Chapter 65 You’re Already Dead – Briar
YOU’RE ALREADY DEAD
brIAR
It’s another long day of dress rehearsals at the theater. Mr. Carr is still on another tear, and each number is taking painfully long to get through. I spend most of my time backstage on the floor, my eyes on the clock, either stretching or thinking about what I’m going to say to Koen later.
He’s supposed to pick me up at nine, so he’s not due to be here for another hour, but at the rate we’re going… rehearsal is undoubtedly going to run late, and I’m going to be the reason we miss our reservation.
The dress I borrowed from Lily to wear tonight is tucked into my dance bag, back in Studio A where I did warm-ups, with the rest of my things.
It’s cute, green velvet, and falls to my knees.
But right now, I’m in full costume for the run-through; a beautiful white tutu with brushes of pink sequins that sparkle each time the lights hit it.
I still have one more number to perform, but they’re still on the one three-ahead of me. I sigh, growing impatient. I’ve already stretched as much as I can possibly stretch, and the nervous energy in my body requires movement.
I lean in toward Mia beside me, “I’m going to go grab my new pointe shoes out of my bag. Might as well break them in now since we aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.”
“Take me with you,” she sighs, bored out of her mind, but her number is next up.
I laugh, “I’ll be right back. Do you want some water?”
“Yes, please,” she hums, and gives me an appreciative smile.
Getting up, I dodge bodies of other dancers, stagehands, and lighting assistants to slip out the back end of the theater, which leads to the hallway most of the studios are on.
After weeks of dancing every day on my current shoes, I finally had to admit to myself that I needed a new pair, so I broke down and bought some from the shop downstairs this morning.
Most dancers, if dancing every day, swap them out every one to two weeks, but at over one hundred dollars a pair, I do what I can to make mine last.
Money is tight right now, especially since I haven’t gotten any tips or lesson money flowing in, and the slippers cost me just about my last hundred bucks.
I don’t know how everything is going to work out with Koen tonight, but in one week, our deal will be over, and I’ll have the money for Remi’s meds, I’ll be free of Gio, and I’ll be able to get a job at another club or bar, and with the showcase next week…
The studio lights are off when I enter, but there’s something off about the room. After weeks of being stalked by Koen, I trust my instincts, and I am certain I’m not alone.
I get halfway to the bag and freeze. My eyes scan the dark edges of the studio until I see Giovanni step out into the light.
I narrow my eyes, unsure why he’s here. I’ve been keeping up with his texts, even though I’ve been feeding him all but useless information.
“Bella, Bella, Bella.” He looks me over. “Long time, no see.”
I’m not in the mood for his games. “But not long time, no talk. What do you want, Gio?”
He clicks his tongue at my attitude. ”Have you seen Daniel?”
“No.” I stiffen, but try and play it off.
“Interesting…” His eyes scan my face. “Because the last time I talked to him, he was on his way to see you.”
I just shrug, doing my best to keep a blank expression on my face.
“It’s a rough neighborhood…”
“Mmm.” Gio considers, staring at me hard.
I stare back, my face carefully schooled.
He looks away first. “There’s a shipment coming in tonight,” he says, changing the subject, but my entire body tenses further. “Nobody seems to know where.”
“That’s too bad,” I say, trying to pretend this has nothing to do with me.
He smiles. “It is. Because, Bella, I need to know where that shipment is arriving. And I think you know exactly where that is.”
I shake my head no.
“You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with the O’Rourkes; I know you’ve heard more than you’ve let on.”
“No,” I tell him, still shaking my head.
He sighs, disappointed. “Did you forget my threat, Bella? We had a deal, but if you’re not going to deliver, I’ll have to consider our deal off.” He frowns. “But you do work best with a little incentive…” Gio pulls out his phone, holding it up, the screen facing me, and my blood goes cold.
It’s a picture of Remi and Lily curled up on the couch, watching a movie. Only in this photo, they’re in the middle of a rifle sight, the angle of the camera shows it was taken by someone perched on the fire escape across the alleyway.
The photo is from tonight. Remi’s wearing her favorite unicorn pajamas, and in the background I can see the suitcases that are still in the living room from yesterday.
“I don’t know anything,” I say, quieter.
Gio pulls the phone away, giving me a bored expression. “I really hope you do, Bella, because I’m not walking away without what I came for. And if you really don’t know… well then that’s a pity. Because then there’s only one use for you—and your pretty little daughter.”
My chest burns with rage and I blink away angry tears, curling my hands into fists at my side.
“You’re not going to lay a finger on her,” I growl, even though my voice shakes along with the rest of me.
Giovanni makes a show of checking his watch. “Well, that depends on you, Bella. Where is the Irish shipment dropping tonight?”
I’m going to kill him.
He laughs when he sees the glare on my face. I amuse him. He knows I know.
“So, what’s it going to be, Bella? Do we remember any new details?” He waves his phone at me, the picture of Lily and Remi still on it. “Or do I need to make up my money elsewhere?”
“Yes,” I bite out. Everything in me rebelling against giving Gio the information.
“That’s the answer I was looking for! You’re learning, Bella.”
I don’t respond. Too busy glowering at him.
“Where and when, beautiful? That’s all I need.”
“The docks,” I bite out, watching as he lifts his phone, typing something into it.
“I hope you have more than that.” He raises an eyebrow at me expectantly.
“Port 17. Nine p.m. Tonight,” I clip out between clenched teeth. My shoulders sag with the weight of what I’ve just done. I eye the clock; it’s almost eight-thirty. Maybe Gio won’t have time to intercept the shipment, or divert it, or whatever the hell he’s planning to do on such a short timeline.
