Page 42 of His Last Shot

You Are Dead to Me

Rachel

S LAM!!

The door shuts violently, shaking the pictures hanging on the walls and causing Dexter to jerk out of his chair, his hand flying to his heart.

“Rachel?” he asks after he gets his breathing under control. He scoots his chair out, using his hands as leverage on the armrests to heave himself out of it. “What in the world are you—”

I hold my hand up. “Don’t come any closer to me.” He lowers his head, understanding etched on his brows as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “How could you do this to me?” I ask, my words coming out shakier than I want them to.

I’m a hot mess. Being awake all night heartbroken and crying will do that to a person. So, no doubt my eyes are puffy and bloodshot, my skin red and blotchy.

After Johnny and I had a heartbreaking goodbye last night, and as soon as the sun rose, I got in my car and drove straight here to confront him. With no idea what to expect from this conversation.

“He’s no good for you, Rachel,” he replies, not even man enough to look me in the eye as he says this.

“SAYS WHO?!” I scream at the top of my lungs, causing him to flinch. The air around us ebbs and flows with anger as I stalk toward him. With each step, the rhythm of my approach echoes the thud of my heartbeat as I get closer to him. “I get to say who makes me happy and who doesn’t. I say what I—”

“You get no say,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Do you even understand how that man cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars yesterday? I warned him.” He rounds the desk to get closer to me.

For the first time in thirty years, being with my uncle is scaring me.

I take a step backward. “I told him what would happen if he crossed me. You should thank me. I gave you a gift.”

“You are sick.”

“I could make that whole family of his disappear”—he snaps his fingers—“like that. Instead, I chose you, Rachel. Don’t you get it? The alternative was to lose him and that whole family that you love more than me.”

Realization washes over me. “Is that what this is about? Jealousy?”

Now it’s his turn to scream. “I did everything for you!! I took you and Micah in when you had NOTHING!” His eyes are wide and wild, and that’s when I notice the dilated pupils and the redness. My attention flicks to his desk. White powder, a razor.

Coming in here, I was so angry and laser-focused that I missed what was right in front of me. Evidence that’s blaring its horn, loud enough for me to hear and understand. Somehow, and I don’t know when, my uncle’s criminal activity has expanded. To drugs.

And he’s partaking.

But I barrel ahead. “This isn’t a contest! I can love Johnny and have him in my life and still be a niece to you. Why can’t you see that!?”

“For months, you have been choosing him over me, your family! I took care of you! I set you up with doctors for your RA, gave you a job. I even handed you the perfect man on a platter.”

My head jerks. “Who? What are you talking about?”

“DREW! I knew you would fall for him. You made it so easy, and you’re so unbelievably predictable. He’s your type, after all. Tall, older, handsome, and rich. I told him what to say, what to do to get you to fall for him. And it worked. But the idiot had to screw it up … literally screw it up. ”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My uncle orchestrated my entire relationship with Drew. A tightness builds in my chest, and the panic rises. But somehow, I push it down.

“Why? Why would you do that to me?”

“Why else? To take care of you! Drew is going to take over my empire.” Empire?

He can’t be serious right now? “Micah was always too weak, too into Shelby and his cooking. But Drew. Ah, Drew has all the makings. And I need for all of this”—he sweeps his arm over his office—“to stay in the family. Think of it, Rachel. We could expand. Dexter’s could be a national and maybe even a global brand.

A perfect house for my operation to thrive under.

With Drew at the helm and you by his side, it’s possible.

” He’s in front of me now and grabs my biceps.

I jump. “All of this can take care of you for the rest of your life. All Johnny can give you is—”

“Love. Johnny gives me love.” He drops his grip on me as he walks away, back toward his desk.

“Drew may claim to love me, but he loves himself more. Always has. And I don’t care about this place, Dexter.

I care about my life and what I need and want.

And if you love me, like you claim to, you would see that Johnny makes me happy.

I don’t want anything to do with your global dreams. Count me out. ”

He scoffs. “That’s your choice. My plan is going forward, with or without you.

” Standing behind his desk, he grabs a picture.

I know the one. It’s him, Micah, and me standing at the ocean, the water behind us.

Uncle Dexter is in the middle with his arms around both of our shoulders.

It was a happier time, full of love and safety. I grimace at the memory.

But now, that’s all gone.

He studies it for a beat or two. His expression softens, then the anguish rolls off of him in waves.

His lip curls. “Johnny needs to pay for what he cost me. So, I’m taking from him what he loves.

” He shrugs as he opens his desk drawer and tosses in the frame.

“Seems like a fair trade.” He slams it shut.

I flinch. “You and Johnny cannot see each other. Ever. And trust me, I will know if you have any contact with him. You saw the photos. I’m everywhere.

If you want to keep his family safe, you know what to do. ”

Anger blazes in my head. “I hate you.”

He plops in his chair. “That’s too bad. Because I love you, and I know what’s best for you. Even if you can’t see it yourself.”

Oh, but I’m not done. I approach the desk cautiously.

“I could turn you in.” His head snaps up, his eyes narrowing, and a vein throbs in his temple.

“The gambling, the tax evasion. I could call the police and let them know. An investigation would start, which would lead to them finding other things, I’m sure. I’ll do it.”

This is it. My Hail Mary pass, my only trump card.

Then he laughs.

Actually laughs.

Shaking his head after composing himself, he points at me. “You are such a stupid little girl, you know that? Do you seriously think the cops don’t know what happens at this place? Or that they aren’t here participating themselves? I have them right where I want them.”

