“You don’t think Campbell only dabbles in prostitution and gambling, do you? He uses his position, power, and money to aid a cause close to his heart. Only his cause is making a lot of problems for us. Illegal arms are coming into this country.”
“And you think Flynn is…what? Selling them? Distributing them?”
“Both. But I need proof.”
“I don’t know anything,” I said. It was the truth, and I was suddenly grateful that Flynn kept me in the dark.
“So you say.”
I had to remind myself to stay calm, keep cool, and not to lose focus. Hysteria would not go over well. “I don’t know anything. I swear.”
“But you can find out.”
“How?”
“Campbell has an inner circle, and you have become a part of it.”
“I haven’t,” I insisted.
“You have. Campbell doesn’t have girlfriends. You’re different. You can get him to trust you.”
I felt sick that Winters had been watching and gathering information. And I didn’t like where this was headed.
“You have to work with us,” he stated.
“To do what? Trap Flynn? Get him to admit to being a part of this organization?”
“You’ve met Malcolm Buchanan.” He waited for confirmation, which I didn’t give. He went on. “We want Buchanan.”
I frowned in confusion and then understanding dawned. Winters nodded when he saw my look. “He’s the leader, and he calls the shots.”
Sweet, craggy, stoic Malcolm was the leader of the SINS? Winters said the SINS were committed to freeing Scotland by any means necessary. That meant violence.
“You really think Flynn is going to give up his godfather?”
Flynn Campbell was all about loyalty, and even if his moral code didn’t point due north, he was honorable. He would never betray family.
Winters’s eyes were hard and flinty. “It’s going to be your job to get him to do it.”
“My job?”
“You’re going to help us,” he repeated.
I crossed my arms over my chest, hearing the unspoken “or else.”
With a final stare down, he broke eye contact and then moved toward the back door. “I’ll be in touch in a few days.”
The door closed, and I let out a whoosh of air. Icy fear raced up my spine. The FBI wanted me to bring down Flynn and Malcolm—all because they belonged to the SINS, an organization I knew nothing about. I didn’t know for sure if they were violent, but I assumed they were. I didn’t know if they targeted innocents.
And illegal guns? I was dating an arms dealer? Was it really that black and white? Was I supposed to judge Flynn? Love him less? Flynn had warned me; so had Brad. What I thought I knew…
Shit.
“Barrett?”
I jumped, shooting a startled glance at Jason. I hadn’t even heard him return.
“Are you okay?” he asked, coming toward me, concern on his usually impassive face.