The smile that curves up his face tells me otherwise, and he presses his phone to his ear.
“Did you get my text?” He listens to whoever is speaking on the other end. “You were right about the docks. Get the sniper in place.” He checks his watch. “There’s not a lot of time.”
I freeze.
“Liam O’Rourke is the target.”
My heart skips a beat. Liam?
“Call me when you have eyes,” he says, before ending the call and smiling at me like we’re friends.
I inch toward the door. Liam can’t die. I have to warn them. But I left my phone backstage when I came to get my shoes; it’s not in here. Gio’s still in front of me, and he moves to block my path out of the studio.
“Not so fast, Bella. I have to make sure you’re telling me the truth. Once my guy confirms the intel, I’ll be on my way.”
We wait, just like that, in uncomfortable silence, for what feels like an eternity but is really only ten minutes, until his phone rings.
“Hello?” The dark smile on Gio’s face sets me on edge.
“Excellent. Excellent.”
He hangs up the phone, straightening his jacket before eyeing the look on my face with a look of confusion. “Chill, Bella, I thought you’d be pleased! If all goes to plan tonight, you’ll have one less O’Rourke to worry about.”
My knees feel shaky. “What do you mean?”
“My guys have confirmed the drop location. Liam O’Rourke is on site.”
“You’re—you’re going to kill Liam?” I blurt out, the gravity of what I’ve done hitting me all at once. My heart is racing, and my head spins, but I have to keep it together.
“Me? No.” He shakes his head, his lips curling in distaste. “I’m just the middleman, a broker of information, but I do have a Russian client who is very highly motivated.” He smiles with a nod.
“I thought you were vetting them as potential clients,” I say, still trying to come up with a plan to fix this in my head.
Gio just shrugs, finally making his way toward the door. “I’m a businessman, Bella, and my client came to me with a lucrative deal for information. Very lucrative.” His smile is dripping with grease.
“Lovely chatting with you, Bella. Until next time!” Gio calls, exiting the studio, and leaving me alone in my mental turmoil.
The docks… a sniper… Liam.
They’re going after Liam! And it’s all my fault.
I chance a look at the clock; it’s almost quarter till nine. There’s still time.
I dart for the door, looking out into the hallway quickly first to make sure Gio is gone.
The hallway is clear and I race toward the theater, flinging open the rear door, and jumping over dancers sprawled across the floor as I dart for my phone, scooping it up from where it’s lying next to Mia, fumbling it in my hands as I try to unlock it.
“Briar, are you okay?” Mia asks, looking up at me with concern.
They’re going to kill Liam. I like Liam. I set him up. I told Gio where he’d be; I might as well have loaded the fucking gun myself.
I have to stop it.
My fingers freeze over the screen. He’ll know. There’s no way I can warn him without confessing what I’ve done. What I’ve been doing.
Tears stream down my face as I finally unlock the screen, finding Koen’s contact, my finger hovering just over his name before pressing down to connect the call.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I plead with the sound of the ringing phone in my ear, but it just rings and rings. Just as I fear I’m about to be sent to voicemail, the line clicks open.
“Yeah?”
I almost drop the phone.
“Koen?” I rush out, my brain moving too fast for my mouth to keep up.
“Briar Rose, where are you? I’m waiting for you.”
I freeze. He’s here.
Half in a daze, I dart between the thick curtains out onto the left wing of the stage. Mr. Carr is in the middle of reaming out the orchestra, so he doesn’t notice me, my eyes scan the rows of chairs in the audience.
“I see you.”
I see you too.
Through tears, I locate Koen across rows and rows of empty seats; he’s all the way at the top of the theater, by the rear double doors; I see my dark shadow waiting for me.
I choke back a sob, trying to clear my throat.
“Koen, listen to me. There’s no time. I don’t know…” Fuck, just spit it out, Briar. “They’re going to kill Liam,” I rush out, sucking in a breath. “They—they know where the drop is tonight. Port 17 at nine p.m. It’s an ambush.”
There is only silence on the other end of the phone, and I try to hold back the sobs that threaten to rip out of me.
“Koen?” He’s staring at me. I can see him staring at me, but I can’t hear anything.
I check the phone, thinking maybe we got disconnected, but we didn’t.
“Who?”
I flinch at the dangerous edge in his voice.
I swallow. “Giovanni… and some Russians, he said. I swear, Koen, I didn’t know.
I didn’t know what they were going to do.
” The image of Remi and Lily in that rifle sight flickers back through my mind, and tears soak my cheeks.
He has to go. He has to save Liam. But he’s not moving… He’s just staring at me.
“How does Giovanni know about the drop tonight, Briar?”
I suck in a breath, my lip trembling, my heart shattering into a million pieces.
“Because I told him.”
Silence.
Deafening, cataclysmic, screaming—silence. I meet his eyes, and with each second he looks at me, I feel the knife of his gaze cut through me. He looks torn between going to save his brother and coming down here to strangle me.
“I’m sorr—”
“Don’t.” My words seem to snap something inside of him.
“Koen…”
“Oh, little Rose,” he purrs; his voice sounds strange, darker, borderline unhinged. “You don’t know, do you? You’re already dead.”
Tears stream down my cheeks, and he backs away, moving toward the doors behind him, but still his eyes never leave mine.
“Don’t cry. Run. Run, little Rose, I dare you, because when I find you… I will show no mercy. I will take my time, and I will make sure you know exactly who the fuck you betrayed.”
He disappears, and the line goes dead, and I fall to my knees.