Chapter twenty #3
“Now, I have it on very good authority that a bullet through the head will kill a werewolf,” Chapman said nonchalantly as he stepped closer. “So, if I were you, I wouldn’t make any sudden moves.”
“Considering you just shot your buddy, I’m surprised you haven’t killed me already.”
“The thought did cross my mind,” Chapman said, the barrel of his weapon never moving an inch. “Fortunately for you, there’s something I’m looking for, and you’re the only one who can find it for me.”
Mike cursed silently. “Roman’s flash drive.” Because, of course, it was about the flash drive. It always seemed to come back to those damn crypto accounts. “How the hell did you even find out about that?”
Chapman took a slight step back while still keeping Mike covered with his short-barreled assault weapon. The man was surprisingly calm, considering all the shooting going on downstairs.
“Roman is anything but subtle,” Chapman explained. “Between the supernatural MODS he’s addicted to, his desperate need for money, and his habit of ranting to anyone who will listen about his missing flash drive, it wasn’t hard to figure out it was connected to his crypto accounts.”
“What’s the journal have to do with it?” Mike asked, motioning to the dead guy on the floor. “He seemed to think it was important.”
“It has the wallet addresses for Roman’s crypto accounts in it,” Chapman said, surprising Mike with his honesty. “With those addresses, along with the keys, seed phrases, and passwords on that flash drive, you and I can hurt Roman in the only way that will matter to him.”
“I have no interest in hurting Roman, financially or otherwise.” Mike said, even if he wasn’t completely convinced of that second part. “I just want him to leave my family alone.”
“Roman will never stop coming after you and your family. Not until you make him stop. You could do that the old-fashioned way. Or you could take away his money, which will end him just as effectively.”
“How so?” Mike asked, curious despite himself. Still, he didn’t waste the distraction, casually working his right hand down closer to the SIG holstered on his thigh. “I’m sure Roman would hate being poor, but it certainly wouldn’t end him, as you put it.”
“Remember that addiction I mentioned?” Chapman said, lowering his weapon a little as he put Roman’s small journal in his back pocket.
“Well, it’s gotten so out of control that he purchased MODS on a layaway plan, if you will.
He owes the Carlyle Group a lot of money.
It’s why he came back to Dallas. He needed to increase his cash flow, but even his criminal enterprises can’t make that much.
Which is why he desperately needs access to that crypto account.
If he doesn’t come through with a lot of untraceable cash soon, Carlyle will cut off his supply of MODs, particularly the vitality ones.
And those aren’t the kind of drug you want to go through withdrawals from. ”
Mike stood there stunned. “Are you saying that if Roman doesn’t get his fix, it will kill him?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. That’s why he took so long to confront you after kidnapping your kid. He had to wait until Carlyle gave him his next dose of vitality MODS.”
Well, that was one mystery solved.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no idea where Roman’s flash drive is hidden,” Mike said, carefully easing his right down just a little closer to his SIG.”
“I’m pretty sure you do,” Chapman said with a smile. “Especially since you were the last one to have it that day the cops took down his organization. You just need to remember where you put it.”
Mike was tempted to ask if Chapman actually knew where the thumb drive was hidden, or if he was simply talking in riddles. But before he could even open his mouth to get the words out, a blur of movement near the stairs caught his attention at the same moment Gage’s scent reached his nose.
Chapman moved, spinning that way, his assault rifle coming up to fire. Mike had hoped to keep Chapman alive so he could question him some more about that damn flash drive, but that wasn’t an option now.
Yanking his weapon from its holster in one smooth motion, he pointed it at Chapman and squeezed the trigger.
Chapman stumbled a half dozen steps, his own weapon forgotten as he turned toward Mike.
Not wanting to kill Chapman because he still needed answers, Mike put another round into the center of the man’s Kevlar vest protecting his chest. The force of the impact sent Chapman stumbling back again, this time right through the window.
Mike darted to the window, cursing when he saw Chapman climbing to his feet, one hand pressed to the tactical vest covering his chest.
Growling, Mike holstered his weapon and grabbed the window frame, intending to leap out and go after Chapman, but before he could, a firm hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
“Forget him,” Gage snapped. “We don’t have time for that. I just got a call from Hale. Roman and his supernaturals found Lark and Kal. We need to get back to the mansion.”