Chapter 28
Saul looked around the dimly lit underground bar, his eyes scanning for potential threats.
The air was thick with cigarette smoke and the stench of stale beer.
Gruff-looking men in leather jackets huddled around tables, speaking in low voices.
A busty bartender with teased, bleach blonde hair eyed him as she wiped down glasses, like she wasn’t sure if she knew him or not.
He made his way to the bar, hyperaware of the eyes following his movements. He didn’t fit in here, no matter how well he tried to dress the part. If he wasn’t forced to meet up with an informant here, he never would have taken the risk.
Ordering a whiskey neat, Saul casually surveyed the room in the mirror behind the bar.
A long-haired blonde man in the corner booth caught his attention - he matched the description of one Devin Martin…
not his real name. Saul knew of the man; he’d had dealings with him in the past but hadn’t met him in person.
Right now though, both their lives might be in danger from the chaos left behind by the late Vito - the Viper - Rossi, who seemed to be getting the last laugh even from beyond the grave.
As Saul contemplated his next move, a sultry brunette sidled up next to him. "You look like you could use some company, handsome," she purred, running a manicured finger down his arm. For the first time in his life, a woman’s touch did nothing for him… because she wasn’t Sadie.
Damn, who would've believed he’d become pussy whipped? Just the thought of Sadie had his pulse thrumming and his cock stirring. Unfortunately, giving the woman completely the wrong idea.
Saul forced himself to focus, shoving thoughts of Sadie aside. He couldn't afford any distractions. Had to stay focused if he wanted to make it out of this alive.
He gave the woman a wolfish grin, letting her down lightly.
No point in causing any hostility and drawing attention to himself, if he didn’t need to.
"Maybe later, sweetheart," he murmured, gently removing the brunette's hand from where it fluttered far too close to his family jewels.
“I got some business to take care of first.”
Her eyes flashed with arousal. “I’ll be right here, big boy,” she said with a wink, before she sauntered away, hips swaying provocatively.
Saul took a swig of the cheap whiskey, relishing the burn as it slid down his throat. Eyes still on the mirror, he watched as the long-haired man in the corner booth stood up, heading towards the restrooms in the back. This was his chance.
Saul casually made his way through the crowded bar, dodging drunken patrons and ignoring propositions from more scantily clad women. He slipped into the dingy bathroom just as Devin was zipping up his fly.
Their eyes met in the grimy mirror. Recognition flickered in Devin's gaze, followed quickly by wariness as he checked the cubicles around them to see if they had company.
“Not here,” was all the other man said as he washed his hands to mask his words. “Follow me out in two. V-rod hog. Tail it.”
Saul gave a barely there nod as he took his time washing his own hands - who knew what might be crawling about in this cesspit - and waited as the other man left.
When he walked back into the bar, it had grown even rowdier. A fight was breaking out near the pool tables, providing the perfect cover. He slipped out the side door unnoticed, scanning the dimly lit alley for Devin's motorcycle.
The rumble of an engine caught his attention.
The sleek black and chrome Harley V-Rod pulled out from behind a dumpster.
Saul moved quickly, keeping to the shadows as he made his way to where his rental was parked.
Within moments, he was tailing Devin through the labyrinth of New York's back streets.
They drove for over an hour, weaving through traffic and taking a convoluted route to shake any potential tails. Finally, Devin pulled into an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Brooklyn. Saul parked a block away, approaching on foot with his hand on the gun concealed at his hip.
Inside, Devin was waiting what was clearly the kind of place the mafia chose for ‘correctional purposes’, leaning against a rusty support beam.
Not taking any chances, Saul did a quick sweep for bugs and cameras - for both their sakes.
Devin would be in as much danger as him if they were made.
And he’d been at the property where the recording was made that Jimenez had got his hands on.
“What do you know about this auction Eduardo Jimenez is hosting?” Saul asked when he was satisfied the building was clear.
Devin was calm, his expression shuttered. Saul guessed the guy had seen a lot of nasty stuff during his time collecting intelligence on the Rossi’s of La Cosa Nostra.
"High-stakes bidders only, invitation required. It ends tonight and the cash/information swap is going down in 48 hours in person. It might be an online auction, but the exchange is old school. The location is being kept under wraps until the last minute."
“Any whispers about the contents?”
Devin shook his head. “The seller is tight-lipped. I guess he has to be if he wants the big bucks. All he’s saying is that he has information with video proof about a player no one suspects.”
“You worried?” Saul knew everything Devin had told him could apply as much to Devin as himself.
“Be a fool not to be,” the other man responded, leaning slightly backwards so he could check outside the building. “Although I have no idea where the hell I could have been made.”
“The farmhouse where Gabi Preston was held, in the UK,” Saul informed him, watching as the man’s eyes widened and a sliver of true fear seeped through his stony facade. “Eduardo Jimenez somehow got the information from the Viper.”
“Fucking hell!” Devin cursed, dragging his fingers through his hair. “I’m a dead man.”
Saul shook his head. “The information being sold is about me,” he appeased. “I’ve seen some of the footage, but if the video shows me down in that basement, I can’t guarantee you weren’t caught on it somewhere along the line, too.”
Devin rubbed his stubbled cheek, and his eyes unfocused like he was thinking.
“The only time I might have jeopardized myself is when I freed the woman from her restraints. But I purposely kept the lights off and told her not to move in case someone realized she was loose. Is that how you found her?”
Saul nodded. “It is,” he confirmed.
Devin pressed his lips together. “Still not really something I want to bet my life on,” he replied humorlessly.
“Then I’d say it’s in both our interests to find that recording and eliminate the threat.”
Being undercover was hard on a man. Especially one who’d been in for so long, and Devin rubbed his hands wearily over his face. “You got a plan?”