Chapter Seven #2
I’d met him quite by accident after stealing a Mercedes one of his guys had been eyeballing.
I hadn’t even known he’d targeted the same car I had until after I’d gotten into it in record time and driven away.
Less than a minute later, I’d come to an abrupt stop on the street when a gorgeous Ferrari had blown past me and swerved in front of me so fast, I’d been forced to slam on the brakes.
I can still remember the smell of burning rubber as I’d very nearly smashed into the Italian sportscar.
When Josiah Sterling had stepped out of the driver’s seat with a massive grin and walked over to my window, my heart had been hammering in my chest. I’d had no idea what the hell he was doing or who he was.
He’d gestured for me to roll down the window and when I’d refused, he’d drawn a gun and pointed it at my face with an evil gleam in his eyes.
“Roll it down!” he’d shouted through the window.
I’d nearly shit myself right then and there. “Who the fuck are you?” I’d asked as I’d finally lowered the window.
He’d stared, looking down at me with a predatory grin and flashing, black eyes that were scary enough for me to rethink my tone. “Josiah, and you just stole my ride.”
“T-that’s not your ride?” I’d asked, pointing to the Ferrari.
He’d laughed, waving the gun at the sports car. “That one is also my ride.”
“Fuck.” I could still remember swallowing around the lump in my throat, praying that the barrel of his gun wasn’t the last thing I’d ever see when a bullet crashed through my forehead.
He’d laughed. “That was pretty smooth.”
“Wh-what?”
“I timed how long it took you to get into the Mercedes,” he’d said, sounding almost like he admired me.
“Thanks?” I might’ve taken the time to feel flattered if I hadn’t been staring down the barrel of a very large gun.
He’d laughed again. It wasn’t a nice laugh. The sound of it sent shivers down my back. “What’s your name?”
I’d swallowed. “Um…Cam.”
Josiah had glanced around and finally slid the gun into his jacket before leaning over with both hands on my door. He’d been only inches from my face when he’d spoken next. “Let’s talk somewhere less conspicuous.”
I’d swallowed again. “Where?”
He’d straightened, still wearing that scary grin, and gestured to the Strip. “Meet me at the Four Queens in Downtown. Do you know where that is?”
Of course, I did. The Four Queens was one of the first hotels ever built in Vegas and still had one of the best steakhouses I’d ever been to. Hugo’s Cellar was in the basement; I knew it because I used to take my mom there every year for her birthday. “Y-yeah.”
“Good.” He’d slapped his hand on top of the Mercedes. “Go around back. Ernest is the lot attendant. Tell him you’re with Josiah and he’ll take this baby off your hands. Meet you at the back entrance,” he’d said.
“Uh…I was gonna sell it,” I’d told him. I remembered thinking he couldn’t just take the car from me. He had a gun, but there was nothing stopping me from driving off.
“You’ll be compensated for your trouble, Cam.” He’d stared at me with those glittering eyes and something about the way he carried himself had made me not want to question what’d amounted to his orders.
“Y-yeah, okay. See you in twenty minutes,” I’d stammered.
He’d pounded on the roof of the Mercedes twice more, before spinning on his heel and walking back to the Ferrari.
I could still remember how his expensive shoes shone under the moonlight.
I remembered thinking I had no idea who the fuck this Josiah was but hating the fact that I was slightly attracted to him despite him being at least fifteen years older than me.
Something about the way he carried himself…
effortless and slick and almost entitled, wasn’t normally my thing, but he’d had an innate power that was undeniable.
It’d been like I couldn’t say no to the guy, and I hadn’t known why.
That’d been six months ago, but Josiah still had the same effect on me. Maybe it was the way all his guys deferred to him. The power the man had, had been impossible to ignore that night, and it still was.
Normally, I would’ve hated that, but somehow, being in Josiah’s orbit also meant I was important. He’d complimented my skill at getting into the car, but there’d been more to it than that. I’d known it had something to do with how he’d paid attention to me.
He’d commanded respect when he spoke, but it wasn’t only that.
I’d found myself wanting to be good at the jobs he sent me on.
It had nothing to do with feeling threatened, even though, at times, I had felt that way.
It had more to do with feeling important to someone.
I’d never been important to anyone after my mom forgot who I was.
