Chapter 16 #2
“It explains why men from rival gangs are working together to find us.” Cici’s face lost what was left of its color. “Depending on how many gang leaders he’s blackmailing… He could have a nearly unlimited number of people at his disposal.”
“Yeah.” By Alyssa’s tone of voice, Cici’s remark had sobered her.
She sounded more serious as she continued.
“I’m looking for similar payment patterns from the Northside Kings’ ringleader.
Haven’t found anything yet, but given what we know, it’s a reasonable assumption.
Gagnon created a network of criminals who have no choice but to help him. ”
Cici’s hand trembled as she reached for her cup. “That’s a dangerous game he’s playing. What keeps the people he’s blackmailing from taking him out?”
Asher fielded that. “He must have a contingency plan, some kind of dead-man’s switch. Something that automatically releases all his blackmail material if he doesn’t check in regularly.”
Cici’s eyes widened. “So every single person he’s got dirt on—politicians, crime bosses, whoever—they all have a vested interest in keeping him breathing. It’s not just that they can’t kill him. They actually need to protect him.”
“That’s how I’d do it,” Alyssa said.
She was a unique soul, this sister of Cici’s. Asher got the feeling she’d ridden that line between good and evil a few times in her life, unlike Cici, who was innocent and still seemed to feel the pang of disappointment when she learned of another person’s evil.
Maybe Asher was too jaded, but he couldn’t help the cold satisfaction that filled him.
“Maybe his enemies have a reason to keep him alive, but what’s that to us?
” He glanced around to make sure nobody in the restaurant was close enough to overhear.
“Way I see it, we eliminate Gagnon, we’re doing the world a favor, taking out a whole pile of… excrement in one shot.”
“Asher.” Cici’s voice went sharp. “You’re talking about murder.”
“Not murder.” Despite his words, he touched the gun tucked into its holster beneath his T-shirt, a reminder it was close.
A reminder that he could do what needed to be done.
“I’m just saying I won’t lose sleep if this guy and his army of thugs don’t make it home.
” Cici’s eyes were wide with shock, though what did she expect?
These people were trying to kill her. “In my defense, Gagnon started it. I plan to finish it.”
Cici’s jaw tightened. “After what happened to Mr. D… I see what you mean.”
“You two go ahead and plot homicide.” Alyssa’s voice cut through his dark contemplation. “Meanwhile, I’ll see if I can find the connection between Gagnon and whoever’s running the Northside Kings. And Callan is encouraging me to notify the FBI.”
Asher straightened. “Who’s Callan? I thought it was understood—”
“He’s my fiancé.” Alyssa adopted a relax, I’ve got this cadence. “He’s former CIA.”
Cici reached across the table and took Asher’s hand. “He’s a good guy, Asher. You’d like him.”
Since he hadn’t been consulted about reading this Callan guy in, he figured he didn’t have a choice in trusting him.
“I know Forbes has some guy at the FBI on speed dial,” Alyssa said. “Is it okay with you if I forward this information to him?”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
Cici took the phone and started scrolling. “Sis, we’ve got a contact in Philly.” She read off Detective Harris’s number. “Let her know what you’ve learned. We might as well all work together.”
“Good plan,” Alyssa said. “Maybe we can take this guy down without killing him. Novel concept, I know.”
Asher supposed that would be ideal. But at this point, after everything they’d been through—and knowing this guy wouldn’t stop until Cici was dead—Asher couldn’t make himself reject the idea of taking Gagnon out permanently. Whatever it took to protect her.
“Look,” Alyssa continued, “this guy’s network is…huge. You shouldn’t be out there alone. You should bring in—”
“We’re almost there,” Asher said, his voice clipped. “By the time anyone can get to us, we’ll be in Shadow Cove.”
Cici’s head tipped to one side, and he could see an argument forming on the tip of her tongue.
He’d gotten them this far, hadn’t he? Through every ambush, every close call. He could finish this job. He would finish it.
Alyssa said, “I’m just saying—”
“I understand.” He leaned toward the phone as if she could see him. “We’re less than two hours out, and nobody knows where we are.”
“It’s okay,” Cici said. “Asher knows what he’s doing.”
Her words surprised him, fortified him. He’d earned her trust, and he wasn’t going to let her down.
“All right, then,” Alyssa said. “I’ll keep digging. You two stay safe.”
