Chapter 17
Adam
Bringing Nova is a bad idea. I know this. My entire team is going to rip me a new one. But … I know it’s the only thing that will ensure she stays safe.
My current problem is that I need to call Juliette to fill her and the team in, but I’m not sure how to do that with Nova in the car.
Pulling out my burner phone, I dial the number.
“How’s the weather where you are?” Juliette answers after the first ring.
For the first time ever, I don’t hate it because it allows me to tell her I’m not alone.
“A little rainy. Might have some snow coming any time now.” I respond.
Nova’s stare is like a magnifying glass.
“Oh, shit. Okay. You aren’t alone. So that means you are calling because shit is going down.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Right this moment?”
“Twenty minutes.” I don’t risk a glance at Nova. I’ll spill my entire mission if I do.
“Okay. And delivering straight to O?”
“Meeting there.”
“Where?”
I try to think of a way to let Juliette know without tipping anything off to Nova.
“The river’s been high recently. More rain means levels will rise some more. That marsh on the east side is going to be flooded.” The warehouse is on the edge of the marsh. There’s only one area that fits, so I hope to God she understands.
“Got it. We’ll get the team geared up and heading your way. A?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t get hurt. Keep your eyes open and get back safely.”
“That’s the plan.” I hang up and continue to keep my eyes forward.
It takes Nova entirely too long to talk again. My anxiety jumps up as every minute passes.
“Who are you?” she whispers.
Sighing, I tip my head back. “I can’t tell you.”
“Am I going to be killed?” Her voice is so unsure.
“No! God no.” Fuck. I can’t give her any more information, but I can’t let her think I’m leading her to her death. “There’s a lot I can’t tell you, but trust that I will keep you safe with every fiber of my being.”
“Are we really getting a new shipment?”
“Yes.”
“That wasn’t Cano on the phone, was it?”
She’s smart; I’ve never doubted that. I just wish I could tell her what’s really going on.
“No, and that’s all I can tell you.” I park where I was told to and face her. “If the last couple of weeks have been more than a quick hook-up for you, like they have been for me, then I’m asking you to trust me. As soon as I am able to explain things, I will.”
She nods, but the uncertainty is still there.
I cup her cheeks and kiss her before pulling away. There’s no time for more discussion, though. The artifact should be here any minute.
Just as I think it, a car pulls up next to me, our driver’s windows parallel to each other.
“Here,” the man says bluntly, his eyes focused on Nova. Too focused.
“Thanks.” I grab the small item and start to roll up the window.
“How much?”
“Excuse me?” I pause.
“For the girl. How much?”
“She isn’t for sale,” I growl, finish rolling up my window, and speed off. “I’m sorry,” I tell Nova. I’m so angry; my only focus is getting to the damn warehouse without further incident.
“Nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”
“You still shouldn’t have to deal with it at all.” I sigh, finally loosening my hold on the wheel.
“My decisions have led to all of this. I can’t take any of it back. Now, focus on what we should be focusing on.”
Somehow, she has the level head now. It’s not great. I should be the one unaffected by it all, but here I am, wanting to go kill the bastard for even speaking to Nova, let alone propositioning her.
“That guy was Bill Pressley,” Nova says after a couple of minutes. “He’s bad news. Beat up one of the dancers. No one did anything about it. Bouncers didn’t care, and the women acted like nothing happened. The woman never came back to Bella’s.”
“Thank you.”
My mind is whirling with possibilities as to why this particular man was delivering. Up to the point, Oscar’s used disposable low men on the totem pole. I assume the ones that get multiple deliveries have proven themselves. The others … Well, they’re probably at the bottom of the river.
Far too soon, we’re at the warehouse.
We both get out of my SUV. The doors to the warehouse are wide open in broad daylight.
It should be my first red flag, but I’m still optimistic.
“Didn’t know you were bringing the ball and chain.” Oscar’s voice holds humor, but it’s also darker than I’ve heard from him before.
“She’s been involved from the beginning. Felt like the right decision. She’s proven her loyalty.”
“Perhaps to you.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
“Since she’s here, though, we might as well proceed. You have the package?”
“I do.” The package is small, so I can’t imagine this is the only thing we’re transporting today.
The handoff is easy. Oscar doesn’t give anything away as he unwraps it. The jewelry box is larger than I’m used to. It’s like an oversized ring box, so I’m unsure what it could be.
The moment Oscar opens it, though, the wind is knocked out of me.
