The Lovely Reckless (35 page)

“Because I'm telling the truth. Because I'm your daughter, and I deserve the benefit of the doubt.” I take a deep breath and speak the words that I've longed to say for months. “And because I know who killed Noah.”

 

CHAPTER 41

THE RIGHT REASON

Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason.

The trick is knowing when the reason is right.

It's a lot like the bite point. You know it when you feel it.

At the barracks, I watch every door, hoping Dad will come out of one of them. An officer leads me to the door of an interrogation room. I lean against the wall while he unlocks it. Another door opens at the end of the hallway.

Tyson walks out and I stand straighter, expecting Dad to follow.

“You can go in,” the cop tells me.

But I can't move.

The walls close in, pulling into razor-sharp focus the one thing I see at the end of the hallway.

No, the one
person
.

Marco emerges and stands next to Tyson, his shoulders rounded and head hanging. Tyson unlocks the door to another interrogation room, and ushers Marco inside.

They arrested him
.

That's why Marco wasn't answering the phone.

I did it all for nothing.

My knees buckle and I stumble.

“Are you okay?” The cop catches my elbow.

Do I need a glass of water? Or something to eat? When I don't respond he gives up and leads me into the room. He pulls out a chair for me, but I sit on the floor instead, with my knees pulled up against my chest.

I did everything right … and Marco still ended up here.

Was there another job I didn't know about? Or did my father decide to charge Marco?

It all hits me at once, and my eyes well up.

Handlebar Mustache comes in. “Your dad is tied up, but he should be finished soon.”

Tied up? Is that code for ruining my life?

It feels like forever before Dad walks in, his shoulders slumped and the scruff along his jaw unshaven. I don't look at him. He broke our deal, and I'll never forgive him.

Dad stands across from me and leans against the wall.

“Why is Marco here?” My voice sounds like ice.

“I'll answer your questions about Marco after you tell me what happened tonight.”

He's probably lying, but I need to tell him about Deacon.

“Deacon Kelley killed Noah.” It's the first time I've actually said it out loud.

“How do you know?”

I dig my nails into my palms and keep going. “The flashbacks were happening more often, and every time I remembered a little more about that night. The other day I heard Deacon say something—exactly the same way he said it the night he killed Noah. I guess it triggered my memory. It all came back to me, every detail—what Deacon was wearing, the things he said, even the look on his face. He was trying to steal Noah's dad's car. That's how it started.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” Dad walks over and bends down next to me.

Because I can't trust you.

He won't like my answer, but I'm not worried about his feelings. “Deacon threatened Marco. He wanted Marco to steal a car from the country club tonight and deliver it to the dock, but Marco backed out of the job. Deacon blamed me. He said if I didn't drive the car, he would pin everything on Marco—including things Marco didn't do. After what Deacon did to Noah, I believed him. And I knew what you thought of Marco, so I had to do something. I couldn't let him go to jail.” I look at my father. “But Marco still ended up here.”

“How did you know where to pick up the Gullwing?”

“Deacon didn't tell me anything about the car ahead of time. A valet at the country club named Brian gave me the keys. I drove it out of the Heights with Deacon, and he told me where to go. I thought we were going to the docks, but he said the cops were tailing Marco and the plan had changed. I don't know where he was trying to take me. That's why I crashed the car.”

“You crashed the car on purpose?” The color drains from his face.

I describe the details and Dad cringes. When I get to the part about Deacon chasing me, he goes ballistic.

“Do you have any idea how lucky you are? He could've killed you. And if you had hit those barrels too fast or from the wrong angle…” My father shakes his head and scrubs his hands over his face. “You risked all this because you thought I would believe Deacon Kelley?”

I sit up straight and look my father in the eye. “Are you saying you
wouldn't
have believed him?”

“I'm a cop, Frankie. I don't take the word of a convicted felon without investigating.”

“After the
deal
you offered me, I wasn't willing to take that chance. You're wrong about Marco. You can't see it, but that doesn't make it any less true. Sometimes people do the wrong thing for the right reason.”

“Come with me.” Dad stands and motions toward the door.

Is he taking me to see Marco?

I follow, but when Dad starts to open the door, I block his path. “I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why you arrested Marco.”

“Why don't you ask him yourself?” Dad opens the door, and I step into the hallway. Tyson is standing at the other end with Marco.

Marco freezes as if he can't believe I'm real.

I forget about Dad and the deal, and the fact that we're in the middle of a police station, and I run straight into his arms. Marco catches me around the waist and buries his face in my neck. “You're here because of me, aren't you?” I ask.

Marco pulls back and looks at me. “Yes.”

 

CHAPTER 42

THE HARDEST THING

“You said a cop's daughter and a car thief can't be together.” Marco wipes away the tears under my eyes. “That's why I'm not a car thief anymore.”

“I don't understand.” He's not making sense.

“I turned myself in this morning. I tried to text you.”

That's why his phone kept going straight to voice mail—he was here.

I look at Dad for confirmation, and he nods. “It's true. Marco gave us all the information we needed on the guy he works for and his operation. I guess sometimes people do the right thing for the right reason, too.”

“But you could go to jail.” I can barely say the words.

Marco nods. “It's a chance I'm willing to take. Miss Lorraine is going to take care of Sofia.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you, and I don't want to be that guy anymore.”

I turn to my father. “Can I talk to Marco alone?”

He holds open the door to the closest interrogation room. “Ten minutes.”

When the door closes, I bury my face in Marco's chest, and the familiar scent of leather and citrus calms me. The story about Deacon tumbles out in bits and pieces, between tears and kisses.

Marco's arms tighten around me. “I'm so sorry, Frankie. What he did to Noah…” He tenses. “Deacon could've
killed
you.”

