Chapter 11 #5
“‘An acceptable loss,’ Massey called it. The other crates made it through customs. The cops were only suspicious of the one.”
Something passed between Lee and Cayden. Trixie didn’t like being kept out of the loop. “What was in the crate?” When neither man answered, Trixie repeated the question with more conviction.
“I don’t know for sure, but I have my suspicions,” Lee finally answered. “One of Massey’s most profitable merchandise is…people.”
Trixie’s stomach rolled. “Oh God.” And they’d dumped the crate into the ocean? With people still inside it?
“Carver uses Massey’s connections to get cars in and out of the country, while Massey uses Carver’s cars to distribute his product.
It’s a win-win for both.” Trixie had a feeling Cayden was changing the subject, likely not wanting her to dwell on the lost crate and its contents.
“I’ve never met the man personally, but taking down Carver will certainly cripple Massey, at least for a time. ”
Why did Lee and Cayden seem to be on the same page as the other? Cayden couldn’t possibly be considering this… Could he?
“You’d need to rise in the ranks again. There are new players who’ve surrounded Carver in your absence. They won’t like your return, even if Carver does.”
Cayden nodded, his face scrunched in concentration. “I’ve been out for five months. They’re not going to believe I just woke up one day and decided to return after claiming I was going straight. Bucky certainly would have passed along that information.”
Lee waved that off. “A small complication. Are you in?”
“How would this work?” Cayden asked. “I’m not a cop, and if they are to believe I am truly back, my actions won’t exactly fall on the right side of the law. I won’t risk going back to prison, not even to help get Carver or Massey off the streets.”
“You’d be my criminal informant. There are some loopholes in that, basically allowing the end to justify the means.
You’d need to be in constant communication with me, and I’ll need regular reports.
You won’t be free to do anything, but as long as you are upfront and honest with us, we can protect you from the repercussions of most things. ”
Cayden was silent. Trixie couldn’t believe he was even considering this!
“Are you in?” Lee asked again.
She shot to her feet. “No, he’s not in! He’s going to stay right here and he’s going to end his parole and he’s going to come here to live with me.
” She knew she was crying, but she couldn’t stop the tears.
This entire conversation was tearing her heart in half.
“You do not get to just come back here after years of being away and try to run my life. I’m not some puppet you can manipulate, Elian. ”
He raised an eyebrow as she full-named him. “I have never tried to manipulate your life, abeja.”
Trixie gritted her teeth at the nickname. “Don’t call me that! I am not your little bumblebee buzzing around her three big hermanos anymore! I am a grown woman, and you are trying to take away the love of my life from me!”
The hands on her shoulders were gentle, but her knees gave out under their weight.
He caught her, dragging her up against his chest. His lips touched her ear in that special way she loved so much.
“And I wouldn’t be the man you loved if I didn’t try to help.
Not just for you and your brothers, but for all the people Massey and Carver have hurt. ”
Trixie’s head drooped. “This Massey guy has already killed Marco and tried to kill Lee too. What’s to stop him from also trying to kill you?”
Cayden turned her, forcing her chin up with a gentle hand.
“Nothing. But I swear to you, my little gearhead, I will do everything, everything, in my power to return to you.” He ran his thumb along her bottom lip.
“Besides, it will be very unlikely I’ll get anywhere close to Massey.
It’s Carver I’ll be dealing with and I know how to handle him.
I’ve been doing it since I was sixteen.”
That gave her no comfort at all. “And your parole?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Your gran? What of them?”
“I don’t know anything about your grandmother,” Lee input before Cayden could answer. “But I can certainly help you with the other.”
“Meaning what?” Cayden asked. Trixie felt his body stiffen.
“We do this,” Lee urged. “We bring down Carver, and I’ll fix it so your parole was never broken. You’ll be free to live your life wherever and with whomever,” his eyes landed pointedly on Trixie, “you wish.”
“He has just over a week!” Trixie yelled at Lee. “Don’t you get that, Lee? He’s already free!”
