Part 40 (2/2)
”He was a lawyer?” Gage questioned, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was, about his connection to the FBI.
”A lawyer for the U.S attorneys office.” Rusnak leaned forward on his desk. ”Im only telling you this so you can better organize this delivery. So youll understand the importance of changing some of the routes. He worked with the FBI as legal counsel. It was to our advantage, but recently we got word that they were on to him and his...affiliations. He knew it too, and in order to deflect, he supplied them with information, we think.”
I gulped down my drink, trying to swallow my nerves. If they found out all that, then it was only a matter of time till they found out about Gage and me going to Anthony. But hopefully not until next week when we would be gone.
”So you see, he had to go. And we cant be sure what hes told. Anything he might have known about this s.h.i.+pment needs to change.”
”He didnt know anything about the deliveries-”
”But the warehouses are all connected to him,” Rusnak interrupted. ”So we wont be using them. You have to pack the trucks here.”
”f.u.c.k,” Gage swiped his hand over his head. ”This place is too open.”
”Theres not enough time to find a new place, and the goods are here. Make it work, but stick to the timeline.”
Gages head nodded as he thought through something. ”Then we have to load tomorrow night, and it has to be quick. Who will you have here?”
They discussed the details of tomorrow, who would be there, who Rusnak would bring, who Gage would bring. They planned the details down to the minute. The packing should be done in less than an hour, and they would deliver from there.
”Tell me about the routes, especially the California one, whats that timeline?” Rusnak poured himself another gla.s.s, and lifted the bottle to us, but Gage waved him away, and my drink still half full.
”Theyll make the drop off on time. Theyll drive straight through so itll be there by Thursday. The earlier packing will give everyone extra time,” Gage explained.
”Do they have checkpoints?”
”They do,” Gage drew out his response, and his hesitance put me on guard.
Rusnak was losing his patience. ”What are they?”
”Everyone will know their role when they need to, thats all that matters. You took care of your part, your way, and Ill take care of my part.”
The look that flashed in Rusnaks eyes was dark and his voice dropped as he leaned forward on the desk. ”I need to know your plans in case something happens. I dont want a repeat of the last time I left a big s.h.i.+pment to you. I wont go back to prison.”
”That went bad because you didnt follow what I said.” Gages voice was just as challenging as Rusnaks.
I tensed in the chair, ready to spring into action if this standoff went to another level.
”No, you didnt follow your plans.” Rusnak broke his stare down with Gage and glanced to me. ”I know why, but I dont want to take chances this time. You need a back up in case something happens. In case youre not around.”
”And why wouldnt I be around?”
My stomach churned.
Rusnak shrugged, throwing off the tension and smiled but it didnt reach his eyes. ”Never can be too prepared. Never know what may happen.”
”Thats a risk Ill take.” Gage stood and Rusnak and I both raised to our feet, too. ”I prefer to keep it to myself till its time. Its been the strategy that worked for my father and it works for me.”
”Your father was loyal and did what he was told.”
Gage paused, ”He was.”
Rusnak took in a breath. ”Tomorrow then. Well talk more tomorrow.”
”Why burn the boat?” I blurted the question before Gage could start moving towards the door.
Both men turned their full focus on me. Gage stepped close, probably to usher me away, but I planted my feet. Rusnaks eyes held a smile somewhere in that hazel h.e.l.l.
”Why burn the boat tonight, and draw attention to it, to him? What if they investigate his death?”
”It wont point back to me.” Rusnaks shoulder lifted. ”Itll confirm their suspicions though. That boat is filled with drugs the FBI had previously confiscated, and there are enough clues to point to his death being related to that. We want them to find him because we planted answers to what theyve been asking about.”
”Shadow?” My heart was pounding, pulsing adrenaline through me, feeding my nervous energy. I didnt dare look to Gage, but I could feel the heat of his glare.
Rusnaks features sharpened as he stepped around his desk and leaned on it with his arms crossed. ”So many questions about things you dont need to know about. Things you shouldnt want to be involved in. What happened to that girl that wanted nothing more than to escape?”
I shrugged, trying to play at being calm, confident. ”Im in now, and I want as much information as I can get.”
”Information can be power, the most absolute form of power when used right. But it can also be a ticking bomb in the wrong hands.” He tilted his head, looking me over. ”But yes, Shadow. Theyll think that was Viktor, and it gets them off our back.”
”So you did this for Shadow? Who is he?” I kept pressing for whatever information he would give.
A knock at the door interrupted us.
”I wont arm you with that.” Rusnak pushed off his desk to go to the door.
Cherry was on the other side.
Gage didnt wait to hear what she had to say. He pulled me out the door with one last question to Rusnak, ”Your car will take us home?”
”Yes,” he stepped back, gesturing for Cherry to step in as we pa.s.sed. ”Hes expecting you.”
”What the h.e.l.l was that?” Gage rounded on me the second we walked in the apartment. His anger drained just as quick, and he leaned against the wall, pulling me to stand in front of him. ”Babe, you have to let it go. I know you wanted revenge, wanted to do something about all of them, but with everything that happened with Anthony and Viktor, you have to realize thats not possible.”
It was a vine twisting and pulling me down. ”Why? Its not fair that they get away with everything.”
His hands went to my face. ”Its us getting out together or revenge on them. I dont think we can have both.”
It took all of a second to decide. ”I want us.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, and immediately felt better and worse. ”I want you. I dont want you getting hurt.” Tears of frustration burned my chest and eyes. ”I just hate that thats the only option. That-”
”Theyll destroy each other eventually. It may not come from us, but theyll get theres. Look what happened with Viktor.”
His hands were so soft against my cheek, neck, shoulders, trailing to my waist as he laid even softer kisses on my lips.
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