“It's not your fault.”

“We were like brothers. There must have been signs. I should've seen them.” Marco's voice drops. “I never thought Deacon was capable of killing an innocent person. An abusive bastard like Cruz's dad? Maybe. But Deacon isn't the same guy I grew up with anymore—the one who risked his life for my sister. How do you go from crawling through broken glass to save a kid to beating someone to death three years later?”

“You're asking the wrong person.”

Marco lifts my chin, and his eyes search mine. “I didn't know about what happened to Noah. I would've turned Deacon in myself. You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” Marco traces the outline of my jaw.

“I couldn't. You would've done something stupid.”

He nods. “You're right. I would never let anyone hurt you.”

“Then you understand how I feel? And why I did it?”

Marco stares at the floor. “Everything except the part about you breaking up with me.”

“I made a deal with my dad.” The words come out as a whisper. But I know he heard them, because his body goes completely still.

Marco closes his eyes. “What kind of deal?”

“The night you got arrested—” I take a shuddering breath. “My dad told me he'd let you go if I promised to stop seeing you.”

Marco's eyes fly open. His hands tunnel through the back of my hair and slide around to cup my face. “Does that mean you still love me?”

I look into his beautiful brown eyes. “I never stopped.” I touch Marco's arm below the sleeve of his T-shirt and trace the black rose. “I don't know if you can forgive me—”

“For what? Nobody has ever done anything like that for me before.” Marco brings my hand to his lips and kisses my palm. His hand curls around mine, and he holds it against his chest.

I slip my hand out of his and loop my arms around his neck. “I missed you every second, and I wanted to tell you.”

He pulls me closer and my body melts into his. “My life doesn't make sense without you, Frankie. And I don't want it to.”

Marco presses his lips against mine and the world slides back into place. I abandon every fear that kept me from giving myself to him, and I let go.

*   *   *

A lot can happen in two weeks.

Dad agreed to let me see Marco—not that he's running out to buy the two of them matching sweaters. Marco and I don't have much free time anyway, now that we both have probation officers and community service.

Richard, my not-so-terrible stepfather, paid for the damage to the Gullwing, and I'm working off the debt at charities of his choice—probably until I'm thirty. When I'm not doing that or going to school, I'm still fulfilling my community service at the rec center.

The district attorney didn't bring charges against me for stealing the car, since it led to Deacon's and Brian's arrests. Tyson said Brian confessed so fast that he barely had enough time to find a pen. Deacon is currently residing at Jessup until his trial. Maybe they will let him share a cell with Marco's father. I'll have to testify against Deacon, but I'm looking forward to it.

Marco cut a deal for three years of probation and community service in exchange for giving the police the name of the guy he and Deacon were working for and information related to his auto theft operation. The guy is in jail, where he'll stay until he goes to trial. Marco will have to testify, but Dad and Tyson busted some of the longshoremen who were involved, so Marco won't be the only witness.

I stand in front of Dad's building, waiting for Marco to pick me up.

When he finally pulls up, I hop in the Fastback. “You're late.”

“Sorry. I was with Chief. He was working on something for me.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“What?”

“He talked to my old teachers, and I might be able to get back on the AP track for some of my classes.”

I grab his shirt and pull him toward me. “I'm not surprised.”

My lips find his, and the sweet tension I missed so much rolls through me. I lean back to catch my breath. “I sort of have some news, too.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Give it up.”

“I decided to apply to American University in DC. They have lots of creative writing and journalism classes.”

“You'll kick ass wherever you go.” He starts the car and drives out of the complex.

My admissions essay is almost done. After some prodding from Mrs. Hellstrom—who isn't as crazy as I thought—I'm basing it on my journal.

It turns out that it isn't just Noah's story.

It's mine, too.

When we reach our destination, Marco hands me the black mesh bag from the backseat.

“Ready?” he asks.

“I think so. Are you sure this isn't a crazy idea?” I ask as we get out.

Marco takes my hand and we walk toward the building. “I never said it wasn't crazy, but Sofia couldn't talk Miss Lorraine into taking Cyclops.”

Miss Lorraine is applying to foster Sofia, and Child Protective Services granted her temporary guardianship. Marco is old enough to live on his own, but Chief insisted that Marco move in with him. Chief claims he's going to teach Marco how to race
for real
, as he calls it. Marco said he's going to teach Chief how to dress cooler.

I take a deep breath and open the glass door. The nurse looks up from the counter and smiles at me. “Someone has been waiting for you.”

Doubtful.

Marco squeezes my hand and I give her the bag. I'm starting to wish Dad hadn't said yes.

The nurse returns with the one-eyed cat in the carrier. “He's a little grouchy today, but he'll let you hold him if you give him tuna and scratch behind his ears.”

I study Cyclops—the cat who never should've survived that first night at the animal hospital.

“Thanks.” I take the carrier, hoping he won't claw me through the mesh. Cyclops watches me with his good eye and purrs when he sees Marco.

“He likes you better than me.”

Marco grins. “I'm pretty irresistible, and I feed him.”

“I guess.”

“Are you sure about this?” he asks. “I think Chief will take Cyclops if it's either his place or the shelter.”

“I want to keep him, but Dad says we'll have to see if he and Cujo get along.” I peer through the zippered panel. The cat is a fighter, like me. “And I saved Cyclops, so that makes me responsible for him.”

“Does that mean I can move in with you?” Marco takes my elbow and steers me toward him. “You saved me, too.”

I push up onto my toes and press my lips against his. The kiss burns through me, like it's the first time.

A few months ago, I thought remembering was the hardest thing in the world. I was wrong. Forgetting is harder than remembering, but forgiving is the hardest. I'm working on that with Dad.