Tio’s glare softened marginally, offering a glimpse of the friend Mitch had once known. “You blame ‘em? You can’t drop people like you do and expect ‘em to let you back in. You gotta stick it out, good or bad. Ain’t easy, but that’s what I’ve done with my kids.”
He didn’t need the reminder that he was a failure as a father. Or that Tio had succeeded where he’d failed.
But he couldn’t argue with the logic, either.
As much as he hated to admit it, Tio was right.
“I am who I am. Can’t change it now.” Mitch gestured to the papers spread across the table in front of him, the open laptop displaying the shipping manifest for their incoming cargo. “This is all I got. And now you don’t even trust me with that.”
“You given me a reason to trust you?” Tio cut a sharp glance at him. “With all the sneaking around and lying?”
“I was only trying to get to know my daughter while keeping her out of all this.” And he’d failed at both tasks. Kevyn wanted nothing to do with him, she’d made that abundantly clear. Now he’d focused Tio’s attention on her.
“Oh yeah? And how did you think that would work out? She’s a federal agent, man! She’s trained to sniff out liars and track down guys like us. You really thought you could keep this from her?”
Fire rose in his chest, the heat flaring through his head. Before he knew it, he was standing, his gaze narrowing on Tio. “I look legit on paper. We both do. We worked hard to set up those identities.”
“And when she asks why you’re not using your own name? What then?” Tio’s lips quirked in an arrogant smirk.
“I tell her I changed it legally after unknowingly keeping the books for a shady company. It’s true enough.” Of course, he’d actually taken over that company when the cops had swooped in and picked the original owners up, but that part of the story didn’t need to see the light of day.
“You don’t think she’d look into that story?”
“On paper, it’ll look like the truth.” At least, he was pretty sure it would. He’d given every appearance of fully cooperating with the investigation, had turned over all the records he had, had claimed complete ignorance, and had managed to get away with it. That he’d made copies of the contact information for all the foreign contacts and that he’d managed to continue the work had never come to light.
Tio studied him for several seconds past uncomfortable.
Mitch held the stare. It all came down to this. He had to convince Tio that he meant it, every word.
If he failed, he didn’t only fail himself. He failed Kevyn.
Pulling back with a growl, Tio laced his fingers behind his neck and tilted his face to the ceiling.
This was good. Tio was at least thinking about what he’d said. It was a far better option than the open dismissal Mitch had expected.
The air conditioner rattled the vent over his head. Zane’s goon cracked his knuckles. The fan on the laptop whirred.
Finally, Tio dropped his head. “I hate this wall between us, man. Just level with me. Why were you snoopin’ through my stuff?”
If he could go back and undo anything, that would be it. He wished he’d never let his curiosity and suspicion get the better of him. He wished he’d never learned anything about whatever it was Tio was up to. “I knew you were keeping something from me. You talk about me lying, but you started it.”
The jab hit. Tio’s eyes briefly widened before he clenched his jaw. “It doesn’t concern you.”
“We’re partners. It does concern me. Whatever it is.” Hopefully that last part would drive home how little he knew. “But fine. Keep your secret. Let me get back to handling my part of our business. And for crying out loud, let me live my life.”
Tio crossed his arms over his chest. “You wanna know what I’m into? I’ll tell you. Frankly, I could use your help. All those numbers are driving me crazy. But once you’re in, there’s no goin’ back. You’ll get your hands dirty so you’re in just as deep as me. You hear me?”
This was what he’d been waiting for!
Mitch swallowed, the lack of saliva making his throat feel gravel-lined. After all the snooping, after pushing Tio to let him in, the option stood in front of him.
Was it a door he really wanted to walk through?
“Whatsa matter, man?” Tio’s jaw twitched. “Thought you wanted in?”
Mitch gestured to the room around him. “After all you’ve put me through the last few days? Now I’m not so sure.”
A hint of respect lit Tio’s eyes.
Phew! He’d given the right answer.
“Think on it, man. This stuff,” Tio pointed to Mitch’s laptop. “Small potatoes. I’m in the big leagues now.”
Big leagues.
With the amount they were pulling down now, he could only imagine how much Tio’s side racket was bringing in.
Bigger haul also meant bigger risk. Both from Tio and the law.
Frankly, he wasn’t sure which concerned him more.
Twelve
“Back again? I’m trying to rest up so I can get back to work soon.” Noelle Orson rolled her eyes, the action making her look like a spoiled teenager rather than a grown woman. “I already told you everything I know.”
Kevyn took the sofa opposite Orson and Sid sat on the cushion beside her.
Now to play this right. If she messed up, Orson would no doubt request a lawyer and the conversation would be over.
Kevyn offered a sympathetic smile. “I know this has all been very traumatic and
