“He didn’t have a sister,” I replied.
“Yes, he did. Andrew Bordellini was my brother, you asshole. My half-brother.”
Still, my gut told me I was right. The man named Blade had no family. Nobody alive, at least.
“That man wasn’t your brother,” I said firmly.
Ava stood up. “He was. We had the same mother,” she said, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. “A bad one at that. But we were blood-related.”
More information started coming at me out of nowhere. “Your mother just died,” I said, staring off ahead as visions flashed before my eyes. I could almost picture the woman. “She… had an addiction. But, she’s free of it now.”
Ava stared at me, her mouth open.
I looked at her again and smiled grimly. “I don’t know if Hollywood told you, but I’m psychic. I get these… visions. Recently, it’s been more than that. It’s like the dead are trying to send me messages.”
She looked at me like I was crazy.
“Your mother… she’s with us right now,” I said, sensing her presence in the room. Images began flipping through my brain, like an album of memories. I could see her mother doing drugs and drinking to the point of passing out. This was followed by a deep sadness that washed over me. “She’s sorry for what she put you through.”
“What?”
“She was weak. She felt so ashamed,” I said, as more images were shown to me. I saw Ava as a child, frightened and scared. Someone… a man… put his hands on her and forced her to…
Angry at what I knew had taken place, I shook my head to clear my mind of the sick images. It was horrible, but it also gave me an insight on the woman who’d come to shoot me.
“Ava,” I said softly. “You weren’t ever going to shoot me.”
She swiped at her tears but didn’t say anything.
“Andrew is dead,” I said as another spirit called my attention. “But, I didn’t kill him. In fact, the man named Blade, wasn’t your brother. He was actually… his murderer.”
Chapter 42
Ava
I DIDN’T WANT to believe him, but there was something about the look in his eyes that made me wonder if there was any truth to what he was saying.
“What do you mean? Are you saying that Blade wasn’t Andrew?” I asked, my heart pounding wildly.
He nodded.
“But, they identified him. I read the newspaper article. Plus, they looked alike.” At least, as far as I could remember. It had been many years since I’d seen Andrew.
“Blade stole Andrew’s identity after he killed him,” Tarot said.
“Wouldn’t they know by his fingerprints who he was?”
“If your brother was never arrested, then they wouldn’t have any to match them with. Blade must have known this.”
I slumped down to the couch, feeling almost defeated. I just didn’t know what to believe. “But, then Blade must have never been arrested, either.”
“Or, he could have filed away his fingerprints somehow,” Tarot replied. “I’ve known guys to do that.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m the one with the gun right now. Why would I spin all of these lies and then let you go if I was the evil guy you thought I was?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You’re going to let me go?”
“Yeah. You need to find out what happened to your brother, because Blade wasn’t him.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
Tarot was silent for a several seconds and then his eyes lit up. “I have a friend who might be able to help.”
“Why do you want to help me after I came here to destroy you?”
“Because, you’re confused and hurting, Ava,” he replied with a sad smile. “And, it’s gone on long enough.”
Chapter 43
Jayce
TAROT CALLED ME when I was in the middle of an ink job. He left me a message but, unfortunately, I didn’t get it until a couple of hours later.
“Your girl, Ava, paid me a visit today. We’re getting things sorted out, but she needs you, brother. Call me as soon as you can.”
I quickly dialed his number and apologized for not getting back to him sooner.
“It’s fine. She’s already taken off, though.”
“Where’d she go and why in the hell did she pay you a visit?” So much for the nail and hair appointment. Obviously, another fucking lie.
He explained what had taken place, shocking the hell out of me.
“So, she came all this way to kill you?” I growled angrily.
“Yeah, you too, and anyone else associated with Blade’s death, I recon.”
I swore. I still couldn’t believe she’d played me like that. I felt betrayed and hurt.
“Why did you let her go?” I asked. “How do you know she’s not going to try killing you or one of us again? Hell, she might even go after Peyton.”
He told me how he’d explained to her that her brother wasn’t Blade, and that he’d somehow taken Andrew’s identity.
“Did she believe you?”
“I think so. She was pretty shaken up when she left here.”
I grunted. “I bet. So, what now?”
“I called Tank and he’s going to see if the Judge can help us figure out who this Blade guy really was. Or, what may have happened to the real Andrew Bordellini. I promised her I’d help with that.”
This news stunned me more than anything else he’d told me. “Why are you doing this for her?” I replied. “She tried killing you today.”
“She even didn’t get the chance to try. Besides, her brother was murdered. The only guy she ever trusted and… it tore her apart,” he said in a grim voice. “Someone needs to help put her back together again, if it’s at all possible.” He sighed. “I know you have feelings for her.”
“I did.” I laughed coldly. “Not anymore.” I was too angry at the moment to feel sorry for Ava. She’d lied to me the entire time. Even last night. Obviously, she’d been using me all along and probably would have shot me dead if Tarot wouldn’t have set her straight.
