While Valencia spent the rest of the afternoon working, Geno stretched out on the bed, watched television and watched Valencia walk around the room and talk on her cell and the room phone, sometimes both at the same time. They were so different, he thought as he listened to her conduct business.
“In addition to the increase in productivity, better accessibility and an engineering support team in real time, you’ll receive updates every two weeks, not every two years.”
He wondered could he live in her world and she in his. As he listened to Valencia handle her business, Geno was reminded of how it was in their first act. He remembered feeling out of place in her world. He had gone from scared straight drug dealer to the guy who knew somebody, so he went out of his way to keep the world that he lived in away from her.
“Another huge benefit, and I believe the most significant factor in decision making is your return on investment,” Valencia said, as she paced around the room. “That’s excellent, Mr. Schwanke. I’ll have Mr. Riviera contact Ms. Carigliano, and they can hammer out the details.” Valencia pumped her fist in victory. “I am looking forward to meeting you as well,” she said, and ended the call. “Yes!” she shouted, tossed her phone on the bed and jumped on Geno. She took his face into her hands and kissed him.
“I take it that went well?”
“Yes, very well.” She began to run her hand across Geno’s leg. “Everything went very well today,” she said, thinking back over the productive day she’d had; feeling like her issues would soon be behind her. She didn’t kill Coleman Patterson, and as soon as Detective Gutiérrez caught the real killer that would be behind her too.
“Then I’m happy for you,” Geno said, and while she kissed him, Valencia began to stroke him.
“I’m all yours now,” Valencia said, and they looked in each other’s eyes.
“You are a greedy woman,” Geno said, reached for Valencia’s face and pulled her toward him.
As their tongues became entangled in passion, Valencia’s phone rang. Their lips parted slowly, she picked up her phone and looked at the display.
Ezequiel Simmonds.
She swiped talk.
“Hello,” she said, with none of the passion that she was just feeling. All there was in that second was her anger and the hate that she had for him.
“A Bela Valência.”
As it always did, the sound of his voice made her cringe. “What do you want Ezequiel?”
“To see you, A Bela Valência. We have so much to talk about.”
“What do we have to talk about?”
“Your trip to The Bahamas, of course. Come to my house. Now. You can bring your friend along if you like.”
“Okay. I’ll come.”
“Don’t keep me waiting all night, A Bella,” he said, and ended the call.
“What does he want?”
“He wants to talk. He knows that I’ve been to The Bahamas and wants me to come to his house,” Valencia said, and got out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
“To shower and get dressed.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t either. But I’m going anyway.” Valencia walked toward Geno. “I need to put this behind me.”
“All right, but I’m coming with you.”
“Good.” She kissed him on the cheek and then turned to head for the shower. “Because he said that I could bring you with me.”
“Well ain’t that just so damn nice of him,” Geno said as the bathroom door closed.
Once she was showered, Valencia chose the Zuhair Murad jumpsuit and they left the hotel on their way to the home of Ezequiel Simmonds. The closer they got to the house, the more the good feelings she was feeling began to fade and the reality of her situation came into focus. Geno’s words echoed in her head.