Deeper (The Deeper Chronicles #1) (41 page)

“I won’t beg you to stay, Avi. But that doesn’t mean I want you to leave either.”

The phone continued to rattle on top of his desk, further lending to the confusion whipping around her.

“My friend is in the hospital. Stacey could’ve lost her baby and her life. I don’t take threats kindly, not to the people I care about. I need to leave, Avi.”

Leave? To do what?
Witness intimidation, murder, money laundering, gun ring leader...These were just some of the things she wished she could un-see.

Avi swallowed, blinking rapidly. Death, blood, gore...those were things the report claimed he was synonymous with. She saw prison, life sentences, and heart break.

He walked by her. With a slight turn in her direction, he said, “I never expected any of this.” His breath caressed the side of her face. “But here you are...here we are.
Y
ou are so soft. You’re what I need in my life, Avianna Linton. I need your softness.
Will you be here when I get back?”

H
ours later when mothers had long since tucked their children into the safety of warm beds, Noah watched the East Meets West sign blink a few times before fading out. This time of night was considered early for men like him, whose business could only take place under the shroud of darkness.

The patrons were long gone, and now, only the staff at Ido’s hookah lounge needed to vacate the premises. Two security personnel guarded the front door, which was the reason Noah kept eyeing the back door, waiting for someone to exit there.

“How many do we have inside?”

Gavin said a number into Noah’s earpiece.

“I still don’t like this,” Cass said from beside him.

“We have the element of surprise on our side,” Noah reassured him.

Noah wasn’t sure what Gavin had done to prepare, but he had promised that everything was handled, and that was all Noah needed to hear. If he waited any longer, Ido would think him soft. Retaliation had to be swift, and it had to be now.

“We still don’t know the meaning of the contents inside Harry’s safe.” Cass spoke from behind his hand like he was afraid someone watched them. But the streets were bare on this Saturday night.

So far, they still weren’t able to connect
all
the pieces, but there were: a used glassine envelope stamped with a calla lily on the front, an article featuring Ido with a red circle around the man’s face, dark photos of Ido meeting mysterious men—many taken at night, prompting Noah to wonder if Harry had been safe during his surveillances, and a 2011, three-line obituary about the death of a thirteen-year old girl.

“Don’t need to understand shit. Harry mentioned his name to me.” That was the only reason Ido was allowed to enter Noah’s office. “Told me about how his H was laced with some bad shit. Then, Ido shows up at my office and mentions Harry’s death, and now, the shit at the club yesterday.” Cool, white puffs of breath accompanied Noah’s harsh words.

He’d be a fool if he didn’t see the connections staring him in his eyes.

An opportunity presented itself when the back door flung open.

Noah rushed toward the man, who gasped as soon as Noah’s form slammed him into the brick wall. Trapped by Noah’s unmoving forearm under his throat, the shorter man’s cheek reddened, and then a tear leaked from his eye when Noah pushed into his windpipe. His hands pulled against Noah until he felt the pressure of his Sig Pro at his temple. Noah leaned his head to the side at the man’s futile moves then knocked his head into the wall. Covering his mouth, Noah’s hand silenced the man’s terror, which was still evident in his wide, questioning eyes.

“How many people are inside?” Noah’s gun pressed hard into the man’s skin.

The man shook his head, tears wetting Noah’s hand.

“Tell me.”

The other man silently pleaded, but Noah didn’t know anything about mercy, not tonight, not ever. Noah’s fingers loosened up from the man’s lips.

“Ju-just me and t-two others.”

“Is one of those persons Ido?”

A quick nod was Noah’s answer.

Pressing the muzzle under the man’s chin, Noah whispered, “You wouldn’t lie to me, now would you?”

“No-no. I swear.” A smile flickered on the man’s face when Noah took some of the pressure from his meaty flesh. He looked like he worked in the kitchen, judging by the stains on his apron.

Noah lowered his gun, and he immediately felt the man’s relief when he sagged then sighed. Noah’s hand relaxed, petting the man’s cheek.

“On my kid—”

A single shot in the man’s side ended whatever was about to be shared.

“Didn’t trust Gavin’s intel?” Cass asked.

Noah let the slumped figure hit the pavement. It never hurt to get more confirmation besides the information Gavin got.

P-taft.

Noah turned at the sound.

“Had to make sure he was dead.”

“Wait here. Keep the car ready,” Noah instructed.

He was going to be in and out. That was the plan.

“I still don’t—”

The door slammed shut on Cass’s warning.

He moved down the long corridor with caution. Light spilled from an open space ahead. Gun in hand, Noah took his time using the wall behind his back as a guide. Peeping around the doorpost, he cleared the kitchen. Maybe the man hadn’t lied.
Oh, well, no witnesses...ever.

