Ira touched my arm, then went to pull my hand into his, and I moved it from the table.
“There is someone coming after me for something that I had no clue I was doing. I don’t know who it is or when it’s coming. None of your connections have come through, and I can’t…” I stopped short, feeling my eyes fill with sadness, with dread, with finality.
“Just give me time, Roxy,” he said quietly, but I shook my head.
“I can’t, don’t you understand? God, every second that goes by not knowing… I’m tired of lying. I’m tired of wondering. I don’t want to keep this from him anymore.”
Ira leaned closer to me and attempted to touch me again, but I wouldn’t let him.
I could see the frustration building in him, but for the life of me, I didn’t understand why. This was my life we were talking about, not his. They weren’t coming after him; they were coming after me.
“Raquel, I know you’re scared. I’m scared too, but we have to stick together. I promise you, I will get you out of this. Hey, you agreed that that involving Angel would be a bad idea. Bringing him into the mix could only worsen things for you. It could bring more heat down on you.”
“No, I don’t think so anymore. I really don’t.”
“You’re not thinking straight. Just-”
“No!” I protested, knowing my voice was raising, but I didn’t care. I felt one tear fall from my eyes then another.
I took a deep breath and said firmly, “You’re not listening. Ira. Shit has gotten unbearable, okay? Every second that passes, I wonder if this would be the moment that I take my last breath. I feel like that all the time-”
“Roxy-”
“…except when I’m with him.”
I kept my steady gaze on Ira, trying to let him know what I felt. I didn’t care if I hurt his feelings. This was about me, not him.
Ira took a few deep breaths, trying his best to get himself under control. I wiped my eyes showing complete determination underneath the naked panic coursing through my body. I wasn’t changing my mind.
He saw that I wasn’t budging. He just nodded and sighed deeply.
“I see there’s no changing your mind.” I didn’t reply, so he replied. “Okay, when are you-”
“As soon as I see him,” I insisted. “Hopefully before we go to dinner tonight,” I answered quickly.
“Okay, and what about the fears you expressed earlier? The ones where you thought Angel would be pissed that you kept this from him and that you feared you’d lose him.”
I shook my head. “I can’t think about that now. I don’t like looking over my shoulder. I can’t keep putting Angel at risk.”
Ira’s face turned down. “Oh, please, Raquel. Angel has heat on him all the time. Do you think he would actually do you the courtesy to tell you? Let me answer that for you just in case your head is stuck in the clouds; he wouldn’t tell you shit.”
“Yeah, you may be right, but you know what he’d do? He’d never leave me alone. He would have people attached to me like glue. And, hey, I’m not going to say that I would like it. I would actually fight him on it. However, deep down inside I’d know, without a shadow of doubt, he had my back. I would know that he wouldn’t let anything ever happen to me. I wouldn’t be afraid to breathe like I am now.”
Ira frowned. “Oh, so you think I don’t have your back?”
“No, I’m not saying that you don’t. Ira, I want to feel safe. This is about me and not you, right?”
He didn’t reply. He just kept his lips tight and watched me. We stared at each other for a few minutes before I could see the resolve in him settle. He sighed deeply defeated. “I get it, Roxy. Do what you must. Do what makes you feel the safest. Before you talk to him, let me make-” We both suddenly jumped out of our skin as we heard a metal on metal collision outside of the restaurant we were sitting in.
As I looked outside of the window, it took me a second to realize that someone actually ran into the car Ira was driving.
“Son of a bitch!” he yelled and stood quickly.
I stood too, searching in my purse for some money to pay for our food so that we could leave.
“Stay right here. I’ll handle it, damn,” Ira ordered.
I frowned, ready to remind him this was exactly what I was trying to tell him. He’d left me multiple times to go make a phone call or use the restroom. You would think that after my speech, he would get the hint. As I watched him run out to go yell at some young kid, who really looked familiar, I was confirmed that Ira really didn’t get it.
I was about to signal for our server when a man replaced Ira in the booth across for me.
“Damn, that’s some kind of crazy,” replied one of the scariest, hottest, badasses I had ever seen.
“I’m sorry, but that seat’s taken,” I managed to squeak out while wondering if I got up and ran right now, how quickly he would catch me.
“Yup, it sure is,” he quipped tersely.
Is this how it’s going to end? Being killed by sarcasm?
Feeling a little bit more courage, I said to him, “Yeah, and if you value your life, you will remove your ass or-”
“Or else what? Your boyfriend will be upset?”
I snarled at his obvious obnoxiousness. “Yes, my boyfriend will be extremely upset. He has a bad temper.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you are definitely right about that, but I guess I’m a little confused on which boyfriend that would be; the little idiota that just got up or Leonetti?”
At the sound of Angel’s name, I tensed.
Who is this son of a bitch?
I started to ask him, but suddenly, looking into his deep dark and dangerous eyes, I decided making my exit would be safer. I recognized that look and every time I saw it, things never ended well for me.
“You want to sit here? Fine. I’m gone.” I quickly grabbed my stuff and slid out of the booth.
