Part 42 (1/2)

”Ill go with you.” I gripped his arm, nerves firing at the thought of him alone with Rusnak.

”No,” his eyes swept down to me, and his voice softened, ”No, stay out here with Dexter. I dont want you near him, and Ill only be fifteen minutes tops. He cant change too much, not this late, not when its his reputation on the line.”

”Fifteen minutes. And then Ill come look for you if youre not back.” I wasnt even kidding-I wish I were.

”Stay by Dexter. Ill be back.” He squeezed my arm in farewell and then turned to board the boat, eyes swiping around the area.

I tried to lock away the fear that settled like a heavy weight in my stomach. But I knew Id have to carry it till we were gone, it had been there all night.

The lights from the boat lit up Rusnak on the deck. He gestured for Gage to go inside first, and then he paused, facing my direction before slipping inside too. My heart skipped, but he couldnt have seen me in the shadows of the truck. My mind was on overdrive, overreacting.

I walked back to Dexter and the last of the furniture that needed to be loaded. He was already grabbing a desk with Sam, the other man he was driving with. I picked up a lamp wrapped in bubble wrap. All that was left were the small items that had to find a place in the packed truck.

After a few more trips back and forth our pile was loaded. Dexter pulled down the door on the truck and turned back to us, checking his phone. ”We got that done early.”

Sam tossed his cigarette on the ground. ”Im gonna go take a p.i.s.s before we go. Ill drive first.”

Dexter shoved his hands in his coat pockets and nodded, stepping close to me. ”So about Gage-”

”h.e.l.l be all right. You said it before, he knows what hes doing. But what about you Dexter? What about you and Leona? What about Felix?”

”After this,” he nodded at the truck, ”Im going back to Baltimore to be with them. I know itll take time, but I will get them back one day. Ill prove to her that I can change. That I can take care of them, the right way.”

He pushed his phone in front of me, showing me a smiling Felix holding Rocky the cat around the waist.

”He never stops talking now. And you should see him, he climbs like a monkey.” He swiped the screen, showing me Felix climbing up the pantry shelves.

I took the phone from him and had to hold my breath to keep my heart from shredding. He was beautiful with curls to his shoulders, but already so big and losing that baby chubbiness. I swiped the screen, looking at the many photos of him with Dexter and Leona. He looked taller and was standing strong on his own, even running up a hill in one. ”Hes perfect.” I handed him back the phone as I saw Cherry approaching.

”Is it all loaded?” She tugged on the back door, but it wouldnt lift. She turned looking towards Dexter.

”Yeah,” He nodded.

She smiled up at him, her body transforming as he approached, softening and a smile sliding over her face. Even her voice sounded different when she spoke, ”Im Katya.” She extended her hand, ”but everyone just calls me Cherry.”

She made me sick, and I stepped forward next to Dexter as he shook her hand, introducing himself.

”...have you driven to Arizona before?” He finished casually pulling his hand out of her grip.

She ran her hand through her long hair, pulling it over one shoulder. ”No and I wont be doing it now either. Im not going anymore. I came out to check on things though and make sure you all were ready to go. Wheres Sam?”

”h.e.l.l be back soon,” Dexter responded. ”But Ive got to wait for Gage. Whos taking your place?”

She shrugged, and then her eyes met mine. ”Maybe Regan can go.”

I didnt even bother answering her because Gage was walking towards us, anger rolling off him with every movement.

Cherry followed my gaze and turned to face Gage, smile dropping slightly. ”Oh, you finished so soon? I was just telling your brother that I wasnt going with him.”

He barely glanced at her. ”Wheres Sam? Its going to be just you two so make sure you split who drives. No stopping to sleep.”

”Only the two? Didnt Anatoli say they needed a third?” Cherry questioned.

Gage narrowed his eyes at her. ”Im handling this. You can go.”

She paused for a moment, staring at him, and then she looked around. ”Ill go let Anatoli know theyre ready to go. What about the other two?”

”Go check on them,” he ordered, voice sharp.

She nodded and walked away, looking over her shoulder towards Dexter. ”Drive safe Lawson.”

Sam pa.s.sed Cherry as he approached. ”We ready to go?”

Overcome with something, I hugged Dexter, taking him by surprise.

His arms wrapped around me. ”Ill see you soon. Youll have to come to Maryland and see us.”

I wanted to keep a hold of him, not say goodbye, not when he didnt know the type of goodbye this was. But I had to let go. ”Be careful, all right?”

He nodded, pulling away from me and tugging the edge of my hood around my face. For a second I thought maybe he could see the finality in this. The look in his eyes was a deep sadness I hadnt seen before. ”You too.” He looked away, towards Gage. ”And you, too.”

They both seemed to move at the same time and hugged each other for a second before Gage pulled back, keeping his hand on his shoulder. ”Keep your phone charged. Ill call to check on you two along the way. And keep to the route I told you.” He looked between both Sam and him. ”Call me if anything seems off.”

They nodded and moved to the truck doors. Dexter walked around to the pa.s.senger side, and Gage followed, speaking low to him. I stood back, waiting for them to leave, unable to handle saying another goodbye.

When the truck pulled away, Gage was standing there. We werent alone, there were groups of people around the parking lot, packing two other trucks, but we were far enough away not to be heard.

”What happened?” I questioned.

He shook his head, stepping towards me. ”He wanted one of his men to go with them instead of Cherry. But I wasnt going to let that happen. I trust Sam, I wouldnt send Dexter off with anyone else.”

”And he just let that happen?”

”He doesnt have a choice. Not if he wants this to run smooth.”

”But now were stuck with Cherry.” I looked past him to where she was helping load another truck.

Gage smiled at me, putting me at ease. ”Not for long. Lets finish this up.” He nodded to the other trucks. ”But I wont get much sleep until this is all done.”

”What about the drop off with Dexter? Do you think h.e.l.l be okay?”

”Others will be there. Theyre flying out in two days. Dexters job is just to drive, he doesnt have to do anything else.”

We were getting closer to the truck, and Cherrys voice carried through the air.

”You need to repack this, what the f.u.c.k, you cant stick it into the drawers and call it hidden. It goes into the paneling. For f.u.c.ks sake, let me do it.” She looked up at Gage. ”I hope you checked that truck before it left, made sure it was packed right.” She pulled white bricks out of the drawers, gathering it into one arm, and then turned to the large man next her. ”Well turn the thing over,” she demanded.