Page 102 of Winter
“Inca?” His voice was a whisper. She murmured. He pulled out the hypodermic he always carried, regretting not bringing his knife with him, and slipped the needle into her neck. She moaned as he pressed the plunger. “Sleep, my darling.”
He waited until he heard her breathing deepen, becoming steady. He stripped down, took the knife from his pocket, and lay down beside her. He drew the tip of the blade over her skin, imagining pushing it deep into her, feeling her hot, sticky blood pulse over his skin as she bled out, the look of terror in her eyes as he murdered her, terror and resignation at his betrayal. The blood roared in his ears and he felt his heart quicken.
Soon. But not tonight. He was hard. He dropped the knife, slipped on a condom, and began to masturbate, stifling his grunts, burying his face in her hair. When he came, he dreamed of holding her ruined body as the life went from her eyes and her last breath sighed from her perfect lips.
Raffaelo sat in silence, waiting for Tommaso. The bar wasn’t busy; there were just a few customers drifting in and out. Raffaelo felt antsy. He wanted to see Inca; a day away from her made him nervous. The TV was on behind the bar, the sound muted. Raffaelo stared at it, watching news reports, reading the headlines running across the bottom of the screen. A drug-related shooting in the city, a building collapse, a body being pulled from the dark water of Elliott Bay. He leaned over and turned the sound up.
“The body has been badly mauled by marine life, but the police were able to tell us that the victim was a man in his eighties and that his deathissuspicious. Further details are expected to be released later today after a full autopsy.”
“That’s what I came to tell you.”
Olly’s voice made Raffaelo both start and, as he turned to him, he could see the strain on his face. Raffaelo’s heart began to thump heavily against his ribs and he knew what Olly was going to say before he said it.
“It’s Tyler.”
Raffaelo stood, his gaze intent on the cop, and Olly nodded.
“King Country confirmed it to me just now. Raff …” Olly’s voice was low but urgent. “We need to get to Inca.Now.”
Raffaelo was already out the door before he’d finished his sentence.
The funeral wasa sad repeat of Nancy’s, except, this time, Raffaelo stayed with Inca as her father’s coffin was brought in. She hadn’t slept since the night Raffaelo had come for and she’d opened the door, seen his face, and knew.
She hadn’t cried. Numb was the only emotion she felt now. After Tyler’s coffin was lowered into the ground, she turned and walked away before the pastor had even finished his prayer. She kept walking and walking until she reached the road. She knew Raffaelo, and probably Tommaso and Olly, would be following her, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered.
She stopped and let out a howl of complete rage, grief, and frustration. “Come and get me, motherfucker! Come on! I’m right here! Fucking kill me and let’s get this done!”
She went on screaming and cursing until her voice gave out. When Raffaelo wrapped his arms around her, she struggled, but he wouldn’t let her go and eventually she cracked, sobbing in his arms.
Raffaelo closedthe bedroom door and went down to the study. Most of the furniture had been covered or taken to storage now in preparation for their move back to Italy and only a skeleton staff remained to tend to the Winters and their guest.
Tommaso was waiting for his brother. “How is she?”
Raffaelo looked exhausted. “The sooner we get out of here, the better.”
Tommaso nodded. “You’re right. Raff … I didn’t want to tell you before, what with the funeral and everything, but I have some news.”
Raffaelo rubbed his eyes. “Not more bad news, please.”
Tommaso chuckled softly. “No. Not exactly … it’s just that …when you and Inca move to Sorrento … I won’t be coming with you.”
Raffaelo’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Tommaso smiled. “It’s time we lived our own lives, now, Raff. This past year, loving the same woman—although I’ll never, ever regret one day—well, after the crap with Dad, I think I realized, I have to move on. Find my own Inca. She gave me a beautiful glimpse of what could be. I’m looking forward to finding out what the future holds.”
Raffaelo got up and hugged his brother tightly. “Don’t go too far.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
They madeplans to travel back to Italy at the end of the week. Inca told Raffaelo she wanted some time with Olly and Knox before they left. She still couldn’t believe they were the only ones left. So much death, so much sorrow.
Olly opened the door and Inca saw he was wearing pain-spattered overalls. He looked sober and even, Inca couldn’t believe it, relaxed. He held up a brush.
“Painting the living room. Come on in.”
She followed him into the kitchen and studied him as he made coffee.
“You look remarkably chipper.”