Feelings?
Yeah, mine consisted of boiling rage at the moment.
“She came out here to find justice for her brother,” Tarot said. “You have to almost admire the courage it took to try and pull it off. A little thing like that, trying to avenge her brother, who she obviously loved. I’d have done same damn thing. We all would.”
“Sorry, but I don’t admire the way she played me,” I ground out bitterly. “And if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay out of what you’re trying to do for her. I know I’m just a prospect and expected to follow orders, but this is not something I want to be a part of.”
He sighed. “I understand.”
We said a few more words to each other and then hung up. As far as I was concerned, I was completely done with Ava, or whatever the hell her name was. If Tarot wanted to help her out, that was on him. I wanted only to forget her and move on with my life.
Chapter 44
Ava
I WAS STILL there when Peyton and Ruby returned. Peyton had been surprised, but not Ruby. Apparently, she had the same psychic gift as her father. Not only did she know why I was there, but she wanted me to know about the bad man who’d tried hurting them.
“Honey, you don’t have to talk about it,” Tarot said gently.
“It’s okay. She’s sad and thinks it’s because of you.” Ruby looked at me. “That man was bad. He wasn’t who you thought he was either.” She looked at Tarot. “Right, Daddy?”
He nodded.
She turned back to me with her big, innocent blue eyes. “Your brother liked little kids, but Blade hated them. He hated everyone.” As she went on as we all stared at her in astonishment. “Your brother used to take you to the park and play hide-and-seek with you,” she said with a smile. “Just like my daddy.”
She then went on to tell me how she’d been living with her mean aunt and
how her father had rescued her the year before. The love in her eyes had almost brought me to tears again while I listened to the story. Thankfully, I’d pulled myself together and had found the courage to leave when they invited me to have lunch. I knew there was no way I could share a meal with them, knowing why I’d come in the first place.
Before I left, Tarot told me that he was going to talk to a friend of his, to see if they could find out what really happened to my brother.
“I don’t know what to say,” I said when he walked me to the door and handed me back my gun. “You’ve been so nice. I doubt very many people would forgive me the way you have.”
“I’m not like others,” he replied. “I see things differently. People, differently. You’re someone who wants justice. Not a cold-blooded killer. That’s why I don’t think you would have even pulled the trigger. It could have been your downfall.”
“I’d like to think I could if my life is in danger.”
He nodded. “You would. You might not be a murderer, but you’re brave.”
We walked outside.
“Where did you park?” he asked, looking around.
I told him.
“Need a ride?”
“No, I’m fine.” I sighed. “Does Jayce know yet?”
“No. I left him a message to call me.”
“He’s going to hate me when he finds out,” I replied, imagining how angry he was going to be. He had every right too.
“He’ll get over it,” Tarot replied. “Something tells me it will take a little while, though. He’s a stubborn guy at times.”
My heart felt heavy. Now that I knew he was innocent and not involved in Andrew’s death, I longed to be near him. But, something told me Jayce wasn’t going to be as forgiving as Tarot.
I held out my hand. “Let me know what you find out and… thanks again.”
He shook my hand. “I will. Hopefully we can put this thing to rest for you.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
I WALKED BACK to my car and got in. Curiously, I felt as if a big weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Apparently not committing murder will do that to you.
I started the engine and was driving away when I received a call from Millie’s sister, Clara. We didn’t talk much, so I knew something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” I asked after answering.
“Ava, Millie’s had a heart attack,” she whimpered, tears in her voice. “Please, come home.”
Chapter 45
Jayce
I DIDN’T HEAR from Ava. Not even about the flowers. I tried to pretend that it didn’t bother me, but it did.
I hooked up with Tarot that night, meeting him at Wild River Saloon, to discuss what had happened. He was already on his second beer when I showed up.
“I ordered you one already,” he said, when I sat down next to him at the bar. “Dos Equis. Your favorite.”
“Thanks.” I took a swig, and it went down damn good. Too good. The truth was, I felt like getting wasted, but knew it would lead to some drunken calls or texts, and my pride was insisting that I calm the fuck down. Ava wasn’t worth it.
“Have you talked to her?” he asked me.
I looked up at the television where the Twins were playing baseball. “I told you I was done with her.”
He ignored the comment. “Did she try calling you?”
I grunted. “No.”
“Did you try calling her?”
I looked at him. “Fuck no. If she wants to talk, she can take the initiative. I’m not chasing after her. Especially after the shit she pulled.”
“You’re being too hard on the woman,” he said.
“You might forgive her, but… I just can’t. Not right now at least.” I looked at him for a reaction.
He didn’t say anything.
“You have no idea how many times she lied to me. She played me like a fool,” I said, looking back up at the television. “I don’t think she told me anything that was true.”
