Page 160 of Callan

The space stretching between us makes the thought that she’s gone unbearable.

Will I see her again?

Frankly, I don’t know. Anything could happen. Good stuff and bad stuff.

For sure, I want to stay away from her.

The worst stuff needs to come with me. Things she can’t have in her life. Like criminals and low lives.

Maybe I should just let her go. See about her life. Look for a job. Maybe think about moving someplace else.

One way or another, Carmen, her husband, and Alvarez won’t be a problem soon.

If the police don’t take care of them, I will.

But if it gets to that, and I take care of them, I might be facing an even bigger problem.

My invisible enemy will know.

He probably already knows about Mackenzie and me.

So I’ll make it look like she doesn’t matter much, so he can never think she may be used as leverage in his ploy.

I hate it when thugs go for the low-hanging fruit.The women and children.

I already hate that this guy is playing with me, waiting for me to make a mistake. Stealing from me and then sending me on a wild goose chase.

I don’t like to be fooled, and now that it impacts my life and the people close to me, I hate it even more.

She never turns around to look at me.

Why would she?

What good would it do to her?

I already told her what I had to say.

She knows I’m doing it for a reason. But that doesn’t take away the pain from my not changing my mind.

I lean back in my seat, pondering and grinding my teeth as I try to think of a better option. I don’t see one.

Even if I take a risk, this is not about risking my business. It’s about risking her life.

This isn’t about me as much as it is about her.

I hate seeing her go.

She was my sweet moment of reprieve, a nice reminder that life can be different. It doesn’t have to be about fighting and plotting out weird stuff.

It doesn’t have to be about revenge and protecting our turf.

Defending our positions.

It doesn’t have to be about acquiring power.

Power that gets us nothing in the end, or even worse, can get us killed.

My jaw is locked and tense when she vanishes out of my sight. A woman with long dark hair, a soft voice, and lips made of honey.

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