Outside The Ropes: OtherSide Of Fear Part 43

"G.o.d," she swiped her hair over one shoulder. "I dodged a bullet tonight. So f.u.c.king glad Im not in one of those trucks."

I raised an eyebrow at her, even as I tried not to say anything.

"It helps to have friends looking out for you," she continued.

"Alessandra?" I questioned since Rusnak called her his wifes pet. But was that really the reason she received so much favor from everyone around her?

"Shes one of them." She smiled, and it grew when she looked towards me. "Dont worry, Im not even talking about your husband." She nodded beyond me, and I turned to see Rusnak walking towards us. "Hes the one that you want on your side, and Ive got that." She went to meet him. Her hands moving, gesturing to the truck as she spoke to him.

He walked to where Gage was, said a few words, and then the truck pulled away. It was done.

Gage came to my side and nodded in the direction we were parked. "Lets go."

"Wait," Rusnak interrupted. "Youre the contact for the trucks, you have a long night ahead of you. Youll come with us, both of you." He turned to Cherry. "Call Alessandra, tell her were leaving now."

Gage shook his head. "Were going home, Ill call you if anythings off, but otherwise, Ill talk to you when the first drop reaches Chicago."

"Fine," he bit out the answer. Then he directed his attention to me and his voice and features softened. "Well talk more later then."

"Like h.e.l.l you will." Gage stepped in front of me. "If you have anything to say, you talk to me, not her."

Rusnaks breathy laugh was cold. "Its too late to pull her out now, youre the one that brought her in. So Ill talk to her if I choose too. I may have let you get away with this before but dont push it. You-"

"Youre the one f.u.c.king pus.h.i.+ng things, and you know it," Gage gritted out, fists curled.

I pulled on his arm, wanting to take him away from this confrontation that couldnt end well, but he wouldnt budge. And Rusnak was still smiling at him, enjoying the fight, enjoying getting him worked up.

"Because I can. I. Make. The. Rules. Im the reason you have anything. The reason youve gotten this far." He stepped back, dropping the crazed look in his eyes, an even scarier calm taking over as he swiped his hand out. "Now go home. We both stand to make a lot of money, but we still have to work together. Dont ruin that."

Gage spun, using his body to push me with him as he left. I had to grab his arm for balance until my feet caught up with his long steps. My heart was pounding and it had nothing to do with our fast pace.

"What were you doing? Why p.i.s.s him off like that now?" I waited till we were in the SUV and driving away before I questioned him.

"Because I can say no to him, and you seem to have a problem doing that."

His anger hit me, knocking me off balance. It took a moment to recover. "I didnt-"

"f.u.c.k," he stretched the word, yelling it as his hand hit the steering wheel. "Im sorry," he spoke much lower now, voice strained, "I didnt mean that. I- f.u.c.k- its not your fault." His hand gripped my knee. "Im sorry."

I slid my hand over his, wanting to calm him, but I was feeling just as unhinged.

"What was he doing with you? What were you two talking about?" He questioned.

"He said, he wanted to talk, that hed answer my questions. I told him no."

He was staring out the front window, the lines in his jaw moving, deepening as he grinded his teeth.

"I told him no," I repeated, wanting to make sure he heard.

"I cant stand the way he looks at you. The way he speaks to you like hes familiar with you."

"Its almost done," I tried to remind him.

He shook his head, hand tightening on my leg. "f.u.c.k that. Its done already. Theres no reason we need to see him anymore. I can handle the rest over the phone, and once Dexters delivery is done and hes away, Ill pick up the money and were gone."

I closed my eyes. Two days. If they drove straight through, we could leave in two days.

Gage barely slept over the next twenty-four hours, never going long before his phone would ring again. But once the two s.h.i.+pments were dropped off and everything went through, things calmed and we were able to sleep a couple of hours without interruption.

But nerves and antic.i.p.ation kept me up, restless. I watched Gages even breathing, his chest rising and falling as he slept on his back, one bare leg kicked over the edge of the covers. We were only waiting on Dexter.

Gages phone buzzed on the nightstand. Before I could make out a number on the screen, he was up and grabbing it.

"Dexter?" He spoke into the phone, turning to me as he sat up. He swept a hand over my hair and pecked my head, whispering, "Sleep," before leaving the bed and focusing back on the phone. "Where are you now?"