The Kor-i-Noor diamond. One-hundred and five point six carats of the most incredible diamond in the history of our world.
“Holy shit.” Nova’s whispered words jolt me out of my shock.
“I see you both recognize it. You understand why we needed things to move quickly.”
“When you said it was a big score, I assumed a mass number of artifacts, not a billion-dollar diamond. Hell, probably more.” I’m flabbergasted.
“That is the perk of running artifacts, my dear Christopher. Small packages are often worth the most. The buyer of this is meeting us here shortly. Until then, I think it’s time we all had a little conversation.” He gestures to the table in the middle of the room.
I freeze for a minute. The way he said my name is off. The way he’s looking at Nova is a warning.
The scar on my spine starts to itch.
Fuck. Have I been made? My backup should be here soon, but am I able to hold off that long?
Nova looks to me for approval, but I don’t want to give it to her. I want her to run as fast as she possibly can.
A loud thunk draws our attention to Oscar.
“Now.” His hand is on the gun he just placed on the table.
My only hope now is that Woodcroft and the others get here before shit goes down. If not, the goal is to save Nova.
Nova and I slowly walk to the table and sit down as far away from Oscar as possible.
“You two have been hard to figure out.” He examines his thumb.
“I always thought there was something up with you, Chris. You’re too nice.
Too … good. Even when you’re being a hard-ass, you’re still too subdued about it.
But there really is no information on you.
At least not what’s available to my resources.
Which is a conundrum because I have plenty of resources to get information.
For example …” He gestures to Nova. “Miss Daniels here was much simpler to find information on. Let’s see.
” Oscar draws out a piece of paper from his suit coat.
“Age: 28. Travel blogger—whatever that is—with a twin brother who is deceased.”
My back straightens as I listen.
“Real name is Claire. Did you know that?” He looks at me. “No? What a shame. You really can’t trust anyone nowadays.”
I hear Nova—no, Claire—whimper, but I can’t look at her. I’ll break if I do, and I don’t have that luxury right now.
“Now, as for you … It took quite a while. As you were playing the part, picking up deliveries and digging deeper into my business, I was digging deeper into you. When all the usual ways to get information dried up, I thought to myself, Why would this man suddenly rise up the ranks? It led me to one obvious conclusion and some lovely contacts within the attorney general’s office.
Of course, I went through a few contacts in different departments until I figured that out. ”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I need to figure out how to get out of here now. Nova—Claire—as well.
There’s no need to ask why he let both of us be involved for so long. We’re not meant to make it out of here. So, telling us everything isn’t really a risk.
He didn’t count on my connection with the woman beside me and how desperately I want to be done undercover.
“Ah, just in time.” Oscar leans forward.
I don’t move. I hear the car entering the warehouse, but I don’t take my eyes off of Oscar even to look at Claire.
He snags Claire’s arm with a force that makes me grind my jaw. He shoves her down onto her knees next to him.
“Be good, and maybe I’ll keep you as a plaything. Mr. Lorentz, so lovely to see you.” Oscar stands up, glaring at me—I assume to follow his lead.
I stand, hoping against hope that this isn’t who I think it is. The moment I glace back, my mind short-circuits.
Ryan Lorentz. Owner of the world’s largest search engine and God knows what else. The man is the third richest man on the planet.
And he’s dealing with Oscar fucking Cano.
This blows our case into the stratosphere. It seems it’s much bigger than we ever anticipated.
“You managed to get it?” Lorentz asks as he shakes Oscar’s hand like they’re old college buddies.
“Of course. I can get my hands on anything; you know that. Sit. Would you like something to drink?”
“Sparkling water if you have it.” Ryan sits in the chair Claire was forced to vacate. “What a lovely new pet.” He glances down at her.
“Ah, yes. Still needs breaking in, if you know what I mean.” Oscar snaps, and Nico comes out of nowhere with two glasses and a bottle of sparkling water. Like a fucking waiter, he pours, smirks at me, and then he’s gone.
Great. Nico was in on it the whole time. Maybe he isn’t such an idiot after all.
My eyes meet Claire’s. Tears trail down her cheeks, and fear shines so clear in her eyes. As much as I want to be mad at her for lying, I can’t. I understand her more than ever, and I silently make a promise to get her out of here.
I’m sorry, she mouths to me, but I shake my head without drawing attention to myself. This is not the time, and I hope to God we get the time to air everything out.
Oscar opens the jewelry box to show Lorentz, and that’s when all hell breaks loose.