Could it?
"Earth to Lilith," Angie says and laughs.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about some work I have to get done."
"Geeze, Lil. Even when you aren't physically at work, your head is always there. Perhaps you need to find another job. I mean, I know working for Tom pays really well, and there's the prestige, yadda yadda yadda, but your job can't be your entire life." She says and steals another piece of sushi from my platter.
"Your job is your entire life," I say and instantly regret it.
"Yeah, but at least I'm not there nights and weekends except when I'm on call once a month."
"You're right. I'll consider finding something else if I can't get Tom to back off and give me more free time."
"He's taking advantage of you because he knows you like him," Angie mutters.
"I know, and you mean liked him. I'm moving past being fixated on him. Even if he did come around, he doesn't deserve me." I actually mean this, and I'm a little bit proud of myself.
"That's my girl." She says and high-fives me.
We spend the afternoon shopping. At first, I think I want to go look at shoes and purses, but then I change my mind. Instead, Angie and I spend the afternoon buying socks, underwear, t-shirts, pajamas, and books for one of the group homes she works with.
After we drop off our haul at the home and Angie hugs every single one of the kids, we go back to her apartment and put together care packages for the homeless. She doesn't go to church, but Angie spends every Sunday afternoon handing out the bags filled with socks, toiletry items, and snacks to homeless people downtown.
She's excited because this week she has twice as many since I chipped in and bought more stuff for the bags. Seeing her eyes light up when we're done touches my heart, and I vow to chip in every week from now on.
"I'd offer to let you buy me dinner, but I'm supposed to go over and cook for my dad tonight," Angie says when we're all done loading the bags into boxes.
"How's he doing?" I ask and hope the answer is better than last week.
"He's still in a lot of pain. Better than last week, but not 100% yet. I'd invite you for dinner, but I don't think he's up for it yet. I know he misses you."
"Maybe next week then? I'll help you make a lasagna if he's up for it." I say and start carrying the boxes to her entry way. A few guys from her neighborhood will meet her tomorrow and help pass them out. I really need to go along more often.
"He'd love that, Lil. I'll mention it to him tonight. Meet me at Bravo at nine? I should have him comfortably in bed by then."
"Sure thing Jelly Bean," I say and give her a hug.
That means I’ll have two hours with Adam. That should be more than enough time for us to discuss his suspicions about Tom.
The diner is relatively quiet by the time I arrive at seven. It looks like the last of the dinner rush is clearing out as I walk through the door. I find Adam exactly where he'd said he'd be.
He stands up when I approach the table, and I'm taken back by his manners. Not many thieves stand when a lady walks into the room. Well, I assume that. I don't know many criminals or burglars for that matter.
I get a good look at him, and Adam is even more stunningly handsome when he's not wearing an ill-fitting janitor's uniform.
His hair is brushed back, but that one curl is still touching his forehead. I want to push it back into place for him so badly. He's wearing a tight black t-shirt, dark jeans, and black leather motorcycle boots. Dang he's sexy.
"It's good to see you again, Lilith." He says and extends a hand out for me to shake.
It feels like electricity passing between our palms when we touch, and that makes a blush color my cheeks. I've never reacted to a man like this before. Sure, I've only ever had a few boyfriends, but none of them ever revved my engine the way Adam is right now.
"I'll decide if it's good to see you again after you tell me what we came here to discuss," I say wickedly.
Oh, jeez. I'm actually flirting with him. What the heck is wrong with me?
"Haha. Okay, Peaches. Challenge accepted." Adam says and sits down at the booth. "Have you eaten yet?" He asks before I can respond to him calling me Peaches.
"No, I haven't had dinner yet."
"Good. This place has the best butter pecan pancakes. I recommend getting them with a side of bacon and sausage." He says and his eyes light up like a kid at Christmas.
"Oh my God, Adam. Meat is murder." I say completely seriously.
