of the bodies writhing
and dancing, but they engulf me. In a blink, I can’t see Ned anymore. And I can’t see Fay either. I call her name, but the cry is lost in the music. I turn a full circle, looking frantically for her.
Nothing.
A trio approaches me, goading me to join their game of
hide-and-seek. I push past them without as much as a word. I
have to find Fay. She was right. My uncle is the dangerous one.
And then, like a steam engine right into my chest, a thought
strikes me. Is my uncle the one I should have been suspecting
all this time? Is my uncle the one who kills me?
All at once, the music and laughter of the party fade. The colors
and lights blend together around me. Across the lawn and into
the shadows, the sight of Fay running, her red dress like a smear
of blood. Ned is little more than an arm’s length away.
In slow motion, Fay tosses a terrified look over her shoulder.
Her eyes connect with mine. And then, she turns to the bushes.
To the path.
Like two ghosts, she and Ned vanish into the dark beauty of
the beach.
The beach.
A thudding heartbeat. A shallow breath. Everything else is
blotted out by darkness.
But I know what I have to do. And for the first time in days,
I’m not afraid. In fact, after so much turmoil, I marvel at the
elegance of it all. Fate found a way to get me on that beach.
And I accept it. Because I must. Because I won’t let fate have
anyone else. And if I don’t stop Ned, Fay will die as well.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and walk a final time
to the sea.