Page 3 of Hart of Vengeance
Travers folded his lanky body into one of three metal chairs. “We would like your help.”
The only way I could help the FBI was to be a narc, and no fucking way was that happening. If I spilled the beans about anyone in prison, I was a dead man. I knew a handful of secrets from inmates who had befriended me, but what went on inside the joint stayed inside. That was an unspoken rule, and those who’d defied it were buried six feet under.
I shook my head. “Sorry, I can’t help you.” I started for the door.
“Just hear us out.” Travers’s low baritone sent a chill down my spine. The agent’s voice brought back memories I’d buried a long time ago—memories of my sperm donor who would rather suck on a bottle of booze than care for his children.
Stew raised an eyebrow as if asking, “What’s the harm?”
He knew what the fucking harm would be. Costa instantly came to mind. I wasn’t afraid of him, but a gang of inmates could do some damage.
“We want to make you an offer.” Brock’s voice was deep and scratchy, a chilling reminder of my bastard of an old man. “Can you give us the room?” he asked Stew.
Stew hesitated. As a guard, he had to ensure inmates didn’t get out of hand. I wasn’t one of the violent ones. Sure, I could talk with my fists, but he knew that as close as I was to becoming a free man, I wouldn’t screw up my chances.
I gave Stew a slight nod only because I was curious about their offer.
When the three of us were alone, Travers waved to the empty chair across from him. “Sit.”
I narrowed my eyes at the fucker. Maybe he was a good egg, but his voice and piercing green gaze made my skin crawl.
His partner stood with his arms folded over his chest, watching me.
One side of my mouth turned up.
“What’s so funny?” Travers asked.
I waggled my finger between the two. “Are you about to play good cop, bad cop?”
“Sit down.” Brock’s tone permitted no argument.
I was fucking tired of the government telling me when to eat, sleep, shit, and sit. Since I didn’t report to these two fuckers, I stood my ground. Then I realized they could affect my parole.Well, fuck.
I dropped into the chair. “Talk.”
Brock’s lips curled as though he’d won a medal. “We understand you’re up for parole, and your stellar behavior for the last three years gives you a great chance of getting out.”
Agent Travers cut in. “If you do, we would like you to help us infiltrate a large criminal organization in Boston.”
“Why me?” My first thought was that they wanted me to involve myself with Alvarez and his drug business. After all, I’d worked for the man and knew the drug trade backward and forward.
Brock unbuttoned his suit jacket as he sat beside Travers. “You can get on the inside of your brother’s business.”
My eyebrows snapped together. “Duke? Oh, fuck and hell no.” No matter how pissed I was at Duke, no amount of bribes or false promises would get me to snitch on my brother.
“Your brother Duke has built a massive empire,” Brock said.
I shrugged. “Not my problem. Not my business.”
Travers elaborated. “The guns he’s selling are falling into the hands of gangs all over the city. Boston PD answers five or more calls a night for drive-by shootings. It’s getting way out of control.”
The laugh that was blaring in my head escaped and echoed throughout the room. “And you think I can stop my brother?” I’d never talked to Duke about his business, even before I was incarcerated. We had a rule—he stayed out of my way, and I stayed out of his.
Leaning in slightly, Travers clasped his hands together. “We can get your record expunged provided you get out on parole. You’ll be free to live like a normal person without a record.”
I straightened. My stomach did one of those butterfly flutters I’d gotten every time I had laid eyes on the most beautiful girl in high school. The same girl who still tortured me in my dreams. The one I would give anything to see.
“If I don’t get out on parole?” As pissed as I was at my brother, I wouldn’t give up Duke. Him not visiting me in prison was no reason for me to help put him behind bars, although I was curious to learn how desperate the FBI was.
