Chapter Twenty – The Beginning Of
The End
Blake
I didn’t want to leave Carly. She was upset over losing her father a second time, and I can’t blame him. The only thing that brings me an ounce of comfort is knowing that she’s better off in the long run. Not because he pushed her away, even if to protect her, but because something bad is coming. My biggest fear is that they would have reconciled only moments before I rip him away from her like the thief I am. I’m not saying it’s the right way to think, but at least she won’t be mixed up in this fucking mess before the agency brings the hammer down on the entire organization.
She’d lose him anyway.
I pull into the facility and park next to Styx’s car. No one else appears to be here yet, so I take a few moments to send Luke a text about the meeting before heading inside. The interior of the building is dark except for a light over by the part we call the office. I flop down in one of the chairs while Styx keeps those dark eyes of his trained on me. I don’t know what it is about this man, but he heckles my nerves. There’s something about him that I don’t quite trust.
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
“They’ll be here.” Styx stares at me with those dark eyes. I school my features, keeping it casual and relaxed on the outside. On the inside, I’m registering every twitch of his eye, every movement he makes. I catalog his actions as he watches me from across the seating area.
“What have you heard about this job?” I ask, trying to fish for a little information.
“Not too much. Mattias will be here soon, though, and I’m sure he’ll have the details.” Still, he watches me. “So, what have you been up to lately?” he asks casually, but the gleam in his eyes lets me know there’s more to his question than casual conversation. Instantly, I’m on edge.
“Not too much,” I reply.
“You seem to never be home anymore. I’ve stopped by a few times, but you’re never there.”
Realization slams into me. Styx knows more than he’s letting on. He’s baiting me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. “Yeah, I’ve been hanging out with some friends.”
“Friends, huh? Didn’t realize you had any friends,” he says. It’s the way he says the word that makes me want to stand up, walk out the door, and go to Carly. Styx knows something, more than he’s saying, and that makes me want to protect her from whatever evil is lurking.
The door to the facility opens at that moment, saving me from having to talk any more about my friends. Particularly, about Carly. “Good. You’re both here,” Mattias says as he joins us in the office. Two other men that work closely with him flank him on the left and the right.
Before he can say anything else, the door opens again. Four men walk inside the room; men I’ve never seen before. All are dressed exceptionally well, but the one in the center stands out. His suit is obviously custom made, his loafers probably costing more than my monthly salary, and his jet-black hair pulled back in a long ponytail. He screams wealth and power as he strides towards us with purpose and authority.
“Ah, good. You’re here,” Mattias says, standing until the foursome joins us in the small sitting area.
“Of course. This job is the biggest we’ve had yet, Mattias. I told you that I’d be part of this from the very beginning,” the man says in a full Italian accent.
“Gentlemen, this is Fernando. He’s going to assist us with the next job,” Mattias says with a nod.
“This job is the biggest one we’ve had in our partnership. My men are professionals and will be assisting with the boosts,” he says, indicating the three men next to him.
“We don’t need any help,” Styx says with irritation.
“You don’t have a choice,” Fernando says with a pointed look. I instantly get the feeling that this isn’t someone you want to fuck with or over. I chastise myself for not having my cell phone out. I was so involved in my conversation and the underlying tone of Styx’s comments that I didn’t prepare myself fully for this meeting. It pisses me off that I’m not recording this conversation for Luke and the agency. I can’t even snap photos because the fucking piece of electronics is in my damn pocket.
Styx looks over to Mattias as if waiting for his confirmation. “Fernando and his men are going to help with this job. It’s the one we’ve been waiting on. Nine high end collector cars worth more than six point five million dollars,” Mattias says with a smile.
And then I realize. This is it. The big one. The one to take down the organization and get the overseas contact. The fucker is standing right in front of me: front and center. He’s here and he’s going to help with the job. My excitement is off the charts as I realize we’re close. So close to finishing this job.
I sit back and listen as the details are planned out before me. Mattias and Fernando have apparently been working this job for a while because everything is basically ready to go.
“When?” Styx asks.
“Wednesday night. The shipping containers arrive in the morning and will depart from the private airstrip by four a.m. on Thursday morning.” Three days. That leaves us with only three days to organize, plan, and execute this takedown operation.
It’s not a lot of time, but it’s gonna have to do.
* * *
“What do you have?” Luke says quietly after sliding into the booth bench across from me.
“Wednesday night,” I whisper, looking around inconspicuously.
“Not a lot of time, but we knew we wouldn’t get much notice. We’re ready,” he says as he takes a drink of his coffee.
“You sure? We need this to happen without any fuckin’ hitches, Luke.”
“Yeah, we’ve got this. I’ll call a meeting first thing tomorrow and derive our execution strategy. Where will you be?” he asks, always concerned about my safety first.
“I’m not boosting. I’ll be at the facility to receive the cars and start stripping.” I give my brother a pointed look. “I met him, Luke.” The meaning is evident by the look he gives me back.
“He’s here?” he asks, wide eyed.
“Yeah, he’s going to be with me, Roman, and Mattias at the facility watching the whole thing go down. He brought three of his own men to assist with the boosts. If all goes as planned, he’ll be on the first flight back to Italy before sun-up.”
“Not gonna happen. We’ll be there to make sure of it. He’ll never get on that flight,” Luke confirms.
“Just be ready for gun shed, man. They were all packing more heat than a gun show,” I warn him.
“We’ll be ready. Just try to relax and keep out of the line of fire,” he says with that cocky smile before getting up. “You gonna be with Carly?” he asks, surprising me.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just make sure that when this all goes down, she’s nowhere near this. It’s gonna get ugly and she’s going to look for someone to blame, Blake. That someone is probably gonna be you.” He doesn’t have to tell me this. I already fucking know.
“I know, Luke.”
“Things may get harder before they get better. Just remember that,” he says before sliding his sunglasses on his face and walking out. I watch him go, taking in the crowd around us.
His words aren’t any that I haven’t already thought myself. She’s going to blame me when she finds out about my involvement in the takedown of her father. But it can’t be helped. It must happen.
I just pray we’re strong enough to get past the betrayal she no doubt will feel when it’s over.
And I pray I’m strong enough to convince her not to walk away, taking my daughter with her.