Page 76 of The Professional
“What do you think?” She grinned. “I give you details that you’d never find out otherwise, and you give me information about the Killough Company.”
“Are you trying to get me killed?” Forrest matched her with crossed arms. “I’m not telling you a thing about that company.”
“Why not?” She raised her eyebrows. “They don’t care about you. You’re nothing more than a prized possession of theirs. You earn them money. But think about it, you could finally have the family you always wanted. Must have been hard growing up in a foster home.”
“So you did your research on me. Congratulations.” Forrest rolled his eyes. “This could be an elaborate lie, and I’m not falling for it.” He went to turn away, but she seized his arm. Ox started toward them but Forrest raised his hand, effectively stopping him. He turned back to Diaz and glanced at her hold on him. “I would remove that. We know what you did, how you gave our team members drugs.”
“You mean the other whores? They were begging for it.” Her feral grin made Forrest’s blood hot in anger.
“You killed a poor, innocent woman.”
“She’s not innocent. No innocent person uses drugs, Forrest.” She released him. “I’m giving you a chance to escape all of this. If I take down the Killough Company, you’d be free. Away from dirty men’s touches, and you’ll no longer be owned. Don’t you want that?”
“You don’t know jackshit about me. Do you think my birth certificate says anything about who I really am, Detective?” Forrest laughed. “It says a couple of names, that’s it. I don’t care who my mother or father are.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure your twin brother says the same thing. He’s got a record. I checked him out. You’re definitely identical.”
Forrest swallowed around the lump that built in his throat. What if she was telling the truth and he really did have a twin? Did he want to know more about him? Yes, but not by giving up any information about the Killough Company. He didn’t have a death wish, and he felt a sense of loyalty to all of them.
Conall.
Rourke.
Even Killough.
“I don’t care. I’m not giving you any information about anyone.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s try a different angle than, shall we? Did you know you have a rat in that company? A slimy little snake feeding me information, just like he gave it to the Italians that came and shot up the Virtue? It’s a pity he didn’t tell me about the shootout earlier. Sloan’s men did a good job cleaning up the mess.”
Forrest stilled. “I don’t know what you mean.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re good, I have to give you that. Maybe tell Sloan he needs to do some pest control, hm?”
“What do you want from me? I already told you that I’m not giving you information. What do you get out of telling us about a rat?”
She grinned and it was downright self-righteous. “Maybe I care.”
“Please. Do me a favor and stop lying.”
“Fine. I have one more thing to say.” She stepped closer, the scent of her overpowering perfume nearly making Forrest cough. It created an itch in the back of his throat. “I know you and the lovely Rourke Tormey are an item now. You must care about him. Pity we’ll be bringing charges against him soon.”
“What?” The desperate word left his mouth before he could stop it.
She laughed harder. “Secrets and crimes never stay hidden, Forrest. We could come up with a deal, though. You tell me what I want to know, I’ll make sure he doesn’t go to prison.”
Forrest’s gut churned, panic twisting at his insides, but he kept himself calm. He forced a smile. “If you had anything on him, detective, he’d already be in cuffs. Have a lovely day.” He spun on his heel, back straight, and headed to Ox. Ox followed him, and it was only when Forrest knew he was clear of her that he let out a breath and nearly collapsed. The bodyguard grabbed him before he fell to the ground.
“Are you okay, sir? What did she say?”
“Nothing of importance.” He smiled sadly. “She wants information, and I didn’t give it to her.”
“She’s got balls, I have to give her that.”
“Yes, she does.”
“Can you walk?”
Forrest steadied himself with Ox’s help and took a long breath. He had to believe his own words. She had nothing on Rourke, or he’d already be in prison. No, Forrest needed to focus on the present. Rourke was waiting for him at the store, and he could talk to Conall about it all later. He’d know what to do.
