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I keep my mouth shut. Any word could be construed as begging, and there’s no way I’m risking my family’s life.
Family. God, I wanted that so bad. My boys and Tilly. They’re already my entire world. She’ll find someone else, right? Someone that loves her like I do? I have to hope. That’s the only way. Maybe her next man will actually keep her safe, get her away from her sick family.
“Walk to the edge,” Ricardo says, and I hear a small click. It seems to echo all around me, like the last reminder that I can still try something. I want to ask 'what edge?' when I see it, the cliff in front of us. He's going to make me jump. An accidental death, no doubt. The police won't even know that this snake is taking a bribe. For a split second, I want to fight. To force him to shoot me. Maybe then he won't get away with it.
But I can’t do anything stupid, not again. Hitting Keaton is my biggest regret, and I won’t do anything like that ever again. I walk, each step harder than the last. When I’ve counted out ten, I look far off over the hills.
The sunset is beautiful in the distance. Oranges and reds all swirled together. It reminds me of Tilly’s tattoo. The top has a golden sunset over a beautiful beach. I close my eyes and picture her. That million-watt smile. The way she always smells like lilac and vanilla. Her growing belly. The sound of my babies’ heartbeats through the machine.
But instead of hearing a gunfire or the shock of pain, I hear something overhead. The thump of helicopter blades.
They grow closer, and suddenly a megaphone booms. “Agent Lopez, put down the weapon!”
I don’t wait for my next chance. I sprint off into the bushes just as I hear sirens roar down the dirt road. Faster and faster, I continue, my legs growing tired, being scraped by the vegetation. Still, I don’t stop. Getting back to Tilly is all that’s on my mind.
I run until I can’t breathe anymore. I’m in fantastic shape. Surfing on a daily basis has given me muscles and endurance. Run. Run. Run. I keep going until my chest feels as if it will burst. Then, I stop. If I don't, my heart might explode. Hunched over, I gulp in air. I have no idea how far I’ve gotten.
But far off behind me, I hear a familiar voice. “Tommy!”
That’s Greg. I turn back around and inhale deeply before jogging towards my own name.
Chapter forty-five
Tilly
Sam holds my hand in the hospital bed. Both boys are fine, to everyone’s relief, but I have a small crack in one of my ribs. That explains why it feels impossible to breathe. I’m getting a bag of fluids, and then Sam will be able to take me home. But I know that if Tommy isn’t okay, the hospital is probably the best place for me.
Losing Tommy would wreck me. I’m barely holding it together. If Sam wasn’t with me, I probably would have gone crazy already.
My phone rings, and I pick up. “Tilly?” Miranda’s voice is soft, full of anxiety.
“I’m okay, but they got Tommy.”
Miranda makes a choking sound before bursting into tears. “I’m so sorry, Til. I was with Grayson.”
I hear Grayson’s voice in the background, and Miranda quickly explains to him what’s going on. I hear Grayson swear a few times before Miranda comes back on the line. “Where are you?”
“The hospital. Don broke one of my ribs,” I say, my tone flat.
“Which one?”
"Uh, do they have names? I don't know but its in my back."
She chuckles softly without any real humor and I want to punch her through the phone. "Not the rib. Which hospital?" I tell her, and Miranda says she and Grayson are on their way.
Before Miranda can hang up, my phone beeps. I look at the screen. It’s Greg. Without saying goodbye to my sister, I switch the line. My heart races, my breathing stops. I can’t even muster the courage to speak a single word.
“Til? You there?” It’s Tommy’s voice.
“Tommy!” I screech the name out and cover my own mouth with my hands.
“I’m okay, babe. Greg swooped in like a fucking super cop. There were helicopters and everything.”
I’m sobbing, my eyes blurry from the tears. But I’m nodding, though he can’t see that.
“Are you okay?” he asks. I hand the phone to Sam, still unable to form words.
“She broke a rib, but the boys are both fine.”
