Three and a Half Weeks(145)
Another shrug. “Your safety is only as good as the weakest link in the chain. If you want to put your life and the lives of your loved ones into the hands and expertise of every man and woman in ICE security and border patrol, then there’s your answer. Me, I’d opt for a more permanent solution but then I’ve been forced into this kind of thing before. I’d certainly understand it if you’re squeamish about such a thing.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“Honestly, Ian? I’m not at liberty to divulge certain information about myself and I mean that sincerely—it’s not an excuse. But I’ll tell you this much: Five years ago I had a snowboarding accident, a bad one. I sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. It was so serious that my doctors were talking up my parents for organ harvest. Obviously, I ultimately recovered. Instead of having lost abilities, I gained additional ones. With those abilities came certain dangers.” He looks Ian right in the eye, his expression sober, and says, “I’ve been forced to defend my life since then, on more than one occasion. Sometimes it requires a fight to the death. I’m prepared to do it if necessary.”
The two men stand outside the building. Ian pulls out his phone and punches some buttons. The phone picks up on the third ring. “Lucien? This is your old friend, Ian Blackmon.” Without waiting for a response, Ian keeps going. “Listen, I’m downstairs and I’d like for us to have a discussion. Will you come down?”
“Fuck off.”
“Before you disconnect, please consider that if you don’t come down, I’m coming up. My way, we can go have a cup of coffee and keep our chat… if not pleasant, at least civil.”
Daniel holds up his hand and Ian asks Lucien to wait, muting the phone. Ian raises a brow in query.
“I’m thinking perhaps we should go in and engage the Lithuanians. Now.”
“They appear to be extremely unsavory characters, Daniel. I’m quite sure they fight dirty. They can have us knifed and gutted before we have a chance to raise our fists.”
Daniel shrugs, smiling. “I fight dirtier.”
Ian takes a moment to stare into the man’s green eyes. They gleam with evil anticipation. “You think we could engage them, as you put it, and give our wonderful men and women of ICE sufficient reason to deport our friends?”
“I was thinking self-defense.” Daniel whispers the words so softly but they send an icy chill streaking up Ian’s spine as he comprehends Daniel’s meaning.
He wants to kill them. In a split second he makes a decision and unmutes the phone. “Lucien? We’re coming up.”
Chapter 42
As soon as Ian’s plane lands, he’ll get my text message. I’m not counting on it, though. I’ll call him the minute I calculate he’ll touch down on terra firma, allowing for fifteen minutes of delays. I won’t stop until I reach him.
Ever since I spoke with Eliza, I’ve been nauseous and stressed. What if Ian is walking into a well-set trap? I’m terrified for him.
Less than ten minutes after I calculate his plane should have touched down, my phone chimes with a text and I almost fall flat on my face in my clumsy haste to grab the damn thing. It’s from Ian so I read it hurriedly: A. Understood but don’t worry. Might not even be me they’re referring to. I’ll explain more when I see you. Don’t worry: that’s an order. Love you. C.
Yeah, right, I’m not going to worry: is he insane? I should have gone to New York with him. I could still head there but I promised Ian I would stay put so I’ll honor that promise. However, I can put my research skills to good use and get some information on Lucien’s henchmen. I remember Lucien calling them the Sobel brothers but I don’t know their first names so I’ll have to phone Eliza once more. I hate to bother her but I need the names. She answers on the first ring.
“Yes, Ella?”
“I’m sorry to bother you again, Eliza, but I forgot to ask you for the names of the Lithuanian brothers. Can you help me out?”
“Sure. They’re Leo—I think it’s short for Leopold—and Lukas Sobel. That’s Lukas with a K by the way. Sobel is S-O-B-E-L. Is that all you need?”
“Right now, yes. I need to get more information on these men. I’m afraid for my fiancé’s safety.”
“I understand. Well, if there’s anything else you need, give a holler. I’m in the middle of something right now so I have to go.”
“Oh, sure. Thanks again, Eliza. Hopefully someday we can meet and have a coffee or something.”
“Sounds good.”