Page 45 of Special Agent Joseph

Yanking her arm from his hold, Megan pushed at his chest, taking comfort in the fact that she’d made him back off. Then staring him in the eye, she speared words at him she’d been holding in for too long. “You did. You and this shit you sell to make more disgusting money than you’ll ever be able to spend in a lifetime.” Megan pulled the bag of leftover pills from her pocket and pretty much threw them in Vinnie’s face. “Recognize these?”

She saw the moment it registered. The agony he didn’t hide. And she couldn’t bear to watch the man disintegrate in front of her. Knowing her instinctive feeling of sorrow for one human being to another might intrude, she left him there, alone in his misery. Because… dammit, in this case, she refused to feel sorry for the heartless asshole who should have known better.

Wheeling away, she stomped to the car, realizing if she didn’t get away from the disgusting old fool, she’d be tempted to pulverize the miserable son of a bitch. She took one last look through the rearview mirror and stunned, she saw him fall to his knees in prayer.

Shaking off her sympathy, thoughts reverberated.

Really?

Jesus, gramps… too late.

Chapter Thirty-two

Joe arrived at Vinnie’s place just a few minutes after the man’s chauffeur-driven black SUV pulled up to the house. They met in the front entrance, and when he saw the shape of the older man, he couldn’t believe the difference.

“Sir, are you okay?” Taking Vinnie’s arm to steady him, he helped the unexpectedly feeble guy inside. “Did something happen?”

Talking so low that Joe had to concentrate, Vinnie muttered, “Yes. It’s my granddaughter, Lucia. You saw her before… my beautiful girl. Now, she’s in a terrible way. Mio Dio, in just this short time, she lost so much weight. She acts like a… a pitiful animal.” He turned to his Chinese bodyguard, gesturing him to come closer. “Jie, take me to my office.” With his employee’s guidance, the old man stumbled after a few steps, and Joe rushed in to help. Once there, with both men aiding him, Vinnie fell into his chair.

As if a tap opened, words spewed from his grayish lips. Though he spoke out loud, Joe knew Vinnie wasn’t aware they were even listening. When the mumbling continued, Joe made out more of what he said. With Lucia obviously on his mind, Vinnie ranted on. “Dirty, stinky, her hair mussed, her skin gray like she never washed or ate the whole time she’s been gone. My poor baby, just living on these – this SHIT.” Suddenly, his big hand opened and a crumpled, plastic bag with a few colored pills remaining dropped onto the desk.

Joe leaned over and got a closer look. “Opioids. I had to take this stuff in the hospital after my surgeries. Goddamn devil medicine, I couldn’t wait to get off them. But at least I was being monitored.” He stared at Vinnie until the man looked up at him. “That’s what they’ll do for Lucia in the rehabilitation center. They’ll wean her off properly. Feed her nutritious foods, and she’ll finally be able to sleep through the night again.”

Suddenly, Vinnie straightened and waved Jie away from him with an order. “Vino. Red. My special stuff. Two glasses. Then leave us.”

Once they had the drinks in front of them, Vinnie took a few sips, and slowly his shrewd persona returned. Finally, he looked at Joe. “What’s the news you have for me?” Surprised by his question, Joe sat back.

“You mean the doll shipment? As you must know it’s arriving in L.A. on Saturday. Then they’ll transport it here. The FBI will be watching every truck heading to Vegas. But if you give me the location where the drugs will be taken, I can give them a fake address and get them off our trail.”

Having spent some hours with Sheila and Kramer going over the various warehouses that Vinnie owned and had used in the past, he named the last one they’d chosen. “Will they be brought there again?”

Vinnie slammed his glass on his desk, almost choking to get the words out. “I don’t want them.”

“Excuse me?” Joe wasn’t sure if he’d heard correctly. “Did you say you don’t want the shipment?”

“That’s exactly what I said.” Vinnie’s face took on a fierce appearance, and he added, “I put out a hit on the stupid bastard who got her hooked. He’s done for. That street punk will never mess with another girl like my Lucia again. And now it’s over. I want nothing more to do with this shit.” Vinnie pointed at the pills in front of him. “I’m shutting down my operation.” He picked up the soiled plastic bag and threw it towards Joe. “Get these out of my sight.”

Ignoring the bag, Joe didn’t pick them up but had to ask, “You mean it?”

“Goddamn rights I do. Look close? They’re from our shipments. They could have killed my baby, still might if she can’t get over her addiction. Lord knows, many never fully recover. She could be scarred for life. And it’s my fault.” Vinnie sunk back against the wing chair, suddenly shrinking right in front of Joe’s eyes.

The small, saddened man sniffed more than once, his pain obvious. “Leonardo, my beautiful boy, would be furious that his daughter should become involved in my world. It was never meant to happen. I thought I kept her safe and away from all of this.” As his arm swept the room, the disgust in his voice showed clearly. “This. This is my crap. And because of it, I lost my son and his wife. Now I might lose my Lucia. It’s over. No more. I can’t take anymore.”

Flummoxed by this sudden change in plans, Joe didn’t know what to say. They needed to stop those drugs from getting loose and without Vinnie’s info, how would they do it. “Sir, the Chinese won’t be happy with this news. They need to get theirdrugs to the sellers and onto the streets. Without you, they can’t do it.”

“I don’t give a fuck. I’m done. On the way home from Belvedere, I also sent Chen Bao a text. He’ll be here with the shipment, and he’ll have to deal with this mess himself.’ As if Vinnie understood Joe’s real concern, he added, “Don’t worry. I know we had a deal. I’ve already paid you your money. Now go. I need to rest. Send Jie to me.”

Joe left, heading straight to headquarters. He needed to let them know about the change of plans. All the way there, he worried about the most important aspect of the mission. If he didn’t work with Vinnie, how could they track the drugs?

Chapter Thirty-three

Megan read the text message and let the phone slip from her hands, dropping it on the dinner table.

“What happened, Meggie? You look like you just saw a porn video on your screen.”

Taking a sip from her wine glass, she tried to gather her rioting thoughts. “Mikey. The world is going crazy. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”

“Try me. Come on darling. Tell Uncle Mikey. You look like you need a shoulder.” He swept the last of his steak onto his fork, shoved the fork into his mouth, and began to chew. Giving her his full attention, he leaned forward. “I’m all ears.”

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