Page 43 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

Instead of dealing with Corbin, Gene wanted to get this handled.

“As for the rest,” Gene said, filling Ethan in, “we found out some interesting things,” he admitted.

So, he broke it down.

“While we were talking to the two jackholes who passed this mess off to Corbin, something came up. Right now, people aren’t only being trafficked for sex, but they are being used as mules to a drug that the US government absolutely, positively does NOT want in this country.”

Ethan was curious.

“What are we talking about?” he asked, knowing it had to be bad if Gabe was planning something. He’d worked vice and knew what shit was going on in the world, outside of homicides.

It had been tough work.

Don’t get him wrong. Ethan was grateful for his time there because that’s where he and Gene connected and became partners.

“It’s this white powder shit that is so bad, the US government tried to handle it in Colombia,” he stated. “And Corbin, you’re hearing NONE of this, am I clear?” he asked.

The man nodded.

“I’m clear.”

Gene still didn’t look at the man.

“He wants it handled because it shouldn’t be here. Corbin fell into a mess that is even bigger than the FBI.”

Damn.

Someone tended to do that.

A lot.

Gene kept talking.

“So the assholes who are trafficking men as cover for the drugs are a problem for Gabe and the FBI. The text you got…that is for us to handle. Forewarning, it’s going to be messy, and off the record.”

It was rare they didn’t follow the laws set by the FBI, and the federal government.

That told Ethan this was big.

Gene continued.

“I contacted a friend who works in DC at the FBI still. She handled this in Colombia. From what she told me, let’s just say that it’s bad.”

Ethan needed to know.

“How bad are we talking?” he asked. “Like stop your heart and kill you instantly?”

Gene shook his head.

“It’s a date rape drug. From what I was told, it turns the user into a sexed-up zombie with no limits, and no ability to say no.”

Ethan thought about it.

“How did the bikers connect to this?” he asked, meaning Corbin’s assault.

Gene wanted to be delicate, but Corbin needed to hear how close he came.

“There was a guy in New York that escaped the traffickers. He found someone to get him to the hospital. He told them what was going on, and they saw the burned brand on him.”

Corbin was pale and not saying anything.

Still, Gene kept going.

“The bikers are transporting the victims as drug mules. They are branding them, so the buyers know where the merchandise is coming from.”

They both watched Corbin slide his hand over the place on his thigh where he had the same brand burned into his body.

Gene tried to do this as quickly as possible.

“The victims in the morgue all match that MO. They also had traces of an unknown narcotic in their system. Reed couldn’t identify it.”

Corbin closed his eyes, and Gene needed to know.

“I can tell Ethan about this in private if it’s upsetting. I completely understand, and we can keep you out of the loop, Corbin, if that’s what you need to heal.”

When he opened his eyes, there were tears in them, and the man looked…broken.

“They were going to traffic me?” he asked, needing to know.

Gene didn’t lie.

“Yeah. Likely. You fit the age of the desired sex victims that are being bought.”

That hung there.

Gene hated hurting Corbin. He’d been through plenty the last two days.

“What saved you is that they thought they killed you or broke you more than they’d originally planned. Getting you medical assistance wasn’t an option. So they figured it was easier to let you die.”

Corbin’s lower lip quivered.

“Really, I think we should not do this in front of you, Corbin. You’re not ready,” Gene said, willing to go up to Greyson’s for a few minutes or the hallway outside their door.

Corbin shook his head.

“No, I need to know.”

Well, then, in that case…

“We have a pit of nastiness going on here,” Gene said.

“Drugs, sex, and kidnapping are never a good mix, but when you combine them all, it’s trouble.

We’re just lucky that you survived, Corbin.

All in all, this could have had a far worse outcome with you being sold off to someone as you carried a rape drug in your system. ”

Ethan sighed.

“Yeah, that can’t be going on here. We have to stop it,” he stated. “Why do I get the feeling that there are more victims, and we fell into this mid-case?”

Gene agreed.

“Reed is looking for that drug in any other victims that were brought in. John Does, or not. I gave him my number to call if any turned up.”

“Well, at least no one can say that Philly is boring,” Ethan admitted.

Yeah, well, give him some boredom any day—especially after this.

“Gabe said it was handled in Colombia by that one agent. So, that means this is likely the shit that got in BEFORE it was handled—or that’s just me being hopeful. That’s why we got the texts. We have to clean up the mess in Philadelphia .”

Ethan got it.

