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“I know what it’s like to feel responsible for someone else’s safety, to be willing to do anything to protect them. But Mason … this isn’t the way. We have to stay true to who we are, to what we believe in. Otherwise, what’s the point of any of this?”
For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes, a crack in the hard, unyielding facade he had put up. But then it was gone, replaced by a cold, emotionless mask that made her heart ache.
“Your concerns are noted,” he said, his voice flat and distant.
She forced herself to turn away, to focus on her own tasks and responsibilities. There would be time to deal with her personal feelings later, once Paul was safe and the mission was complete.
For now, all she could do was pray that they would find him in time, that they could bring him home without losing themselves in the process.
27
Ghost watchedthe video feed intently, his eyes fixed on the phone’s small screen. The grainy image flickered and danced, but he could see the fear etched on the mechanic’s face, the way his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Javier would pay for this. Hard.
“What was it that couldn’t wait?” Lars Stenberg stomped his way into his own office, red-faced and furious.
Ghost quickly pocketed his phone and planted his hands on the man’s desk, as if claiming ownership. Which he would do when the time was right. After he finished cleaning up Javier’s stupid mistake.
“The next shipment’s coming in early. You’ll need to meet the ship Thursday.”
The man’s fat lips pressed together. “There’s no need to check the cargo on deck. I don’t like being that exposed. Just have them load the container and we’ll check it here.”
Ghost dug his fingers into the thick wood. Exactly the kind of stupidity he couldn’t tolerate any longer. “You might be okay handing over a million in cash without seeing the merch, but I’m not.”
“Then you check it.”
His fingers twitched, but he forced himself to leave his weapon in its holster at the base of his spine. All in good time. “How about we do it together?”
Stenberg shifted from foot to foot, his large belly swaying. “Fine. But we need to come up with a new system.”
“Agreed.” Stenberg wasn’t going to like the change, though.
Sending that tip to the FBI from Stenberg’s computer had been a genius move. One more tiny thread tying Stenberg to Goshiro. The two figures who’d shoulder the blame while he stole the whole operation.
And disappeared.
The older man flapped a hand at him. “Can I have my desk back now?”
He pushed away from the desk and headed for the door. “I’ll see you at the dock in two days. Eight a.m.”
“Hmmm.” The man pretended to ignore him. A lame power move.
And yet another reason Ghost looked forward to what was coming.
For now, he needed to keep Stenberg believing that things were rolling smoothly.
Good thing he excelled at hiding his feelings.
On the way back to the car, he contemplated how to handle Javier’s disaster. Show mercy, or revenge?
Maybe he’d let Javier’s reaction dictate the next step.
The minute he exited the warehouse, Javier fired up the engine. Ghost slid into the vehicle and pinned the kid with a hard look.
Javier tapped out a rhythm on the steering wheel, right eye twitching. “You were right,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “The dude’s friends haven’t called the police yet.”
“They’ll trace the call any second. Then they’ll make a play for him.”