Chapter 40
Forty
Raven
I’m up early the next morning, partly because I’ve hardly slept.
Damn Declan whatever-his-name-is, torturing me even in his absence.
Hours I spent last night, trying to wrestle my emotions under some semblance of control, while his voice tortured me with hollow promises of love, support, loyalty and truth.
The worst thing of all is that when I finally reached for my nightstand drawer and battery-powered relief from thoughts of him, the opposite occurs.
But instead of being there with apologies and tenderness, he’s there with ropes, his sexy little smile, and no shirt.
I come in minutes, faster than I usually do, gritting my teeth to not cry out his name.
I’m in a bad mood when I climb onto my bike, hitting the 210 and keeping it under the speed limit through sheer willpower.
It wouldn’t be smart to get pulled for speeding while carrying approximately eight million in contraband diamonds.
Especially when I don’t have a friend in the FBI, because he fucking resigned.
Over me.
Allegedly.
I still reach Kurt’s unit shortly after nine, taking the stairs with pissed-off stomps to announce my presence. Irritatingly, that still isn’t enough to make Tasha look up from her laptop. What the hell does she do on there all the time?
“Get yourself a coffee,” she mutters, clicking her mouse as she stares at her screen. “And for the love of God, chill.”
“Where’s Kurt?”
“He was out with his cans of spray paint somewhere. He’ll be here in about twenty.”
I do and don’t want to see Kurt. After the intensity of the escape from Meridian Pacific, his subsequent capture, and the week I’ve had, I could use some of his unruffled calm. On the other hand, if he mentions Declan’s name, I’m not sure I can be held responsible for what happens.
I take Dario’s gun out of my jacket and leave it on the coffee table, out of temptation’s range.
Kurt walks in a few minutes later, looking as tidy and as alert as he always does. He clearly has no problems sleeping.
“Good morning, Genesis.”
In reply, I pull the hardware wallet out of my jacket along with both velvet bags of diamonds, and hold them out.
“Ah. Thank you,” he says, taking them. “I’ll get these fenced. It’ll take a few weeks.” The diamonds go on the coffee table, but he gives the black box a cursory look, before sliding it into his pocket. I’m thoroughly relieved to see the back of it.
“Do I want to know what’s on that?” I ask.
“Probably not, no.” He gives me a smile. “You’d have been a lot more scared riding around with it if you’d known. You’re still better off not knowing.”
Tasha leans back in her chair, fixing Kurt with a look. “I would like to know.”
“You can ask me later.”
“I’m asking you now.” Her eyes narrow in confrontation. “What could possibly encourage you to take such risks, give up your share of the diamonds, offer to cover the crew when Raven and Declan take half, and result in you getting picked up by the Feds, only to be released the next day?”
I raise an eyebrow at Tasha. I figured she always knew the details of the jobs we did. Evidently not.
“Different matters,” Kurt says lightly, but Tasha keeps glaring at him. There’s a tension in his voice he can’t quite disguise. “My offer to Genesis had nothing to do with the contents of this box. I made that decision because it was the right one.”
“I’ll accept that,” Tasha says grudgingly, “but only because those two idiots needed a kick.”
“I’m sitting right here,” I mutter, but it’s like both of them have forgotten I exist. There’s energy in the air, and it’s the hair-standing-up kind, not warm vibes of camaraderie.
“Why did you get picked up, Kurt?” Tasha presses.
“What does it matter?” He says, waving one hand casually. His other is in the same pocket as the wallet, like touching it is reassuring. “What’s important is that I was carrying nothing incriminating, and they had no charges.”
“Not what I asked.” Tasha leans forward. “Why were they waiting for you?”
“Well, when you rob a Chinese corporate HQ, there’s bound to be some governmental interest—”
“Don’t patronize me.” She cuts across him. “The only way that plays is if they already knew our target. And if that were the case, why not pick up all of us?”
I frown. Declan did know, so the Feds must’ve known too. Tasha raises a fair point: why target Kurt alone? “Why was Declan so interested in that wallet, back when he was an Agent?”
“Because it’s worth more than all the diamonds,” Kurt replies.
“Not the answer,” Tasha says.
“Maybe, but there’s more to it,” I say at the same time.
He meets my gaze with a hint of a curve at the corner of his mouth. “It’s not really my place to say, but since you’ve asked, Declan wanted the wallet to negotiate for your safety. A guarantee you wouldn’t be prosecuted.”
My breath catches. “How do you know?”
“He told me.”
I scoff. “The pathological liar tells you, and you believed him?”
“Yes,” Kurt says simply.