He scooped up his sweatpants and pausing as he stood. "That far? Youre making good time but stick to the speed." He gave Dexter the same instructions he gave every time they talked as he walked out of the room naked.

I lay back in the bed and waited for him to return, barely breathing, like every phone call. Waiting for something to tear away the hope that was building in me, but even my nerves werent strong enough to knock it down. We were so close.

"Does it hurt?" Gage asked as he walked back in the room.

I looked up to him, confused at his question. "What?"

"Your arm." He crawled over me on the bed, pulling my hand away from the inside crook of my arm and placing a kiss there. "You keep rubbing it."

"No." I inspected my arm without pulling it from him. The thin skin there was black and blue from when we collected more blood this afternoon. "I just cant stop thinking about it." I cupped his head in my palms, lifting it to look at me. "About how its going to be when were away from this. What will we do? Its going to be different."

"I know." He s.h.i.+fted himself over me, forcing me back on the pillow and trapping me in his arms. "But as long as were together, thats all I want. Everything will be new, but well have the rest of our lives to build together." He sprinkled kisses over me, but he couldnt hide the look in his eyes and it gutted me. Every time he got off the phone with his brother, that tortured look returned, clouding his light eyes. I was making him give up his family.

"Is everything on track with Dexter?" I pushed on his chest, keeping him back before he could drop his weight on me completely.

He nodded, picking up a lock of my hair, focusing on that instead of me. "He should be at the meeting spot in about three hours. I already texted Anatoli to let his men know. Theyll do the actual exchange, and Dexter will be on the next plane to Baltimore, his debt paid." He rolled off of me onto his back, looking at the ceiling. "And if he does what he promised, he should be okay. If he can stay focused on Felix and Leona, h.e.l.l be okay." He turned to me, and I felt all the pain trapped in his gaze. "I just hope it doesnt take him as long to learn as it did me. That he can keep his family."

I wanted to say something but physically couldnt, not with the emotion thickening my throat and choking me. Not with my thoughts crushed under the tears glossing his eyes.

So I did all I knew to do to comfort him. I slid my hands around his neck and pressed my lips to his, wrapping my body around him. Our lips parted and we breathed into each other, promises and apologies in our movements and touches. But I knew it wasnt something I could take away, this sadness, this heartache. We both knew what loss was and what it meant to let go. But at least we had each other to hold on to through it this time.

"What the f.u.c.k," Gage mumbled while reading his screen.

I brought him a cup of coffee and sat next to him on the couch. "Whats wrong?"

"Anatolis men arent there yet." He stood up and pressed on his screen. "Im going to find out what the h.e.l.l is going on." He moved like a predator, stalking down the hall with the phone to his ear.

"Wheres your guy?" His voice traveled to me. "And youre only just now telling me?"

I followed him into his office, wanting to know what was going on.

"Well it didnt work out. Thats why the f.u.c.k you stick to a plan." He slid his wallet into his pants and opened a drawer, pausing as he listened. "Im ready to just say f.u.c.k it and leave the truck where its at. Let them pick it up, and you can figure out how to get paid. I did my part."

"I thought you didnt have anyone there?" He stood up and slammed the drawer. "What are they supposed to do?" He met my eyes, breathing in. "Ill be there."

When he dropped the phone on the desk I asked, "Where will you be? Whats going on?"

He looked at the phone as it vibrated, screen lit up. "Dexter and Sam are going to have to do the transfer, and I have to coordinate with Anatoli for that to work." He swiped his hand over his face. "f.u.c.k. If there was any other way...but we have to meet him. Or at least I do."

"Im going with you."

"Thats what I thought youd say."

43: Prove Yourself.

WE SAT IN THE OPEN WAREHOUSE, A draft blowing in from somewhere, chilling me. It gave me an excuse for shaking, uncontrollable tremors that vibrated my muscles in random spurts. I only hoped that my arms around my waist, holding me in place, were enough to cover them.

It all seemed to be going okay, but dread was building, consuming my thoughts with each moment that pa.s.sed. Only minutes before, Rusnak had stepped out of the room on his phone and left Gage and I alone. Although, not really alone. A few men spotted the open, empty, s.p.a.ce. Metal pipes and ducts showed on the ceiling and walls. There were construction piles and a half designed bar spread out over the room. Rusnak had explained that this was going to be his new club, one of many. The men at the bar didnt even pretend to do anything besides watching Gage and I.