“Perhaps,” he allowed, inclining his head slightly. “But the truth of the matter, Cayden, is that I need your help. You have a skillset and the connections that I can’t find with anyone else I can trust.”
“How do you know you can trust me?” Cayden asked slyly.
Trixie gasped. She didn’t have to look up to know the wicked gleam she would see in those mismatched eyes. He was having fun with this conversation! He was enjoying it! She was going to be sick.
“Because you love her,” Lee pointed to Trixie.
“I need your skillset, and you need her not to lose one more brother.” Trixie paled; she couldn’t believe he’d just said that!
Lee didn’t even notice her reaction and continued.
“My job is to go after Carver but it’s my duty to go after Massey.
I’m doing this with or without your help, Cayden, but I have a far better chance of coming back alive if I have you by my side. ”
Before she could accuse Lee of emotional blackmail, Cayden asked, “Can you wait a week? In the grand scheme of things, what does it matter if we do this this week or next? Waiting might even help you with your shoulder.”
Lee raised an eyebrow. “You’re worried about breaking parole when you’re about to get back in with Carver?
Parole is the last thing you should be concerned about and the smallest of laws you’re about to break.
” Then he added, “Plus, breaking parole gives you a better in with them. The way I figure it, the sooner we get started, the sooner you can come home to your boring, crimeless life.”
Anger hit Trixie. He wasn’t just dangling a carrot in front of Cayden. He was dangling the carrot over a pit of vipers. Only by some miracle would he be able to make it to the other side with the prize.
“Don’t.” Cayden looked down at Trixie’s plea.
She touched his face. “Don’t. You have ten days left, Cayden.
Ten days, and then we’re free! I don’t care about your record.
I only care about you. You already have a great job and a house and,” her voice cracked, “and you have me. Please,” she begged, “don’t do this.
You’re already worthy of me. Don’t let him guilt you into separating us. ”
Even as she said it though, Trixie knew he’d already made his decision. She could see the determination in those mismatched eyes she loved so much.
“I need some things from you before I do this.” He was looking at her, but his words were for Lee.
Trixie closed her eyes in defeat. Her head sagged down, no longer supported by her neck. She rested it against his shirt, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She felt his hands rubbing up and down her back, but his touch brought her no comfort.
“Name it.” Trixie flinched at the determination in Lee’s voice.
“She’s to be protected at all times. I don’t care what favors you have to pull or what story you have to tell. She gets protection or I walk.”
No, no, no. He was the one walking into the lion’s den. He was the one who needed protection.
“She’s always been protected,” was Lee’s response, “but I’ll see it’s added to.”
She felt Cayden nod. “Good. I also want guaranteed immunity in writing for any crimes I commit while attempting to put Carver away. Meaning whether we succeed or not, I cannot be fined, tried, arrested, and/or convicted for any crimes committed from now until this is over.”
Lee gave him a sardonic look. “As I said, being a criminal informant gives you some leeway. For a fish like Carver, the D.A. probably would overlook anything but mass murder. I’ll make the call and get you your agreement.
” After a second, he added, “I have to call my captain anyway. Let him know I’m not dead. ”
Trixie felt herself start to slump. She was shaking so hard she couldn’t keep herself upright anymore. Cayden picked her up, cradling her against his chest.
“Anything else?” Lee asked.
“Yes. Leave.”
She wasn’t sure if she imagined the chuckle. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
“I’ll pick you up outside of Romero’s tomorrow morning.” He must have started walking towards the door because when he next spoke it was coming from the opposite direction. “Oh, and you’ll need to break your parole. Publicly.”
“I figured that much. I’ll come up with something.”
“My captain is the only one who knows about you. If you’re caught before I get any deal in play, I can’t protect you.”
“I have no intention of getting caught regardless of my deal.”
“And…” There was a small pause. “You can’t come back here. Until this is over, you can’t be with her.”
“Why do you think I asked you to leave?” She felt his lips against her hair. “Tomorrow morning. Don’t be late, or I’ll make my escape without you.”
“Take care of her.”
“Always.”