Part 19 (1/2)
I shook my head, confused. Shouldnt he be questioning me about the money coming in-the drug money and its source?
”Where do they go?” He was stepping closer. ”Where is the paper trail on any of them?”
He was standing over me. ”Maybe you dont know, but think about it.”
I looked to him, sinking deep into darkness. ”You said you were part of an investigation for trafficking? You meant-”
”Human trafficking.” His eyes were hooded, looking down on me. ”Were still trying to find Shadow, and we know that club has something to do with it.”
I dont know how I was still standing. My mind cracked in a shock of white, and it took a moment to refocus.
”I dont know what youre talking about. Gage has nothing to do with any of that. Hes selling the club.”
”We know. No one stays owner very long; its constantly rotated. So who is really in charge?”
”I dont know what youre talking about.” I would keep repeating this till I got out of that room. I needed to talk to Gage.
His hand was on my elbow, steadying me, his voice soft. ”I knew you didnt know. I knew you couldnt possibly be part of this.” His other arm wrapped around me. ”Itll be okay. Just tell me what you do know. A name. Any name.”
”Dont touch me.” I pushed away, feeling claustrophobic as the room closed in around me.
”Its okay. Ill leave now. But,” he produced a card from his pocket and handed it to me between the tips of his fingers. ”Call me. Ill meet with you. No one has to know.”
I looked at the card it was for a restaurant.
”You can do this. You can save people from this if you talk.” He nodded as I took the card out of his fingers. ”Well talk soon.”
Then he slipped out of the room, leaving me in the middle of a nightmare.
21: Oath.
I LOCKED THE DOOR AFTER ANTHONY LEFT, and then all of my strength slid out of my spine. I sunk down the door until I was sat on the cold tile floor. The screams in my head left little room for thought, but I knew I had to do something. It took a moment for my shaky fingers to retrieve my phone and dial Gage.
”h.e.l.lo,” he answered, the sound of him steadying me.
”I- Someone just cornered me and-”
”Who? Where are you?” he interrupted, voice sharp. ”Wheres Sal? Im calling him right-the-f.u.c.k now.” He dropped the gruff tone, but it his voice strained not completely under control, ”Are you okay?”
”Im fine. It was-”
”Wait a second,” he cut in. ”Sal, do you know where she is? -Where in the math building are you, Regan?”
”In some empty cla.s.sroom. He doesnt need to come in here.”
”Like h.e.l.l he doesnt. You need to show him who it was. Now which cla.s.sroom?”
”You dont even know what happened. Stop.” His quick anger and demands were pulling me out of my fog.
”I know this person scared you enough that you called me right away. I want to hear about it, but I want to take care of the f.u.c.ker first. So tell me, where exactly you are so Sal can find you.”
”Im not scared.” I hated his accusation, I hated that it was true, but I didnt want it to be. I rose to my feet. ”I was calling because it was about you. It was the same group that spoke to you at the gym the other day.” I wasnt sure what I could say over the phone.
He released a heavy breath. ”Get out of the building, can you do that?”
”Yes.”
”Sals out front. h.e.l.l bring you here.”
”All right. Ill talk to you soon.”
”Dont hang up. You stay on this phone till youre in that car.”
Gage was waiting out back when we pulled up to the club. The sight of him was a relief, but his concern only fed my fears.
He opened my door, eyes flicking over me and pulling me to my feet as he ordered Sal, ”Dont go anywhere. Ive got words for you.” He closed the door and then wrapped his arms around me, concern thick in his voice, ”they werent rough with you, were they?”
”No.” I pulled back to look at him. ”Were they with you?”
He shrugged one shoulder. ”They can be pushy b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, but its only because theyre reaching for anything they can get.” His hands moved up and down my back, creating heat against the cold air. ”Thats low of them to question you though. I didnt expect that, but I should have. Theyre f.u.c.king scavengers.” He paused then, looking at me. Really looking at me for the first time. ”Cmon.” He started to walk us to the club, arm still around me.
”Shouldnt we talk in the car?” I nodded to his SUV.
His eyes dropped over me. ”Yeah, Okay.” He pulled his keys out and hit the switch to turn on his engine and unlock his door. ”The club is supposedly clear of devices but...we wont be interrupted in the car.”
When we were both seated, he turned to me. ”Was it Agent Simmons or Greer?”
I shook my head, fiddling with the k.n.o.bs for the heater. The question of who was the one thing I wasnt sure Id share.
”Simmons is dark skin with a big mole by his left eye. Greers bald with a big nose.” He was leaning forward to catch my eye. ”It wasnt either of them?”
I shook my head again and shrugged. ”No. He didnt look like that.”
”He? Only one?” At my nod he continued, ”And he didnt tell you his name? What did he look like?”
”It wasnt about the drugs. This whole time, I thought that was what this club was covering.”