His shoulder fall and I have to stifle my laugh. “Really? Are you vegan?"
"I'm just messing with you. That sounds delicious." He laughs out loud and playfully swats me on the arm with his menu.
I can't believe I'm flirting and bantering with the man I caught breaking into my boss’s office last night. I've never acted like this in my life.
The waitress comes, and we order our breakfast for dinner. I really don't want to ruin the mood, but I need some information. Flirting with a gorgeous man is fun, but my career could be on the line here.
“So, tell me what you know about Tom.” I say as directly as I can manage.
"Right to the point. Okay." Adam says as he cracks his knuckles and stretches his arms.
"It's not that I'm not enjoying our conversation, Adam. But, I did come here so you could tell me about Tom." Why did I say I'm enjoying his company?
It's easy to forget the bad when I'm with Adam. That much is certain. Either feeling that way around someone could be life changing right, or it could be devastating.
Everything in me should be telling me that, with Adam, it would be devastating, but I feel the exact opposite. I want to trust him, and it's almost as if my body is telling me that I can. His hand is on the table, and Adam is gently tapping his fingers as he looks at me. I want to move my hand the fraction of an inch it would take to touch his fingers with mine. I'm craving the slightest contact with him.
"Your boss is not a good man." His smooth voice breaks me out of my thoughts.
"He's not the nicest man I've ever met, but his business seems to be on the up and up. I haven't seen any signs of him doing anything illegal." I say confidently, but I don't feel that confidence inside.
"That's because you weren't looking." He's right, but I feel defensive. Before I can come up with a retort, the waitress brings our food.
"Can I get you the two anything else right now?" She says as she places the plate of pancakes and breakfast meat in front of me. It smells like heaven.
"Another diet soda for me, please," I say looking at my mostly empty glass.
"I'm good, Ma'am. Thank you." Adam says cheerfully.
He has such impeccable manners for a criminal. It amazes me how polite he is in contrast with some of the rich and supposedly sophisticated people I know from work. They were allegedly raised well, but they're bossing and demanding. I rarely ever hear Tom say thank you for anything.
The waitress brings my soda back, and we dig in. Adam was right about the butter pecan pancakes. Every bite is like a carnival ride for my taste buds. He laughs twice when I let out an audible groan of pleasure after taking a bite. The salty, fatty bacon and sausage offset the sweetness of the pancakes perfectly. I'm going to have to go out to dinner with Adam more often. But, I can't do that. Can I?
"Your boss is going to sell valuable information about his investments to the highest bidder. Those bidders aren't other investment bankers, Lilith. They are criminals. I need evidence of this, or lots of decent people are going to lose their life savings. The authorities have tried to bring him down, but Tom is too rich, powerful, and protected. He's practically untouchable, but I'm determined." Some of the earlier sincerity is gone from his voice, but my gut tells me not to call him on it. Yet.
He has a good reason to lie - My inner voice tells me. I can feel it, and I want to hear more.
"If you're not law enforcement, why do you want to bring him down. How do you know about this, and why do you care about a bunch of strangers’ money?"
I don't know how to be anything but direct at this point.
"I represent another interested party. Someone who wants to see this information fall into the right hands." I can read Adam well, and this is total bullshit. He's not even trying to hide the fact he's deceiving me. Something else is going on here, and now I have to know. I just hope at some point Adam feels like he can trust me with the truth.
I take the last few bites of my food without saying anything. Adam's watching me expectantly, but I'm trying to play it cool. If I don't act like this is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me, maybe I can maintain some semblance of a power balance in this partnership.
"I'll help you," I say and try not to smile. I fail.
"You will?" Adam says with as much excitement as I feel. I also sense something else emanating from him. I think it's relief. He's carrying a huge burden right now, and it has nothing and everything to do with the money. "Thank you so much for your discretion and understanding, Lilith. You have no idea what it means to me."
"I hope that someday you'll tell me." He picks up on my meaning, but before he can speak, his eyes flick to the other side of the restaurant.
