Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Fine, Zolt. You convinced me,” Trowley said, standing at the threshold as the last Jackal while the others mounted their machines in the parking lot. “You have a week, but I advise you to work fast, because in a few days, there will be no more Smokeys to speak of.”
Zolt didn’t have the strength to summon a smile, but he stepped closer to the exit and watched the pack ride off with a squeak of tires, taking with them his gold, some of his valuables, his dignity, and the life of his pets. But what really mattered was that they hadn’t hurt Leo.
Exhaustion took hold of him as soon as danger was out of sight, and he collapsed to his knees. He didn’t know how long he’d sat still when the door to the apartment squeaked open and Leo stepped out in just his jeans, accessorized with a handgun he was holding.
“What the fuck happened, Zolt?” he asked, looking around, but as soon as he spotted the broken aquarium, he stuffed the firearm into the back of his pants and rushed past the counter. “Fuck, fuck! Let’s get some water, this one’s still alive!” He grabbed the little fish, despite flinching when shards of glass cut into his feet, and he took it to the aquarium where a tiny bit of water still lingered at the bottom.
Zolt stared back at him and shook his head. “It’s gonna die anyway. They’re all dead. That bastard squashed Atilla with his sh—” His voice broke, and he rubbed his face with damp hands as his heart became ever heavier and pulled him down.
Leo—Zolt's rock, the man who'd scraped him off the pavement last night—kneeled by his side and gave him a tight hug. “I’m so sorry. What did they want? I didn’t hear it all. Aren’t you on friendly terms with them?”
Zolt was cold despite the warmth of Leo’s arms. He didn’t know if he wanted to test Leo’s feelings again, or if he secretly longed to spoil this strange but beautiful thing between them, but he cleared his throat and spoke. “I called them last night and told them I’d sell them your drugs. I called it off later, but they still came.”
He’d expected Leo to push him away, but he only tightened his arms around Zolt and rubbed his forehead against Zolt's temple. “Zolt… Zolt, come on… fuck. Fuck.” And yet he didn’t pull away, as if nothing Zolt did was irreparable. “What did you think would happen once the Smokeys found out?”
He’d intended to be out of town before that happened, but the burning desire for the Caribbean sun has been replaced by a different kind of yearning altogether. “A moment of madness. And look where it got me. I spoiled everything last night.”
Leo kissed Zolt’s cheek, barely a brush of lips. “I love DIY, remember? I’ll fix this.”
His words choked Zolt harder than Vince’s arms ever could have, and he turned to face him, rolling his thigh straight into the cool water. “I didn’t give you up, so maybe you managed to fix some of my rotten personality.”
“Let’s take the drugs and go in case they change their mind and come back.” Leo gave Zolt one more kiss.
Zolt highly doubted Hank Heller would be this understanding of Zolt’s transgressions, but he didn’t have the energy to argue. He’d made a shitload of mistakes, and maybe it was time to face the music. But if he was to leave, he needed to prepare for the eventuality of never coming back.
“Give me a hammer,” he said and rose to his feet, approaching the corner where he’d plastered over one of his secret stashes. He needed to shove away some bicycles to reach it, but his stock would become obsolete anyway.
Leo walked off to get his tools from under one of the counters but soon joined Zolt with a curious glance. “What is it?”
Zolt grabbed the hammer and smashed it into the wall, sending a cloud of dust into the air as he broke through the thin barrier, revealing the tightly-packed Ziploc bags. Heat created vapor that clouded Zolt’s mind, but he was way past holding on to his secrets. “My retirement fund,” he said and tossed Leo the first bag full of hundred dollar bills.
Leo raised his eyebrows. “Got any more of those?”
Zolt took Leo around the building, emptying all the stashes until the cash and valuables created a pile on the coffee table, and the two of them were both dusted with bits of plaster. Now that Leo knew, Zolt couldn’t just pack up and anonymously leave for the Caribbean, and while the man he’d been for the past fifteen years mourned those plans, Zolt knew he’d have mourned the loss of Leo’s presence at his side even more.
“What will you tell them?” he said after a moment of tense silence.