Chapter 7 - The Debt That Could Never Be Repaid
Anthony survived.
The bullet passed through his shoulder without striking an artery.
Avery sat beside his hospital bed until sunrise.
She studied every new line on his face.
Every gray hair.
Every familiar movement.
He woke at 6:12.
“Little Bird.”
She slapped him.
Not hard.
Then hugged him so fiercely he groaned.
“Ow.”
“You deserve worse.”
“I know.”
“You were alive.”
“I know.”
“Fourteen years.”
“I know.”
She cried against him.
“You missed everything.”
Anthony’s arms closed around her.
“I know.”
Her first school dance.
Her graduation.
Her first job.
The winter Maria nearly died from pneumonia.
Fourteen Christmas mornings.
Fourteen birthdays.
No explanation could return them.
But when Avery finally pulled away, she saw her father crying too.
“I thought staying dead would keep you alive.”
“You were wrong.”
“Yes.”
“You should have trusted Mom.”
“Yes.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“You were ten.”
“I’m not ten anymore.”
Anthony smiled through tears.
“No. You certainly aren’t.”
Cameron watched from the doorway.
His white shirt was stained with Anthony’s blood.
Avery noticed.
“Come in.”
He hesitated.
Anthony looked over.
“Well, if it isn’t the world’s moodiest coffee addict.”
Cameron’s mouth twitched.
“You look terrible.”
“I was shot.”
“You’ve looked better after being shot.”
Avery stared between them.
“You two are insane.”
“Occupational hazard,” Anthony said.
Cameron approached.
The humor disappeared.
“I’m sorry.”
Anthony knew what he meant.
Julian.
Calder escaping.
Fourteen years of unfinished violence.
“You saved me,” Anthony said.
“Again.”
“Consider us even.”
“We were even a long time ago.”
Anthony glanced at Avery.
“No. I think you’ve been paying interest.”
Avery groaned.
“Dad.”
“What? I was presumed dead, not blind.”
Cameron suddenly found the floor interesting.
It was astonishing.
Avery had never imagined anyone could embarrass Cameron Moretti.
Apparently her father could.
The moment did not last.
Federal agents arrived at seven.
Bradley’s testimony and Anthony’s evidence had triggered raids across New York and New Jersey.
Calder’s companies were frozen.
Three officials were arrested.
Julian agreed to cooperate after learning Calder had emptied the account promised to him.
But Victor Calder remained missing.
Cameron became increasingly distant.
By afternoon, Avery found him alone on the hospital roof.
“You’re leaving.”
He did not deny it.
“Calder has one place left.”
“Where?”
“Moretti Terminal Seven.”
“Then I’m coming.”
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“We have done this conversation.”
“This time you lose.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
The words stopped both of them.
Cameron looked almost angry at himself.
Avery forgot how to breathe.
He turned away.
“Cameron.”
“Forget I said it.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I didn’t intend—”
“You love me?”
He looked back.
There was no escape now.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“Lie.”
He sighed.
“The morning you gave your breakfast to Mr. Rosen because his Social Security check was late.”
Avery blinked.
“That was four months ago.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve loved me four months?”
“Apparently.”
“And your brilliant plan was to drink coffee silently until one of us died?”
“It seemed safer.”
She laughed.
Actually laughed.
Cameron stared.
Then she walked toward him.
“You’re an idiot.”
“I’ve been told.”
“By who?”
“Your mother. Your father. Rosa. You.”
“Smart people.”
She stopped inches away.
His expression became serious.
“Avery, my life is not safe.”
“Neither was mine before you.”
“I have enemies.”
“So does every waitress who has worked Sunday brunch.”
He almost smiled.
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
“I don’t want you choosing me because you think you owe me.”
“I don’t.”
“Or because your father saved me.”
“I’m not.”
“Or because I protected you.”
“You are very bad at accepting affection.”
“I have limited experience.”
She reached for his tie.
“Then consider this training.”
And kissed him.
Cameron froze.
For approximately half a second.
Then one hand settled carefully at her waist.
Not possessive.
Not demanding.
Almost reverent.
The kiss remained soft.
Slow.
Nothing like the violent world surrounding them.
When Avery pulled back, Cameron rested his forehead against hers.
“That was reckless.”
“You liked it.”
“Yes.”
“Then stop complaining.”
His phone rang.
Of course it did.
Cameron looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Calder spoke.
“Beautiful rooftop.”
Cameron’s head snapped toward the neighboring buildings.
Avery went cold.
Calder continued.
“Tell Anthony I’m done chasing ghosts.”
A red laser appeared on Cameron’s chest.
Avery saw it.
She shoved him sideways.
The rifle cracked.
Concrete exploded behind them.
Cameron dragged Avery behind an air-conditioning unit.
Security flooded the roof.
The sniper disappeared.
Cameron looked at Avery furiously.
“You pushed me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You could have been hit.”
“So could you.”
“That is different.”
“How?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Avery pointed at him.
“Exactly.”
Then his phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared.
Maria Russo tied to a chair.
Anthony’s hospital room was visible behind her.
Avery’s blood froze.
She ran downstairs.
Anthony’s room was empty.
On the pillow lay a note.
May you like
TERMINAL SEVEN. MIDNIGHT. FAMILY REUNION.
Calder had taken both her parents.
