To Become A Con Artist

Chapter Thirty-Three

Every step to the 5th Avenue entrance was torturous. The steps clouded my ability to think about a reasonable way out of this mess. For the first time since I'd known Leo I prayed that he would pull one of his vanishing acts again. Just like the first time I'd met him and he left me for two weeks. I longed for him to forget about me and ride back to Gramercy Park unscathed. Or even better, ride out to Atlantic City. At least then I would know that Clyde could never find Leo.

But unfortunately, this was wishful thinking and I could only hope for so much which was why I was heating up inside as we finally left the hotel. The air was warm outside but my sweat could have easily made someone misinterpret the correct temperature.

Clyde followed close behind me but gripped my arm right when we crossed the street.

"Perfect." He whispered, more to himself than to me. I stared forward and felt my throat tighten as a figure came into focus.

Leo's silhouette was leaned against his car, the way I'd always seem him. He had a lit cigarette between his lips and was gazing past The Plaza. He didn't seem to notice my presence approaching and I hoped that he wouldn't. I hated what I was going to be forced to do to a man I loved. My entire life would be over after this moment. There had to be another way.

"Do this quick so that we have no problems. I'll be behind this car." Clyde pushed me forward and when I turned around he was gone. I contemplated running away but that would still put Leo in a vulnerable position. There was no way out of this.

"Claire." My head snapped forward at Leo's voice. It was dark but I could see him clearly under the glow of the street lamp as he pushed off of the car. We were far from each other but I didn't want to move closer because that meant his life was that much closer to an end.

"Claire." He repeated, walking toward me. "Are you ready?" I took a step back and stared at him blankly as he approached.
"What took you so long?"

"Um-Leo I-I-"

"Did Sonny buy you gin again?" Leo joked with a soft chuckle. Any other time I would've reveled in his subtle humor and willingness to make me smile. But tonight was different.

"No-no, not-that didn't happen." I tried to steady my breathing but the more he spoke to me the more scared I got. Maybe if I just shot his leg he would have a better chance of surviving. Or just his arm. I knew that some bullet wounds weren't fatal.

I looked at him hard, taking in every beautiful feature that I loved and would soon have to say good bye to because of a mistake I made.

"Something's wrong." He studied my face after flicking his cigarette aside. I looked away quick but Leo wouldn't have it. He turned my face to look at him. "Did Sonny hurt you?"

"Leo, I don't want to." I began to tear, touching my thigh to find the gun.

"You don't want to, what?"

"I don't want to." I could feel the imprint of the gun but before I could draw it, Leo pulled my arm to move me toward his car.

But it only took a second for Clyde to appear from behind the car with his gun pointed straight at Leo. I'd taken too long to get the job done and now he would complete it.

"Step back!" He demanded taking long strides toward us. Leo's furrowed his brows and parted his lips.

"Who the fuck-"

"I said," Clyde reached for my hand and pulled me so hard that the jade ring Leo had given me flew off of my finger and landed somewhere that I couldn't see. I gasped. "Get back!"

"Clyde stop!" I reached for the gun he held out but I was too slow because Clyde was alerted by my sudden movement and without hesitation he bunted my head with the gun handle. The painful impact caused me to collapse to the ground.

I felt my body weaken as my head pounded and my breathing slowed. My eyes faintly watched two blurred figures twist, writhed, and grunt in the darkness until finally my eyes shut closed and the last sound heard was the loud bang of a gun shot.

Everything stopped.

Authors Note: Try not to cry :(