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35
RAFE
“I have some news,” Libby said over the phone. “There’s supposed to be a shipment coming in tonight in San Francisco where Zavala is currently docked.”
“Tonight?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“How credible is it?”
“I would say about fifty-fifty.”
There was no way there was another shipment coming in. Zavala was trying to draw me out of hiding. He knew his only way to tempt me was to spread word of another shipment. He thought I would drop everything for the chance to throw another chink in his plans.
He wasn’t entirely wrong. He just didn’t realize my plans far exceeded ruining his business.
“I’ll be there.”
“I don’t think you should go,” Libby said, speaking more forcefully than she usually did. “Rafe, I don’t like the feel of this.”
“Then why did you tell me?”
“Because you know I would never keep anything from you.”
I chuckled at that. She absolutely would. If anything, she was more cunning than I was. It was one of the things I loved most about her. And one of the things I would miss when this all came to a head.
“You would, so why did you tell me?”
She sighed in irritation. “Because whatever your plans are, this might be what you’ve been waiting for.”
“You know all my plans.”
“Don’t think for even a second you can pull the wool over my eyes, Rafe. Ever since I first met you, I knew you were keeping secrets from me. There’s always been something you won’t tell me, and I’ve never asked. But I’m telling you right now that whatever this is about, you won’t win tonight.”
“You have so little faith in me.”
“I have absolute faith in you, but I also know that you would give anything to achieve your goals.”
I could hear the anger and fear in her voice as she chastised me. For once, I stopped and listened, knowing that even though I wouldn’t change my mind, this would be the end. The last time I ever heard her reprimand me. The last time I ever heard the worry in her voice or the slight tremble when she yelled at me.
I didn’t deserve a woman like Libby. I could only hope she would forgive me when this was all over. For me, this was the end, but she had a long life ahead of her, and I would give anything to know that she was safe from the outcome of what I was about to do.
“Rafe, I’m asking you not to do this. For me. Please, walk away.”
“I can’t do that,” I answered quietly.
“For me, Rafe. I’ve never asked you for anything. I’ve stood by…I’ve helped you over the years, making sure you achieve your goals. But please, don’t ask me to watch you do this.”
“You don’t even know what I’m doing,” I chuckled.
“This time is different.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, but I could feel the pain and anguish tearing through her. I wished it could be different, but I didn’t fight for years to achieve my goal only to walk away because a woman asked me to.
Even if that woman was someone I loved more than my own life.
I’d never forget that first day I met her. I thought she was so young and innocent. But under that soft exterior was a warrior that matched my own spirit. She was my equal in every way, and it was only because of her that I was able to keep going even when everything looked like it would fall apart.
