Page 2 of Black Jack (Advantage Play 5)

“But—”

I lift my hand to shut him up. “However. He’s willing to make a deal if you’re compliant.”

“What does he want?” Dominic grits out as his gaze bounces around the empty room in search of an escape. Too bad he won’t find one that doesn’t involve helping me.

“He wants you to testify against Reed in court,” I answer.

The bastard scoffs. “He wants me to snitch?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because it’ll clear my name.”

“And who are you?” he demands, pinning me with his stare as though I’ve finally intrigued him enough to grace me with his attention.

“I’m Jack.” The name feels foreign. Like it belongs to someone else. Someone from a past life. Because the Jack I once knew is gone, only to be replaced with a stranger whose biggest ally is the head of the Romano family. Go figure.

“Is that name supposed to mean something to me?” he asks.

“No. But it means something to your associate, Reed.”

Dominic’s dark, beady eyes narrow as he takes another moment to assess me the same way I’d assessed him when I first stepped into this room. Pushing himself up from the bed, he strides closer. “Who are you, Jack? And why should I help clear your name?”

“Because Reed is trying to pin me for the mob shit he’s been dealing with.”

Brow arching, he clarifies, “So you’re a Fed too?”

“Are you willing to help me or not?” I huff.

“Why exactly would I help you?”

“Because if you don’t, you’re gonna die. Kingston will kill you.”

He scoffs. “Yeah, but if I testify, I’ll be dead anyway.”

“Guess that’s a risk you’ll have to take,” I reply, feigning indifference. If he doesn’t agree, then I really am screwed and I’ll live the rest of my life on the run. And I’m not sure I can handle that no matter how accommodating Kingston has been.

The bastard shakes his head back and forth and sees right through me. “No. No deal. I have a sister. She’s the only family I’ve got. If I get labeled a rat, they’ll kill her too.”

“Kingston won’t—”

“I’m not talking about the Romanos,” he spits. “I’m talking about every other fucking family in the business. When you’re labeled a rat, they don’t just eradicate the vermin. They exterminate the whole family. If I’m dead anyway, I’d rather Kingston do it and leave my sister untouched than die and leave her to fend for herself with the label of a rat for a brother.”

“Who knew you were a family man,” I note, my voice thick with sarcasm. Wracking my brain, I offer, “What if I put her into the witness protection program? I’ll keep her safe.”

“No. It’s bullshit and won’t work.” He rolls his eyes, daring me to suggest it twice.

“That’s not true—”

“I’ve been in the business long enough to know how easy it is to find someone.” He hesitates and scratches the scraggly beard along his lower jaw. As if a lightbulb starts glowing, a wide grin of triumph stretches across his face. “I’ll do it on one condition.”

My stomach twists with suspicion, but I have no choice but to take the bait. “And what’s that?”

“You marry her.”

“What?” I choke out, convinced I’ve heard him wrong. He can’t be serious. Why the hell would he want his sister to marry a Fed, let alone one who’s future career is in the fucking toilet?