Mallory ran over to me. “What is it?”
“I need to sit down.” I hurried over to the couch. The letter was burning a hole in my hand and my freaking heart. I set the letter on the table then blew in and out several times.
The sound of a running faucet trickled in my ears, and a moment later, Mallory handed me a glass of water.
I eyed the bar. “I think I need something much harder.”
She stuck the glass in my face. “No. You’re on pain meds.”
I took the glass of water but didn’t drink.
She sat next to me and pointed at the letter. “May I?”
Nodding, I decided to drink the water. Maybe it was enough to kick-start my brain or get rid of the numbness blanketing my body. Beneath my shock, so many emotions sizzled—anger, hurt, excitement, hell, and everything under the sun.
Mallory read the first page to herself, and when she finished, she also shrieked, but not as forcefully as I had.
“Can you read the second page to me?” I asked.
She swallowed then began.
“I went to Hector’s to actually find Denim. I wanted to talk to him about you. I’d overheard him talking to Duke about how he missed you. So I was going to convince him to call you to see if you two could rekindle things. He wasn’t at his apartment, and I knew if he wasn’t there, he was probably at Hector’s.
“Yeah, Duke and Denim attracted trouble and the wrong kind of people. It’s true that the world Denim and Duke live in is no place for sweet people like you. I also know that Denim saw firsthand how Hector lost the love of his life to one of his enemies, and that scared the fuck out of Denim, which was the reason he broke up with you. I only know that because, again, I overheard him talking to Duke one day.
“Anyway, I had just entered Hector’s building when a gun went off. Scared, I ran out and hid in the shadows across the street. Denim didn’t come out of the building that night. Tito Alvarez did. I don’t know what happened. But the next thing I knew, Denim was getting arrested. I never had a chance to talk to him.
“You’re probably wondering why I didn’t go to the police. Oh, I thought about it and decided I should do the right thing. But after Hector’s neighbor gave her statement to the police and disappeared shortly after, I clammed up. I didn’t want to face the same fate as the neighbor, and I would’ve if Tito ever found out I saw him. He’s a monster, sis. He has no regard for human life.”
Closing my hands into fists, I was ready for vengeance.
“I hope you understand I had to keep my mouth shut. Well, I did tell Duke when he came to visit me two months ago. He didn’t know until then. I kept calling and calling him until he broke down and finally came to see me. When I told him the story, he was livid, but he said he could’ve protected me, which was why I couldn’t get him to take my calls after I told him. But the only person who could protect me was me.”
I grabbed Mallory’s arm. “I need a break.” I wiped tears from my face with the sleeve of my robe.
“Only two short paragraphs left,” she said through her own tears.
I blinked. I might as well push through.
She scooted closer to me and finished reading the letter.
“Sis, I could go on for days and tell you more about me, apologize, cry, and beg for your forgiveness, but it doesn’t matter if I’m dead. However, I would like for you to do one thing for me. The two women in the gang who have been beating me were Greta Sanchez and Louise Collier. They were operating on orders from Tito Alvarez. I don’t know how he found out I knew about him being at Hector’s. I never told a soul except Duke.
“In closing, please make sure Tito and these two women pay. I also want you to use this letter as my confession to Denim. I want him to know how very sorry I am. Duke will never forgive me, but I do hope Denim understands.
I do love you. I’ll say hi to Mom and Dad.
Your rebellious but loving sister,
Savannah Kelly
P.S. I’m going to give this letter to a friend of mine who visits me frequently. I’ll ask her to send it only if anything happens to me. Her name is Ellie Rogers, and if you ever get the chance to look her up, please thank her for me.”
I bawled my eyes out. My heart literally hurt, and I wanted to hug my sister. I wanted to hold her and tell her I loved her. Sadly, I would never get to again.
Mallory drew me into her embrace, smoothing a hand down my hair and back. “Let it out.” She sniffled.
“Did you happen to overhear where Denim was meeting Tito?” I asked through a river of tears.