Just as I stood and turned, I heard him say, “Sit down, Raquel.”
I turned with paralyzing fear. “How do you-”
“Never mind how I know your name. That’s not what should concern you.”
“It’s not?”
“No, it isn’t. See, what you should be concerned about is what I plan to say to my cousin the moment I pull out my phone to dial his number. Shit, from the looks of you and the little idiota, I have a lot to say to Angel. But, again, that would depend on you.” He looked up at me, and I swear I couldn’t breathe. I literally saw my life flash before my eyes.
I instinctively looked out to the parking lot and saw Ira talking on the phone while looking at the damage to the car he was driving.
The kid that actually hit his car didn’t seem phased one bit. In fact, he had his arms folded in front of him, eyes staring directly through the glass at me.
“Don’t waste your concerns on Innis… Iraq… Whatever the fuck his name is. It’s clear he doesn’t give a shit about you. He cares more about that car outside.” He then glanced quickly outside just as I sat back down. “That does look bad. Hope he has insurance.”
When his eyes finally fell back on mine, I realized why that look he had earlier was so familiar. I instantly started looking around the restaurant expectantly. This man could only be one person, based solely on his need to have Angel’s back.
“He’s not here,” Lincoln said to me. He wore a black fedora with a black leather jacket, black tee and black jeans. His hands folded in front of him, giving me that look of having a complete lack of patience.
“You need to start talking and convince me that what you’re doing is for the betterment of my cousin, because if it’s not and you’ve put him in danger, shit will not end well for you.”
I grabbed my glass of water and took a few sips to wet my dry-as-the-desert mouth. I cleared my throat as best I could and finally admitted the truth to him and myself.
“I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.”
Lincoln just sighed. “Why haven’t you told him?”
I
shook my head. “Because I don’t have a clue what he would do.”
“What do you mean? I can tell you exactly what would happen. For one, you wouldn’t be out here exposed to anyone with a long-range rifle to pick you off.”
I didn’t have an answer for that, so I just nervously placed my shaking hands on the table, then put them, folded, in my lap.
“Look, Raquel, I understand your hesitation. Don’t look so surprised. It’s clear to me you know who I am, right?”
I nodded.
“It’s also safe to say that you have a pretty good idea what I did for the family, or you could use your context clues and figure it out.” I nodded again. “Okay, so, in order to make sure I did my job, I had to know everything about Angel and anyone that came across his path; that included you. So, I know all about you. I made it my business to know. I knew the moment that you decided you wanted to get into another line of work, and I knew the moment you got yourself into this shit that has followed you from Cali.”
I shook my head incredulously. “You can’t possibly…” I started, but the look in his eyes told me that he was telling me the truth. I changed tactics and asked, “So, if you know, then does…” I couldn’t even finish the question.
Lincoln didn’t need me to. However, he didn’t reply for a spell. He just looked at me, studied me with this appraising and judging look in his eyes.
“What?” I asked, finally unable to take his silent cross-examine.
“You’ve impressed me, Raquel, and I don’t say that often. There were times when you got into some shit and proved to be extremely intelligent and strong with cunning skills to get yourself out of trouble. There were also some situations where you needed some help but, all in all, you handled yourself very well.”
I couldn’t help the slight smile that touched the side of my face. I couldn’t help but to feel a little good about myself, hearing the praise coming from him. I could tell he didn’t give it often.
“I understand why you’re hesitant in telling Angel what’s going on. He knows a little about what you were doing in Cali, but not everything. I didn’t tell him everything because of the same reason why you won’t say anything to him now. I would like to say he’s changed over the years, but I don’t think that when it comes to you it’s true. Still, he has a right to know what’s coming, or, hell, what’s already here.”
“I know, and I’m telling him as soon as Ira drops me off.”
Lincoln started shaking his head before I even completed my sentence. “No, you let Junior there take you wherever you need to go from now on.” Then Lincoln pointed to the kid standing by the truck and Ira.
I shook my head. “Why on earth would I do that? I mean, he looks twelve. How could he protect me better than Ira?”
“Because,” Lincoln said as he pointed out of the window, “That son of a bitch is the reason why you’re in this shit to begin with. I know he’s told you that he can’t do shit about this, but he could if he really wanted to, believe that. I’ve been watching you for the past few weeks and every time you’re with him, he finds some excuse to leave you alone. Think about that, Raquel. You’re smart, so I know you understand that’s not supposed to happen. If he were watching your back, he wouldn’t leave you alone. There’s some shit that’s going on, so the sooner you tell Angel about this, the better things will be.”
I asked, “What do you mean by that?” I leaned in conspiratorially. “What do you know that I don’t?”
Lincoln, unfortunately, didn’t get to answer me. We were interrupted by a very loud and angry voice above us.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
We both looked up to see a seething Ira standing by the table. I looked at Lincoln, who was actually smiling at him.
Lincoln looked behind Ira and nodded. “Raquel, this is Junior. Junior, Ms. Waters needs a ride to wherever, then take her to Angel.”
