“You’ve got to give me more than that.” Whatdid he know? He was acting like he knew Viktor and his family werebratva.
He shook his head. “Seriously, I can’t tellyou anything. I can only warn you.” He moved closer to me. “I’vebeen around him and Jericho almost my whole life. Shoot. Since Iwas five. I’ve seen stuff. Heard stuff. Believe me, they are badnews, and if I could get away from them without any consequences, Iwould.”
Our food arrived. He took a deep breathin.
I leaned back in my chair. “You are soconfusing. I’m still not sure, but I’ll consider what you’ve toldme.”
“That’s all I can ask for. Thank you.” Hesat back, letting go of my hands.
“I suppose if you’re right, I should bethanking you. I’m lucky to have you as a friend. Anyway, I’mstarving.” I picked up a fork to dig into my eggs. “I sure like thenon-serious you better.”
“Really?” He rubbed his hand over his face.“Putting my non-serious self forward.”
It was fun hanging out with a normal boy,but I was concerned that I was leading him on. We laughed andtalked for the better part of an hour, and then I announced that Ihad to get back.
“Unfortunately, I’ve got to get to work,too. My employer is such a beast.”
“Oh,” I said, excited to start thisconversation as we stood to leave. “I didn’t know you worked. Wheredo you work?”
“Be prepared to be underwhelmed—thedocks.”
I stood up straight, my shoulders tighteningand a dizziness seeping into my head. “Really? The docks?” Was thisthe connection?
“My parents own a shipping company. I helpwith the books and scheduling. Next week is going to be busy. Wehave three ships sailing.”
We made it to the sidewalk, and an ache roseup in my chest. My intuition was telling me something.
“Wow! People around here don’t play around,do they? No one’s a captain of a ship at Bell—they gotta own theship and the captain.”
He chuckled. “It’s not as glamorous as youmight think. The piers stink, and the people who we employ aren’talways the best—if you know what I mean.”
“Are you telling me you aren’t rich?” Ilaughed.
He put up his hands. “I didn’t say that.” Hegave me a breathy laugh. “I’m just saying it’s not the bestbusiness to be in. That’s all.”
I nodded. “You mean you don’t want me tocome visit you at work?”
He stopped for a second. “You’d want to comesee me?”
I hated to lead him on, but if it was hisshipping company that was moving the bratva’s stolen cars, it wouldbe practical to get closer to him. “I’ve never been to a real,working pier. I’ve been to the ones that they’ve been turning intoparks, but that’s about it.”
“Maybe we can work something out.”
“Let’s see, you live in Brooklyn. Do youoperate out of Red Hook?”
“That’s the one.”
Tingles spread through my body. Red Hook itwas. “No way. Isn’t that one of the most dangerous areas in NewYork?”
He nodded, and we started walking again.
“I’m not sure I want to go there.”
He didn’t reply.
“But I guess if I had you to protect me, I’dbe okay.” I squeezed his solid upper arm.
He chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
We walked in companionable silence until wereached the brownstone. My mind was like a rocket, speeding throughthe implications of the possible and most probable connectionbetween the bratva and Carson and his family.
I stepped onto the first stair and said,“Thanks for breakfast and the company. I had a great time.”
“Thanks for coming. It was fun.” He lookedat his feet and then back up at me. “I hope I can trust you not totell Viktor or anyone about our little conversations.”
“Of course,” I assured him. “If Viktor’s thebad guy, we need to keep him in the dark because bad guys do, well,you know, bad things to people who betray them.”
He didn’t smile. He seemed to go a littlepale, though, so I said, “Don’t worry, Carson. I would never dothat. Ever. You saved me from being a wallflower, remember?” I gavehim a sheepish look.
“Thanks…See you on Monday.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.” I watched himget into a BMW across the street. I’d so hoped he had nothing to dowith this whole mess, and now it was turning out that he might besmack dab in the middle of it.
Chapter 22
No one was at the brownstone, so I changedto meet with Viktor. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone what I’dlearned.
Viktor met me outside the café. He leaned inand kissed me, not a quick peck, but a full on, minute-long kiss.My face flushed with a fury.
“You look so cute when you’re embarrassed.”He stroked my hair and looked around, a look of gloating on hisface. He wanted everyone to see him kissing me, owning me.
I looked at my feet then pushed my face intohis chest and kept my head down so that he couldn’t kiss me again.He chuckled and led me inside. We took a table. “So, do I haveplans for dinner Sunday?” I gave him a bright smile.
“You do.”
I grinned and threw my hands in the air.“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He leaned in to kiss me, and Ishifted so that he kissed my cheek.
“Don’t do that again,” he said. His eyesdarted around the café, making sure no one had seen me disshim.
“What?”
“Dodge my kiss. You are mine, and when Iwant a kiss, I can have a kiss.”
“Remember what I said about manners?”
He huffed.
“I told you PDA was hard for me. Give me achance to ease into it.”
He flared his nostrils and pushed back inhis chair.
I pocket texted Jeremy. It’s on. Icouldn’t help but bemoan the fact that he hadn’t ever responded tomy earlier text. I decided to text the other agents too. A hollowfeeling covered my chest. I’d never had to wonder if Jeremy wouldprotect me and be there for me before. Why was I worried about thatnow?
Viktor left as soon as we’d eaten and I hadall the information about the next night’s dinner.
I found Jeremy, Halluis, and Ace around thekitchen table when I got back. Both Halluis and Ace were eatingapples and peanut butter. Jeremy
