Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
HAYES
I couldn't get Sloane's words out of my head. What choice did she have taken away from her, and what did I say that caused her to shut down?
It didn't matter what she did to me all those years ago. I never wanted to intentionally hurt her.
Did that make me a fool? Probably, but I never claimed I wasn't when it came to her. Sloane was my Achilles’ heel, and everyone knew it.
I waited for what felt like forever before the heavy door opened again. Anita and Beckett walked in first with Sloane trailing behind. When they took up positions in front of me, it was clear the first two were there to guard Sloane from me.
I wanted to ask what the hell they could possibly need to guard her for, while I was tied to a chair, but circumstances changed drastically. Anita walked behind me and untied my binds.
"Is this some kind of test?" If it was, I wanted to know what the hell I needed to do to pass.
"Think of it as a sign of good faith." Anita stepped back in front of me and stood with her legs shoulder width apart.
One leg slightly in front of the other. I knew that stance.
She was gearing up to fight if I so much as hinted I planned to attack.
"I figured you would be more likely to answer our questions if you weren't held prisoner. "
"It's a start, but first, I would like to talk to Sloane alone. I have a few questions of my own."
"Not gonna happen. Anything you have to say to her, you can do so in front of us."
I stared at my ex and silently pleaded with Sloane to hear me out, but she shook her head. "Ask whatever questions you want, but I can't promise to answer them all. There are certain things best left unsaid."
I begged to differ, but I would take what I could get at the moment. I preferred privacy. I hated knowing I would be airing my dirty laundry to these two strangers, but it looked like I didn't have a choice. Sloane wasn't budging.
"Why did you leave?"
Sloane's eyes glossed over as she stared at a spot just over my shoulder. Almost like she was reliving that moment. "I had no choice. It wasn't safe for me to live there anymore."
Is that what she meant earlier when she said a choice was taken from her? "What do you mean it wasn't safe? I would've protected you. You had to know that."
"Not this time you couldn't."
"So your parents had nothing to do with the reason you left me?"
I could see the wheels turning in Sloane's head. Either she was finding a way to lie to me or she didn't know how she wanted to answer the question.
"If you're asking if they knew about you, then yes. But I didn't know that until the night I left. I went to them for help, and they turned their backs on me. Blamed me for what happened. I made the decision to leave, and they cut me off. I haven't spoken to them since that night."
"And you're not going to tell me what happened?" I phrased it like a question even though I knew in my heart it was more a statement. She already told me such.
Sloane shook her head. "I can't. It's better this way."
"Better for who? You or me?"
"Believe it or not, it's better for both of us. I know that's hard to understand, but you have to know I've always had your best interest at heart. I didn't want to hurt you. But there are some things that are out of our control."
It was hard for me to accept that. My first reaction would always be to want to solve all her problems. She wasn't giving me that option, and I wasn't sure how I was supposed to proceed.
"I get you believe that, but let me be the one to decide what's good for me. You'd be surprised what I can handle."
I handled her leaving me. I handled the shit my parents put me through.
I even navigated the Dunkin family before I was smart enough to get away from them.
I was stronger than she thought, but I wanted her to give me the chance to prove it.
One look at her face and I knew it wouldn't happen. She was going to stand firm on this.
If I had any chance of changing her mind, I needed to back off for the moment and regroup. I sure as hell didn't want to do this, but maybe, it was the only way.
I sighed and met Anita's hard gaze. "You said when you walked in you had some questions for me and untying me was a sign of good faith. Ask away. I'll do my best to answer, but you have to understand there're some things I won't discuss, because I refuse to put others in harm's way."
I was given a rare opportunity to get out from under the Dunkin family, but that didn't mean they weren't actively looking for me. I knew too damn much.
"How do you know Mason Dunkin?"
I knew the question was coming, but that didn't mean I had to like it or wanted to answer. But this was supposed to be a sign of good faith, so despite my hesitation, I went on. "He helped me get away from his family."
All three pairs of eyes turned glacial. To say they weren't happy was an understatement.
Anita stepped forward and took over the line of questioning. "How did you get tied up with a mob family?"
"Stupidity." I dry-laughed. "My life was shit, and I wanted a way to earn good money. As it turned out, I had a skill they very much needed."
All three exchanged glances, but only Anita spoke. "What kind of skill?"
"Now see this is one of those things that could put you at risk if you know." The thought of putting anyone in the Dunkins’ crosshairs bothered me. Especially considering what I used to do for them.
"We can handle ourselves."
"Maybe but I have firsthand knowledge of how Alexander handles things, and I would prefer if that didn't happen to you because of me."
"You're him." Beckett looked at me like he was trying to solve a puzzle. My hackles rose. There was no way he could know my secret.
"I don't know what you mean." I tried to play it off, but I could see he wasn't buying it.
"Alexander's favorite fixer. There were rumors about you, but everyone assumed it was nothing more than a myth. One day, you were the talk of the office and then nothing. Honestly, I thought Alexander offed you."