And it scared the shit out of me. On some level, I wanted out but I didn’t know how.
I shook myself out of my musings as I drove onto the lot, suddenly feeling more nervous than I usually did, knowing I’d be coming face to face with him, and I had two FBI agents watching the goings on.
I knew they were taking pictures. Mars had opened his trunk and taken out a camera, handing it to Mickey.
Mars had told me to try to get Josiah out in the open so they could get some shots of him handing me money in exchange for the Maybach.
The nerves were making me shaky as I stopped the car and got out.
The manager’s office had its usual light on. I turned and looked back toward the street. I couldn’t see the black Camaro in the dark, but I knew they were there. I could sense them watching.
“Don’t look in our direction,” Mickey said in the earwig. I immediately put my hand up to my ear. “And for God’s sake, stop touching your ear.”
I instantly dropped my hand. “Sorry.” I debated whether I should go over to the office.
Mars had said they wanted photos. Shit. I just had to wait until Josiah came out.
I turned my back on the office so anyone watching me from inside wouldn’t see my lips moving.
“What do I do? Usually, I go inside. I completely forgot about that. Fuck. It’s gonna be weird if I just stand here. ”
“Bugger.”
That had been Mars’ voice. “Tell me what to do,” I said, reaching out to rub a hand over the car’s painted hood, pretending to be busy.
“Give ‘im a minute,” Mars said. “Maybe ‘e’ll come out if ya don’t go knocking.”
I nodded then cursed myself for doing it.
When the door behind me suddenly burst open, I spun around.
I was expecting Josiah, but instead two of his lackeys came out.
I wasn’t sure what to call these guys…bodyguards maybe?
They sure as hell were big enough to be, taller even than the man himself.
They crossed the lot as I stood there, shifting my weight from foot to foot.
I didn’t think Josiah would let them do anything to me out here in the open even though it was after dark.
He’d never tried anything like that in the past. But once Mars and the FBI got involved, asking me to wear what amounted to a wire, so they could hear and possibly even record everything he said to me, made me really nervous.
What if he found out? What if he saw the earpiece I was wearing? Shit. This had been a really bad idea.
“Why didn’t you come into the office?” one of the guys demanded as soon as they walked up.
“You know Josiah don’t conduct business out in the open.
” He darted a glance around, narrowing his eyes as he tried to see out onto the street.
I prayed Mars had parked the Camaro somewhere he couldn’t be spotted.
I figured the FBI was good at that kind of stuff…
hiding in plain sight, so to speak. When he seemed to relax a bit, dipping his shoulders—which I hadn’t even realized were tense—I breathed out a slow sigh of relief.
They were standing so close, I had to crane my neck to look up at them. Both tall, but not taller than Mars, who I really wished was standing next to me right now. “I-I’m sorry,” I squeaked, coughing to clear my throat. “Sorry. I just was admiring this car.” I pointed a thumb at the Maybach.
The more intimidating of the two looked past me and gave the car a brief once over, then walked quickly around it.
I thought I saw a quick smile flit across his face before he returned to my side.
“Good.” Before I could say anything else, he snapped his fingers.
“Now, get in the office, Cam. Josiah’s waiting and you know he hates being kept waiting.
” He didn’t wait for me to say anything back before they strode away from me.
“Go ahead and follow them in there but remember the signal we gave ya, Cam,” Mars said in my ear. “If Josiah tries any funny business, we’ll be there in less than twenty seconds. We’re listening.”
I sighed, feeling my heart pounding as I remembered the signal word I’d chosen.
Repainted. That had been the word. I was supposed to use it if anything bad was about to happen.
I suddenly thought, repainted what? A car?
How would I even put that in a conversation?
I’d chosen it thinking it would be enough of a distraction to stop Josiah from shooting me if I asked him if he’d repainted…
something… The room maybe. Just long enough for Mars and Mickey to burst inside and save me.
I don’t know what I’d been thinking. Fuck, I was an idiot and I was really bad at all this undercover shit.
“I remember,” I whispered.
The intimidating one stopped and pivoted. “Did you say something?”
“No…I…ah, was just thinking I remember I gotta come back here and check out the cars you keep on this lot. I’m in the market for something cheap and reliable and I don’t just wanna steal one or—”
“Fine. Shut up. Let’s get this shit over with.”