Page 9 of Redemption

“Your girlfriend was in the market for a new man, did you know that?” Zahir asks.

I stiffen, but I’m not taking that bait. Whatever he’s alluding to, he wants me to jump to conclusions or say something incriminating. Not happening. “She’s free. So, I suppose she can do what she wants.”

“Ah, yes. Free. Great word, isn’t it?”

I purse my lips and stare. The warden clears his throat, and we both ignore him.

“Your girlfriend has been meeting with Evander Williams. Are you familiar with him?” Zahir asks.

“No.”Fuck, yes. Shit.A sheen of sweat surfaces on my palms.

“He’s very good at getting people out of sticky situations. We’ve actually used him before in a particularly time-sensitive matter.”

“Couldn’t be seen gettingyourhands dirty.” I try to stifle the panic rising in my chest. They realize Carys is working on breaking me out.

“You should be grateful for how dirty I’m willing to get them now.” He nods toward the warden. “Carys is trying to break you out.”

“I’m in a federal prison. She doesn’t have the resources for that.”

Zahir chuckles. “Correct. But Evander Williams has them, and Carys has the money. A perfect combination, wouldn’t you say?”

“I signed off on every single charge you laid on me, even shit I didn’t do so you’d stay away from her. We have a deal.” If this conversation goes where I think it’s going, I’ll tackle him and beat the crap out of him in front of these witnesses. I didn’t like the smug prick when we were hashing out the terms of my surrender, and I like him even less now.

“What if I said we’d let you escape?”

I go still. “If I was trying to escape, I might wonder what you’d want in exchange.”

“You’ve heard of the PLA? Irish organization bent on creating havoc?” He slides into the warden’s chair and leans back, the chair creaking as he rocks.

“Wannabes, yeah.” Carys and I thought they robbed her warehouse in Russia. Opportunists, nothing more. Poor employees at Van de Berg Ammunition and a distracted boss gave them an opening.

“The CIA and FBI have been communicating about some developing problems on both sides of the ocean with the PLA. We need an informant deep in the organization, and our time to get someone in there seems to be narrowing. We’ve tried to plant a few people, and while they’re in, they’ve had trouble establishing street cred for various reasons.”

“You think they’re planning something big.”

“From the intel we’ve managed to intercept, yes.”

“What has any of this got to do with me? My little brother is the do-gooder. Ask him. I’m sure you’ve got a beat on where he is.” The last time I saw him, his Irish accent was more pronounced. Have they already shoved him into this shitstorm?

“We’ll let you escape in exchange for you infiltrating the PLA organization.”

I laugh. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“No.” I shake my head. If they’re ramping up like he says they are, Carys will end up in the line of fire. Too many people connected to me know she’s my weak spot. If I fuck up with the FBI or piss off someone from the PLA, I don’t want her suffering the consequences.

“This is your one chance out of here. We’re not letting you escape unless we’ve got a deal in place.”

“I never expected to get out anyway.” I grab the chair across from the desk and plop into it. “It’s a no from me.”

Zahir gives me an assessing look and taps his lips. “Is this about Carys?”

I don’t answer and just stare at him.

“The connections between the PLA and Van de Berg Ammunitions are interesting, don’t you think?”

“I don’t think much about it at all.” Though a few months ago when Carys was being accused of colluding with them, I thought about it far, far too much. Two plus two did not equal four.

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