"You've got me confused with someone else."
Beckett shook his head. "No, I don't think I do.
You see, we had an agent undercover around the time you were working for Alexander.
He heard a lot of talk but could never get close enough to lock down the information.
Then things changed. Alexander got cagey, and the bureau decided to pull the agent.
After that, Alexander locked things down even tighter, and we switched gears. Tried to get Mason to flip instead."
I knew exactly what Beckett was talking about.
I remember the agent well. Alexander was suspicious and wanted me to take care of it.
It was then I knew I needed to get out. It was one thing to take out or clean up the scumbags who’d double-crossed Alexander.
It was another to kill an agent. I didn't want that on my conscience.
"So, yeah, you're him. The question is, why did you leave, and how did you manage to make it out?"
"That's actually two questions." I was deflecting like crazy. I was backed into a corner, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to come out swinging and make it hard for them.
"Fine. Two questions. Now answer them." It was Anita who snapped. Apparently, she was done with Beckett taking the lead on things.
"Let's just say I was him. Don't you think it would be better for all involved if you didn't know that bit of information? Plausible deniability is usually the better option."
"In this case, I think it's better to have all the information available so we can figure out how to move forward." Beckett was back at it, and honestly, I liked talking to him better. Anita appeared a bit unhinged at the moment, and Sloane was standing back, observing the whole thing.
I sighed heavily. "You're right. I was Alexander's favorite fixer.
Not the only one but certainly the favorite.
I have a knack for being meticulous in my work, and he liked that.
The agent you're referring to is the reason I got out.
Alexander wanted me to figure out who the traitor was and get rid of them.
When I went to handle the job, I learned he was an agent and couldn't follow through. I may have also sent in a tip that ensured the agent’s cover would be blown. That was one line I wouldn't cross."
"And how did you get out?"
"Everyone knew Mason wanted nothing to do with the family business. I explained to him who I was and that I needed out. As it turns out, he was already setting things in motion long before you got to him. He was nice enough to lend me his contact. I walked away and never looked back."
"You expect us to believe he trusted you just like that?" Anita snapped her finger.
"Not at all, but like I said, I was meticulous in my work, and that included keeping detailed records of everything I did for Alexander.
I wanted an insurance policy, and Mason wanted that same connection should he ever need it.
We had an agreement that kept us both safe, and we never communicated until you saw us at the cafe. "
I should've despised Mason for putting me in this situation, but it was hard to do that when our meeting brought Sloane back into my life.
"So why the sudden meet?" The difference between Beckett's questions and Anita's were stark in comparison. Beckett was calm. Anita was anything but right now.
"He wanted to warn me that a certain former FBI employee was running his mouth about me," I scoffed. "Well, not me by name but my former position."
"Banger," Beckett cursed.
"Oh, so you know the asshole." Why wasn't I surprised?
"Let's just say I'm the reason he's no longer employed and currently being investigated."
"Yeah, well, he's scrambling to make deals, but there's no way he has the information. Alexander and Mason are the only people who know my identity, and neither one is going to sell me out. Alexander would stamp a one-way ticket to prison, and Mason wants nothing to do with his family."
Beckett opened his mouth to continue the conversation, but Anita cut him off. "If what you say is true, then you wouldn't be who Alexander called to handle personal matters." It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway.
"Then tell me what you know about her." She shoved a phone in my face with a picture of a woman I knew well."
"That was Mason's girlfriend."
"Was?" Anita hissed. "Does that mean she's dead?"
It took me a few seconds to realize what she was asking me, and her conclusion meant trouble for me.
"Whoa." I held my hands up in front of me.
"I didn't kill her if that's what you're implying.
I don't even know for sure if she's dead. Mason never brought her around his family, but Alexander knew who she was. He’d talked about her a few times, but it was nothing more than crude remarks because she was good looking. "
"What about someone else? You said you were his favorite, but he had others, right?"
"He did, and honestly, they were assholes who didn't live by a moral code.
There were lines I wouldn't cross, and Alexander knew that.
Women and children were off-limits. He knew better than to even ask.
He gave those jobs to them, but Alexander never told me about them.
I wasn't privy to his dealings. I handled what he asked me to and otherwise stayed out of the business. "
Anita cursed. It looked like she was seconds away from smashing something. Probably my face. Thankfully, Beckett stepped in front of her and whispered something that seemed to calm her down. Sloane moved in as well and provided silent support.
"If it's any consolation, Mason never mentioned her death, and I think he would've. We talked heavily about why he wanted away from the family, but not once did he say it was because his father hurt his girl."
"We're no closer to finding Nova." Anita's words were meant for Beckett and Sloane, but the room was quiet enough that I heard them as well.
I would've loved to give her better news, but I didn't have it.
I don't know what happened to her, but maybe I could find out.
I had someone I could tap into. It would cost me though.
One look at Sloane's face and I could see Nova was important to her as well. I knew, in that moment, I would pay whatever price to see her beautiful smile once again.