“I know. That’s why I’m here.”
“What?”
“I’m here because you can’t leave this room if you value your life.”
Chapter Twenty Three:Scout
A few hoursearlier
“Scratch that. We don’t need the tech, we need you to go to Italy.” I’m standing in front of Agent Riggs and his team as they smoke cigars in the VIP room of the pub where I signed my life away. He only brought me here after I texted him that I’d been found out.
“Italy?” I pretend to have no idea what he’s talking about. But inside, I feel everything sinking.
“How long have you known of their little meeting with the Sicilian Mafia Elders?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t fuck with me, Scout. We both know what I’ll do if you keep this up.”
“Do we?” He cocks his head, and I take a step forward. “Because everything you’ve said to me so far has only been threats. Nothing more. You’ve taken no action. I think you’re cowards.”
“And we think he’s serious.” A husky Russian accent comes from behind me. And I turn my head to see a tall, shadowy figure emerging into the dim candlelight. “Because if he isn’t, we’ll kill him.” A wry grin turns up the edges of his sharp lips. And I look back at Agent Riggs, who looks like he’s genuinely afraid.
“W-welcome.” He slowly motions for this mysterious man to come in. As he moves, I notice he’s got a group of men with him. All tatted, pierced, and strapped with weapons. This has to be the Russians. Holy shit.
“You’re working for the Bratva?” I snap my neck back to Agent Riggs, who is giving me eyes filled with warning, but I don’t know what for.
“My dear, you really are rather late to the party.” I glance back at this man, playing with his knife like it’s a yo-yo, tossing it up in the air and twisting it around his fingers adorned with heavy metal rings.
“You’ll be joining our group of guys going to Italy to bomb the elder's meeting.”
“Bomb?” His words reverberate through my brain, sending me into a panic that I can not show to any of them.
“Yes, we’ll be killing Tito San Giovanni and hopefully every Sicilian elder.” I begin to shake, but I hide it, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jumpsuit as I swallow inconspicuously.
“So you’re the one who wants our tech?”
“We,” he corrects me, motioning to the others who stare blankly and yet somehow still look angry. “Wewantedit.”
“What changed?” He presses his lips together, tensing his brows like he’s not really thinking and only wants me to wait.
“I figure it’s just too much work to take it when I could destroy it, along with every other person standing in the way of what I want.”
“And what’s that?”
“Power.” He licks his lips, reminding me of a reptile, sharp white teeth ready to rip apart anyone in his path.
“You seem as if you’ve got enough power.” As soon as I say this, the entire room bursts into a fit of laughter that neither amuses nor frightens me. In fact, it almost makes me angry.
“Scout, was it? You’re funny.”
“Guess there’s a first for everything.” I bite back, and he chuckles like I’m a child who just said something strange and endearing.
“Well, as I was saying, you’ll be joining the team.”
“I don’t have any skills with weapons.”
“Then you’re perfect for this role because all we need is someone who can distract Tito long enough for us to swoop in.”