Chapter 2
David Kennedy straightened his hair, using the reflection in the window. When his driver slash bodyguard, Jeff, had come in, his news was the last thing David needed to hear. He growled, slamming his fist into seat. Six years, working as a military contractor, protecting VIP’s in war zones like the Middle East, Sierra Leone, Syria, nothing had given him any fear, like this.
“You ok, boss?” Jeff asked, looking at his boss in the rearview mirror. This was all his brother’s fault.
“Yeah, Jeff. We need to go to my office, please.” Jeff nodded, driving away from the Costello home. Charles was four years younger than him. Where David had gone into the military, been a Navy SEAL, and then went into private contracting security, Charles had gone the other way. He married a stripper, had two kids, was in and out of rehab for drugs and owed the mob almost two million dollars. Apparently, his brother had a gambling debt of over a million already with them, which he promised the Costello family he could pay off, by moving drugs. He claimed to have lost the shipment they gave him to move. But David knew better. The stripper wife and him probably had a party with all of their junkie friends, and didn’t know what to do.
Pauly the Ice Pick had been sent to give Charles a message, which included a stab wound to his kidney, and a broken leg. David’s idiot brother must have remembered some of the stories he told him. Because he then, mouthed off and promised the two million back, in blood diamonds. One of the VIP’s David had taken to Sierra Leone, was a diamond dealer, who met with the local drug lord there. He was contracted to get the dealer out of there safely. There was also the CEO of a shipping company, moving art through the port in Freetown, that David had worked for. He ensured safe travel through the port for this company, and had a team of men there constantly. Of course, the family jumped at this information. Vincent Costello himself, came to David’s office and told him what was going on with his brother. It was either help them move the diamonds from Sierra Leone, that they could get at half the price of other jewels on the market, or his brother’s kids would die. Not his brother, mind you, because dead men don’t pay. The mob wouldn’t kill Charles, they would go after everyone around him. David couldn’t allow anything to happen to those children. They were innocent in all of this. It wasn’t their fault that their parents were scumbags. He had offered them the money, but they refused it. They wanted the diamonds. David had learned that the jewelry store the Costello’s owned, was a front for them. They laundered money through it. So, buying a million in diamonds, for two thirds of market cost, gave them a profit of five hundred thousand. But they could put in their books, that they paid full market value for them. Which cleaned their money. Of that profit, they paid a hundred thousand to David’s client, who’s ships were used to transport the diamonds, and a hundred thousand to David’s employees. Leaving three hundred thousand, towards Charles’ debt, with each shipment. The jeweler then cut the gems, and sold them to other stores, making a larger profit for the family, but they did not count that towards the debt.
After six successful shipments, this was to be the last. But Jeff informed him that the team had called. At any Costello gathering, cell phones weren’t allowed. So, he kept his with Jeff, in case he was needed by a client. An employee from Freetown had called, to say that a local militia, had attacked them. He lost one man, and the shipment. The whole area was under constant civil war, with militia groups popping up everywhere. The diamonds they raided, and stole, funded arms, for their wars. The world knew of the slaughter going on, natives being massacred all over, as these groups battled for power. He didn’t know what to do. The money Costello gave him to buy the diamonds, and the diamonds, were gone. He could front the money for a replacement one, but it would be two weeks late. Vincent had a hair trigger temper. It scared him to have to tell them the news. But he did. Going back into the dining room, he had pulled Vincent and Luca aside, and confessed. Their anger was less than anticipated. But, their commands to fix this, were unreasonable. He was to go, himself, and ensure the next shipment. And, this time, they wanted drugs too. To make up for what they called, his mistake. This whole situation weighed heavily on David. He knew, that they may never let him go. One didn’t just walk away from the mob.