“You want me to kill the lights now?” Gavin’s question blared through the device hidden inside Noah’s ear.

“Do they have eyes?” Noah asked low. He stopped when he heard footsteps coming toward him. “Gavin?” he asked into his earpiece.

“I told you I took care of it. They can’t hear or see, but they’ll realize something is up soon.”

Noah could hear Gavin’s tapping away on keys, maybe a laptop, but a slow-moving shadow ahead demanded Noah’s attention. The lights went out.

“I’m going to check the breaker.” A man’s speech heavily tinged with a Middle Eastern accent rang out.

On quick feet, Noah entered the large kitchen just as the unsuspecting man limped by him. Noah crept from his place and fired a shot. Instead of going down, the man reared back, knocking into Noah’s chest and pushing him a couple of feet. Despite his limp, the man was fast, turning on Noah and looked ready to charge. Weapon in hand, Noah fired twice.

The overhead lights flickered on, showing the nameless man laid face down at Noah’s feet. Noah looked up with a shake of his head. Then the hallway was swathed in darkness again.

“What was that? I thought you had control of the electricity?” Noah asked, walking away from death and toward the man he was here to send right to hell.

“You need to move. Ido may be getting suspicious.”

Noah’s steps were sure and exacting. “Gavin, when you see my shadow at that motherfucker’s door, turn them on.” His long strides had him standing in front of Ido’s opened door within moments.

Seconds later, the office was bathed in brightness. From the side of the door, but still out of view, Noah watched as Ido’s head flipped up to the ceiling then the man stood. Noah chuckled in his head when Ido looked out the window, his back to Noah.

I should kill him now.
But Noah wanted to see Ido first. “Looking for me?” Noah filled the doorway. Rampage swam in Noah’s eyes and destruction tightened his hold around the butt of his weapon.

Ido spun, fists clenched, nostrils flaring.

“You paid me a visit once. I figured I’d do the same to you.” Noah kept his tone even and low.

“Is this your plan?” Ido sneered.

Noah’s gun was steady. “Pretty much.”

Ido took a step forward.

“How about you stay put.”

“You Americans,” Ido spat, disgust evident. “You think you can get away with anything, don’t you?”

Gripping his Sig Pro, Noah replied, “I don’t think. I know.”

“It’s a pity Ro’s pretty wife took the bullet meant for you.” Ido laughed before, “
Merde
!”

Ido and Noah both looked at the hole in the wall near Ido’s head.

“You have to know I missed on purpose, right?” Noah asked.

With quickness, Ido’s compact Beretta was whipped from his jacket’s pocket.

Noah paused.

Both had guns pointed at the other—Ido’s at Noah’s chest and Noah’s at Ido’s head.

“Out of the two of us, who do you think will survive?” Ido asked. “You think I’m the only one coming for you? You come here, ready to ambush me. You have no honor. I came to you as a man, no weapon drawn to your head like you have now, and made my intentions clear.”

Ido’s beady pupils zoomed in on Noah.

“Do you want a thank you? A gold star?” The man could go fuck himself, coming at Noah like he had, being disrespectful inside Noah’s office then mentioning Avi. Noah straightened to his full height.

“I could’ve had Manning serving time on trumped up charges, but instead, I sanctioned a quick, dignified death.” Ido’s finger grazed the metal trigger.

You just signed your death certificate, asshole.
“You won’t make it out of here alive.”

“And they won’t be able to find your—”

Multiple shots pierced the tense air.

“Argh.”

“Ugh.”

“There’s still no word about what exactly happened inside East Meets West. The Queens-based hookah lounge erupted in flames in the early hours of last Saturday. A place once visited by celebrities and some of New York’s wealthiest residents is now no more.”

The elevator dinged open, and the volume on the computer screen lowered. A woman dressed in a black wool coat approached the low desk. She looked around, unsure where to go.

“I-I need to see Mr. Adams. Is he here?” She walked briskly to the receptionist.

“I’m sorry, miss, but Mr. Adams is unavailable.”

“Tell him it’s me.” She leaned over, imploring the woman to give her a break. “I’m sure if you’d just—”

“And you are?”

“Avianna Linton.”

“Do you have an appointment with Mr. Adams?”

“No,” she said.

“I’m truly sorry, Ms. Linton.”

Avi’s lips trembled at the regret swimming in the receptionist’s eyes.

“Mr. Adams is very busy.” Bailey’s fingers hit a few computer keys. “But I can set you up with any of Accipiere’s realtors. Trust me. They are all very knowledgeable. Are you looking to rent or purchase one of our properties?”