“And they won’t do a background check on me? It’ll be pretty simple to see I work for the FBI.”
“Your friend Ryan never knew you went into the academy. You fell out of touch with him before you did. All he knows is you majored in business. That’s the cover we’ll create. That’ll be easier to create than sending in somebody else.” Supervisor Special Agent Rick Sloan had leaned forward, cradling his hands into a tight ball over his desk. “Look, Dax, I know I’m asking for a lot. I also know you’re betraying a friendship, but the Chilanis have been causing too much havoc. We know there is a fresh shipment of weapons coming into the city and we need to waylay that shipment. The tip we got is good intel. We need you to get a little closer to find the exact location.”
“What makes you think Ryan will know anything?”
Sloan had thrown his hands up. “I don’t know that he will know anything. But you’ll be surrounded at his wedding by the Chilani family. Maybe you’ll hear something you shouldn’t. We have to take this opportunity. You’re a damn fine agent. You can do this.”
Yeah, right. He was starting to think he couldn’t do this. Right from the start, it had been complete shit. They pulled Ryan off the street, explaining in detail what would happen. Ryan had immediately glared daggers at him as if he were the lowest scum of the earth. At times, he felt like it.
Refusing to cooperate, he had to watch as his supervisor threatened to lock up Ryan and his fiancé for any small thing he could think of. He threatened the part about his fiancé a little more than Dax had appreciated. Ryan had sat in the chair, ticking like a time bomb, his rage for the treatment about his fiancé clear.
Even after he got Ryan alone to explain everything in better terms, nothing would penetrate Ryan’s thick skull to make him feel better. Dax figured all he could think about was the threat against his fiancé.
Part of Ryan’s reluctance made Dax wonder if he knew more than he wanted to admit. Did Ryan even know what sort of family he was marrying into? He hadn’t appeared too surprised when they went down the list of transgressions Martin Chilani had committed. That was the worst part that concerned Dax.
His friend—very good friend from his college days—was pissed off with him. Was he so upset that he would blow Dax’s cover?
The only safe answer could be no. Otherwise, Dax would be six feet under the minute it happened. He knew this. He tried to mentally prepare for it. But, how could one prepare to die cruelly? And cruel it would be. He saw many reports of the crimes Martin Chilani was accused of.
Accused being the operative word. They could never get anything to stick in court no matter how hard they tried. So, any time they got a decent, reliable tip to bring down Martin Chilani, they took advantage of the opportunity.
Dax wished this time it wouldn’t have screwed with his life.
No sweat. Just another assignment. He had wanted to check the perimeter before the wedding, eye the guests arriving, but now he needed to get back to Ryan.
Sarafina had derailed his plans. Not a good sign. Already finding a distraction. An unwanted distraction. He needed to focus his mind on the job, not on a woman. Definitely, not on a woman. They were nothing but trouble.
Dax walked into the small room at the bottom of the church and found Ryan alone, staring intensely into a mirror on the wall. Ryan looked at him through the mirror, his expression not giving him any happy vibes.
“Do you want me to say I’m sorry again? I don’t want this just as much as you.”
“I doubt that. I love Lily. I love everything about her. This day is supposed to be the best day of her life.”
Dax took a step toward him, the sincerity as prominent as he could make it. “It will be. I’m not here to ruin your wedding.”
Ryan turned around, his fists clenched by his sides. “No, you’re here to arrest her father.”
“Did you not hear anything we told you? Murder, extortion, bribery, drug distribution, weapon charges. Just the icing on the cake. He’s capable of so much more. Or perhaps you already know all of this and it doesn’t affect you.”
“He’s never been convicted of a crime. Innocent until proven guilty. Isn’t that how the law works, Dax? I mean, you should know, since you’re the law.”
“I’m good at my job. I won’t justify my reasons and actions to you. Care to know some of the reasons he’s never been convicted before?”
Ryan swiveled back toward the mirror with his head down. “I thought I knew you. You were supposed to be my friend.”
Dax almost took another step toward him but stopped. Getting into a fight with the groom right before the ceremony wouldn’t go over well with any member of the Chilani family or his boss.
“I am your friend. Because I’m your friend, I’m trying to help you as well. I know you love her. But at least you’re properly informed what kind of man her father is. One wrong move toward his daughter…what do you think he’ll do to you?”
Ryan’s eyes lifted, flickering an intense emotion before clouding over, masking any emotion. “I’m curious...what would’ve you done if one of my groomsmen hadn’t had that accident and broken his leg? Part of me wonders if it was an accident. It makes a man curious how I suddenly needed another groomsman a few days before my wedding and I get picked up by the FBI telling me that I don’t have to worry about finding a new groomsman. They have one for me. I don’t like lying to my fiancé.”
“And I don’t want to be six feet under the ground. You tell her anything and I’m a dead man. Is that what you want, Ryan?” Clenching his jaw, wanting to avoid spewing more words that would cause even more of a bridge between them, he took a step back. “We had nothing to do with your friend breaking his leg. I had nothing to do with that. Everything just fell into place. That’s why we don’t want to pass up this opportunity. I can only say I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want your damn apologies anymore. I won’t leak your dirty secret because, with everything you told me, if I choose to believe it, how do I know Mr. Chilani won’t blame me, too?”
“You don’t know. And I would say he would.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” He looked down, rubbing his wrist as he glanced at his watch. “I’m about to get married. Get the hell out, Dax. I need a moment.”
What else could he say? Nothing. Absolutely nothing would make him feel better.
Closing the door behind him, Dax made his way to his original destination. The front of the church. He wanted to see who was arriving, who was already in attendance. Hone in on conversations. Catch any whispering words was his goal. He needed the information he came for and then get the hell out of dodge. After the wedding, of course.
Unless he wanted to join the witness protection, his cover needed to stay intact even after any arrests were made. Martin Chilani could never know the leak came from him, or Ryan. He knew his friend appeared to hate him at the moment, but he’d still protect Ryan with his life. If Martin Chilani got so much as a whiff that Ryan was involved, he would be a dead man. Married to his daughter or not. Dead man. Dax hoped Ryan understood that.
Dax turned the corner and collided with a warm, soft body. He grabbed a hold of Sarafina once again. This time, not letting go as quickly as the first time.