Part 19 (2/2)

His eyes narrowed. ”This club is a way to account for money-All kinds of money-but a lot of it is drugs. Youre not wrong.”

I couldnt take my eyes off him. I wanted to read the truth in him but doubted my ability too. I couldnt decide what to focus on as I dropped the next line, his hands or his face. My gaze zoned in on his face like a hawk.

”Theyre not investigating the money. Theyre investigating the girls here. Theyre not on visas like you said.”

He had no reaction as I spoke, and that scared the h.e.l.l out of me. His expression melted slow, little lines forming at the corner of his eyes and over his forehead, one by one. ”Tell me exactly what was said.”

”Theyre investigating a human trafficking ring that crosses boarders. They cant find a paper trail on the girls at all after they leave the club. They think its connected to Shadow. They know youre not really in charge of the club, they wanted a name of who was.” I listed the offenses, empty, void of emotion ”You didnt say anything though.” It wasnt a question, and that gave me a moment of pause. I needed to have the same faith in him. I needed to trust what I felt.

”No, I didnt. I kept saying I didnt know anything, but...”

He squeezed my leg, his large palm gliding over my jeans in rea.s.surance. ”Its okay. I know it scared you, but youre better at covering it than you know.”

His blue eyes calmed me as they met mine, my pounding heart finally slowing. ”I dont know about that.”

”I do. Its taken me this long to finally read you, and even still its hard to do.” His hand slid up to my stomach, and pressed low on it. ”Everythings okay though?”

I closed my eyes, reeling in the last of my panic. I needed to stay calm. His touch centered me, but still the questions swarmed. ”Im fine. But what do you know about all of this?”

”Only what Ive told you. They come from Russia. They do have visas. Ive seen the d.a.m.n paperwork; they get paychecks for Christ sake. And I dont know anything about Shadow.” He looked straight out his window, at the empty back lot. ”Those people are f.u.c.king sc.u.m. Theyll try and get in your mind, Regan. Theyll feed you bulls.h.i.+t lies, try and press on your weakness to get the information they want. They know about your past, Id bet on it. Thats all that was, one big mind f.u.c.k to get a name from you.”

His hand was still on my stomach, his words seeping in.

”They know Im pregnant, too.”

”How the f.u.c.k?” He pulled his hand away, running it over his head as he looked everywhere besides me, like he could find the answer in the air around us.

”That office has to be bugged. We had someone look into it, but...”

”Ive been to the doctors. People at school know. They could find out any number of ways.”

”Yeah.” His hand swiped his face. ”It doesnt matter anyways, when I sign over the club on Monday, they have to get all new orders to wire it if theyre going to stay legal.” He looked at me with a slow clench of his jaw. ”What did he say about the baby?”

The fire in his eyes was scary, even if I knew it wasnt truly directed at me. ”Just that I should think about it, that this life wasnt safe for me. That Im either going to be killed or go to prison.” My hand curled over my stomach in silent prayer. I didnt want to leave this baby without parents. Thinking of Dexter and Leona gave a slight comfort, at least it wouldnt go into foster care.

”Thats not going to happen.” He slid his fingers behind my neck, making me look at him. His other hand cupped my cheek, in a gentle touch. ”Theres nothing linking you to anything. You wont go down for my sins. Do you understand? They have nothing on you.”

I wasnt as confident in that as him, but I nodded.

”Sals staying with you from now on. I dont want these f.u.c.kers filling your mind with any more bulls.h.i.+t. What did the person look like?”

I wanted to believe it all bulls.h.i.+t, but I couldnt dismiss everything. And I couldnt bring myself to admit who, not with that look in his eyes.

”Gage, it could be true about the girls. You said yourself theyre prost.i.tutes. Whats to stop Alessandra from selling them to someone else? Maybe they dont directly deal with Shadow, but it might be connected.”

He considered my words, fingers caressing my skin as he slipped a piece of hair behind my ear. His voice was soft when he spoke. ”Ill talk to Viktor directly, see what I can find out. I dont want you worrying over this. But, I need you to tell me what this guy looked like.”

My stomach ached and muscles strained. Even if Anthony p.i.s.sed me off, I didnt want him hurt. Keeping the information wouldnt hurt anyone else.

”Regan.” Gage broke through my debate. ”What are you not telling me?”

When I met his eyes, I knew I couldnt keep it in, not when I expected him to be honest with me. ”Promise me nothing will happen to him.”

”To who?” His face twisted with confusion.

”It was Anthony.”

”Who?” His eyes were slits. ”The agents name was Anthony?”

He didnt make the connection, and I almost didnt say the rest. ”Anthony Fields. Do you remember him?”

Recognition transformed his features, morphing from puzzlement to stone cold anger. All the lines in his skin smoothed out, except the ones around his jaw as it clenched. ”That cop in Baltimore?” He practically hissed.

I nodded. ”Promise me, please.”

”What the f.u.c.k Regan? I cant promise that s.h.i.+t, not if he keeps coming around. He shouldnt even be on this case, not if he knows you.” He sat back, dangerous emotions rolling off of him. ”Is there anything else youre not telling me?” His chest rose and fell, and he looked like he could breathe fire. ”You said he cornered you. He didnt f.u.c.king touch you, did he?”

”No. He didnt.” I placed my hand on his chest, and his heartbeat pounded under my touch. ”Please, its like you said, he was just pus.h.i.+ng for information. He apologized for not helping with Damien, but he thought he could help-”

”He doesnt want to help you.” Gage grabbed my hand, holding it in place on his chest. ”Dont fall for that s.h.i.+t. He only wants you to help him. He cant be very high, probably not even an agent yet. He wants the information you have. Thats it. Dont f.u.c.king worry about what happens to him, hes using you.” His voice and grip on my wrist softened. ”I love you. You know Id do anything for you. I wish like h.e.l.l I could go back and take back what happened. But Im helping you, not him. Tell me you know that.”

Uncertainty was clear in his eyes, and it gripped my heart. I preferred his anger over that.

”I do.” I leaned in for a kiss, wanting to wipe away the insecurity. I paused as our lips grazed one another. ”I love you, too. Youre the only one I count on. And I know well always be there for each other.”

”Always.” His lips enveloped mine, sealing in our bond, our oath to each other.

”Ive got to talk to Sal, and then we can go. Wait in here for me.” He turned his keys in the k.n.o.b, swinging open the office door.

I paused as I stepped through. Cherry and Ian jumped away from each other, nearly the desk length between them. Ian had his back to us, arms moving to buckle his pants.

”s.h.i.+t, do you ever knock?” Cherry snapped. Her fingers adjusted her short skirt. Otherwise she was completely composed, all signs of surprise gone as she challenged me.

”I-”

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