"I have to go now, Lilith. Some of my associates are here. I'll contact you soon." Something about the way he said associates makes the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
I turn and see two enormous men standing just inside the diner's entrance staring at Adam. He walks to them quickly, and they follow very closely behind him as he exits the restaurant.
"That was odd," I whisper to myself. I guess it's not really that strange, considering everything.
"Stiffed you with the check, huh." The waitresses cheerful voice booms.
"It's okay. I don't mind." He did totally stiff me with the check, though.
Oh well, Adam can owe me one.
Chapter Four
Adam
I wanted to exchange contact information with Lilith before I left the diner, but then Vladimir's goons showed up to collect me. I wanted to get them as far away from Lilith as I could and fast.
Contacting her will involve me calling her at work because I didn't get her cell number. The goons saw me talking to her, and having her information on my phone could be dangerous for Lilith. The last thing I want is for her to end up in a cell waiting for me to complete this job. Hopefully, Vladimir wouldn't be that stupid because I need her to get close to Tom, but you never know.
The black SUV is waiting for me outside the diner. The Russian mafia is nothing if not completely cliché. At least thing one and thing two don't sit in the back with me in the middle. One of them drives and one sits in the third-row seats. It would be almost comical having him squished back there if it wasn’t' for the gun I know he's holding to my back.
"You know, you guys don't have to come get me every time Vladimir wants to talk. You could just call. You're holding my sister. It's not like I'm going to ignore you." I say trying to relieve some of my nervousness.
"You don't like the way we do things, you take it up with the boss. See how far that gets you." Thing one says in a thick Russian accent and then laughs.
The rest of the ride to Vladimir Mikhailov's mansion is silent. When we arrive, the goons usher me inside.
Vladimir is waiting in his mansion's rec room when we arrive. He's sitting at his black lacquer bar drinking a vodka and watching two young women in very short skirts play ping pong.
"Ah, just the man I wanted to see!" He's pretty tipsy, but that doesn't mean he's not dangerous.
"Vladimir, what can I do for you?" I try to suppress my anger.
I can feel it boiling under the surface watching him having fun while my sister is under the house in a dark holding cell. I have to keep it together, though. Losing my temper will only hurt Sophie.
"I want an update on our little project. I hope it's good news. I'd hate to have to give you some incentive to try harder." He says in a barely perceptible Russian accent. Vladimir has been in the country for a lot longer than his goons, but you can still pick up a hint of his accent.
"I don't have the drive yet, Mr. Mikhailov, but I've got Tom Hunt's personal assistant working with me now," I say in a voice that disguises the rage that tastes like bile in my throat.
"That news is okay. I was hoping for better. Your sister was hoping for better, Adam. How do you know you can trust this woman? You realize the cost if you make a mistake?"
"I do, and I know I can trust her. She didn't say so, but this Tom character has hurt her. Lilith wants revenge even if she hasn't admitted it yet." I wince when I realize that I've said her name. I'm sure Vladimir already knows who she is, but I want to draw as little attention to her as possible. I have to save Sophie, but I don't want to sacrifice Lilith to do it.
"You're going to have to speed things up. I've received information that indicates that Mr. Hunt is in negotiations with the Italians and the Chinese. If one of them meets his price before you steal the information, it's lights out for you and your sister. Do you understand?"
"I do. I've made progress, Mr. Mikhailov. How is Sophie? Is she getting her medicine? Can I see her? Just for a minute. Please." I hate begging any man for anything, but I know it will help Sophie to see me. I will plead at this man's feet if I can make her feel better.
"I'll give you two minutes." He says and I breathe a heavy sigh of relief. "Take him down to see the girl. Stay close." He says to thing two standing behind me.
Sophie has a congenital heart defect. She's been very sick since she was a little girl. Our parents died when I was eight and Sophie was just a toddler. We had no family that would take us in, so we ended up in foster care.