“I’ll go to the FBI then.”

He slams his hands down on his desk. “ENOUGH!”

The outburst causes me to stumble backward. His nostrils flare, a crimson tide flooding his face as his breath hitches in his chest, a barely suppressed snarl forming on his lips.

But then, in a split second, he composes himself. “You know what, do that. Because you will see Micah hauled out of here in handcuffs right along with me.”

My chest tightens at the sound of my brother’s name, and I suck in a sharp breath. Micah’s involved?

Dexter continues. “Micah made some drops for me, some runs, a few years ago when he was trying to save for an engagement ring. And I made sure he got that ring. It was nothing major, but major enough for the Feds. So, you go ahead and call whoever you want to call. But something tells me you won’t do that to your brother.

Am I right?” I lower my head and shake it.

“ And as for me? Well, I can guarantee you I would walk away unscathed. But I can’t say the same for Micah.

” He picks up his Mont Blanc and begins writing. “Stay away from Johnny and his family.”

My God, this is far worse than I imagined. He has the cops in his back pocket, and now Micah. There is literally no way out of this.

Resignation settles in my chest with his threat. If I say anything to anyone about Dexter or his so-called empire, my brother will go away for a very long time. If I contact Johnny, Dexter harms his family.

It’s all here.

Johnny stays away from me to protect his family.

I stay away from him to protect mine.

All is lost. Johnny is gone from my life.

“Will you promise not to harm the Givens family and keep Micah out of it if Johnny and I stay apart?”

He nods.

“Not good enough. Say it.” He sits motionless. “I have always known you to be a man of your word in the past. If you love me, as you claim to, promise me to spare that family and Micah, and I promise you I will stay away from Johnny. Now say it!”

“I promise.”

“Good. Now I will make you one last promise. I swear, from this day on, I will not speak to you ever again. You are dead to me. Nothing. A nobody. Once I walk out that door, we are no longer family, and I no longer work for you. Don’t call me, don’t send your lackey Drew to check on me.

I am erasing you from my life. Do we have an understanding? ”

He only stares at me.

“I said, do we have an understanding?”

Fully comprehending that he has lost this battle, he looks at the floorboards. His actions have cost him his niece. “If that’s what you want. I understand.” And he doesn’t even care.

My fingers wrap around the smooth door handle. “Rachel?” I brace myself and face him one last time, the oppression of the moment heavy. “No contact. ”

Of course, he has to have the final word.

I swing the door open, and there, standing in the hallway, is Slick. The door clicks behind me. “Did you hear?”

He nods. “I heard everything. Come here.” He waves me toward him and encases me in an embrace full of heart and empathy. I melt into his arms. Just then, Randy, Tiny, and Micah round the corner. I release my hold on Slick. “What are you guys doing here?”

“I rounded them up when I saw you charge toward the office,” Micah says. “They got here a little bit ago. We were listening and ready to barge in there if needed.”

My chest squeezes from the unspoken loyalty.

With a decisive turn, I move to stand in front of my brother, positioning myself between him and the OBGs. “You didn’t have to do that for him. It was just a ring. We could have made something work. Shelby wouldn’t have cared. She would have married you with a gumball ring.”

He covers his face with both hands. “God, I know! It was so stupid of me. I’m so sorry, sis.

” With a gentle pull, he gathers me into his arms, the warmth of his body comforting me.

“I’m so sorry I lied to you. I wanted to tell you, but I also wanted to keep you in the dark.

For your safety.” We pull apart. “And now, he’s using it against you. ”

I can’t be mad. There’s no point. We all do dumb things when we feel we have no way out sometimes. And he’s paying the price. Dexter may use this as leverage against him in the future. Or worse.

Micah and I are Dexter’s only living family. I was na?ve enough to think that, in a million years, he would never hurt Micah and me. And he hasn’t, physically.

Emotionally, he is murdering us both.

“Please, don’t beat yourself up. Dexter is doing enough of that as it is. But I quit, Micah. I’m done.”

Stepping forward, he pulls me into yet another comforting hug, the warmth of his affection a welcome relief. “Me too,” he muffles into my shoulder.

He releases me. “We are family.” I grin, and so does he.

“And family sticks together as one,” Micah and I say in unison, but we aren’t the only ones. Slick, Tiny, and Randy recite it as well.

Somehow, the Oldies but Goodies have become more family to me than the poor excuse of a human on the other side of this door. And I am going to need them to get through the onslaught of sadness that is coming my way.

Thanks to Dexter, Johnny is out of my life. I will never be able to touch him again, hear him call me ‘my love,’ or kiss him. No more stargazing in his truck. No more hidden kisses in the kitchen or snuggles on his couch.

He’s gone.

And nothing will ever be the same.

The five of us walk out of Dexter’s for the last time. As we approach the door, Tiny speaks first. “Great. Now, where are we going to hang out and have a drink? That worthless piece of sh—”

“Language!” we all shout at once as we meander toward our vehicles.

He flicks his hand dismissively. “Fine. That worthless piece of crap has ruined Dexter’s for us. What now?”

“Come to my place,” Micah offers. “You guys are welcome there anytime.”

Randy slides into his Jeep. “Alright then. Meet you guys there.”

As I stand at my car and watch all four of them drive away, I study this bar that has been a part of my life since I was a kid.

I grew up here, met incredible humans who are now my family, and it brought me Johnny.

For those reasons alone, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

But now, it’s my past. And I'm forced to forge ahead.

To a future without Johnny.