was also extremely jumpy, and all his men appeared to be on high alert.
I was lounging back on the couch in my makeshift office on the upper balcony of the warehouse, feeling as if I was going to lose my mind from being caged up when Leo’s voice startled me.
“There is something I am going to need your assistance with.”
I sat up and turned to face him. He was alone, which was uncommon. At least one of his men was always following him.
“What would that be, Leo? We’re already providing you with three storage locations. What more could you need?” I said as I lifted the pack of Marlboros from the table next to the couch. I tapped it against my knee, grabbed the one that popped out, and lifted it to my lips. He remained silent as I lit the cigarette and did my best not to gag. I had given up smoking years ago, but this case made old habits resurface. The taste still got me at first, though.
“I have a rat,” he said as he sat in the chair across from me.
My pulse raced, and my heart felt like it was beating in my ears. “Who?” I asked, playing it cool and trying to come off as if I thought he was full of shit.
“That is what I do not know, but I can assure you I have one.” He leaned in and grabbed for the pack of cigarettes, helping himself. “It would seem someone is reporting my every move back to Roman, and I don’t like feeling like I have to watch my step. I run my show my way. At the end of the day when things are accounted for, that is all that matters. In my opinion, it does not matter how we got there, as long as we do, in fact, get there.”
“What do you need from me?”
“I need you to find my rat,” he said as he leaned back against the chair before lighting the cigarette and taking a drag. “And when you find him, I need you to dispose of him.”
I stared at him, really taking the time to evaluate him.
“This means we must wait him out, watch everyone closely until we find the one person that continues to slip away. That’s when you’ll find my rat.”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but I knew I couldn’t blow this. This was the first time he’d mentioned Roman’s name, and that was finally a step in the right direction.
It was time to allow myself to get completely lost in the world of illegal drug distribution, trafficked women, and anything else we could pin on Roman and the many men beneath him.
Chapter 20
Gabriella
Three weeks. That’s how long it had been since I’d heard from Josh. Since I left his office sated and completely satisfied.
I’d like to say missing him got easier with time, but that would be a lie. It would be so much easier if I could just hear his voice, but that wasn’t an option. Instead I only had my memories, and I loved my memories. Josh knew how to make a major impression in the small periods of time we were allowed together.
Walking into my office to find Conrad sitting in the chair opposite my desk only gave my already sour mood a final push.
“Good morning, Gabriella.”
I wanted to knock his gleaming smile off his face with my briefcase. What the hell was he so fucking happy about this early on a Wednesday? “Morning,” I said, forcing a smile. “Looks like you’re in a good mood. What’s on the agenda for today?”
He immediately leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and looking directly at me. “I just got word from Margo that you and me are heading to San Diego.” He shifted his brows upward in excitement that only annoyed me. Once again, the strong urge to pummel him flashed through me. “Realtors Conference and Expo,” he said in a singsong tone.
That was it. He had to leave, like, now. I couldn’t handle his chipper tone and his big, freakish smile. I was feeling violent and knew things could only end badly if he stayed.
“Great,” I said, trying to fake my interest. “Listen, can we talk about this later? I have paperwork I need to complete and send
I was lounging back on the couch in my makeshift office on the upper balcony of the warehouse, feeling as if I was going to lose my mind from being caged up when Leo’s voice startled me.
“There is something I am going to need your assistance with.”
I sat up and turned to face him. He was alone, which was uncommon. At least one of his men was always following him.
“What would that be, Leo? We’re already providing you with three storage locations. What more could you need?” I said as I lifted the pack of Marlboros from the table next to the couch. I tapped it against my knee, grabbed the one that popped out, and lifted it to my lips. He remained silent as I lit the cigarette and did my best not to gag. I had given up smoking years ago, but this case made old habits resurface. The taste still got me at first, though.
“I have a rat,” he said as he sat in the chair across from me.
My pulse raced, and my heart felt like it was beating in my ears. “Who?” I asked, playing it cool and trying to come off as if I thought he was full of shit.
“That is what I do not know, but I can assure you I have one.” He leaned in and grabbed for the pack of cigarettes, helping himself. “It would seem someone is reporting my every move back to Roman, and I don’t like feeling like I have to watch my step. I run my show my way. At the end of the day when things are accounted for, that is all that matters. In my opinion, it does not matter how we got there, as long as we do, in fact, get there.”
“What do you need from me?”
“I need you to find my rat,” he said as he leaned back against the chair before lighting the cigarette and taking a drag. “And when you find him, I need you to dispose of him.”
I stared at him, really taking the time to evaluate him.
“This means we must wait him out, watch everyone closely until we find the one person that continues to slip away. That’s when you’ll find my rat.”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but I knew I couldn’t blow this. This was the first time he’d mentioned Roman’s name, and that was finally a step in the right direction.
It was time to allow myself to get completely lost in the world of illegal drug distribution, trafficked women, and anything else we could pin on Roman and the many men beneath him.
Chapter 20
Gabriella
Three weeks. That’s how long it had been since I’d heard from Josh. Since I left his office sated and completely satisfied.
I’d like to say missing him got easier with time, but that would be a lie. It would be so much easier if I could just hear his voice, but that wasn’t an option. Instead I only had my memories, and I loved my memories. Josh knew how to make a major impression in the small periods of time we were allowed together.
Walking into my office to find Conrad sitting in the chair opposite my desk only gave my already sour mood a final push.
“Good morning, Gabriella.”
I wanted to knock his gleaming smile off his face with my briefcase. What the hell was he so fucking happy about this early on a Wednesday? “Morning,” I said, forcing a smile. “Looks like you’re in a good mood. What’s on the agenda for today?”
He immediately leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and looking directly at me. “I just got word from Margo that you and me are heading to San Diego.” He shifted his brows upward in excitement that only annoyed me. Once again, the strong urge to pummel him flashed through me. “Realtors Conference and Expo,” he said in a singsong tone.
That was it. He had to leave, like, now. I couldn’t handle his chipper tone and his big, freakish smile. I was feeling violent and knew things could only end badly if he stayed.
“Great,” I said, trying to fake my interest. “Listen, can we talk about this later? I have paperwork I need to complete and send
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