“Did she tell you about her foster home?”
I sighed. “Yeah.”
“The abuse?”
I shrugged. “So, you’re saying that part is true?”
“I think so. That kind of stuff can really mess you up,” he replied.
“Maybe, but it doesn’t justify all of the lies. Not to mention that when I had my tongue down her throat, she was giving as much as she was taking,” I said, feeling disgusted. “Obviously, it was all part of the act. All lies from the very beginning.”
“Maybe, but I think something changed along the way for her. I know she was worried about you being mad at her.”
I raised my beer to my lips and took another drink. “Not worried enough to call me, though. She probably just said that to make herself look less heartless.”
He sighed.
“Did you talk to Tank yet?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah. He’s got the Judge looking into Andrew Bordellini.”
From what I’d learned, the Judge was an ex-hitman who could find intel on almost anyone or anything. Very few knew about him, and those of us who did, had never actually met the guy in person. Except for Tank.
Tarot told me that Ava’s brother had contacted him from the other side. Listening to him describe what had happened gave me the chills.
“Her mother made contact, too,” he said, after taking another sip of beer.
“So you’re seeing dead people now?” I asked with a wry smile.
“Not so much seeing them in front of me, but in my head.”
“That’s creepy.”
He shrugged. “Not to me. I imagine that these spirits are looking out for her, though. I could have killed her had I not known what was going on.”
“She’s lucky.”
“I’m lucky I grabbed her purse before she had a chance to pull the gun on me.” He emptied his beer and pushed it toward the edge of the bar. The bartender, a blonde named Alice, spotted the move and hurried over.
“You want another one?” she asked with a flirty smile.
“Yeah. Can you put in an order of nachos for me, too?” he asked.
She popped open a beer and slid it over. “Of course. What about you, handsome?” Alice asked, looking at me.
“I’ll take an order of those Jamaican wings,” I said. “Extra spicy.”
“You sure? Those things make grown men cry the way they are,” she replied with an amused grin.
Tarot shook his head. “He’s looking to torture himself tonight.” He smiled at me. “Pain is good, right?”
“In this case, yeah,” I replied.
“You’re going to need some milk,” Alice said.
“Just keep the beers coming,” I replied, raising the bottle to my lips. The more Dom talked about Ava, the more I wanted to drink.
She looked at Dom. “I think someone is going to need a ride later.”
Tarot nodded toward a couple of chicks sitting across the bar. They were staring over at us and smiling. “Something tells me he won’t have any problems finding one either.”
“Not interested,” I murmured. They were both attractive, but I wasn’t in the mood to flirt after what had happened over the last few days. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to any fucking woman unless she was serving me beer or food.
“Let’s see how you feel in a couple of hours. You want to play some darts?” Tarot asked, standing up.
“Sure. I’ll take another beer, too, please,” I said.
“Yeah.” Alice walked over to the cooler and grabbed a new one for me. “I’ll put the orders in for your apps,” she said, opening it. “And don’t worry, Hollywood. If you need a ride later, I get off at eleven. I’ll take you home.”
She’d given me a ride before, but in the back of her car. Something told me that if I kept drinking, we might end up there again. Especially after my dry spell and the fact that I was still angrier than hell at Ava. A few more beers and I’d be doing her just to get rid of my frustrations. I
knew that would be a real fucking dick move, though. Literally.
“I’ll be fine. I’m not staying too late,” I said before following Tarot to the dart machines.
“You change your mind, let me know,” she called out.
I turned around and smiled. “Of course. You’d be the first to know.”
Alice grinned.
“You’d better stop flirting with her,” Tarot said, when I reached him. “She likes you too much.”
“I wasn’t flirting.”
“Oh, right. ‘You’d be the first to know’,” Tarot repeated in a high voice. “If I recall, you two left together another night.”
“Yeah.”
“I’d advise against hooking up with her again. You’ll only hurt her in the long run.”
“Alice?”
“Yeah. Like I said, she is into you.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going home with her… or anyone,” I mumbled.
Tarot dropped some coins into the dart machine and it came to life. “Just do me a favor, will you?”
“What?”
“Don’t let your pride and stubbornness interfere with the heart.”
“The heart?” I snorted. “I don’t love Ava.”
“You feel something. Don’t lie.”
“Tarot, right now I’d rather not talk about her or my ‘feelings’,” I said bitterly. “So, don’t go all Dr. Phil on me.”
“Just trying to help, brother.”
“I know. I don’t need it, though. I’m fine.”
“Whatever you say.”
Love.
Been there. Done that. Was bitten in the ass by it.
Kind of like now…
Was this love?
I refused to think about it. I needed to get my mind on something else. I needed a shot.
I pulled out my wallet and told Tarot that I was getting one. “You want one, too? It’s on me.”
“I’ll take whatever you’re having and it’s on me, brother. After all, I own the place.”
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