Smash_ A Stepbrother MMA Romance(152)

, I thought.

“Yes, thirty thousand.”

“Interesting.” He seemed to relax. He lowered the gun slightly. “And it was all in cash, in that diner?”

“They had it in a safe in the back room.”

He didn’t respond and began to stroke his chin thoughtfully. I stood completely still, like a deer in headlights, terrified that I would spook him if I moved.

I had completely miscalculated. The Canadians had wanted the American group to launder the money in America. Of course they did. The money was better served in America where they could expand and invest.

They didn’t want it back. In his eyes, I had robbed him as much as I had robbed the southerners.

“You are a very, very lucky boy,” he said finally, putting the gun away.

I let out a breath. “Why?”

“Because there was only supposed to be ten thousand in that diner.”

I blinked. There had been a lot more than ten. “What did you think this extra five was?”

He shrugged. “If they had a little extra cash, who’s to complain? But an extra twenty thousand, well, that’s a lot of money.”

I nodded. “It’s yours. All of it.”

“And what do you want in return for this money?”

“Two things.”

He laughed. “You’ll be lucky if I don’t murder you here and take this money.”

“You’ll never get the rest.”

“Which is why you aren’t dead yet. Go ahead, tell me your two things.”

“First, I want my debt erased.”

“Okay. And?”

“I want you to completely destroy Jacques and his men.”

Rigley stood silent for a moment, staring at me with his insane and intense gaze before breaking out into laughter. He threw his head back and roared, practically shaking with it. Finally, he calmed down after what felt like an incredibly unnerving minute.

“You have balls, Mister Smuggler.”

“I’m only trying to do what’s best.”

“What’s best. Yes, that’s a good way of putting it.”

He walked over to me and threw an arm around my shoulders. “I will think about this. If it is as you say it is, then your debt will be erased and the fucking cockroaches down south will die.”

I almost laughed out loud. I almost broke down in excitement.

“Does that mean we have a deal?”

His arm tightened around my shoulders. “Not yet. I am going to look into this story of yours first.”

“It’s true. They had that much money in their safe.”

“Yes, so you say. If they did, they’ve been stealing from us. Or, worse, they’ve been hiding extra profits. Maybe to fund this war you speak of.”

“That’s what I would do if I were them.”

He released me and then bent over and picked up the duffle. “Pray that is the case.”

“How will I know? If we have a deal, I mean.”

“You have a contact down south?”

“Thom.”

“Yes, Thom. I know the name. I will leave him a message if we have a deal.”

“The rest of the money will be yours.”

“The rest of that money already is mine. The only difference is, if we have a deal, then you will survive all of this.”

I nodded. “Fair enough.”

He unzipped the duffle and dropped it onto the hood of his car. He looked through it, briefly counting a stack. Once he was done, he looked up. “If we don’t have a deal, then you are dead and the money is still mine.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

“Good. We will talk soon, Mister Smuggler.” He paused then grinned. “Or should I say, Mister Thief?”

I didn’t respond as he turned away, laughing to himself again. He climbed into his car and pulled away from the campsite, driving faster than usual.

I watched him go. Once he was out of sight, I released a breath and collapsed back onto the picnic table, steadying myself.

That was close. It was way closer than I thought it would be. But everything I told him was the truth. I was confident Jay and his people were stealing, preparing for a war, and that Rigley would figure it out.

It had to happen. Otherwise, like he had said, I was a dead man.

But I had a reason to live. I had a person I wanted desperately to see again.

I quickly put my shoes and socks on, only marginally dry, and slung my pack over my shoulders. It felt light since I wasn’t smuggling any drugs back over the border.

For the first time in a long time, I crossed back into America without a pack full of illegal substances.

I hiked double-time, trying to get back home as soon as possible. I had someone I needed to see.





Chapter Twenty-Five: Rebecca


I was exhausted by the time I got back to the house.