Damn. Kurt wouldn’t trust without reason. Have I misjudged Declan again? “But if he wanted it so bad, why didn’t he just…” I trail off as I figure it out, but Kurt answers anyway.
“Ask you for it? Because he knew you wouldn’t give it to him.” He looks uncomfortable for a moment. “My fault. I did tell you not to trust him, but at that point, I was still not sure on which side he’d come down. I made things more complicated, and I apologize.”
“So that’s why he drugged and kidnapped me,” I say, thinking out loud, following it through to its natural conclusion. There’s no affront in my voice, but again Kurt is quick to reply.
“Yes he did, but now you know why.” He jumps to Declan’s defense. Like it’s important to him what I think of Declan. “He wanted the box, sure. Ulterior motives, sure. But motives that were in your interests. He knew you wouldn’t have given it to him for the asking.”
“He only wanted the box for his career,” I mutter, even though I can’t convince myself of that any longer. Not when he had it in his possession, then resigned.
Every step of the way, Declan’s been ahead of me, carving the path forward to ensure my safety. Even when he had a funny way of showing it… that resulted in some fucking big orgasms.
“He wanted the box, but I’m pretty sure he wanted you, too.” Kurt gives me a considering look, as though he’s wondering what transpired between us once I woke up. Or has somehow guessed at my thoughts.
I feel a blush coloring my cheeks and glance away.
Tasha clears her throat. “Well, that tells me all I needed to know about what they get up to,” she says dryly, and my blush is full-on now. Then her voice hardens. “But it doesn’t explain why the FBI were so interested in it, Kurt. Or who your contractor is, when it clearly isn’t them.”
“That’s my concern,” he replies. “I always handle—”
Her eyes widen. “Shit. If it’s not the Feds, it must be the CIA.” She sucks in a breath. “That makes perfect sense. They couldn’t touch Meridian Pacific because it’s on US soil. So they used you!” Her glare intensifies. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
His silence is answer itself.
“The goddamn CIA, Kurt?” Tasha’s voice rises. “Are you insane? What could possibly have compelled you to take that job?”
My brain is racing ahead. Declan must’ve known the CIA were onto the box. The FBI couldn’t act either, not against Chinese interests. We get the box—he gets the box—and he could… what… dictate his price?
“It all worked out fine,” Kurt argues.
“‘It all worked out fine’?” Tasha echoes, incredulous. “How do you know they’re not going to come and cap us in our beds to tie up loose ends?”
And what was I? Declan’s prize? Damn… did he trade the box to Kurt for Kurt’s approval? Like I’m something to be purchased with a goddamn dowry?
“Let’s just say I’m certain on that,” Kurt says.
“You’re certain?” Tasha’s on her feet. “Who does your planning? Who do you think needed to know?”
He raises a hand in placation, but Tasha’s just warming up.
“The fucking CIA and you don’t think to tell me?” She shakes her head, looking at him like he’s a stranger. “It’s not even that, is it? You didn’t trust me enough!” Her voice cracks. “After all we’ve been through?”
“When were you going to tell me?” I add, getting to my feet too. Kurt backs up a pace, keeping us both in sight. “And when did you agree to sell me to Declan in exchange for your box?”
“What?” Tasha does a double take.
“Pardon?” Kurt says.
Okay, that might’ve been wrong.
“You said the diamonds were a dowry. You’ve been awfully fond of Declan of late.”
“It’s you I’m fond of,” he says softly. “And it so happens I think Declan’s the right man to make you happy.”
“Raven, off you go.” Tasha flaps her hand at me. “Go get your man.” She fixes Kurt with a glare. “I have to strip some skin off this one.”
I cross my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to hear this, and I have no interest in Declan whatsoever.”
“You should tell him about the diamonds,” Kurt reminds me.
I should, but it can wait. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“He’ll have handed his phone back,” Tasha points out.
“So what?”
“So how will you find him once he’s left his apartment?”
I stare at her for three loud thuds of my heart. “Uh… I might leave you two to figure this out.”
“Good plan,” Kurt mutters.
“Have fun,” Tasha says. “Don’t forget to call me later and tell me how it went.”
I’m already collecting my helmet and striding for the door. Trying not to run. Taking the steps two at a time.
Behind me, Tasha starts in on Kurt. I give him about thirty seconds before he wishes he’d told her sooner. But she can handle him; she doesn’t need my help.
I have places to be.
Shit, I should’ve gone last night. I forgot about the phone. And he hasn’t got my new number.
What if he’s already left?
I’m on my bike and out onto the road before I’ve fully thought about it. All that matters is getting to Declan before he does something stupid, like leave. Disappear without any way of reaching him, because I told him to.