He needed Mia. There was no mistaking her, and he know quickly, from where, immediately recognizing her. She didn’t know who he was though. Four years ago, he had worked for a Russian business man, who had some shady dealings with arms dealers. Ex-US military who were selling guns left behind in Iraq, and making a profit on it. He had seen her before. She was the girlfriend of his client. His job, as bodyguard, had been to blend into the background, so they had no contact. But he knew it was her. And it all clicked. David remembered the takedown, of his client, and the military group. That there were rumors of someone being a mole, and giving them up. David, being only hired security was at no fault, and let go. It was the same girl, here, with the mob. She had to be an agent. He was unsure of what agency, but when he caught her spying on the meeting, it verified his suspicions. She could help. There was an intelligence in her eyes, that stood apart from the rest of the vapid women there today. Although, being smart was a must, if she were able to survive being undercover like this. He just needed to get her alone, which would be hard. He rubbed a hand over his face. He would come clean to her, ask for immunity to give everyone up. The Costello’s, his brother, all of it. Of course, he would protect his client. That was his job. Though, he may lose clients once word gets out that he flipped. But there were children’s lives on the line.
Jeff pulled up to the office David owned. They got out, heading to the door.
“Jeff, I need you to go pack my bag please. I need my passport too. Get yourself ready. We leave for Sierra Leone tomorrow.” The man nodded, retreating to the car. David let himself into the building. It was the most up to date security system available on the market. Inside, was empty. Being a Saturday, no one was here. He employed a cyber security team, a secretary, and a corporate espionage team. He was thankful for the time alone. In his office, he poured scotch into a glass and then sat down. At his desk, he swiveled the chair, to look out over Manhattan. His thoughts wandered from Mia, the beautiful woman who called to his masculine hormones, to how he could get out of this mess. He downed the glass, allowing the amber liquid to burn its way down to his stomach. He picked up the phone, sighing. This call was going to be dicey. He had to word things so that he didn’t give up Mia, but was able to get her to go with him. Dialing, his finger shook.
“Yeah,” Luca Costello answered. Short as always.
“I have a way to get in, and do this. But I need help, a cover, shall we say.”
“I’ll be at your office in ten.” Luca hung up, and David leaned back. He had ten minutes to figure this out. Blowing out a breath, he went to the bar in the corner of his office, pouring another drink. He tossed it back, and slammed the glass onto the bar. Slowly, he sat back at the desk, watching the computer screen. When he saw Luca, and Mickey at the door, he buzzed them in. It helped, that Mickey was with him. Maybe he could make this seem like Mickey’s idea. The men entered, and David stood to meet them.
“Drinks?” he waved at the bar.
“Looks like you have started without us,” Luca joked, though the mood was somber. Three drinks poured, he handed them out, and indicated the chairs in front of his desk. Everyone settled in, and silently sipped.
“What is your plan?” Luca finally asked.
“Commander Foday, that is my contact. He is the current ruler of the area. decided to throw a ball. Lots of, shall we say, shady characters. But, I need a woman to go with me. I can’t show up alone. They think American men like me, have women dripping from us.” The three men laughed. “It just can’t be any woman though. She must be beautiful, yet smart. Someone we can both trust. She needs to turn heads, but not be in the way, when we talk business. You know? I see how all your girls, they don’t ask questions when business comes up. Not like a nosy socialite would.”
Luca was intelligent. He understood what David was saying. Their girlfriends knew their place, and the men could discuss business around them freely. But Mickey, he was another story. He didn’t seem to understand.
“So, you want one of the girlfriends to accompany you?” Luca said out loud, for Mickey’s benefit. David nodded. Mickey immediately sat forward.
“Take Mia,” he said. Looking at Luca, he continued, “I know she will do what I say, plus, it gives us an extra set of eyes on the crumb.” David knew that crumb meant an outsider, someone who was legit, worked a real job. He wasn’t one of theirs, so he had played up on their suspicious nature. Luca looked at David.
“You met her today. Will she work?”
“Yea, that was my girl, you were talking to her, remember? Dark hair, nice ass?” he laughed, leaning back, a smug look on his face.
“That will work. When can she be ready? I’ll buy her a gown in Freetown. I just need to be ready to leave first thing in the morning.”
“She will be ready. Just name the time, we’ll tell you where to show up.”