Page 36 of Engaging his Enemy
Ben went down, holding his jaw. “Goddamn it.” Rage flashed in his eyes and he came up swinging, connecting with Moto’s kidney and nose in a one-two punch. Moto jabbed him in the stomach, then popped him in the chin. He did a roundhouse kick, landing right in Ben’s lower back, sending him down once more.
“It wasn’t me,” Ben croaked, clearly struggling to get up. “If it wasn’t HERO Force, it had to be somebody from the DEA.”
“You don’t fucking quit.” Moto towered over him, resisting the urge to kick him while he was down. “When are you going to take some fucking responsibility?”
“There was a guy there. I didn’t recognize him. Older guy, yellow hair, blue eyes. Maybe he’s the one who warned DeRegina.”
Moto didn’t believe that for a second. He shook his head. “Unbelievable.”
“Shit, what was his name? Tennis rackets. That’s all I can remember. His name reminded me of tennis rackets.”
Moto remembered what Razorback had said in the hospital.
I got a call from Agent Spaulding with the DEA about an hour ago. He not-so-politely told me to keep my men away from DeRegina in the future and to leave the detective work to the professionals.
He eyed his brother critically. “Was it Wilson?”
“No.”
“Spaulding?”
Ben’s eyes lit. “That’s it.”
“Son of a bitch.” Relief washed through him, tainted with a tinge of regret. He hung his head, then reached down and offered his hand to his brother.
“You’re not going to hit me?”
“No. Spaulding is a DEA agent from the sting operation yesterday. He must have warned DeRegina.” He helped Ben to a stand, then pulled out his cell phone and called Razorback, filling him in on what he’d learned.
He put his phone away and looked back at his brother, his childhood playmate, the man his parents would have wanted to be his one true friend. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
Ben wiped at his bleeding lip. “You had good reason. I haven’t exactly been a stand-up guy.” He sniffed loudly. “I want to do better. Get away from DeRegina and go straight, earn my money the right way. Just you watch.”
Moto grinned, more proud of his brother in that moment than he had been in years. “I’d like to help.”
“You can start by getting me out of those murder charges. I don’t think DeRegina’s going to do it when he finds out I’m on your side.”
The men turned and headed back toward the road. Moto gestured to the shack. “You still own this place?”
“Yeah. I never did anything with it. Figured I’d just hold on to it as an investment.”
“I might want to buy it from you. Build myself a house out here.”
“Are you staying?”
Was he? Sometime in the last twelve hours, it had become a distinct possibility. What was waiting for him in New York? HERO Force, of course, but that was all he had that he gave a damn about. Being close to his son outweighed that in a heartbeat, not to mention being close to Davina. “Maybe I am.”
“Half of everything is yours, remember? You can have it. Just let me keep the house. I wouldn’t want to evict your girlfriend.” Moto knew Ben was fishing for information, but he wouldn’t take the bait. He wasn’t ready to talk about whatever was growing between him and Davina.
They reached their cars, and Ben bent down to see himself in the side mirror. “Shit. How am I going to explain this to DeRegina?”
“You’re going back there?”
“I have to. I’m your eyes and ears in that office, and he needs to reschedule that shipment of drugs.” Ben smiled and got in his car. “I’ll let you know when I hear something.”
Moto watched him drive away, his heart lighter than it had been in years. Ben was going to be okay, provided he could keep himself safe from DeRegina.
21
