I call Toby back. “I’ve got it.”
“I was thinking. Tyson ran jobs for us for ten years but sold out for a quick buck? Who does that?”
“He knew what the footage was worth to Ivanov. Rather than a steady paycheck, he rolled the dice.”
“Crapped out though, didn’t he? Antonio will serve him up to the great and the good as burgers?”
“Said he’d deal with him for me. Who gives a shit how he gets rid of the body? We have the memory card, which means we are good to go. We’re about to complete the biggest deal of our lives.”
I hear a noise in the background and then Toby shouting, “Well, why didn’t you stop him?” He turns his attention back to me. “Sorry, boss. He’s gone.”
“Can you get him back?”
He calls to someone. “Can we get him back?”
A muttered response.
“Sorry,” Toby says down the line. “Jumped in a cab for the airport. Said we were trying to play mind games with him, and he’s not falling for it.”
“No matter. He’ll go back to Chicago. I’ve got people ready to fetch him and bring him to me when I land.”
“You don’t sound surprised.”
“I knew he’d run.”
“Shit, Hunter. How do you do that?”
“Don’t sound impressed that I had to plan foryourinability to keep him there.”
“Hey, three hours I’ve held him. I can only come up with so many excuses and give him so many tours of the Rome office. It’s only three floors.”
“Meet me at the airport.”
“When? Now?”
“I’m booked on the three fifteen. By the time I’m on the plane, you better have everything there is to know about Bex Fox.”
“Who?”
“Precisely. Who is she? Eighteen, Chicago. Works at Unique Couture Monthly under a Melanie someone.”
“Someone I should know?”
“Just do your job. I want to know if she has any connection to the five families.”
“I’ll have her social security through to her bra size, don’t you worry.”
“Good.”
I hang up, looking at the memory card. This is what I’m here for. This is where my focus is supposed to be. Use the information on here to complete the takeover, and then I have something to back up my case. I haven’t got time for chasing pussy.
No harm in sharing the same flight back, though.
She’s going to Chicago. So am I. Makes sense to maximize the time I’ve got in the air. Maybe I can kiss those soft lips of hers instead of the back of her hand. Drag her down into the underworld to become my mate.
Wouldn’t that be something?
5