“Will do.” Cici lifted the phone. “Thanks, sis. Love you.”
“Back atcha. By the way, we’re at Brooklynn’s. When you’re close, we’ll go to Mom and Dad’s to meet you.”
“You’re in Shadow Cove?”
“Of course. We’re all praying you two make it here without incident.”
Cici’s eyes filled. “That means…so much.” She and her sister traded a few more words, then Cici ended the call and handed the phone to him.
He pocketed it. “Thank you for…that. For believing in me.”
“Are you kidding? If not for you, I never would’ve made it out of Philly. Now, thanks to Alyssa, we know what we’re doing. I should just be quiet and let you two handle everything.”
Asher caught something off in her tone—a brittleness that didn’t match her words. “What do you mean, be quiet? You’ve been plenty helpful.”
She picked at her sandwich, not meeting his eyes.
“You were the one who suggested Gagnon had leverage. You’re the one who suggested we call Alyssa for intel. And don’t think I’ve forgotten how you saved my life. If you hadn’t whacked that guy in the woods, I’d be dead.”
“Rather be lucky than good, I guess.” She let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. “You don’t have to try to make me feel better, Asher. Alyssa’s crazy smart. You’re a Navy SEAL, for crying out loud. I’m…” She gestured vaguely at herself. “I’m here too.”
“Why are you downplaying your role? I don’t understand.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter. It matters to me.”
She looked past him, and he watched indecision play across her face. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I was in that school play, back in fifth grade. You remember?”
He had no idea what she was talking about. “I wasn’t into drama.”
“Well, I was, a little. I got a good role. I was so excited about it, about my whole family coming to see me. It’s stupid, I know, but…I guess I always felt overshadowed by them.”
He couldn’t imagine how someone as beautiful and kind and talented as Cici could feel overshadowed by anyone.
“The night before the play,” she said, “I overheard my mother reminding my dad about it. He scoffed, said he had to work. He said, ‘If she ever does something important, I’ll be there.’”
Ouch. “I’m sure he didn’t mean—”
“He didn’t mean for me to hear it, you’re right. But he meant it. He didn’t come to the play. He’s never shown up for…” She shook her head, still not meeting his eyes. “He didn’t even make it to my high school graduation. I guess that didn’t rise to his level of importance.”
“Not defending him, but he had a pretty stressful job, right? At the CIA?”
“He was also a father.” She leaned forward, warming to the conversation. “Once, one of my jewelry designs was nominated for a prize. It was no big deal—”
“It was a big deal,” he said. “Go on.”
Gratitude flashed in her eyes as if he’d done her a favor by stating the obvious.
“There was an event at the little art gallery where I took classes. Dad showed up.” She sighed.
“He spent the whole evening talking to my cousin Daniel, who’d just graduated from medical school, telling him how amazing he was, how proud of him…
He’s never once said that to me. I waited all night for him to actually look at the pendant I’d designed. He never did.”
Dad had his issues, but Asher had never doubted his love. He realized Cici’s seemingly perfect family wasn’t so perfect after all. “Sounds like your dad wasn’t so great at the whole fatherhood thing.”
She crumpled the sandwich wrapper into a tight ball. “That’s the understatement of the century.”
“It also sounds like you’ve let your father’s deficiencies define how you think about yourself.
” It felt weird, talking about this. He believed in God, but he didn’t go around sermonizing.
But Cici needed to hear the truth, so he’d speak it, even if it felt uncomfortable.
“Your dad wasn’t great at loving you, so you don’t think you’re lovable. What would God say about that, hmm?”
Her eyes narrowed. She lifted one shoulder and let it drop.
“You do know what He’d say. That you’re the person He created you to be, and He adores you. So…not that it’s easy or anything, but I guess my point is, who cares what Gavin Wright thinks when you have the King of the whole universe pleased with you?”
That brought a hint of a smile. “When you put it that way…”
“It’s the only way to look at it.” He loved this window into Cici’s heart, but time was ticking, and they needed to get back on the road. Reaching for her trash, he asked, “You’re finished?”
“Yeah.”
He dumped the trash, and they headed for the door.
In an hour and a half, they’d be in Shadow Cove. At that point…at that point, he’d have to figure out what to do next, because the last thing he wanted was to walk away from Cici again.