Page 58 of Bastard

She groaned.

“But the good news? If their assets are frozen, they can’t pay anyone.”

I didn’t mention Randall being in the wind already. It seemed that man lived in the shadows, coming and going as he pleased.

“I’ll deal with whatever happens, just like I have for the last few months.”

“No,” I kissed her. “We’ll deal with it.”

She cupped my face. Her warm palm felt nice on my cheek. “You’ll be okay?”

“I have to be.”

“Jace…”

“Yes. If they come for either of us they’ll have to deal with the devil.”

I dipped through the restaurant and into the back room Agent Steel used as a field office. Ava smiled at me as she waved me in, like this was any other day.

It was weird to be nervous. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this way. Then I realized it was because I wanted this. I hadn’t wanted anything in years. Wanting meant there was something on the line. Something that could be lost.

I walked Steel through all of it. He grinned a lot, even rubbed his hands together a few times. I kept talking and displaying documents while he ate dinner.

“There’s nothing from the Stroman side of things.” He kicked his feet off the desk and started packing up his to go boxes.

“There’s nothing easy to grab over there. The company is run clean. They have their normal hiccups, but it's normal, you know? They’re not cutting corners or hiding money or breaking laws.”

Steel didn’t believe me even if it was true. He would always think I protected Sam. And the only way to change his mind would be to give him something I didn’t have.

“Fine. You say there’s another department ready to move on the antiquities information?”

“I don’t know which one, but I suspect it’s actually several.” International theft, money laundering, and smuggling? Steel knew it too. He just needed to hear it.

He tossed the boxes in the trash and started collecting the evidence. “Be prepared for the shit to hit the fan in the next few days. It seems your undercover days are finally coming to an end.”

Unfortunately for me, it turned out that everything was happening a week too late.

25

“You’re up next!” Riddick slapped my shoulder.

Home Run took a punch to the stomach then threw one right back at Striker. We were out at the Ranch. Todd’s hunting property. There was a bonfire, a roasting pig, and a boxing ring—where we were now.

And apparently I was next.

Since I had no idea how long it would take before Steel raided the Devil’s Wrath clubhouse, and I already pushed my trip to get the evidence in order, I had no choice but to travel south and act like everything was normal. Storm, once again, volunteered to stay behind. I didn’t think his relationship with Adriana would be a distraction. If anything, it gave him more incentive.

“There you are, son.” Todd pushed his way in beside me. “You seem to like the big city an awful lot.”

“It’s the noise. Love it.”

Todd stared. Probably couldn’t figure out if I was joking or not. “Glad you’re back. We need to talk. Now.”

That wasn’t ominous or anything. I shot Riddick a quick look. “Lead the way.”

As soon as Todd turned Riddick nodded back.

“What’s on your mind?” We stepped into the shadows of the barn where he kept all his equipment. A few people walked by, but none close enough to hear us.

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