"This is Dex." Gage gripped my thigh under the table as he pulled out his vibrating phone. "You two still there? With them?" He paused, listening to Dexter, and then his eyes swept to the door.

Rusnak entered but stopped to say something to another man there.

There were other rooms in this sprawling warehouse, but I hadnt seen them. Others had been in and out though, including Alessandra and Cherry.

"Good. Then have Sam drop off the truck and you can still make your flight," Gage continued his phone conversation.

The man left at Rusnaks signal and then he was walked towards us.

"All right," Gage spoke soft into the phone. "You too." He rose to his feet as he hung up and I followed.

"Everything was exchanged." Rusnak stopped on the opposite side of the table. "Its all been confirmed. See, it went smooth. There was nothing to worry about. I told you, your brother would be a good addition."

Gages small grunt could have been mistaken for a laugh. "Its done. Ill pick up my share of the money when your man gets back tomorrow."

I let out the breath Id been holding. My relief for Dexter flooded my insides with heat, but all my senses were still revved, especially when Rusnak put out his hand to stop us.

"Wait." His bright smile didnt lesson my anxiety at all. "Sit. Stay. We still have more to discuss. Things to work out."

Gage didnt sit, but he didnt continue walking away either.

Rusnaks smile dropped, but he pressed forward. "We made more money in these past two days than Viktor made all year. Its to both our benefit to work together. But its important to trust each other, and Ive had my doubts."

Gage stared at him for a moment, nothing crossing his face, no ripple, no lines, completely still and calm. "I do too. Changing the plans on me every chance you had doesnt help improve that trust."

"I had my reasons. Sit." He gestured to the chair Gage had been sitting on as he relaxed in his chair, smiling up at him. "Weve always had someone between us, a buffer. First, your father. Then, Nick and Silas. And more recently, Viktor. But theyre gone now." His voice hardened, "A conversation is long overdue."

I could only half focus on Rusnak. My attention pulled as the man from earlier returned, saying something in a thick accent to the other men in the room. The three others laughed, a gritty sandpaper like sound, as they walked towards our table.

Rusnak didnt acknowledge them, his eyes stayed locked on Gage.

"Another time," I answered for Gage, not wanting to give him the chance to say okay. A warning rung in my head, blaring out everything as I watched the mens slow approach.

"Regan, this isnt something that can wait." Rusnak only glanced at me before turning back to Gage. "Im already thinking of our next project. We need to clear this up. Now."

"No. We have to go." I focused on Gage, not sure I could control the panic rising in me. My flight response was taking over. I wanted to push him towards the door.

"Regan," His voice was low as his hand gripped my arm, and the second I heard his tone, I knew. It was an apology. My lungs collapsed, all air vacuumed out. We werent leaving. He tried to meet my eyes, but I focused back on the group that now surrounded us.

Two on either side of Rusnak. All on the other side of the folding table but spread out enough that whichever way we tried to go, they would be there. And a wall blocked us at our back.

So I sat down with a deep breath. If I couldnt run, Id face this head on. And maybe I was overreacting. I had been scared about every step this week, and theyd all turned out okay. Maybe this would be the same. It was a desperate hope I clung to. We just had to agree to whatever he wanted and then leave.

Gage sat next to me, pulling his folding chair right up to my side so we were touching.

Rusnaks satisfied smile reached his hazel eyes, and he turned to the man at his side. "Get us a bottle and gla.s.ses." He gestured to the man at his other side, the one whod only just entered the room. "What did they find out?"

That man stepped forward, slipping a folded paper into Rusnaks hands. Rusnak unfolded the small sc.r.a.p and glanced to him. He spoke low into his ear, too low for us to hear, but Rusnak nodded with hooded eyes.

"Trace it and let me know." Rusnak handed back the paper. He turned to face us, dismissing the man without another word. "Some FBI turned up dead at the club," he stated, matter of fact.

"I heard," Gage used the same straight tone with an edge that Rusnak had used.

I tensed but controlled the urge to grip the gun holstered inside my jacket.

Rusnaks head c.o.c.ked slightly and eyes narrowed, considering Gage. "You heard. From whom?"