“I’m good with that.”

Gene continued.

“Greyson is our alibi, according to his text from Gabe, so that tells me this is off the FBI record. We’re going to be handling it in ways the FBI probably doesn’t want getting out.”

Ethan wasn’t shocked.

Anyone who thought their government was innocent and played by the rules all of the time was out of their damn minds and living in fantasy land.

In this world, it was any country for itself when it came to trafficking and drug lords.

When the CIA and the FBI played on the same playground, there were undoubtedly rules broken.

“So, that’s where we are. Right now, we’re handling Corbin’s assault, the murder of those college students, and now this. It’s about to be a long night.”

Yeah, he could see that.

When someone knocked on their door, Corbin froze. His eyes went huge, and his fight or flight kicked in.

Gene saw it.

“Relax,” he said. “Greyson was going upstairs to change and come back down. It’s likely him,” he said, still pulling his gun and pointing it at the floor at his side—just in case.

Ethan knew why.

Javier Hughes was an asshole.

Going to the door, Gene looked through the peephole, and there was no one out there.

That’s when he cracked the door and saw the familiar bags on the floor.

Looking out, he saw John at the elevator.

Gene whistled.

It got the man’s attention.

“Get my son to eat something,” he said. “Tell him we love him,” he added, then saluted before stepping into the elevator.

Gene tucked his gun away, and picked up the four huge bags of food.

Holy shit!

Who were they feeding?

An army of Corbins?

Kicking the door closed with his heel, he carried the food in, and placed it on the kitchen island.

Then, he explained.

“That was John,” he said. “He dropped the food and was at the elevator when I opened the door. He wants you to eat something.”

Corbin was still sitting on the couch, but he was watching them.

“He said he and Alice love you,” he offered, sharing the man’s words.

A part of him wished he could go home and be protected by his parents again, but this wasn’t the kind of wound they could help him with. Corbin needed to learn to trust again, and survive.

That would take time.

When Corbin got up, he moved toward them, and it was clear he was in pain.

Ethan handed him more aspirin, and a bottle of water so that he could keep medicated.

“I’d call my doctor for pain meds,” Corbin admitted, “but my phone is gone.”

Gene didn’t want to freak him out, so he said nothing about the conversation that he’d had with Will. If Ethan told him, that was fine, but Gene couldn’t bring himself to do it.

They would have to make sure it didn’t get out that Corbin lived, and then, Will would be safe.

Until he ran head-on into Corbin’s stubbornness.

Oh, Gene knew it was coming. Corbin was a ‘die on his sword’ kind of a guy.

He’d bet the vacation in Puerto Rico that Corbin planned on ditching the man ‘for his own good’ .

Call it a hunch.

“Did Alice stuff herself into one of the bags to get into the condo?” he asked, swallowing the pills.

Gene shook his head.

“Nope, and I don’t see notes, messages, or a gun taped to the bottom of the fry container in case we were holding you hostage.

While funny, no one put it past her.

Alice was Alice.

“How unlike her,” Corbin stated.

Ethan owned it.

“I told them to give you space to heal, and that the last thing you needed was them all over you. No one will bother you here. You’re safe, Corby.”

Corbin’s face said it all.

There was immense gratitude.

At Ethan’s words, he relaxed.

“Thank you for that,” he said.

For Ethan, he didn’t mind. They wanted him to heal and feel safe somewhere after he’d been assaulted.

“No problem. That’s what friends do. They run interference when you need a little time to regroup, and figure shit out. You taught me that, Corbin.”

Thank God he made friends with Ethan and Gene. Corbin was so damn grateful.

Because the bags needed to be handled, Gene took all of the food out of the bags, and it looked like dinner, breakfast, and lunch for tomorrow was now covered by the Prices.

Somehow, he figured they’d be dropping off more in the morning.

Glancing at his watch, Gene knew he wanted to hear what Ethan found out about the victims, but he wanted to put his phone on the charger before tonight’s fun.

If they were going to be playing games for the US government, he wanted to be dressed appropriately.

“I’m going to plug in my phone. I’ll be right back. Then, we can talk about what you found.”

That worked for Ethan.

This was going to be a different kind of a case. Since they didn’t have a serial killer, per se, but instead someone behind this drug issue and abduction of men, they had to work this differently.

As Gene walked away, Corbin watched him.

“I think I broke us,” he finally said, softly. “Gene won’t even look at me. I think I hurt his feelings.”

Ethan was honest.