Chapter 5 - The Man She Buried
Rosa reached her apartment first.
The door was open.
Mateo grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
She pulled free.
“Daniel?”
Silence.
Rosa stepped inside.
The apartment looked untouched.
Cheap couch.
Secondhand table.
A photograph of her mother.
No Daniel.
Then someone spoke from the kitchen.
“You still enter rooms too fast.”
Rosa froze.
A man stepped into view.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar crossed his temple.
But alive.
Rosa couldn't speak.
Daniel smiled weakly.
“Hi, Rosie.”
She crossed the room and punched him.
Daniel staggered.
Mateo blinked.
Daniel touched his jaw.
“I probably deserved that.”
Rosa hit him again.
“Okay. Definitely deserved that.”
Then she hugged him.
For three seconds.
No more.
She stepped away.
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I know.”
“My sister let me think she was dead.”
“I know.”
“Is there anyone else coming back?”
Daniel glanced at Mateo.
“Who is this?”
“Long story.”
Mateo extended a hand.
“Mateo Caruso.”
Daniel stared.
“The Mateo Caruso?”
Rosa sighed.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You became his waitress?”
“It was quiet.”
“Apparently not.”
Headlights swept across the curtains.
Daniel's expression changed.
“He found me.”
Rosa moved toward the window.
Mateo stopped her.
“No.”
“Again?”
“You saved my life once tonight.”
“And?”
“Let me return the favor.”
Rosa stared.
“This isn't about favors.”
“No.”
Mateo looked toward the approaching vehicles.
“It's about ending this.”
Lobo entered the building with two men.
But when he reached Rosa's apartment, nobody fired.
Nobody moved.
Rosa stood in the center of the room.
Mateo beside her.
Daniel behind them.
Victor Salazar stopped in the doorway.
He smiled.
“Wraith.”
Rosa's expression remained blank.
“Victor.”
“You've made tonight expensive.”
“Good.”
Victor noticed Daniel.
His smile disappeared.
“You.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Surprised?”
“I watched you die.”
“You should've stayed longer.”
Victor looked at Mateo.
“You really believe she'll protect you?”
Mateo shrugged.
“She already did.”
“She'll betray you.”
Rosa said, “That's your problem, Victor. You think everyone is you.”
Victor's eyes hardened.
“You were magnificent once.”
“I was miserable.”
“You were feared.”
“I was alone.”
“You were powerful.”
“No.”
Rosa stepped closer.
“I was useful to men like you.”
Victor laughed.
“And now you're what? A waitress?”
“Yes.”
“You're proud of that?”
Rosa looked around her tiny apartment.
“I sleep at night.”
Victor's smile vanished.
Sirens sounded outside.
He looked toward the window.
Mateo said, “You're finished.”
“You called the police?”
“Not exactly.”
Moretti's attorney had delivered financial records to federal investigators.
Romano had provided evidence connecting Lobo to three unsolved attacks.
And Mateo had anonymously supplied footage from the restaurant.
Victor looked at Rosa.
“You think prison stops me?”
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because you made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You came here personally.”
Victor glanced toward his men.
Neither moved.
He frowned.
“What are you doing?”
One removed his earpiece.
“Sorry, Victor.”
The second lowered his hands.
Victor stared.
Rosa said, “Nobody works for free.”
Victor looked furious.
“You bought my men?”
Mateo smiled.
“I've been told I overtip.”
Police vehicles surrounded the building.
Victor looked toward the stairs.
Then toward Rosa.
For the first time, fear entered his face.
“You could have been a legend.”
Rosa answered quietly.
“I'd rather be alive.”
Victor was taken away minutes later.
Rosa stood on the sidewalk watching.
Daniel approached.
“So what happens now?”
Rosa looked at him.
“You disappear again and I'll find you myself.”
“Understood.”
Isabella arrived and hugged Daniel.
Rosa folded her arms.
“Oh, now everybody's alive.”
Isabella smiled.
“Pretty much.”
Mateo stood several feet away.
Rosa noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I've never seen Wraith smile.”
Rosa's expression immediately flattened.
“There.”
Mateo laughed.
“Gone again.”
She walked toward him.
“Your restaurant is destroyed.”
“I noticed.”
“You need new windows.”
“Yes.”
“New doors.”
“Yes.”
“New security.”
Mateo raised an eyebrow.
“Are you applying?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Rosa frowned.
“Good?”
“You're a terrible waitress.”
Her mouth opened.
Mateo continued.
“You corrected my wine order four times.”
“You were ordering the wrong wine.”
“You told me my tie was ugly.”
“It was.”
“You charged me for a dessert I didn't order.”
“You ate it.”
Mateo smiled.
“Exactly.”
Rosa stared.
Then laughed.
May you like
And for the first time in 547 days, she didn't wonder who might be watching.
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