Ira interjected, “Hey, wait one gotdamn-,” but Lincoln continued to ignore him.
“Don’t you leave her side, understand?” Lincoln told Junior. “Call Hugo directly and let him know where you two are and what you’re doing. You watch for everything, understand?”
“Yes, sir, I will.”
Lincoln stood and met Ira eye-to-eye, mean mug to mean mug. I have to say, Lincoln was winning the “who’s the scariest” contest hands down. Shit, I even had to move my eyes from his intense glare, and it wasn’t even aimed in my direction. I could also see we were gaining an audience, so I slid out of the booth.
“Roxy…” Ira started, not moving his eyes from Lincoln.
Ira was trying to hold his own. He was definitely prideful, so I didn’t expect anything less.
“Ira, I’ll be okay. If you get any word from your contacts, let me know. And thanks for everything.” I quickly moved to Junior and we headed towards the exit. When I looked back at the pair, I could see words being exchanged.
Man ole’ man, I would have given anything to be a fly on the wall right at that very moment. No telling what they said to each other, but looking at Ira ball up his fists at his sides said everything I needed to know.
“Ms. Waters, where do you need to go?”
The Fly on the wall
He knew who Ira was because Ira’s picture had been handed to him back in San Francisco. Ira was the initial reason for the trip to Philadelphia. Who he didn’t know was the man that Ira was currently speaking with. He wasn’t the kind of person that liked unknowns, so he took the man’s picture and sent it off to his contact.
He leaned back and watched the heated conversation between Ira and this mystery man while he waited. This was his fourth cup of coffee, and he could feel the jitters filling his body, but the wait was well worth it. His plans foiled, he had no other choice but to sit there and hope for another opening. Yes, he could still complete the mission, even after the pickup truck hit Ira’s rental car. He thought about still going along with his plans when the new player, who he’d noticed watching the couple just as long as he had, interjected.
He watched as this new player talked to the woman for a long time, while Ira went to see about his rental. He wasn’t sure if the woman and the mystery man knew each other or not. At first, the woman stood and looked to be leaving. He got ready, hoping that she would walk out to the car, but she didn’t.
No something the new player said to her caused her to sit. He was extremely disappointed and even thought about executing his plan anyway, but he didn’t. He exercised his control and decided to wait it out.
He heard Ira say, moving closer to the new player. “You got fucking nerve coming here. And your fucking boss is paying-”
“Shut the fuck up,” said the new player with such vibrato in his voice that the damn windows shook. “Don’t forget where you are. You’re in my fucking city, and if you don’t take heed to my warning, you’ll die in my fucking city.”
Ira smugly grinned, “Oh, you think so?”
“Oh, I know so.” The new player interjected moved closer to Ira. “Keep your distance from Raquel. Do you understand? If you come anywhere near her again, it’s your death sentence. This is your one and only warning, and I’m only giving you a warning because of Raquel.”
“Why don’t you just kill me now? Don’t talk about it.”
The new player laughed. “Oh, dear boy, it’s not me you’ll have to worry about. In fact, don’t listen to me and please call her. Go see her too. I would love to see what he does to you.”
The new player laughed again and walked away.
Just as he watched the new player move past Ira, his phone signaled that he’d received a text message. Finally, he got the news from his contact on who the new player was. He opened his phone, and once he read the information and saw the picture, he turned pale.
He quickly closed the text, found the number he needed and dialed.
“Is it done already?” the voice answered.
“I should fucking kill you now!” “the fly on the wall” seethed.
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The voice paused a beat before he asked, “What happened?”
“You lied, that’s what happened. You said he would not be involved, and I just saw him.”
He’d never been afraid of anyone or anything, but the thought of Drake Lincoln put just enough of doubt in him to pause and think this assignment through.
“What are you talking about? Who did you see?”
“You should have told me that he was involved. The price has just gone up. If you want this done, you’re gonna have to pay me more. I would need to disappear for a while afterwards. I will not have Drake Lincoln coming after me because of your screw up.”
“Calm down and tell me what happened.”
He told the person on the other end everything, every sordid detail, including what type of coffee he had. When “the fly on the wall” finished, he heard silence, then he heard the voice on the phone lose its cool.
“Fuck!”
“I told you, you’re in over your head. My price has just tripled.”
“What!”
“If you want this done, pay me. Otherwise do it yourself.” “The fly on the wall” disconnected the call, paid his bill and left the restaurant. He was still going to take care of Ira because his employer had stressed that fact. However, the girl was an added incentive. She was a bonus that, at first, was worth his while. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
It would be interesting though, to see if he could match wit against wit, brawn against brain, with Drake Lincoln. The price on the man’s head, because of his life with the CIA, could lead HIM to retire early. It’s something to think about anyway.
Chapter Eighteen
Angel
Damn this woman… my woman.
“Angel,” I felt her whisper against my lips.
I reached my arm around her hip and pulled her close to me. I can’t get enough of this woman.
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