Sophie saved me, though. Since she had serious medical problems, she went into the Catholic foster care system instead of the state system. The Church was better equipped to pay for her treatment, and they found a family that was willing to take care of her.
They also believed in keeping families together, so I got to stay with her. That kept me out of the state system too. I don't know what would have happened to me if I'd gone into state foster care or a group home. I wouldn't be the man I am today. Yeah, I'm a criminal, but I feel terrible about it. The Morgans, our foster parents, raised us right.
Sadly, they were a much older couple that typically take on foster children, and they had both passed by the time I was sixteen. It was devastating for Sophie and me, but what was even more disturbing was the Catholic foster care system was drastically reducing its cases, and we were going to be transferred to state care.
Our first day at our new foster home was enough to let me know that it wasn't going to work out. I had some money saved up from doing odd jobs and the Morgan's paid me well to do work for them too. Sophie and I didn't spend one night in the new place.
I can't remember their names, but the wife almost hit Sophie on our first day there. The husband was a drunk pervert, so we ran. I got a job and enrolled Sophie in school under a fake name. She'd end up having to get her GED under her real name once we were in the clear, but at least she got an education.
I worked at a garage changing oil and tires, and after a couple of years the owner, Dave, even trained me to do more. Sophie and I always had enough to eat, and I made enough to cover her medications. She saw a doctor at a neighborhood clinic that treated homeless people and illegal aliens, so they never asked us questions.
Then one day the garage burned down, and I was out of a job. I tried to find another one, but nobody would hire me. Dave had paid me cash under the table and never asked questions either. He was an ex-con who'd turned his life around, and he knew the value of a secret. Unfortunately, I think it was a pissed off bookie that burned his shop, so he took off for California the minute the fire was out.
That left me with a little sister to care for and not many options. We could have gone back, but I was afraid of what would happen to Sophie in a foster family. I also knew I'd probably go to jail for kidnapping since I'd turned eighteen.
That's when a
guy in our building introduced me to Vladimir Mikhailov, and I made the biggest mistake of my life. I converted to a life of crime and told myself it was for Sophie.
For a time, Vladimir kept us clothed, fed, and made sure Sophie saw the best doctor the Mafia could buy. I could never become a made man because I wasn't born into the family, but I rose as high in the ranks as possible. I was the best thief on Vlad's payroll.
Then, I couldn’t take it anymore, and we fled to California. I eventually got a job as a stuntman. The money was good, and we were out of the Mafia's shadow. One day it all came crashing down when I got hurt on set. When I finally got out of the hospital, I couldn't work anymore. A brain injury affects my balance sometimes. I learned how to work around it, but nobody will insure me so movie studios won't hire me.
I had to come crawling back to Vladimir. He pretended all was forgiven and let me make a little money before destroying my life.
After coming home from a burglary at a Mansion in the northern suburbs, I found my sister gone. A note on her bed told me to come to Vladimir's place. That's when he told me that I had to steal Tom Hunt's account information to get Sophie back.
Now as I walk down the damp, gray hallway to the holding cell she's being kept in, I regret almost every decision I've made since the Morgans died. There had to have been a way to protect and care for Sophie that didn't require me getting into bed with the Mafia.
"Adam!" Sophie yells and rushes over to the bars.
"Can you open the door so I can hug her?" I ask knowing the goon is going to say no.
"No. Two minutes." He says in his thick, and barely understandable, Russian accent.
"Adam, I love you." She gushes and I put my hands over hers.
"I love you too baby sister," I say and put my hands over hers. "Are you okay? Do they give you your medicine?"
"They do. I get food three times a day too. It's not so bad. As long as I cooperate, they bring me down a plate of whatever Mr. Mikhailov and his guests are having. One of the men watching me brought me some books to read. If it weren't for the dark, dank basement prison and the fact that I'm being held hostage, this wouldn't be a bad vacation." She says and smiles.
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