Chapter 26
brENDEN
Ilinger outside the coffee shop for longer than I should.
Baltimore’s cooling off. It’s late summer heading straight into fall. We’ve been hiding out for a week ever since the Davis job went sideways. I haven’t wanted to make a move, not with so much up in the air, but Arsen’s going to run out of patience soon.
I push my way inside, hat pulled low. She’s sitting toward the back reading a book and drinking coffee. I scan the room but don’t spot any Sarkissian handlers before slipping into the chair across from her.
“They let you out without minders now?”
Riley looks up and smiles. “I get to make the rules these days. What’s with the spy gear?”
“Can’t be too careful.” I take off the hat and put it on the table. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too. I was getting worried.” My sister glances down at the bag by my feet and arches her eyebrows. “You brought presents?”
“Something like that. Riles, how much do you know about what’s going on?”
Her smile instantly evaporates. “Arsen’s livid. What did you do?”
I rub my temples and let my eyes drift toward the counter. I could really use some caffeine for this.
A part of me wishes I was still out in the suburbs in my dumpy safe house with my beautiful wife.
Even though we’re stuck hiding, we’ve made the best of our time, getting to know each other better than I ever thought possible.
It’s like she’s become an extension of me, and all I can think about is how badly I want life to go back to the way it was, if only so I can make her happy again.
I tell Riley about the Sam job. I tell her about what we found and what it means for him if Arsen gets it. I talk about my plans, about my dream of getting out of the life once and for all, and how I was going to use the ledgers against the Sarkissians, to buy my own freedom.
It hurts to say it all. Riley’s a part of them. Her person is Alexan Sarkissian, and that’s about as deep in the Brotherhood as it gets. She has every reason to despise me, to turn me in, to curse me out and tell me never to contact her again. I’ve done nothing but cause her trouble from the start.
“If all that’s true, why are you here right now?” she asks it softly. I expected anger and instead she’s giving me curiosity. “If you have the ledgers, why aren’t you long gone?”
“Because if I run, Sam’s finished. Arsen will go scorched-earth.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because—“ I take a breath and level my gaze so she knows I’m not messing around. “Because I love her, that’s why.”
Riley lifts her cup to her lips and takes a sip. She’s grinning when she puts it back down. “You really do, don’t you?”
“I need your help. I have copies of the ledger with an old lawyer associate of mine and he’s got instructions to mail them to the DA if I die in the next few months, but that’s not enough. I want you to hold on to copies too.”
“Why would I do that? You realize Arsen is my brother in law, right?”
“I know, and I hate putting you in this position, but he’ll listen to you.”
“This is my husband’s business too.”
“I’m sorry, Riles, I really am, but I’d do anything for Tallie.”
She sighs, leaning back like that’s the most satisfying thing she’s ever heard. “You can’t even imagine how happy I am right now.”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
“Seriously, Brenden, this is incredible. You’re in love! And you’re married to her!” She drums her fingers on the table. “I mean, it’s a problem that you’re going to blackmail my brother-in-law, but still, this is incredible.”
“I have a plan. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I’ll need you to do one more thing for me.”
Riley shifts her weight and nods sharply. “Anything.”
“Even if it might get you in trouble?”
She waves that off. “They love me. I can do no wrong.”
“Then in three days, I need you to open a door for me.”